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To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

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Scout

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Extended Character Analysis

Jean Louise "Scout" Finch is the protagonist and narrator of To Kill a Mockingbird, and the events of the story unfold through her recollections of growing up in the small town of Maycomb. When the novel opens, Scout is a precocious five-year-old excited to attend her first day of school. Her tumultuous first day illustrates some of her defining characteristics: an impressive intellect and curiosity, a hotheaded and tomboyish disposition, and an innate innocence and inner goodness. Scout’s personality is greatly shaped by the influence of her father, Atticus, whom she deeply respects and admires. Scout routinely defies the gender conventions of her small southern town and, much to the chagrin of her Aunt Alexandra, prefers to tag along on Jem and Dill’s escapades rather than pursue more ladylike activities.

Scout’s naïveté and strong moral compass make her an astute observer of the injustice and hypocrisy in Maycomb, and (in part due to her childish innocence) she is one of the few characters that dares to openly confront it. Scout’s innate sense of optimism and justice is challenged by the racism and hatred she witnesses throughout Tom Robinson’s trial. With Atticus’s help, she is able to process the terrible events and realize that her fellow citizens are morally complex individuals who possess the capacity for both goodness and evil. By the end of the novel, eight-year-old Scout has grown not only physically but emotionally as well. She has gained some control over her temper and no longer views being a “lady” as synonymous with being weak. Ultimately, Scout learns to look past deceiving appearances and, like her father, employs empathy and compassion to find the good in those around her.

Quotes

  • "Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square. Somehow, it was hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summer's day; bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum."
  • "Summer was on the way; Jem and I awaited it with impatience. Summer was our best season: it was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the treehouse; summer was everything good to eat; it was a thousand colors in a parched landscape; but most of all, summer was Dill."
  • "Naw, Jem, I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks.”
  • "Coming out of the courthouse that night Miss Gates was—she was goin' down the steps in front of us, you musta not seen her—she was talking with Miss Stephanie Crawford. I heard her say it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above themselves, an' the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an' then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home . . ."
  • "As Tom Robinson gave his testimony, it came to me that Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world. She was even lonelier than Boo Radley, who had not been out of the house in twenty-five years. When Atticus asked had she any friends, she seemed not to know what he meant, then she thought he was making fun of her. She was as sad, I thought, as what Jem called a mixed child: white people wouldn't have anything to do with her because she lived among pigs; Negroes wouldn't have anything to do with her because she was white."

Expert Q&A

What are four To Kill a Mockingbird quotes about Scout facing pressure to act more ladylike?

Quick answer:

Four quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird having to do with the pressure for Scout to act more ladylike include when Calpurnia says,

It’s not necessary to tell all you know. It’s not ladylike …

Scout's aunt has also launched "her campaign to teach [scout] to be a lady ..." and Miss Stephanie comments,

Well, you won’t get very far until you start wearing dresses more often.

In addition, Uncle Jack says,

You’ll have a very unladylike scar on your wedding-ring finger.

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There are many quotes in the novel that indicate that Scout is under pressure to become a young lady, with all that the term connotes. She is not like the other girls her age. She is a tomboy and likes to spend her time with Jem and Dill. She does not play with other girls her age. She also does not remember her mother as a role model.

Cal tries to instruct Scout about being more polite and “ladylike.” For instance, when the children ask Cal why she speaks differently at her church, she replies,

It’s not necessary to tell all you know. It’s not ladylike …

Many of the other adults in her life, including her aunt, uncle, and neighbors, encourage Scout to be more ladylike. For instance, Aunt Alexandra invites Scout to join her and the other ladies for refreshments. Scout notes that

This was a part of her campaign to teach me to be a lady ... Ladies in bunches always filled me with vague apprehension and a firm desire to be elsewhere, but this feeling was what Aunt Alexandra called being “spoiled.”

When Scout tells Miss Stephanie that she wants to grow up to be "just a lady,” Miss Stephanie replies,

Well, you won’t get very far until you start wearing dresses more often.

Even when they are not scolding her, there is subtle social pressure for Scout to be a lady, with all the connotations the concept encompassed in the south of the 1960s. For instance, when Scout gets into a fight with Francis and asks Uncle Jack to bandage her hand, he says,

You’ll have a very unladylike scar on your wedding-ring finger.

It is understood that Scout will be “ladylike” and marry when she is older. There is no consideration that her future might not follow this path.

It is also important to realize that the adults who encourage more feminine behavior in Scout also believe that Jem needs to become more polite and well-behaved. For instance, Mrs. Dubose tells them how lovely a lady their mother was and adds,

it was heartbreaking the way Atticus Finch let her children run wild.

Atticus conveys a similar message from their aunt:

“Your aunt has asked me to try and impress upon you and Jean Louise that you are not from run-of-the-mill people, that you are the product of several generations’ gentle breeding—” Atticus paused...

“Gentle breeding,” he continued, ... “and that you should try to live up to your name ... She asked me to tell you you must try to behave like the little lady and gentleman that you are. She wants to talk to you about the family and what it’s meant to Maycomb County through the years, so you’ll have some idea of who you are, so you might be moved to behave accordingly ...”

