Chapter 8 Summary and Analysis
Maycomb has an unusually cold winter that year. Mr. Avery tells Jem and Scout that the weather changes when children disobey adults, which makes them feel responsible for the cold. When old Mrs. Radley dies, people hardly take notice. Atticus goes over to the house, which prompts Scout and Jem to ask after Boo, but Atticus rebuffs their questions. The next morning, it starts snowing, and Scout assumes the world is ending. When she realizes it's not, she wants to play in the snow, and she and Jem go about making a snowman with a frame of dirt and a covering of snow. When Atticus sees it, he tells them to alter it a bit so it doesn't look too much like Mr. Avery.
That night, the temperature dips to 16°—the coldest night Atticus can remember. He wakes Jem and Scout up because a fire has broken out at Miss Maudie's house. Atticus tells them to stand in front of the Radley house, where they'll be out of the way while the men work. The fire truck has to be pushed from the center of town, because the cold made it stall out. Meanwhile, Atticus and the other neighbors carry Miss Maudie's furniture out of the house. Mr. Avery manages to fall off the upstairs porch. Unfortunately, the fire truck is too late, and the fire eats up into Miss Maudie's roof. Eventually, the house collapses, and the fire trucks leave. One had come from Clark's Ferry, sixty miles away.
When Atticus rejoins the children, he's cross with Scout, because he thinks she disobeyed him to fetch herself a blanket. In fact, Scout hadn't realized that she had a blanket or that Boo slipped up to her while the house was burning to lay the blanket on her shoulders. When Atticus figures out what happened, Jem begs him not to tell Nathan Radley about it, telling him that Nathan is crazy and might be keeping Boo from contacting them. Atticus agrees to keep it between them, and he tells the kids they don't have to go to school the next day because of what happened. So the next day they sleep in until noon and then head over to Miss Maudie's. She's in pretty good spirits for someone whose house just burned down. She already has plans to build a new one.
Allusion
Appomattox. It's unclear whether Miss Maudie is referring to the Battle of Appomattox Court House or to the Battle of Appomattox Station. The former was one of the final battles of the American Civil War and resulted in a decisive Union victory and the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. The latter was fought the day before the Battle of Appomattox Court House and is considered part of the Appomattox Campaign. The battles took place on April 8th and 9th, 1865. Atticus alludes to Appomattox to emphasize that it hasn't been this cold in Maycomb for a very long time.
The Rosetta Stone. Discovered in 1799, the Rosetta Stone was the key to deciphering the Egyptian hieroglyphs. Mr. Avery alludes to it when he lies to the Finch children about their bad behavior being the cause of the cold weather. According to him, it's written on the Rosetta Stone that when children disobey adults, the seasons change. Of course, the Rosetta Stone says no such thing. Mr. Avery is trying to make them feel bad by using an elevated allusion that they won't understand. It works.
Malapropism
Absolute Morphodite. The Finch children's naive pronunciation of "hermaphrodite," which refers to any organism with both male and female sexual organs or characteristics. Their snowman isn't a hermaphrodite, but they continue to use this term, to the great amusement of Miss Maudie.
Personification. Some examples of this would be the fire that "devoured" Miss Maudie's house and the siren that "wailed" down the street, "screaming" like a person would.
Simile
Some examples of this would be Miss Maudie's house looking "like a pumpkin" as it burns orange and Miss Maudie's hat encased in ice "like a fly in amber."
Expert Q&A
In chapter 8 of To Kill a Mockingbird, why does Scout fear the world is ending and who does Mr. Avery blame?
In Chapter 8 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout fears the world is ending because she sees snow for the first time and mistakes it for the Apocalypse. Mr. Avery blames the unusually cold weather and snowfall on children like Jem and Scout, claiming it was predicted by the Rosetta Stone that disobedient children would cause such changes in the seasons.
In To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 8, how does Boo Radley show he wants to befriend the children?
Boo Radley shows his desire to befriend the children by placing a blanket on Scout's shoulders during the fire in Chapter 8. This act of kindness reveals Boo's interest in the children, despite his reclusive nature. He had previously left them small gifts and mended Jem's pants, indicating his willingness to connect. Boo's gesture demonstrates his care and marks the beginning of Scout's realization that he is not frightening.
Which line from Chapter 8 of To Kill a Mockingbird shows Jem believes he and Scout are equals to their townsfolk?
