Chapter 1: The Memories of the Past

This story is narrated by a girl named Jean Louise Finch who is often called as Scout.

She then starts talking about the past, about how Jem, her brother, got a broken arm, and about her ancestors. She then talks about her father, Atticus Finch, who is a lawyer.

She also talks about Jack Finch, Atticus’ brother, who is in the medical field in Boston. Finally, she talks about Alexandria Finch, Atticus’ sister, who is running the Finch’s Landing. Atticus was a successful lawyer, making a solid living. Atticus lives with Jem, Scout, and Calpurnia, their cook, who helps keep the house in check. Scout and Jem’s mother died when Scout was two, so she doesn’t really remember her mother, butJem remembers her clearly. In the summer of 1933, Jem is 10 and Scout is 6. That summer, they meet a boy named Dill.

One day, Dill comes with the idea to lure out Boo Radley, a man, who in rumors, stabbed his father with a scissor. Eventually, Dill dares Jem to touch Boo Radley’s house.

Jem agrees and touches Boo Radley’s House. There is no movement, but Scout thinks that she saw a shutter move slightly, like someone was peeking out.

 

Tyler

Chapter 2 : First Day of School

As summer closes, Dill leaves and goes back to his house. If summer closes, that means that school has just started. This is Scout’s first time going to school and she is super exciting and was waiting for this moment.

When she goes to school though, she finds out that her teacher, Miss Caroline, isn’t good with dealing with children. When Miss Caroline finds out that Scout knows how to read, she makes Scout feel “guilty” for knowing how to read. Scout feels like reading out of class is now a “sin.”  Miss Caroline tells Scout to tell her father to stop teaching her how to read. During recess, Scout complains to Jem, telling her about her experience, but Jem tells her that Miss Caroline is trying out a new method of teaching, the “Dewey Decimal System.” As school progresses, Miss Caroline and Scout’s relationship stays the same. One time, she asked everyone if they had a lunch or if they were going for home for lunch. Everyone raised their hand that they had a lunch except Walter Cunningham. Miss Caroline tries to offer Walter a quarter to buy lunch, but Walter refuses. We learn from Atticus that the Cunningham family pays Atticus by giving them hickory nuts and other goods.

Scout tries to explain the circumstances to Miss Caroline, telling her that the Cunningham’s won’t take anything they can’t pay for. Miss Caroline fails to understand Scout and instead of thanking her, she slaps Scout in the hand with a ruler. Then the bell rings, and they all go out to lunch.

 

Tyler

Chapter 3 : Walter For Lunch

After they get outside for lunch, Scout throws Walter on the floor and rubs his head on the dirt. Jem comes into the fight and tries to stop Scout, but just keeps saying that Walter made Miss Caroline start school “on the wrong foot.”

Jem stops the fight and tells Walter that he can join them for lunch. Walter goes with Jem and Scout to their house. Atticus is pleased by Walter’s visit. Atticus and Walter talk about farming like “two real men.” Walter asks for the syrup, and to Scout’s horror, he pours it all over his meat and vegetables. Scout then criticizes Walter, but then Calpurnia calls her into the kitchen and scolds her telling her that Walter is her guest. Back at school, Miss Caroline is terrified when she sees something poking out of Burris Ewell’s Head. Burris, a member of the Ewell clan, says that it is just a “cootie” or what we call it, lice, and that it is regular for people to have it. Burris Ewell only comes to school on the first day, and then leaves for the rest of the year, making rude remarks to cause the teacher to cry. Scout goes back home and talks with Atticus. Atticus asks her if something is wrong. Scout says that she doesn’t want to go to school anymore. Atticus says that she has to go to school, scout responds that the Ewells don’t need to go to school, but Atticus tells her that if they had to go, they wouldn’t make a living. Scout also says that if she keeps going to school, she wouldn’t be able to read with Atticus anymore. In the end, Atticus and Scout make a compromise, Atticus promises that they will read every night like they have been doing, and that Scout will promise to continue to go to school.

 

Tyler

Chapter 5 : Miss Maudie

Chapter 5 starts off with Scout Convincing Jem to back off on the Radley game, a game that Jem made up. Dill then asks Scout if she would like to marry him. Even though Dill and Scout have bond, Dill still plays with Jem and neglects Scout. So, Scout starts to start to hang out with their neighbor, Miss Maudie.

Miss Maudie was a childhood friend of Atticus. Miss Maudie tells Scout that Boo Radley’s father was a  foot washing Baptist, a more “hardcore” version of a regular baptist. Miss Maudie also tells Scout that Mr.Radley’s footwashers told her that her flowers were going to burn down to hell. They said that “time not spent on reading the bible is time spent on sin.” Miss Maudie also tells them that Mr. Radley is “so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one.” Scout then goes back to Jem and Dill and learn that they are trying to use a fishing pole to give Boo a note. Atticus then shows up not looking pleased. he tells them to stop bothering Boo. Atticus then tells them to stop playing their game. Jem then argues that they weren’t making fun of the Radley’s, revealing to Atticus that they were actually pretending to be the Radley’s.

 

Tyler