TKAM Chapter 14-16 – Flashcards

When Scout asks Atticus what the definition of rape is, he says that it was "carnal knowledge of a female by force and without consent." Scout seems smart for her age, she may not know all the details, but it was enough for her to sort of understand what happened.

Aunt Alexandra tells Atticus that since she has moved in, they can dismiss Calpurnia. Aunt Alexandra prefers that the children are raised by a white woman and not a black woman. Atticus said that Calpurnia is already part of the family and the children see her as something close to mother. He doesn't want heartbreaks to happen and Calpurnia was doing a great job towards teaching the children their manners...that there was no reason to dismiss her.

Scout is worried about Jem growing up and separating himself from her. When Jem fights back, it is just like old times; Scout still feels that a little of her childhood is alive. Jem tells Atticus about Dill running away from his parents and this is the final code of childhood. Jem has reached a point of maturity where he can gauge situations and their seriousness. This is definitely a sign that Jem is becoming a young man and Scout doesn't like it. She wants Gem to continue to be a child.

The reader learns that Dill still tells lies and exaggerates too much. Some of what Dill said was probably true. For example, his new father probably did not play with him or build a boat with him. But some of his story was probably a lie. His parents probably were not abusive.

For the first time, Scout and Jem witness the hatred of the mob and the horrors of racism, and see their father in a vulnerable, and perhaps deadly, position. This happened with the children snuck out at night. They found Atticus sitting outside the jail and a mob of angry people surrounded him. They feared he might be hurt or killed.

The KKK rose in response to the massive immigration and dislike of certain religious groups. Specifically, in this book, you need to know that the KKK was against African Americans. Atticus was in partly right about his comment that the KKK would not really go near Maycomb but I think he was also aware that they still existed and were out there. Atticus did not want to worry Scout or Jem.

He rufuses to go home, he just says "no" and he stays there.He reacts that way because he is very worried that these men will do something to Atticus. He thinks he might be able help out if anything bad were to happen.

Scout's polite conversation about one of the son's (Walter Cunningham) having lunch at her house and a one-sided discussion of "entailments" diffuses the mob anger and makes the men feel ashamed to be threatening Scout's father.

Scouts talk to Mr. Cunningham first about his son. Mr. Cunningham then puts himself in Atticus' position and realizes that he couldn't kill Atticus to get to Tom because Atticus, like himself, has children that he loves and must care for. Scout does not realize that by having this conversation, she might have saved her father's life! If she did not talk to Mr. Cunningham, the mob might have attacked and/or killed Atticus.

By chapter 16 Scout has begun to notice all the pressure and stress on her father. Atticus is worried about a lot because of the court case and he works harder than ever. Atticus used to be home more but now Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra must take over much of the care. Although Atticus won't admit it openly, he thinks that he might have a chance to win at the Tom Robinson trial even though he has been disappointed in his town recently.

A white man from a rich family who lives with a black women and their children; the white community look down on him as he seems permanently drunk, but Scout and Dill learn that by this he is giving the white community a reason for his schosen way of life

He takes the children (Jem, Scout, & Dill) up into the balcony where only the black people are allowed to be. He did this because the "white section" on the first floor was full. Atticus told the children not to go to the trial and to stay at home. Atticus does not know that the children are there and watching.

Judge Taylor is very laid back and often people think he is sleeping. He is not, however, sleeping. He is paying close attention to what everyone is saying. The most important piece of information that proves Judge Taylor takes the trial seriously is that he appoints Atticus, the best lawyer in area, to be Tom's lawyer. Judge Taylor appointed Atticus to be Tom's lawyer because he knows that Atticus will try hard to prove Tom innoscent even though Tom is black.