How does Scout describe Calpurnia in Chapter 1 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

Calpurnia is the faithful and beloved Finch family cook and housekeeper in Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout initially believes that Cal favors her brother, Jem, but she soon grows to understand and respect her much in the same way as her father, Atticus. She has been with the family since before the death of Scout's mother, and in addition to her duties around the house, Calpurnia exercises discipline, including keeping the two children from being too noisy during the last days of the dying Mr. Radley.

"There goes the meanest man ever God blew breath into," murmered Calpurnia, and she spat meditatively into the yard. We looked at her in surprise, for Calpurnia rarely commented on the ways of white people. 

Scout describes Atticus as playful and courteous, but "Calpurnia was something else again."

She was all angles and bones... nearsighted... she squinted; her hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard. She was always ordering me out of the kitchen, asking me why I couldn't behave as well as Jem... calling me home when I wasn't ready to come. Our battles were epic and one-sided. Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always took her side... and I had felt her tyrannical presence as long as I could remember.

Based solely on Scout's narration from Chapter 1, we are introduced to "Calpurnia our cook." Where Atticus is described as "satisfactory" and "courteous,"

Calpurnia was something else again.

Nearsighted with a squint, the African-American Calpurnia is apparently quite thin; Scout calls her bony. She uses her large hands for more than just housework, because Scout has apparently felt their hardness across her backside. Cal is undefeated in her battles with the children, since Atticus always takes her side on the issues. She has held a "tyrannical presence" in the Finch home ever since Jem was born. Though she rarely "commented on the ways of white people," Cal calls their neighbor, Mr. Nathan Radley, "the meanest man ever God blew breath into." She spat when she said it. 

What are some quotes from Calpurnia in chapters 12-14 of To Kill A Mockingbird?

Calpurnia plays a more prominent role in chapter 12 than she does in chapters 13 and 14. In chapter 12, Atticus is out of town on a business trip and Calpurnia decides to take Jem and Scout to Sunday service at First Purchase African M.E. Church. Before the children attend Cal's church, she makes sure they are thoroughly washed and that their clothes are in immaculate condition. When Jem asks what all the fuss is about, Cal replies,

I don’t want anybody sayin‘ I don’t look after my children... (Lee, 119)

Cal's comment and careful preparations reveal that she takes pride in caring for the Finch children and is serious about her job. Cal is also aware of how others perceive her and wants to make a good impression. Following the Sunday service, the children are surprised to learn that Cal is one of the few literate black citizens in her community. Cal proceeds to tell the children that Miss Maudie Atkinson’s aunt, Miss Buford, taught her how to read. The children are astonished by this information and inquire about Cal's age. Cal responds by telling the Finch children,

I’m older than Mr. Finch, even...Not sure how much, though. We started rememberin‘ one time, trying to figure out how old I was—I can remember back just a few years more’n he can, so I’m not much older, when you take off the fact that men can’t remember as well as women. (Lee, 126)

Calpurnia proceeds to elaborate on her background and upbringing, which fascinates the children. Cal mentions that she grew up on Finch's Landing and was educated by reading the Bible and Blackstone's Commentaries. After discovering that Cal is an educated woman, Scout asks why Cal doesn't use correct English when she is around her community members. Cal responds by saying,

It’s right hard to say...Suppose you and Scout talked colored-folks’ talk at home it’d be out of place, wouldn’t it? Now what if I talked white-folks’ talk at church, and with my neighbors? They’d think I was puttin‘ on airs to beat Moses. (Lee, 127)

Cal's response depicts her as a modest woman who exercises perspective and understands her environment. Cal is able to code-switch in order to adapt and assimilate into her environment, which highlights her intelligence.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, what simile does Scout use to describe Calpurnia?

Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, the young narrator of Harper Lee’s coming-of-age novel To Kill a Mockingbird, employs a myriad of adjectives to describe the actions and appearance of her family’s African American housekeeper, Calpurnia.

Calpurnia, or Cal, plays a significant role in the lives of the Finch family. She serves as a substitute mother for the children of the widowed Atticus. She cleans the family’s home, cooks their meals, and supervises Scout and her older brother Jem. So integral to the family’s existence is Calpurnia that Atticus repeatedly rebuffs Aunt Alexandra’s efforts at having the housekeeper fired.

In Chapter 12 of To Kill a Mockingbird, the section of the novel in which Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church, Scout observes Calpurnia change her use of the English language to fit in among the town’s African American community. The literate housekeeper normally speaks in “proper” English, but she uses the local dialect among other African Americans. Commenting upon this discovery of Calpurnia’s “modest double life,” Scout states, “The idea that she had a separate existence outside our household was a novel one, to say nothing of her having command of two languages.”

There is really only one instance in which Scout uses a simile to describe the housekeeper:

“Calpurnia was something else again. She was all angles and bones; she was nearsighted; she squinted; her hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard.”

This physical description of Calpurnia occurs in the novel’s opening chapter. The simile is the description of Calpurnia’s hand as being as “wide as a bed slat and twice as hard.” 

