Students today began working on presentations for tomorrow about one of three questions.

Calpurnia and the First Purchase African M.E. Church

What is Calpurnia’s purpose in the novel? In order to answer that question, you need to think about the attitudes the townspeople of Maycomb express about African Americans. Then ask yourself why Harper Lee places an African American inside the Finch home. Her role there is traditional – she is a servant. But what else is Calpurnia? What is the significance of her taking the children to her church? Share your thoughts about Harper Lee’s purpose in creating Calpurnia for the novel. Include quotes from the text to support your points. During the presentation, the group should guide other class members to see the similarities or differences between what is presented in the novel and what the three ladies in the interview said about relationships between whites and African Americans.

Lady Is as Lady Does

Aunt Alexandra represents another segment of Southern society in the 1930s. Read the interview with three women who “grew up white in the South” during the ‘30s. Fill in the Southern Behavior chart with things they were taught to do as a young girl – compare the list with what Aunty is trying to teach Scout and Jem. Is there an overlap? Create a third list showing the similarities between the interview and the novel. Only fill the boxes in the third list with the lessons they have in common.

Mrs. Dubose

One of the most confusing characters is Mrs. Dubose. In some ways, she’s really a reprehensible character, but as the novel develops, we see another side of her. In Atticus’s eyes, what role does she play in the children’s development? Is that different from the role she plays in the novel in general? In addition, consider how Mrs. Dubose compares to the women in the interview. In that case, is this realistic? (You could also do some research on historic substance abuse and see just how prevalent it was in the thirties.)

Students will be presenting tomorrow.

Homework

• English I Honors: 
  • work on presentation as needed;
  • complete online discussion forum from yesterday (as needed);
  • continue reading TKMB (chapters 13-16) for Monday.