The Help

1. In your own words, write what was meant by "separate but equal." How did people in Jackson, Mississippi - including the ladies of the Junior League in "The Help" - try to apply this principle?

2. Do a simple online research about Jim Crow Laws. Identify what outcomes - forced upon domestic workers - were present in "The Help".

3. Explore the themes in "The Help" and develop your ideas by continuing the following sentence:

"The maids in The Help took a risk by telling their stories. Even though they knew they could be shot to death in their front yards, they went ahead with the project. If people are not willing to take risks..."

1. It means that they make a difference  in a very ironic way. They make equal bathrooms, but separated from the house. I think this is very stupid and has no support. Is not intelligent and civilized. The people In Jackson make bathrooms outside the houses to separate them from the whit people.

2. Jim Crow was the name of the racial caste system which operated primarily, but not exclusively in southern and border states, between 1877 and the mid-1960s. Jim Crow was more than a series of rigid anti-black laws. It was a way of life. Under Jim Crow, African Americans were relegated to the status of second class citizens. Jim Crow represented the legitimization of anti-black racism. This is present on the buses that were separated, some taxis services only for white people, the neighbours,etc.

3. "... they will never make a change." I think that the maids were very brave when they told their stories, and was very dangerous. The maids in The Help were treated like animals and had no self respect, until they take the courage to reveal they feelings, then they had the courage to be respected, as Minny did in the movie.

Chapter 15-16-17 analysis questions

Ch. 15

1. What is the Ku Klux Klan? What do you think of Atticus' comment about it?

2. How does Jem react when Atticus tells him to go home, and why?

3. What persuades the lynching-party to give up their attempt on Tom's life?

1. The KKK is a racist group that killed coloured people. I think Atticus said that the Klan was destroyed because he didn't want to worry his sons, because he was defending a coloured man and that involved him with danger.

2. Jem react negatively, he doesn't obey his father because he is worried about him being with that type of guys.

3. Scout makes them, with her innocence, react and be themselves again. As Atticus said in one occasion, mobs act with no conscience. 

Ch. 16

4. What sort of person is Dolphus Raymond and what is your opinion of him?

5. How does Reverend Sykes help the children see and hear the trial? Is he correct in doing so?

4. He is a very tolerant guy. He pretends to be drunk to justify why he lives with coloured people. I think he takes the correct decision, because he doesn't worries about living with coloured people.

5. He saves the seats of the kids in the balcony. I think that he makes good because they deserve to understand what his father is involved.

Ch. 17

6. Choose three quotes from chapter 17. Explain the context of each, the characters involved, and their relevance for the story, themes and overall message of the novel.

6. -"Jem seemed to be having a quiet fit. He was pounding the balcony rail softly, and once he whispered, 'We've got him.'"  In this case, Jem was pretty sure about the verdict. Everything was in favour of Atticus, but the jury gave the fail to the Ewells. The importance of this in the story is that this decision condemned Tom to jail.

-"There have been a request that this courtroom be cleared of spectators, or at least of women and children, a request that will be denied for the time being"  This is very important in the story because It let the children stay in the judgement and observe the rest of the conflict, and left the reader understand it too.

-"Will you write your name and show use please" This quote happened when Atticus proved that Bob Ewell was lefthanded, proving that he was who punched Mayella in the face and not Tom.

Chapters 12-13-14 analysis questions

Ch. 12

1. Comment on Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase Church. What does Scout learn about how black people live?

2. Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household, and among her neighbours at church.

1. They were supposed to assist to the church like every Sunday, but this time, Atticus wasn't in town, so they went with Cal. They were accepted buy the coloured people, instead of one lady, who was repelled by Cal. They were impressed because the people didn't had hymns, because they hadn't the money and they didn't know to read.

2. Because she needed to state a difference. People in the church was poor and speak using negro slang, and she was supposed to use this slang because they didn't wan't someone correcting them all the time. But when she was in the Finch's house she needed to be polite and respectful.

 

Ch. 13

3. Aunt Alexandra thinks Scout is "dull" (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right? 

4. How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Macomb's social life?

5. Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family, in contrast to Atticus' visions. Who's right, do you think? Why?

