To Kill a Mockingbird Group

Question:

freshman-4-obama
freshman-4-o...
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In To Kill A Mockingbird what question does Calpurnia tell scout to ask her father, saying that he can explain it better?

Rate question:

Posted by freshman-4-obama on Tuesday January 20, 2009 at 5:20 PM and tagged with atticus, calpurnia, chapter 12, characters, rape, scout, to kill a mockingbird.

Answers:


  1. mrs-campbell Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The question is a rather awkward one, so it's understandable that Cal shifted the responsibliity of answering it onto Atticus.  Scout is talking about the Robinson case, and she asks, "What's rape, Cal?"  Cal quickly tells Scout that "It's somethin' you'll have to ask Mr. Finch about...he can explain it better than I can."   Then, she quickly changes subject, asking if they were all hungry, and commenting on the sermon that the preacher gave that morning.  Scout does in fact ask her father later on, and Atticus gives a straight-forward explanation, letting her know that it is "carnal knowledge of a female by force and without consent."  Scout, being so young, probably doesn't grasp the full meaning of this, considering her response of "Well if that's all it is why did Calpurnia dry me up when I asked her what it was?"  But she stops pestering him about the issue, and they move on to other subjects.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/mockingbird
    http://www.enotes.com/mockingbird/chapter-12-summary-anal...

    Rate answer:

    Posted by mrs-campbell on Tuesday January 20, 2009 at 6:04 PM

  2. ms-charleston-yawp
    ms-charleston-yawp Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    In Chapter 12, Scout asks Calpurnia, "What's rape, Cal?" (124).  The question is in reference to Tom Robinson being accused of raping Mayella Ewell.  Calpurnia's exact response to Scout's question is, "It's somethin' you'll have to ask Mr. Finch about. . . . He can explain it better than I can" (124).  She then immediately changes the subject by asking if the children are hungry.

    The reason why Calpurnia responds this way is another matter.  Calpurnia, being the wonderful cook, caretaker, and mother-figure that she is, knows that this is a conversation that Scout should have with Atticus.  A violent crime like rape should not be discussed (and certainly not described) to any child by anyone other than her parents.  The intelligent Calpurnia also knows that something forbidden suddenly seems very interesting to curious children.  However, a growing child's stomach usually takes precedence over absolutely everything else.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/mockingbird/chapter-12-summary-anal...
    http://www.enotes.com/mockingbird/character-analysis

    Rate answer:

    Posted by ms-charleston-yawp on Tuesday January 20, 2009 at 6:15 PM

  3. tonto
    tonto Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    Scout asks " whats rape?"

    Rate answer:

    Posted by tonto on Wednesday January 21, 2009 at 5:18 PM