Although it seems that Jem and Atticus do not particularly care whether Scout becomes more ladylike, it is ironic that Jem teases her for being too much like “a girl.” He intends this as an insult meaning that she lacks courage. For example, when he dares her to accompany him in retrieving the tire from the Radley yard:

“See there?” Jem was scowling triumphantly. “Nothin‘ to it. I swear, Scout, sometimes you act so much like a girl it’s mortifyin’.”

In addition, when Mrs. Dubose scolds the children about their behavior and says that they will end up at the O.K. Café, Jem whispers to Scout,

Don’t pay any attention to her, just hold your head high and be a gentleman.

Yet, even Jem realizes that Scout's behavior is not what the adults expect. He says about their aunt,

You know she’s not used to girls ... leastways, not girls like you. She’s trying to make you a lady. Can’t you take up sewin‘ or somethin’?

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In To Kill a Mockingbird, what did Atticus mean by telling Scout to delete the adjective to have the facts?

Quick answer:

When Atticus tells Scout to delete the adjectives to have the facts, he means she should ignore Jem's embellishments and exaggerations. Jem, who is fascinated by his sixth-grade lessons about Egyptians, often exaggerates his stories, making them less factual. Atticus advises Scout to look past these exaggerations to understand the actual information.

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When Atticus tells Scout that is she deletes the adjectives she will have the facts, he is telling her to ignore the embellishments in Jem’s story.

Jem likes sixth grade.  He shares interesting things he learned about Egyptians with Scout, but he exaggerates a little and she has no idea what he is talking about.

He declared Egyptians walked that way; I said if they did I didn't see how they got anything done, but Jem said they accomplished more than the Americans ever did, they invented toilet paper and perpetual embalming, and asked where would we be today if they hadn't? (ch 7)

Lee includes this story because it does not just refer to Egypitans.  Jem is growing up, and growing apart from Scout.  He is starting to make less and less sense to her.  Atticus is trying to warn Scout not to pay too much attention to him.

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In this line from Chapter 7, Atticus is not being literal.  He is using figurative speech in an attempt to tell Scout to ignore the way that Jem is exaggerating his accounts of how school gets to be more interesting as you get older.

In this passage, Scout is unhappy because she thinks second grade is "grim."  Jem does not really help -- he says that you don't learn anything that's any good until you get to sixth grade.  At this point, Atticus tells Scout to delete the adjectives.  What he means is that Jem is exaggerating -- school is not really pointless until sixth grade.  But, at the same time, once you get past the exaggeration, there is a kernel of truth -- school does get more interesting, he says, as you get older.

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What does Atticus mean by "delete the adjectives and have the facts" in To Kill a Mockingbird?

In order to answer this question, Jem's words deserve to be read again:

He declared Egyptians walked that way; I said if they did I didn’t see how they got anything done, but Jem said they accomplished more than the Americans ever did, they invented toilet paper and perpetual embalming, and asked where would we be today if they hadn’t?

In this context, Jem is enthralled to be in 6th grade. In particularly he loved the section on the Egyptians. He, therefore, began to even imitate the way they walked "sticking one arm in front of him and one in back of him." 

When Scout questioned him about this, Jem responded by touting the great inventions of the Egyptians. This is where Atticus' wise words come in. 

Atticus basically tells Scout to strip down what Jem is saying to it essential meaning. The Egyptians created some important things that help us even today. In other words, they were inventive. 

Another way to look at it is by actually taking out the adjectives, as Atticus advises. If we did that, we would have: paper and embalming. The Egyptians did invent these two. 

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What does Atticus mean by "delete the adjectives and have the facts" in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Great question!  Atticus is actually referring to the last part of the paragraph you're referencing.  Jem, displaying his new-found knowledge of all things Egyptian, tells Scout, among other things, that the Egyptians invented "toilet paper and perpetual embalming."  Atticus, obviously recognizing the humorous error in this statement, instructs Scout to remove the adjectives (toilet and perpetual) and she'd have the facts.  Doing so would lead Scout to the conclusion that the Egyptians invented paper (not toilet paper) and embalming (not perpetual embalming, since because the word "perpetual" means "continuing forever," such a phrase would be redundant). 

Atticus's remark is just one of many in which Harper Lee points out Scout's naivety and Atticus's dry yet humorous response to it.  

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What are three quotes that describe Scout's loyalty in "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

Quick answer:

Three quotes that describe Scout's loyalty in "To Kill a Mockingbird" are: "It was the first time I ever walked away from a fight. Somehow, if I fought Cecil, I would let Atticus down . . . I could take being called a coward for him" (ch. 9), "Cal's a girl . . ." (ch. 13), and "'Don't you touch him!' I kicked the man swiftly. . . Ain't nobody gonna do Jem that way!" (ch. 15).

Scout shows loyalty to Atticus:

Chapter 9 opens with Cecil Jacobs telling Scout that her "daddy defended niggers." Because of this, she overlooks her father's instruction to stop getting involved in fights. She explains that her "fists were clenched and [she] was ready to let fly" (ch. 9).

The next day, Cecil Jacobs insults Atticus again. Scout starts to get upset, but then she remembers Atticus's instruction about not fighting, "dropped [her] fists" and leaves the situation. As she leaves, she hears Cecil Jacobs's insult: "Scout's a cow-ward!" (ch. 9). Scout explains,

"It was the first time I ever walked away from a fight. Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down . . . I could take being called a coward for him" (ch. 9).

