In Chapter 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird, the story moves back to the present and focuses on Scout and Jem's relationship with their neighbor, Boo Radley. Scout and Jem have grown up hearing stories about Boo, who is rumored to be a recluse who never leaves his house and is possibly dangerous. However, the children have never actually seen him and have developed their own theories about what he might be like based on the things they find in a knothole in a tree near his house.
One day, Scout and Jem find a package in the knothole containing a ball of twine, a spelling bee medal, and other small gifts. They are puzzled by the appearance of the package, but continue to speculate about Boo and the possibility of making contact with him.
Meanwhile, Atticus is defending Tom Robinson, a black man who has been falsely accused of raping a white woman. The trial is causing tensions in the community, and Scout and Jem are confronted with racism and prejudice as they witness the events unfolding.
As the trial approaches its conclusion, Scout and Jem become more and more concerned about the safety of their father, who is receiving threats because of his role as Tom's defense attorney. One night, while they are walking home from a Halloween pageant, they are attacked by Bob Ewell, the father of the alleged rape victim. Boo Radley comes to their rescue, stabbing Ewell to death with a kitchen knife.
In the aftermath of the attack, Scout and Jem finally meet Boo and learn the truth about him. They discover that he is a kind and gentle man who has been misunderstood because of the stories that have circulated about him.
In Chapter 15, the themes of prejudice and compassion are brought to the forefront as Scout and Jem's preconceived notions about Boo are challenged and they come to understand the true nature of the man who has been their neighbor for so long. The chapter also highlights the dangers of judging people based on appearances and rumors, and the importance of looking beyond surface level appearances in order to truly understand someone.
What is a summary of chapter 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird?
Lesson Summary In Chapter 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem shows maturity in his understanding of the situation and in his growing likeness to Atticus. Readers discover information about the community along with the teacher as Scout interacts with different students in and outside of class. In doing so, Jem sees a light despite the jail not having one. When the prosecutor starts belittling Tom for this, Dill starts crying, and Scout has to take him outside. Her brother is four years older than her, and her father, Atticus Finch, is an attorney and member of the State Legislature who is, for the most part, well-respected in the community. A child is unlikely to either perceive or describe her hometown as being "tired.
To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 15 Summary & Analysis
She tells Atticus in confidence that they should let Calpurnia go, but he is adamant that she is part of the family and will not be leaving anytime soon. A brief description of the courthouse and the gathering is given. In the process of fleeing, Jem gets his pants caught and has to leave them behind. Chapter 12 As Jem grows older he also grows moodier, leaving Scout to spend more time with Calpurnia. However, Jem turns off the lights, and he, Dill, and Scout press against the windows to see what is going on outside.
To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 14 & 15 Summary & Analysis
From their hiding spot, the children watch as a group of cars approach and a lynch mob surrounds Atticus. Scout jumping in between the mob and Atticus shames them enough for them to stop, particularly after Scout kicks one of them in the groin and calls out Mr. Once Scout shows up, however, the fear shifts to Atticus, who worries that both she and Jem will get hurt if this turns into a fight. Underwood had also been covering him Atticus , with a shotgun, from his window above the Maycomb Tribune office, in case anyone would attack him. However, Jem and Scout lack the pride that Aunt Alexandra considers commensurate with being a Finch. It was first founded in the 1800s, around the time of the Civil War, but didn't gain momentum until the early 1900s, when they first began burning crosses and organizing mass parades to assert their white supremacist beliefs.
To Kill A Mockingbird Chapter 15 & 16 Summary
Heck Tate and Mr. To Kill A Mockingbird Title Analysis 466 Words 2 Pages Tom was charged with the rape of a local young girl, Mayella Ewell. In Chapter 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson is moved to Maycomb jail. Their appearance is the first of several odd behaviors Scout notices, though Atticus explains the sheriff and editor had come to tell him Tom had been moved into the Maycomb jail. This passage shows again how young and inexperienced Scout, Dill, and Jem are. Later, she tries to convince Atticus to get rid of Calpurnia, saying that they no longer need her.
To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 15
Embarrassed, she realizes that she does not know any of the men she has pushed her way through. As a result, everyone seems to be on edge, Jem and Scout fight more often, and Dill runs away from home only to be found hiding under Scout's bed! Meanwhile, the fact that Atticus—and by extension, Jem and Scout—are related to most people in the county speaks to the nature of small-town Southern life: Maycomb is a close-knit and insular community. She orders Atticus to lecture them on the subject of their ancestry. In the aftermath of the trial, Aunt Alexandra attempts to return life to normal by hosting a lunch for her missionary circle. In preparation for the beginning of Tom Robinson's trial, the sheriff decides to move Tom to the Maycomb jail. He camps out in front of the Maycomb jail as the kids watch from a distance.
