Chapter 21: Katie Ernst

Plot Summary

The chapter begins when Scout, Jem, and Dill are sitting in the black balcony at the trial and Calpurnia walks up the aisle and hands Atticus a note saying his children are missing. Atticus demanded they come down from the balcony and they met downstairs where Atticus agreed to let them come back if they went home and ate their supper slowly. However Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandria both agreed that it was not appropriate for the kids to be at the trial. Dill joined them for dinner and when they finished and returned to the court house nothing had changed. Scout had a bad feeling, and Tate called the court to order and walked Tom Robinson back in next to Atticus. Judge Taylor polled the jury and the unanimously voted that Tom was guilty and Atticus left the court immediately after.

Major Changes or Development

Scout becomes more mature during this chapter. Being in court she learns how to compose herself and is really able to follow along with what is taking place. She is asking questions if there is anything she doesn’t understand because she is mature enough to want to be involved. The main conflicts are the differences in opinions to whether the children should have been at the trail. Atticus isn’t thrilled with the idea but he does not oppose it, nor does he see the harm. However Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandria are horrified at the idea. Even the reverend commented on it. The society as a whole didn’t think it was appropriate, and frowned upon Atticus for allowing them to be there, and return. This conflict is not resolved in the chapter but Atticus doesn’t particularly care about what other people think of his parenting.

Significant Quotations

“’You think they will acquit him that fast?’ asked Jem. Atticus opened his mouth to answer, but then shut it and left us.” Page 277

This quotation occurs after Atticus tells them how he expects the trial will be over by the time they returned and Scout interpret this the wrong way and think Atticus is trying to say he will win. Therefore, Jem asks if he thinks they will acquit him that fast and Atticus doesn’t reply. This portrays that Atticus truly knows his chances of winning are very low because Tom is black. It also expresses what little faith he has in the decision making of the jury. However, Atticus does not want to admit to his children that there is little hope.

“I shut my eyes. Judge Taylor was polling the jury: ‘Guilty…guilty…guilty…guilty” Page 282

This is when the jury unanimously finds Tom Robinson guilty of rape. It is a very important quote because it means that their troubles are not over and Atticus is going to have to keep working for him. It foreshadows that there will be and appeal ad it also expresses the shallowness of the jury. The jury deep down knew Tom didn’t commit the crime, but because Maycomb is so racist the facts didn’t matter to them, only the color of skin.

Literary Element: foreshadowing

In church before the say their verdict Scout describes how she is having a sour feeling, like a cold February morning when everything is silent and houses are locked up tight. This foreshadows that something bad is going to happen and the Atticus and Tom will not win the case.

Vocabulary

Acquit- to relieve from a charge of fault or crime; declare not guilty

Biblical- in accord with the Bible

Preliminary- preceding and leading up to the main part, matter, or business; introductory

Critical Thinking

Do you think if the jury consisted of more of the higher class members of the society in Maycomb the outcome of the trial would have been different?

After the trial the town gossiped about how Atticus allowed his children to watch the trail. Do you think it was right of Atticus to let them stay? Do you think Atticus cares about how the community judges his parenting?