Throughout chapter 9, Scout shows her loyalty to her father, first by being willing to fight to defend his reputation and later by choosing to listen to Atticus's instructions despite Cecil's continued insults.

Scout also shows loyalty to Calpurnia:

Calpurnia is the Finch family's African American housekeeper. Scout's loyalty is seen when Aunt Alexandra tells Scout that she needs a "feminine influence" in her life because she is growing up. Scout thinks to herself (but doesn't say out loud), "Cal's a girl . . ." (ch. 13).

Scout doesn't verbalize this thought because she does not want to upset her aunt. Still, Scout cares for Calpurnia and respects her opinions. She believes that Cal can help her grow into a mature young woman. Aunt Alexandra, however, seems to think that established family members are the best people to raise a child. (Aunt Alexandra also doesn't like the idea of Scout and Jem being raised by an African American woman.) Scout explains,

"I never understood her preoccupation with heredity. Somewhere, I had received the impression that Fine Folks were people who did the best they could with the sense they had, but Aunt Alexandra was of the opinion, obliquely expressed, that the longer a family had been squatting on one patch of land the finer it was" (ch. 13).

Scout doesn't understand Aunt Alexandra's ideas on what makes a person refined or good. Scout's ideas of goodness are not impacted by a person's family history, social standing, or skin color. Scout shows loyalty to friends, such as Calpurnia, that her aunt may not like or appreciate.

Finally, Scout shows loyalty toward Jem:

This is seen when Scout, Jem, and Dill follow Atticus into town in chapter 15. Atticus is going to protect Tom Robinson while he is in the Maycomb jail. When the kids arrive in town, they see some cars approach. A bunch of men get out of the car and ask Atticus if Tom is inside the jail. He says Tom is inside, but he instructs the men not to bother him. Scout doesn't want to miss anything that is said, so she runs nearer to Atticus. Atticus doesn't want her (or the other kids) involved in this potentially dangerous situation, so he tells Jem, "Go home, Jem . . . Take Scout and Dill home" (ch. 15).

The kids do not leave. The tension continues to build, and one of the men grabs Jem and nearly pulls him off the ground.

Scout responds,

"'Don't you touch him!' I kicked the man swiftly. . . Ain't nobody gonna do Jem that way!" (ch. 15).

Scout's refusal to go home shows her loyalty (once more) to Atticus. Her verbal defense of Jem shows her loyalty to and love for her older brother.

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In chapter 5 of To Kill a Mockingbird, why does Scout say "Dill was becoming something of a trial anyway"?

Quick answer:

In chapter 5 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout says "Dill was becoming something of a trial anyway" because she feels left out and jealous. Dill, who once showed affection towards Scout, is now spending more time with Jem, leading Scout to feel neglected and confused about her feelings as she matures.

In chapter 5 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout is starting to mature. She is frustrated at Dill because he is sticking closer to Jem. Dill and Jem are spending more and more time together and Scout is a little jealous of this. She feels left out and overlooked by the two boys.

Dill was becoming something of a trial anyway, following Jem about. He had asked me earlier in the summer to marry him, then he promptly forgot about it. He staked me out, marked as his property, said I was the only girl he would ever love, then he neglected me. I beat him up twice but it did no good, he only grew closer to Jem. 

Scout is jealous that the two boys are becoming closer while she is being left behind. We see that Scout is confused about the things she is feeling and what people are saying to her. Dill told her he loved her, but in the next instant he is ignoring her. All of this is strange for Scout, and she is discovering that the more she grows up the harder things are becoming for her to figure out.

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Scout is falling in love with Dill, and she is confused about the mixed signals that she is receiving from him. Dill has already asked Scout to marry him, but

... then he promptly forgot about it. He staked me out, marked as his property, said I was the only girl he would ever love, then he neglected me.

Despite his intentions toward Scout, Dill seems to prefer spending most of his time with Jem, doing things that little boys do. Even when Scout "beat him up twice... it did no good." Jem and Dill only allows Scout to join them when they "needed a third party," and since she doesn't approve of "their more foolhardy schemes," Scout ends up spending much of her time with Miss Maudie. Since Scout and Jem have always been nearly inseparable, Scout is feeling left out since her brother has found a new playmate--a boy--more suitable for the "male superiority" that seems to be infecting him.

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What are five aspects of Scout's physical appearance in the first 10 chapters of To Kill a Mockingbird?

Quick answer:

Unfortunately, very little is revealed about Scout's appearance in the first 10 chapters of To Kill a Mockingbird. Readers are told that Scout is bigger Walter Cunningham, that she typically wears breeches and overalls, and that she has bangs across her forehead.

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Because Scout presents this story from her own point of view, the details of her own appearance are quite limited. It would be a fairly awkward construction for her to reflect on her own appearance, so we mainly interpret those details through the way others perceive her.

We can assume that Scout looks like a fairly tough little girl. In chapter 3, she manages to beat up Walter Cunningham, even though he is older than her.

Catching Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard gave me some pleasure, but when I was rubbing his nose in the dirt Jem came by and told me to stop. “You’re bigger’n he is,” he said.