Can you provide quotes that describe Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Calpurnia is the Finch family's cook and is an integral part of Jem's and Scout's lives. Atticus completely trusts and respects Calpurnia, and he defends her when Aunt Alexandra suggests that he get rid of her. As a child, Scout continually argues with Calpurnia, who is quick to chastise her for misbehaving or acting rude. Despite their disagreements, Scout learns to appreciate Calpurnia and is aware that Cal truly cares about her. In chapter 1, Scout gives a vivid description of Calpurnia:

"She [Calpurnia] was all angles and bones; she was nearsighted; she squinted; her hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard. She was always ordering me out of the kitchen, asking me why I couldn’t behave as well as Jem when she knew he was older, and calling me home when I wasn’t ready to come. Our battles were epic and one-sided. Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always took her side. She had been with us ever since Jem was born, and I had felt her tyrannical presence as long as I could remember" (Lee, 6).

In chapter 12, Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to Sunday service at First Purchase African M.E. Church because Atticus is out of town. During their visit, the children gain valuable insight into Maycomb's black community and are surprised to learn that Calpurnia is one of the few educated, literate black citizens in Maycomb. They also discover Calpurnia's ability to speak differently in various social settings. Scout says,

"That Calpurnia led a modest double life never dawned on me. The idea that she had a separate existence outside our household was a novel one, to say nothing of her having command of two languages" (Lee, 127).

How would you describe the character Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Calpurnia is one of the most beloved characters in To Kill a Mockingbird. Cal is the black woman who works for Atticus and helps him take care of the house and Jem and Scout. Calpurnia is a no nonsense kind of woman. She is tough and sticks to her guns. She is treated like one of the family and Atticus gives her respect, which in those days, made her extremely lucky. She is a woman of great moral values and instills those values into Jem and Scout. 

For the most part, Calpurnia has been like a mother to the children. Jem and Scout's mother died when they were young. Jem still has memories of his mother, but Scout doesn't remember her mother. Calpurnia has, in a way, taken the place of a mother for Scout. She is stern with Scout and teaches her how to treat people, but she is also loving towards her. When the trial of Tom Robinson gets underway, Calpurnia is the one who keeps an eye on the children. She takes them to her all black church and thinks nothing of it. 

Harper Lee uses Calpurnia as a mother figure in the book. Calpurnia looks after Atticus, Jem and Scout. She imparts her wisdom onto the young kids and listens when Atticus has something to say. Atticus and the children make her a member of their family and in return she has made them her family. 

How does Scout describe Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird?

In chapter 1, Scout describes Calpurnia as a powerful force in her household. Calpurnia is the Finch's cook, but she is much more than a cook to the family. For example, Atticus relies on her to share the role of authority figure, while Jem and Scout rely on her for keeping order. Scout describes her relationship with Calpurnia in military terms: Calpurnia "was always ordering" Scout to leave the kitchen, their "battles were epic and one-sided," and Calpurnia consistently "won."

Scout describes Calpurnia as influential in other ways. In chapter 2, Scout remembers Calpurnia teaching her how to write, but "[i]n Calpurnia's teaching, there was no sentimentality." In chapter 3, Calpurnia teaches Scout important lessons about politeness and good manners when Walter is having lunch with them, and Scout recalls that "Atticus said Calpurnia had more education than most colored folks."

Though Scout often describes herself as resentful of Calpurnia, she also makes sure that the reader understands that Calpurnia always fulfills her responsibility to Atticus and to both Jem and Scout. Scout's descriptions might often sound negative, but Calpurnia's presence ultimately had a positive effect on Scout.

What is a simile that describes Calpurnia in To Kill A Mockingbird?

I’m not sure if you are asking for an original simile that describes Calpurnia or how Scout describes her in the book.  So, I’ll help you out with both!  In the novel, Scout describes Calpurnia as,

“She was all angles and bones; she was nearsighted; she squinted; her hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard.  She was always ordering me out of the kitchen, asking me why I couldn’t behave as well as Jem when she knew he was older, and calling me home when I wasn’t ready to come.  Our battles were epic and one-sided.  Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always took her side.  She had been with us ever since Jem was born, and I had felt her tyrannical presence as long as I could remember.”

In this quote, the main simile is, “her hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard.”  It is a simile because Harper Lee is comparing two different things—a hand to a bed slat—and that comparison uses the word, “as”.  Similes use “like” and “as” to show a comparison between two things that are not alike.

So as I think about other possible similes for Calpurnia, I’m going to use other descriptions from the quote to help me out. 

For example,

Calpurnia is as tyrannical as a Russian czar.

Calpurnia is like an army sergeant ordering new recruits.

Calpurnia is as bossy as a mother hen.

Calpurnia is like an Olympic gold medal winner whenever she fights with Scout.

Calpurnia is like a cardboard Halloween skeleton, all angles and bones.

I hope this helps!

How does the author portray the character Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird?

The author portrays Calpurnia as the typical nanny character appropriate for the era. Black servants in the South in the thirties collected a paycheck, but became more respected than slaves of the past. Atticus gives her more respect than the typical indentured servant by expecting the children to treat her like family. He drives her home if the rain should fall or if it is cold.

Calpurnia takes care of the house and cooks, but she is also a sharp disciplinarian. She gives the children rules and boundaries and enforces them. If Scout behaves inappropriately she is punished with the job of copying a page out of the bible. If she deserves a reward, Cal is sure to give her a buttered bread with sugar. Cal is a defender of the children as we see her at the black church with a member offended by their presence. Likewise, she defends the children from the mad dog by requiring they remain in the house.