Reading Selection 04.08

Chapter 3 of "To Kill A Mockingbird"

Summary

For lunch time, Jem invites Walter to their house to eat together with them. Atticus and Walter are able to speak of how the farm works and the conditions at the farms. To Scout's shock, Walter puts molasses over his entire food. Because Scout was judging Walter for doing this, Calpurnia took Scout to the kitchen and spoke to her about how she should not criticize others' way of doing things. When the children go back to school, Miss Caroline is scared by an animal that comes out of Burris Ewell's hair. Burris Ewell is in a worse economic situation than the Cunningham's. Burris leaves the classroom due to Miss Caroline ordering him to do so. When Scout is home, Atticus notices she is not herself, so he asks her what's wrong. She says that she does not want to attend school and that Atticus should just teach her. However, Atticus tells her she must go to school because it is a law.

Personal Reaction

I personally liked this chapter a whole lot since it shows that no everyone is the same and that one shouldn't criticize others because of how they are.

Author's Intent/Organizational Pattern

The author's intent for writing this chapter was to show how back in the day the social classes where more divided and noticeable, unlike today. In addition, the author showed that Scout has noticed that Miss Caroline is ignorant for judging her students based on their economic level. The organization pattern used in this chapter is chronological order because the chapter goes from the school setting, to the home setting, to the school setting, and back to the home setting.