Not only is Scout larger than Walter, but she must also be strong. Most little girls could not hold down an older boy and scrub his face in the dirt against his will. Since Scout spends all her time outside, she is likely lithe and has learned to be tough.

We also know that Atticus's sister does not approve of the way he allows Scout to dress. Aunt Alexandra believes that Scout should present herself as a lady—which requires wearing a dress. Scout says that her aunt is "fanatical" on this subject:

I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants.

Even as a young girl, Scout is fiercely independent and doesn't rely on the approval of others to find her sense of self-worth. She believes that pants are practical and therefore wears them in her everyday adventures.

This conflict between whom Aunt Alexandra believes Scout should be and Scout's own independent spirit, which is often represented in Scout's choice of attire, continues throughout the novel. They finally reach an understanding at the missionary tea after they learn of Tom Robinson's death.

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Scout Finch (her birth name is "Jean Louise Finch") is not only the main character of the novel, but is also the narrator. The entire story is told from the perspective of a first grade girl.

This being said, there is very little revealed about Scout's actual appearance. There are two main reasons for this. First, because Scout is narrating, and she is only six years old, she doesn't see much of a reason to describe her appearance, probably. Second, Harper Lee as an author wants us to associate ourselves with Scout's beautiful innocence and see the world through the eyes of this child. As a result, and in order to connect us deeper with Scout, ALL OF US (both boys and girls, men and women) need to connect with her on some level. Hence the idea of Scout being a tomboy.

Interestingly enough, we learn the most about Scout's appearance through her interaction with her dreaded Aunt Alexandra. At least, we learn a lot about her clothes:

Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possible hope to be a lady if I wore breeches. 81

Therefore, we know that Scout wears "breeches" and "overalls" and the typical playclothes that a boy would wear. We are also told that she has straight bangs across her forehead; however, we are told this in a very indirect way. At one point, Boo Radley makes two tiny dolls for Scout and Jem. One is a boy and one is a girl. They are absolutely supposed to be representations of Scout and Jem. The little girl doll has bangs, and that is the only clue to Scout's hair.

Another thing we know about Scout is that she is bigger than the average first grader. She fights with the boys and Jem even admits that Scout is "bigger'n" other boys older than her.

This might seem a little bit silly, but it's also safe to assume that Scout has plenty of scars on her hands from punching boys in the face. She reveals the result of the altercation with Francis when she "split [her] knuckle to the bone" because she punched him in the teeth.

Thus, keep in mind that the question you have been asked to answer may be a "trick" question, with the answer being that there aren't really enough details to answer it properly. It may also be a method for a teacher to find out if the student only watched the movie instead of reading the book.

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Scout's descriptive narrative is quite thorough throughout the novel, but she gives the reader maddeningly little information about what she actually looks like. Scout is six years old when the story begins, and we can assume that she is big for her age since she is larger than most of the boys in the story. Even though Walter Cunningham Jr. is older, Jem tells us that

"You're bigger'n he is."  (Chapter 3)

Cousin Francis is a year older than Scout, but she has no problem with him once she decides to "split my knuckle to the bone on his front teeth." Scout is much larger than Dill, who the children guess is only "four-and-a-half." And she is bigger than Little Chuck Little, "among the most diminutive of men." We do know that Scout prefers overalls and "breeches" to dresses and skirts, but she tells us little else about her actual appearance. In the movie adaptation, Scout is pictured with very short, dark hair, usually wearing overalls and a "wife-beater" undershirt or flannel shirt underneath.

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Which quote from Chapters 3 and 4 of To Kill a Mockingbird depicts Scout's personality?

Quick answer:

A quote from Chapter 3 that depicts Scout's personality is when Jem says, "Scout here, she’s crazy—she won’t fight you any more," highlighting her feisty and short-tempered nature. Another quote from Chapter 4 is when Scout warns Dill, "Dill if you don’t hush I’ll knock you bowlegged," showing her quickness to anger and willingness to stand up for herself.

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Jean Louise Finch, or Scout, is the feisty and short-tempered protagonist in To Kill a Mockingbird. In chapter 3, a quote by Jem accurately describes Scout's personality. After he stops Scout from beating up Walter Cunningham, Jem says, "Scout here, she’s crazy—she won’t fight you any more." Scout's attempt to solve problems is often through fighting. She can be quick to anger and doesn't back down easily. Her response to her brother's statement also reflects her personality as she replies, "I wouldn’t be too certain of that."

In chapter 4, Scout is looking forward to the return of Dill. Upon his return, Dill shares his ability of being able to "smell death," a skill which he says he learned from an old lady. Dill then informs Scout that she will soon die. Again, Scout's feisty personality is apparent as she replies, "Dill if you don’t hush I’ll knock you bowlegged. I mean it, now."

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"Catching Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard gave me some pleasure, but when I was rubbing his nose in the dirt Jem came by and told me to stop" (Lee 30).

One of Scout's most predominant personality traits is her short temper. There are numerous scenes throughout the novel that depict Scout losing her temper and physically becoming aggressive towards others. Chapter 3 begins with Scout physically punishing Walter Cunningham because Miss Caroline disciplined Scout after she attempted to stick up for him. One of the most significant lessons Atticus teaches his daughter is the importance of controlling her anger. As Scout matures, she learns how to deal with her anger and control her emotions. In the scene where Scout is taking pleasure in beating up Walter, Jem steps in and tells Scout to stop. This is typical of their relationship. Jem is usually the voice of reason, being that he is four years older. Scout obeys her brother, which is another action that portrays her personality. Scout looks up to Jem throughout the novel and typically follows her brother's directives, even if she does not agree with him.

