Old Monroe County Courthouse at Monroeville, AL
(home of To Kill A Mockingbird)
What is the symbolism of the courthouse in To Kill a Mockingbird?
The courtroom was supposed to
represent order and a presentation of the facts that would bring about an answer as to who was right and who was wrong
. But it only heightened the idea that there were only two kinds of people in that town: black and white.
How is the setting described in To Kill a Mockingbird?
To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in
Maycomb, Alabama during 1933–1935
. These years place the events of the novel squarely within two important periods of American history: the Great Depression and the Jim Crow era. The Great Depression is reflected in the poverty that affects all of the residents of Maycomb.
The tiny Maycomb County Jail must surely have been the ugliest building in town. Scout describes it as
“hideous” and a “miniature Gothic joke
. The jail is “wedged” between B. B. Underwood's Maycomb Tribune office and Tindal's Hardware Store.
Who was in the courtroom in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Scene one—Chapter 17 There is a colored balcony that runs along three walls of the courtroom like a second-story veranda. The jury sits to the left under long windows. The circuit solicitor, another man, Atticus, and Tom Robinson sit at tables with their backs to
Jem and Scout
.
What does the Maycomb courthouse columns symbolize?
The town's past and their beliefs about races
are symbolized by the columns. In Chapter 16, the book states that the columns were the only part of the original courthouse:“The pillars were all that remained standing when the original courthouse burned in 1856.” (Lee 164).
What does Atticus pocket watch symbolize?
Atticus had a pocket watch that he gave to Jem. Atticus wants to pass his good values to his children. The pocket watch represents
the passing of family values to the next generation
.
Why is the old Monroe County Courthouse important?
It is
significant as an Alabama literary landmark due to
its association with Harper Lee and Truman Capote, both of whom spent their childhood in Monroeville and featured the courthouse in their work. … The courthouse is now one of the Monroe County Museums and is operated as the Old Courthouse Museum.
How does Scout describe Maycomb County Courthouse?
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout describes the Maycomb courthouse
as having large old pillars from the previous courthouse before it burned down
. She notes the unreliable clock tower.
Is Maycomb a welcoming place?
Maycomb, Alabama; the 1930s
Welcome to
small town Alabama
, circa 1930s. It's a friendly town, with lots of old ladies baking cakes and small-town sheriffs saying folksy things. Oh, and it also has morphine-addicted old ladies; abusive families living by the dump; and a pretty nasty racial divide.
Why is Atticus guarding the Maycomb jail?
In Chapter 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird, a crowd of men comes to the Maycomb jail, where Atticus is guarding Tom Robinson inside. They clearly plan to get Atticus out of the way and lynch Tom Robinson so that
they can carry out vigilante justice
and deny Tom his right to a trial, however flawed that trial might be.
How does Scout describe Judge Taylor?
Scout calls Judge Taylor
“a sleepy old shark”
(16.105), and it fits: he may seem out of it most of the time, but disrupt his court in any way and he's on it like a shark on fishmeat. While he seems fairly even-handed in court, his personal views on the Robinson case come out in more subtle ways.
How is Calpurnia described in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Scout describes Calpurnia
as a strict, demanding, and unsentimental “tyrannical presence
.” At the same time, Scout treats Calpurnia with more genuine respect and obedience than the female members of her own family, such as her Aunt Alexandra.
What did Atticus take to the jail?
So, Atticus gets
a chair, a light and reading material
, and positions himself in front of the jail in order to protect Tom, in the event that townspeople would come to hurt him. It turns out that Atticus' suspicions were correct. A group of men does show up at the jail to take Tom Robinson.
What did Atticus say in court?
“
I'm no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and the jury system—that is no ideal to me, it is a living, working reality
. Gentlemen, a court is no better than each man of you sitting before me on this jury. A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up.
What chapter is the court case in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Tom Robinson's trial for the rape of Mayella Ewell begins just before
Chapter 17
of To Kill a Mockingbird. The town of Maycomb can talk about nothing else, and Atticus Finch and his family are at the center of it all.
How did Atticus prove Tom was innocent?
neither atticus nor anyone else could prove his innocence because the judiciary was prejudiced against black people but some audience, deep down in their hearts knew they were responsible for the death of an innocent man and that's how atticus proved tom's innocence- by
putting the truth in front of the audience and
…
Where do Jem and Scout sit in the courthouse?
