To Kill a Mockingbird Group

Question:

cedric713
cedric713
Student
High School - 11th Grade

In Chapter 7 of To Kill a Mockingbird, what did Nathan Radley do to the tree with the knothole in it?

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Posted by cedric713 on Sunday November 8, 2009 at 10:14 AM and tagged with nathan radley, themes, to kill a mockingbird.

Answers:

  1. bullgatortail
    bullgatortail Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

        The knothole in the tree on the corner of the Radley lot becomes the message center for communications between Boo and the Finch children in Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.  In Chapter 4, Jem and Scout had received some chewing gum from the knothole, as well as some shiny pennies. Later, they received some carved dolls, a medallion and an alumninum knife. But, after leaving a note for Boo one day, the kids discover that the knothole has been cemented.  Jem asked Mr. Radley,

        "Why'd you do it, sir?"
        "Tree's dying.  You plug 'em with cement when they're dying. You ought to know that, Jem." 

    But Atticus later explains that the tree looks perfectly healthy to him, and Jem learns the sad truth: that Nathan Radley was as controlling as his father, and that their once secret knothole was not so secret.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/

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    Posted by bullgatortail on Sunday November 8, 2009 at 10:24 AM