Chapter 22 - TKAM

Mickaela Noonan

May 28, 2010

Block F

To Kill A Mockingbird

Chapter 22

Summary:
At the beginning of chapter 22, Jem is crying because he is upset about Tom Robinson being determined guilty. Jem and Scout then meet Atticus outside the courthouse and walk home together. When they get home, Aunt Alexandra is sympathetic when talking to Atticus, a side of her that is not usually seen. Unfortunately, Aunt Alexandra soon goes back to her normal self and begins to lecture Atticus on how the children should not have been in the courtroom. In the morning, the family awakes to find a ridiculous amount of food sent over from supporters of Tom Robinson. This is there way of thanking Atticus for the food. Even though he may not have won, they still appreciate him fighting for them. Atticus appreciates the food, but says that he never wants people to do this again because “times are too hard…”(Lee 286). After Atticus heads to town, Dill arrives and tells everyone of Miss. Rachel’s reaction, which was “if a man like Atticus Finch wants to butt his head against a stone wall it’s his head”(Lee 286). He also tells them about Miss. Rachel’s drinking problem. The children then go outside and find Mr. Avery, Miss Stephanie, and Miss. Maudie having an argument about the trial. Miss Maudie calls Jem, Scout, and Dill over for some cakes that she made especially for them. Miss. Maudie then gives Jem a talk about how not things are never as bad as they seem and his father is one of the men that will do the unpleasant jobs for other people. She tells Jem that they are the safest people and the trial happened for a reason, that it was a baby-step toward the greater picture. Jem speaks of becoming a Christian lawyer and Dill jokes of being a clown because all he can do about people is laugh. As they’re walking home, Miss. Rachel and Miss. Stephanie call the children over and tell them to get in the house. Mr. Avery informs them that Mr. Ewell spit in Atticus’s face while he was in town and said he was going to come for him.

Major Changes and Developments:
In this chapter we yet again see Jem becoming more mature. It is able to be seen when he cries with sympathy and sadness over the ruling of Tom Robinson. This can also be seen when he is talking to Miss. Maudie about how he thought that the people of Maycomb were the safest people in the world. We also find out about Miss. Rachel’s drinking problem. In the beginning of the chapter, we can see Atticus once again becoming more aquaintanced with the black community when they all send over food for him. For once, we see Aunt Alexandra showing some sympathy and kindness for Atticus when she finds out that he has lost the case.

Significant Quotations:
“…if a man like Atticus Finch wants to butt his head against a stone wall it’s his head”(Lee 286). This quote is said by Dill when he is explaining Miss. Rachel’s reaction to the charge of Tom Robinson. This quote is significant because it shows how much the odds were against Atticus in the first place and how everyone knew that the odds were against him.
“’It’s like bein’ a caterpillar in a cocoon, that’s what it is, he said. ‘Like somethin’ asleep wrapped in a warm place. I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, least that’s what they seemed like.’”(Lee 288). This quote is said by Jem when he is talking to Miss. Maudie about his reaction to the news. This shows how separated the children in the town are from the rest of the world. Jem never could have imagined that people would accuse someone of such an awful crime because of his color. He never would have thought that people in Maycomb and around Maycomb could ever be that evil.

Literary Elements:
In this chapter, there is some foreshadowing at the end when Miss. Stephanie warns the children about Mr. Ewell spitting in Atticus’s face. This foreshadows what is sure to happen later on in the book.

Vocabulary:
Impassive - adjective, without emotion
Rabbit-bites - noun, small bites
Heathen - adjective, irreligious

Critical Thinking Questions:
Why do you think Miss. Rachel reacted sourly to Atticus’s defending Tom Robinson? Do you think she really meant it?
Do you think things with Miss. Maudie will really go back to the way things were or do you think that their relationship will be muddled?
What do you think is going to happen between Mr. Ewell and Atticus? How do you think this will affect the feelings of others in town?