In Chapter 8, Jem Finch demonstrates his belief in equality with his townsfolk by offering to help Miss Maudie with work usually done by a hired man. He says, "Or Scout'n'me, we can help you," indicating no sense of superiority over the African Americans or others in the community. This reflects the values instilled by Atticus, emphasizing Jem and Scout's role as good neighbors and equals to everyone. Jem's actions and words reveal his maturity and non-judgmental nature.
In Chapter 8 of To Kill a Mockingbird, does Scout use any racist words?
Yes, in Chapter 8 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout uses the n-word to describe a snowman she and Jem build. This illustrates the pervasive racial prejudice in Maycomb. Although Scout is not prejudiced herself and is too young to understand the full impact of the word, she casually uses it, reflecting the common language and attitudes of 1930s Alabama.
In To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 8, why does Jem confess about Boo when Atticus attempts to return the blanket?
Jem confesses about Boo Radley when Atticus attempts to return the blanket because he fears Boo might get into trouble. Boo has been reaching out to Scout and Jem, and Jem doesn't want to jeopardize this connection. Jem also feels guilty about hiding secrets from Atticus and wants to protect Boo's privacy, respecting his choice to remain secluded. Returning the blanket could expose Boo's actions and lead to further restrictions from Nathan Radley.
What does Miss Maudie mean by "Beautiful my hind foot!" in Chapter 8 of To Kill a Mockingbird?
Miss Maudie's exclamation "Beautiful my hind foot!" is a sarcastic response to Jem's remark about the snow being beautiful. While Jem and Scout are excited by the rare snowfall, Miss Maudie is concerned about the threat it poses to her beloved azaleas. The idiom "my hind foot" underscores her annoyance and disbelief, as the snow could freeze and kill her flowers, which she tries to protect by covering them with burlap bags.
Whose house burns down in chapter 8 of To Kill a Mockingbird?
In Chapter 8, Miss Maudie's house burns down in To Kill a Mockingbird. The coldest weather since 1885 hits Maycomb, leading to a rare snow day for the children. Atticus wakes Jem and Scout to witness the fire from a safe distance. Despite the house's destruction, Miss Maudie remains in good spirits. The scene reveals Boo Radley's kindness when Scout discovers he placed a blanket over her during the fire.
What does Atticus mean when he tells Jem not to let discovery "inspire him to future glory" in Chapter 8 of To Kill a Mockingbird? Why might Jem disobey?
Atticus warns Jem not to let the discovery of Boo Radley's kindness inspire him to further attempts at drawing Boo out. This caution follows the incident where Boo secretly placed a blanket on Scout during a fire. Atticus, aware of Jem's curiosity and leadership among the children, wants to prevent further schemes targeting Boo. Jem might disobey out of curiosity, but he now understands Boo's benign nature and respects his privacy.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, what did Scout's uncle learn from Scout and Atticus in chapters 8–11?
Scout's uncle, Jack, learns important lessons about dealing with children from Scout and Atticus. After punishing Scout without hearing her side, he realizes the importance of listening to both sides before judging. Additionally, when Scout asks about a "whore-lady," Jack evades the question, leading Atticus to advise him to be honest and direct with children, as they can detect evasion. These interactions teach Jack about fairness and honesty in communication with children.
How does Miss Maudie's conversation in chapter 8 illustrate the theme of racism?
Miss Maudie's conversation in chapter 8 subtly illustrates the theme of racism through symbolism and Jem's comments. The destruction of her home represents the eradication of old racist ideologies, akin to her desire for the abolition of Jim Crow Laws. Jem's suggestion to hire "a colored man" for manual labor reflects ingrained societal racism, despite his innocent intentions. The "Morphodite Snowman" symbolizes racial dynamics, being black inside and white outside, highlighting the superficiality of racial distinctions.
In chapter 8 of To Kill a Mockingbird, what is the Rosetta Stone?
In Chapter 8, the Rosetta Stone is referenced metaphorically in relation to the snowman that Scout and Jem build. The actual Rosetta Stone is an ancient Egyptian stele inscribed with the same text in Greek, Demotic, and hieroglyphic, which helped decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs. In the novel, this reference suggests the snowman foreshadows future events, much like the Rosetta Stone unlocked understanding of ancient languages.
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