3. Because Scout is not the lady she expect to be. She is a tomboy and Aunt Alexandra is very traditional.

4. She invites ladies to the house , making joints, but is to make Scout a lady as she expected

5. I think Atticus is right because he believes thta everyone have the right to be whatever they want. But that is related with the context of reception, maybe in that time it was correct to be traditionalist, but for me isn´t correct.

Ch. 14. 

6. Comment on Atticus' definition of rape. How suitable is this definition as an answer to Scout?

6. He is very intelligent in this case, because he makes an exact definition without using any term that could affect Scout

Essay writing

This essay was written from part one of To kill a mockingbird. I selected one question form four. "Some writers select a narrative voice that sharpens or clarifies their stories; others choose a narrative voice that mystifies or misleads. How and to what effect has Harper Lee employed narrative voice in "To Kill a Mockingbird"?"  I chose this affirmation because I was very impressed with the narrative voice that the author chose. 






I wrote my essay supported with some quotes and their explanation. I prepared my essay with time and I was able to identify the mistakes I made. with all this preparation I get a big round seven on my examination. ;) 

Contexts

Boo Radley's Secret Diary

July 1932

This last days I've been watchin' two children walkin' throughout the house. They seem to be very kind boys, so I decided to give them a gift. I left them some candies on the tree outside the house. I realized that they were gettin' my presents, so I left them other things, like my father's watch and the silver coin I have since I was a child. But my older brother, Nathan, as soon as he discovered my secret, decided to  cut my relationship with the children, by pluggin' the knothole were I left the presents. I'm afraid I will not be able to be their friend any more, as I'm not supposed to get out the house. But I'll keep watchin' them for their safety.
Arthur



August 1935

Things are gettin' worse every time. The Negro, who's name I can't remember, was considered guilty by the jury. Actually I was there, because I realize that the children were goin' to the court alone, and I was protectin' them from Mr. Ewell. He seems to be a very nasty man. I heard Jem sayin' that the case was already won when his father was half of his speech. But then, I don't know why, the girl's friend start crying and they went outside. I followed her but I realized she was whit an adult, so I left them and get inside the court. After all the speeches, the jury went out of the court room. We wait for more than an our. The children's servant get them home and then came back. Afterwords, the jury came out and gave their verdict.
Poor Negro, I think he is innocent. After this events, I get back home, and I was almost catched by my brother, but I get to my room before him. I must be careful about him.
Arthur



October 1935

This have been the most exitin' days since.. I can't remember. It was Halloween, and every children get out with their costumes. The little girl was disguise as a ham. They wet to the party that the school organize every year. When they went back, they decided to walk through the woods. But then Mr. Ewell get through the woods too. I followed them just to be sure. But suddenly, Mr. Ewell hit the old brother and knocked him down. I ran to defend the little girl and killed Mr. Ewell with a knife. I grabbed the boy to his home and hide behind the door, but the little girl discovered me. She seemed to be very kind, as I assumed. Then I returned home. I'm glad I was able to safe their lives.
Arthur

To kill a mockingbird-Part 1, Analysis 2

Questions of the first part of TKM:

1. What is the reason for the author's choice of a young narrator?

2. How does Jem and Scout's views of Boo Radley change during  part 1 of the book?

3. Atticus tells the children several times that they need to walk in someone else's shoes before judging the person. Describe times when Atticus, Scout or Jem walk in someone else's shoes. How does this change how they view the situations? What role does this advice play in sympathy and compassion? 

4. How do you think Atticus managed his role as a single parent? 

5. Discuss race issues in part 1 of the book.

6. From your reading of part 1, What does To Kill a Mockingbird teach us about how people cope with issues of race and class? Do you classify people in your world as different "folks?" Do you see those sort of distinctions today? 

7. Who is your favorite character from part 1 and why? 

Answers:

1. Because the story is so complicated to be understood by a little girl, that has a very innocent narrative voice and childish viewpoints of the different conflicts among the story.

2. At first, the children are scared of Boo, but then, whit the influence of Dill, they get more curious about it, until the point they try to get inside the house.

3. Scout is very empathic with Jem, like when he remembered his mother, Scout didn't bothered him because she knew he wasn't happy at all. She is able yo understand what other people is feeling. 