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How does Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird describe the difference between North Alabama and Maycomb County?

Quick answer:

Scout describes the difference between North Alabama and Maycomb County by highlighting their contrasting cultures. North Alabama, represented by Miss Caroline from Winston County, is seen as progressive, business-oriented, and urbanized, with associations to "liquor interests," "Republicans," and "professors." This contrasts with Maycomb's traditional, rural, and Southern Democrat identity, rooted in Confederate pride. The class's "apprehension" towards Miss Caroline underscores the cultural divide and prejudice against the more industrialized North Alabama.

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When Scout turns her description to school in chapter two, the fact that her teacher, Miss Caroline Fisher, comes from outside Maycomb points out the differences between it and northern Alabama whence she has come.

Miss Caroline presents herself quite differently from the residents of more rural Maycomb. Her "crimson fingernail polish" and "high heeled pumps" catch Scout's attention because they are so different from what she sees on a daily basis. The northern county from where Miss Caroline hails seceded from Alabama when Alabama seceded from the Union, suggesting that it had a more Northern attitude than the rest of the state. This would account for the "apprehension" that the children in the classroom feel when Miss Caroline talks about her background.

Scout's references to "steel companies," "Republicans," and "liquor interests" suggests a more business-oriented and business-friendly outlook in northern Alabama. It seems more highly educated, being the "full of ... professors." In short, it sounds much more progressive, well-informed, and urbanized than the traditional and slower-paced environs of Maycomb County. The fact that Atticus and Scout read The Mobile Register places them in the more deeply southern part of the state, if Mobile is the nearest urban center. Because Atticus is an attorney, his interests might well be more progressive than many of his acquaintances and neighbors in Maycomb County.

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Scout's first-grade teacher, Miss Caroline Fisher, hails from Winston County, Alabama and is considered an outsider in Maycomb's close-knit community. Miss Caroline is depicted as an attractive, young teacher who is inexperienced and struggles to understand and control the students in her class. When Miss Caroline introduces herself to the students, she informs them that she is from Winston County, and Scout mentions that the entire class "murmured apprehensively." According to Scout, northern Alabama is significantly different from Maycomb's rural, small-town community and is full of "Liquor Interests, Big Mules, steel companies, Republicans, professors, and other persons of no background." Scout's perception of Winston County reflects her community's prejudice against the northern region of Alabama, which does not share similar political, economic, or social values.

Unlike the progressive, affluent northern region of Alabama, Maycomb is a small farming community made up of Southern Democrats, who proudly supported the Confederacy during the Civil War. Scout also mentions that her entire community was aware that Winston County seceded from Alabama once Alabama seceded from the Union, which explains their resentment and prejudice toward Miss Caroline's hometown. The fact that Miss Caroline Fisher hails from Winston County contributes to her characterization as an outsider who is not familiar with Maycomb's rural culture or her students' backgrounds. During Scout's first day of school, she gets into several altercations with Miss Caroline, who attempts to punish her in front of the class and tells Scout to stop reading with her father.

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In Chapter 2 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, we learn that Scout's new first-grade teacher, Miss Caroline Fisher, has recently moved to Maycomb from Winston County in North Alabama. Scout notes that, upon hearing this, the children whispered among themselves for fear she may "prove to harbor her share of the peculiarities indigenous to that region."

Scout continues to explain that Winston County considers itself to be so different from the rest of Alabama that it seceded from the state of Alabama when Alabama seceded from the Union in 1861. Scout gives the following reasons for the differences between Winston County and the rest of Alabama:

North Alabama was full of Liquor Interests, Big Mules, steel companies, Republicans, professors, and other persons of no background. (Ch. 2)

Not all of Scout's comments about North Alabama can be historically supported, which shows she is probably reciting what she learned as young Scout through gossip and not speaking as the adult Jean Louise.

Historically, Winston County did not actually secede from Alabama though it proclaimed its right to and its desire to. Winston County has a very different climate and environment from the rest of Alabama, which made it difficult for cotton production in the area. Instead, the economy relied on subsistence farming (McRae, D., "Free State of Winston," Encyclopedia of Alabama). Since there were no cotton planters in Winston County, there were very few slave owners. Since slavery was not an issue in Winston County, many of its residents were Unionists. Though an overwhelming majority of Winston County residents voted for Democrat John C. Brekinridge when he ran for U.S. President, they also voted for Unionist Christopher Sheats to represent Winston County at Alabama's secession convention (McRae). Sheats "refused to sign the secession ordinance" and called for neutrality in the county (McRae). After the Civil War, Winston County's Unionists formed a strong Republican base, in contrast to the rest of Alabama's citizens, who were Democrats. The formation of the strong Republican base can account for Scout saying that the people of Winston County were Republicans.