4. He is a very complete parent, he is always there for his sons and is very clever in the way he teaches them.

5. The racism is represented by Scouts's cousin, Francis, telling that defending a "Negro" is a dishonour to the family and calls Atticus a "Nigger-lover".

6. The classifying people is very bad focused in how the must treat people. The book represent all this racist like enemies of the protagonist. In my daily living, I don't classify people by their differences, because I think they have the same rights as me. Sometimes I see this type of discrimination in different places.

7.Atticus is my favourite character, because he is a very good father that has to asume the role of a double father, because he is a widow. He also is very clever and smart, and he has a very kind way, for a man, to treat a girl.

To kill a Mockingbird- Part 1, Analysis

Questions from the first part of TKM:

1. What do you learn in this chapter about Maycomb, Atticus Finch and his family?2. Describe Calpurnia as Scout depicts her in Chapter 1.3. What does Dill dare Jem to do?4. The townspeople of Maycomb have some fears and superstitions about the Radley place. Describe these fears and superstitions.5. How important is bravery to Jem?6. What do you notice about the narrative voice and viewpoint of the story?

Answers:

1. Maycomb is a little town at the countryside on Southern Alabama. In winter, is was very rainy, but in summer was so hot. Atticus Finch was a lawyer, his first two clients were the last two persons hanged in the town. He had two children, Jem and Scout. Jem was 10 years old and Scout was around 6. They lived in the residential street it town and had a servant, Calpurnia.

2. Scout describes Calpurnia as a very ugly women. She was near-.sighted, she squinted and had some very wide hands and twice as hard. They always had epic battles, but Calpurnia always won them because Atticus took her side. She worked for the family since Jem was born.

3. Dill dares Jem to go running to the Radley's house and make Boo came out, but then, after some conversation, they decided that Jem should ran and touch the door, then came back. At first, Jem wasn't doing it, but when he is called a coward, e did it.

4. The Radley family had a very interesting past. People in Maycomb thought that in that Radley's place lived a ghost, which had some magical powers. One time something happened that the town was terrorized by series of morbid nocturnal events. They found a guilty, but they still thought that was Boo Radley's fault. ç

5. It's very important, bvecause he had so much pride, and, as he was the older brother, he was bound to ensure his courage.

6. The narrative voice is very childish, is narrated by a 6 years old girl. Is very innocent and simple, alsow comprehendsthe world in a very si8mple way. Scout's viewpoint is very innocent, although she is a very smart and clever girl for her age.

To kill a mockingbird- Context of production

To kill a mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee and published in 1960. The context of production of the book s influenced by some events that happened in the life of the author. The main incident is the economic depression of the 30's. Nelle Harper E. Lee (born April 28, 1926) is an American author known for her 1960 Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which deals with the issues of racism that were observed by the author as a child in her home town of Monroeville, Alabama. 






The author was part of a literary movement called the Beat generation. The Beat Generation was a group of American post-World War II writers who came to prominence in the 1950s, as well as the cultural phenomena that they both documented and inspired. Central elements of "Beat" culture included experimentation with drugs, alternative forms of sexuality, an interest in Eastern religion, a rejection of materialism, and the idealizing of exuberant, unexpurgated means of expression and being.
In that times, racism was present in many places and including political issues, like the Jim Craw Laws, or other benefits like buses for white people and for coloured people. This kind of events influenced in the authors life and lately, her writing.

Literature: Text and context

As you can realize, the course changed from language to literature, and the first subject was the context. We made an activity from the course companion with two different texts: The Leopard, by Tomasi di Lampedusa; and Notable American Woman, by Ben Marcus. The objective of this activity was to make ourselves some questions about the text considering the contexts. 

My reflections from the first text were; "why there are mythical passages?", "Which is the relationship between the mythological characters with the text?", "Which is the importance of this characters.?" from the second text, I concluded the following questions: "Why the author talks about himself, but being another character?", "Is he trying to give a message to the audience?", "From where is the narrator talking?". 

Ads activity

For this opportunity, we were studding the two genders and their differences. to comprehend this idea, we were supposed to elaborate two ads, the first one pointing for a femenin audience, and the other one, to a masculine audience. Whit my partner, we made a poster of a perfume, and another of a football shoe. it was a great experience and was very useful to understand what things makes the difference between woman and men within language.