It was at an unofficial gathering at Looney's Tavern that Unionists in Winston County proclaimed Alabama had no constitutional right to secede and declared that, if Alabama did have the right to secede, then Winston County equally had the right to secede from Alabama (McRae). Scout's reference to "Liquor Interests" may refer to the historical gathering at Looney's Tavern. However, though many Unionists in Winston County vehemently opposed the Confederates, no documentation was ever signed officially seceding the county from Alabama. 

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Quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird that depict Scout as a tomboy

Summary:

Quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird that depict Scout as a tomboy include her preference for overalls instead of dresses, her readiness to fight boys at school, and her adventurous spirit when playing with Jem and Dill. These examples highlight her non-conformity to traditional female roles in her Southern community.

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Which quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird depict Scout as a tomboy?

“I should think so. She eats all the leftover fingers and ears from the hospital.”

“Aw, that’s a damn story,” I said.

“I beg your pardon?”

But at supper that evening when I asked him to pass the damn ham, please, Uncle Jack pointed at me. “See me afterwards, young lady,” he said.

In the above quotes, Scout and Uncle Jack are discussing the latter's cat, Rose Aylmer. During the conversation, Scout uses the words "damn" twice, and this upsets Uncle Jack. After dinner, Uncle Jack tells Scout that she's more like Atticus than like her mother. He advises her to be vigilant about the language she uses so that she can grow up to be a lady.

In this exchange, Uncle Jack implies that girls who want to grow up to be ladies should not curse. Scout, however, does not particularly want to grow up to be one. According to the conventions of her time, Scout would be considered a tomboy.

But I was more at home in my father’s world. People like Mr. Heck Tate did not trap you with innocent questions to make fun of you; even Jem was not highly critical unless you said something stupid.

In this quote, Scout admits that she feels more comfortable in the world of men. Although she knows that she is expected to relish her initiation into feminine society, Scout confesses that "ladies in bunches" always fill her with "vague apprehension and a firm desire to be elsewhere." Because of her decided preference for her father's world, Aunt Alexandra characterizes Scout as a "spoiled" little girl. 

Aunt Alexandra's perspective is indicative of the attitudes of her time. Again, according to convention, Scout would be considered a tomboy. 

“Reckon you’re at the stage now where you don’t kill flies and mosquitoes now, I reckon,” I said.

“Lemme know when you change your mind. Tell you one thing, though, I ain’t gonna sit around and not scratch a redbug.”

“Aw dry up,” he answered drowsily. Jem was the one who was getting more like a girl every day, not I.

In this humorous exchange, Scout is irritated with what she believes is Jem's increasingly baffling and volatile behavior. When she tries to kill a bug, Jem lectures her against doing so. Jem's high-handed attitude annoys Scout, and she declares that Jem is "getting more like a girl every day."

Here, Scout implies that Jem is getting "soft" or becoming more effeminate; after all, it is not customary for boys to concern themselves with the ethical implications of killing a bug. Scout's words demonstrate that she identifies with the male perspective more often than she does the female one. Again, according to the conventions of her time, Scout would be considered a tomboy.

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Which quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird depict Scout as a tomboy?

There are several scenes throughout the novel that depict Scout as a "tomboy." At the beginning of Chapter 3, Scout displays her tough, "tomboy" attitude by physically punishing Walter Cunningham for getting her into trouble earlier in the day. Scout says,

"Catching Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard gave me some pleasure, but when I was rubbing his nose in the dirt Jem came by and told me to stop" (Lee 16).

Scout's decision to beat up Walter Cunningham was certainly not "ladylike" and displayed her "tomboy" personality. 

In Chapter 4, Dill returns to Maycomb for the summer. Scout mentions that they were already bored the first day of summer and began to think of things to do. Scout says to Jem, "Let's roll in the tire" (Lee 24). After Scout gets the old car tire from under the house, she drags it to the front yard and says, "I'm first" (Lee 24). Scout's suggestion and enthusiasm to roll in the tire displays her "tomboy" personality.

In Chapter 9, Scout comments on her relationship with her Aunt Alexandra. Scout refuses to wear dresses and act like a proper female, which upsets Alexandra. Scout mentions,

"Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants" (Lee 51).

Throughout the novel, Scout continues to act like a "tomboy" and wear overalls despite Alexandra's feelings.

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Which quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird depict Scout as a tomboy?

Scout is a tomboy through and through. She hates wearing dresses, loves wearing her overalls, frequently gets herself quite dirty, and hates to walk away from a fight. Rolling around in the dirt while overcoming an opponent--a boy, of course--seems a reasonable response to conflict for Scout, until her father makes her give it up. Scout also likes to swear, from time to time, which earns her occasional correction from the adults in her life.

Scout's reaction to her aunt's ideas as to how a girl should conduct herself shows Scout's love of her tomboy self:

Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of m attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants. Aunt Alexandra's vision of my deportment involved playing with small stoves, tea sets, and wearing the Add-A-Pearl necklace she gave me when I was born . . . . She hurt my feelings and set my teeth permanently on edge . . . .

Wearing dresses is a challenge for Scout, but giving up fighting is sometimes impossible for her. She walks away from a fight with Cecil Jacobs (the first fight she has ever walked away from), feeling "noble," but three weeks later she beats up her cousin Francis, bloodying her knuckle in the fray. Scout's only comfort as she moves through her tomboy stage is knowing that her father likes her just the way she is.

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Why does Scout want to be a tomboy in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Some factors that might influence Scout's tomboy nature include the following: she is the only girl in her family, she enjoys her independence, she has fun being around Jem, and she is raised by her father. Scout spends a significant amount of time with her older brother, Jem, who is an extremely active child. Scout admires her older brother and is primarily focused on earning his respect and admiration. There are numerous times in their childhoods together where Scout does not want to participate in a particularly risky activity. However, Jem ridicules Scout for behaving like a "girl," which is considered an insult, and successfully persuades her to tag along. Jem's influence significantly impacts Scout's persona and desire to be a tomboy. Scout also enjoys being active and cannot stand dressing up or socializing like the other ladies in her life. Atticus also doesn't mind Scout's tomboy personality and actually encourages his daughter to be herself. He allows her to wear overalls and doesn't mind when Scout refuses to participate in feminine activities. Overall, one could argue that Scout desires to be a tomboy because she wishes to earn Jem's respect and does not want to miss out on his adventures. She is also raised without a mother and is attracted to the active, tomboy lifestyle. It seems to fit naturally with her personality.

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The character traits of Scout that could make her life difficult in To Kill a Mockingbird

Summary:

Scout's traits that could make her life difficult include her strong-willed nature, her tendency to speak her mind, and her nonconformity to traditional gender roles. These characteristics often lead her into conflicts with peers and adults who expect her to behave more like a "proper" Southern girl.

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What character traits of Scout in chapter 3 of To Kill a Mockingbird could make her life difficult?

At the beginning of chapter 3, Scout beats up Walter Cunningham Jr. on the playground because of what happened with Miss Caroline and Jem eventually intervenes to stop her. Scout's hot temper and propensity for violence will certainly make her life difficult if she does not learn to control her anger. After Jem invites Walter Cunningham Jr. over for lunch, Scout is disgusted when she witnesses Walter Jr. pour syrup all over his meat. Scout does not hold her tongue and proceeds to comment on his unorthodox eating habits, which makes Walter Jr. ashamed and embarrassed. Immediately after Scout embarrasses Walter Jr., Calpurnia calls her into the kitchen to reprimand her. Scout's rude comments and bold personality will also be problematic in the future. Her inability to control her mouth and keep her negative comments to herself could lead to numerous conflicts. Overall, Scout is aggressive, violent, and impulsive, which are several negative character traits that will make her life difficult in the future if she does not curb her behavior. As the novel progresses, Scout begins to mature and develops into a morally-upright child after listening to her father's life lessons and watching him act like a positive role model.

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What character traits of Scout in chapter 3 of To Kill a Mockingbird could make her life difficult?

1.  She is quick to anger, and to fight.  The very first sentence states how she "was rubbing [Walter Cunningham's] nose in the dirt," as payment for his mere existence causing him trouble with Miss Caroline, her teacher.  We see this over and over throughout the book, how she is eager to fight, defend, and prove her points through anger.

2.  She is tactless.  This means that she says whatever comes into her head, whether it is kind, socially acceptable, or right for the situation.  As Walter is drowning his lunch in syrup, Scout almost jumps in to comment rudely on how weird that is, but Cal stops her short.  Scout complains to Cal, "but he's gone and drowned his dinner in syrup," and Call has to explain tact to him.

3.  She is naive to the world's ways.  A lot of this will change as she gets older, but for now, it gets her into trouble a bit.  She is unaware of how to treat a guest in the house, she doesn't know about the social networks of Maycomb, and she openly and bluntly informs Miss Caroline of differences between kids and families in the class.  Her naivety will lead her into tricky situations where she will have hard let-downs in her life.

4.  Sulky.  Scout tends to sulk a bit, get down, and mope.  She is upset about having to go back to school, and it takes Atticus giving her a long lecture about how things are for her to resign herself to the fact that she will have to go.  She's not happy about it though.

I hope that those thoughts help a bit; good luck!

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What character traits might make Scout's life difficult in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Jean Louise Finch, or Scout, displays traits that will make her life hard as she grows older if she does not learn to modify them. One of the first such traits she exhibits in the novel is her belligerence. Scout is prone to getting into fistfights, using violence to solve disagreements. Obviously, this is not a trait that will serve her well in life and could, in fact, have serious consequences. Atticus is not a demanding parent. However, he does tell Scout to stop fighting, and she does her best to comply.

Another trait that Scout reveals is a know-it-all attitude. When she starts first grade, she already knows how to read, and the instruction is legitimately beneath her skill level. One has to suspect that it was not only her precocious skills but also her superior attitude that irritated Miss Caroline, her teacher. Throughout the book, Scout proudly spouts off her knowledge, even when incomplete, an activity, which, at her age is cute. However, such haughtiness can lead to one not admitting or realizing what one does not know, which can lead to problems. By the end of the book, she has softened only somewhat, declaring that she doesn't have much more to gain from school "except possibly algebra." 

Scout disdains societal expectations. Although this is refreshing in that she does not harbor the racial prejudice that blights her town, it also means she does not value what it means to be a lady or to be a Finch. This creates an ongoing conflict with Aunt Alexandra, who believes that for Scout to succeed in society, she has to be able to function within its rules. Scout grows in this area when she helps Alexandra serve tea on the day they learn of Tom Robinson's death. She finally appreciates the strength required to be a lady.

Finally, Scout often lacks empathy. The reason Atticus disapproves of the children's Boo Radley games is that it shows that they do not care about Boo's feelings as a human being. Atticus sets out to teach Scout about the need to walk in another person's shoes, and by the end of the book, her ability to look at things from different perspectives has greatly improved.

Although Scout has several characteristics that will make life hard for her, she also has caring teachers and mentors in Aunt Alexandra and Atticus who help her tone down the negative side of those traits.

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What character traits might make Scout's life difficult in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Scout, like her father, does not see why injustice in any form is tolerated. She is able to read before she attends school and is confused as to why this is 'wrong'. Similarly, she cannot see why Walter's manners are different from hers, or that she is regarded with suspicion when she attends Calpurnia's church. Scout also cannot see why she shouldn't dress or act like a boy.

Scout stubbornly refuses to accept difference - it makes her life hard, but as we empathise with her, we understand Harper Lee's message more clearly.

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What character traits might make Scout's life difficult in To Kill a Mockingbird?

The behavior that will  make life difficult for Scout is her total unwillingness to follow the traditional role of the "southern female." That in a sense is part of Aunt Alexandra's concern for her. Consider the roots of Scout's reading experience with Atticus. She reads the news; she educates herself about matters that really don't "concern" females. She  runs with the boys; she plays with the boys. All of her actions are contrary to what is expected of the "southern female."

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What character traits might make Scout's life difficult in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Scout clearly shows that she is a very impatient young girl with those that she considers to not display intelligence. Likewise she has a bit of a temper to her which gets her into trouble. With such a father as Atticus, and considering the way that she and her brother are brought up, where they are encouraged to question, it is hardly surprising that Scout turns her attentions to those around her and often finds various characters and situations wanting from her own perspective.

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What character traits might make Scout's life difficult in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Scout's curiosity surrounding people, their similarities and their differences is an impediment when mixed with the qualities mentioned above.  She wants to know why Walter has such different table manners to herself. She is confused as to why Miss Caroline objects to being questioned and is unable to explain things as clearly and eloquently as Atticus. She sees the value in the lessons she learns from Calpurnia and appreciates the experience of attending Calpurnia's church, though not all of the adults see the value in this.

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What character traits might make Scout's life difficult in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Like many gifted children, and also because she has such a rational father, Scout has little patience with people who are illogical such as the one-dimensional Miss Caroline, who mistakenly considers herself educated.

Later on in the narrative, however, Scout does alter her perspective as she remarks, "Folks are just folks."  And, like her father, she learns to find some redeeming quality in all but the worst. 

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What character traits might make Scout's life difficult in To Kill a Mockingbird?

I think that Scout's major problem is that she isn't very tolerant of people whom she thinks are fools.  You can see this right away when she starts school.  She doesn't really know how to politely give in to people when she thinks they are wrong.  She is the type who is likely to go through life correcting other people and arguing with them even when it really isn't necessary to do so.  That is not a good recipe for being popular.

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What character traits might make Scout's life difficult in To Kill a Mockingbird?

We have already learned that Scout has a hot temper who is frequently at odds with adult authority. She doesn't always get along with Calpurnia, whose

... battles were epic and one-sided. Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always took her side.

Although Scout seems to like Dill from the start, she antagonizes Jem until he takes the dare to run up and touch the Radley house. She speaks her mind during Miss Caroline's class on the first day of school, and she immediately gets off on the wrong foot and into trouble with her teacher. She takes out her frustrations by fighting Walter on the playground during their lunch break, and then she gets into more trouble with Calpurnia when they return home to eat. After the second half of the first day gets no better for her, she tells Atticus that night that she wants to quit school.

Scout doesn't seem to get along with the other children (aside from her new friend, Dill) any better than she does with the adults. Her independent streak is one that must eventually be tempered if she is to succeed in future relationships. And she must learn to control her anger--and her urge to settle disagreements with her fists--before she encounters a situation in which her tactics will not work.

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In To Kill a Mockingbird, which three traits of Scout could make her life difficult?

1.  Stubbornness.  How many times in the story did Jem insist that she stay put and she absolutely refused?  This got her into trouble over and over again, and made her life harder.  However, hopefully as she matures, she will be stubborn about the right things, like Atticus is, and it will end up being to her credit.

2.  Tomboyishness.  She will eventually, as she admits at the missionary circle, have to "soon enter this world", meaning the world of a lady.  She fights it though, and as a result earns people's scorn and judgment, including many townfolk and Aunt Alexandra.  Later this could be hard for her as she tries to fit in with girls her age, as Jem eventually moves out of her sphere of friendship.  It will be a rough transition for her, but hopefully she can make it with few hiccups.

3.  Always speaking what is on her mind, with no regard for social tact.  We see Scout do this many times throughout the book, blurt out questions, judgments, perspectives and attitudes without even thinking beforehand whether it's the right time or place.  This gets her into awkward and troublesome sitiuations, and could potentially earn her enemies in the future, when people can't pass it off because she is young.  However, it is what gives her much of her charm in the book, and I find her forthrightness refreshing.  :)

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