They sit with rev. Sykes and the black
people in the balcony
. This really shows where their values are. It shows that they side with Tom Robinson and believe in their father.
What is symbolic about the clock in the Maycomb County courthouse?
Harper Lee uses the clock tower in her description of the Maycomb County courthouse to symbolize
the fact that Maycomb is stuck in its past and unable to move forward.
What does the tree by the Radley house represent?
In the novel, the tree is described slowly dying by Nathan Radley due to the knothole. Certain trees have knot holes because it is a method for them to heal after a branch had died from a disease or if the tree was injured. The diseased part of the Maycomb's tree represents
Boo's mental instability
.
What pearl necklace and ring awaits Scout when she's older?
Scout refers to
the “Add-A-Pearl” necklace
that Aunt Alexandra gave her when she was born. Scout says that her aunt expects her to play with tea things and stoves and jewelry.
Does Atticus give Jem a watch?
Atticus' pocket watch is a family heirloom, symbolic of his southern heritage.
He intends to pass the watch down to Jem when he is old enough
. In this way, it represents the continuing of old traditions as well as Atticus' social position. It is significant that Atticus removes his…
What does Atticus's watch say?
“May I see your watch? ‘
To Atticus, My Beloved Husband
. ‘ Atticus, Jem says this watch is gonna belong to him some day.”
Is there a Harper Lee Museum?
The museum is no longer free
. Cost is $5.00 adults. Nelle Harper Lee is buried at Hillcrest, Penville and Baptist Cemetery. Inside Monroeville Old Courthouse.
How does Scout describe the courthouse according to her what do the Greek Revival columns and the old clock tower suggest about the people of Maycomb?
According to her, what do the Greek revival columns and the old clock tower suggest about the people of Maycomb?
The courthouse is a mixture of several different architectural elements
.
What does scout say about Maycomb?
Scout points out when first talking about Maycomb,
“A day was twenty-four hours long but seemed longer. There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County
” (Lee 6).
Is Maycomb a friendly community?
Maycomb is
a very intolerant community
and expects people who are different to conform. They are harsh and do not accept people for who they are, like Boo. Most of the community spreads rumours and gossip about Boo Radley, portraying him as a ‘Malevolent phantom'.
What is the mood of Maycomb?
The atmosphere created is repulsive and gloomy which correlates with Maycomb's ugly prejudice. The dark mood also applies to the Radley house which is where Boo Radley remains confined throughout the novel. Overall, the mood of Maycomb is
light and welcoming
, with the exception of the jailhouse and the Radley place.
Does Scout respect Calpurnia?
Calpurnia becomes more respected and valued by Scout as she grows up
. Scout's attitude towards Calpurnia changes when she goes to school, “Calpurnia's tyranny, unfairness, and meddling in my business had faded to gentle grumblings of general disapproval. On my part, I went to much trouble sometimes not to provoke her.”
How is the Radley place described?
The Radley
Place jutted into a sharp curve beyond our house
. Walking south, one faced its porch; the sidewalk turned and ran beside the lot. The house was low, was once white with a deep front porch and green shutters, but had long ago darkened to the color of the slate-gray yard around it.
How would you describe Maycomb?
Maycomb is
a sleepy rural town that's relatively isolated from the rest of the world
. People are more concerned with what's happening at home or in their neighbor's home than major national or world events.
What is Dill's physical description in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Scout and Jem meet Dill in the summer and the three become fast friends. Dill is
small in stature, has fair hair
, and appears younger than he is. He's from Meridian, Mississippi, has seen Dracula, and does not know his biological father.
How is Dill described in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Dill is
a diminutive, confident boy with an active imagination
. He becomes fascinated with Boo Radley and represents the perspective of childhood innocence throughout the novel.
Why does Atticus sit outside the jail and what happens?
Atticus sits outside of the jail
in order to protect Tom Robinson from the lynch mob
. Jem and Scout follow him, but they stay far enough away that he can't see them. When the children are ready to leave, they notice four old cars come into town. A shadowy group of men emerges.
What does Scout do to the man that grabs Jem at the courthouse?
They look for Atticus in his office, where his car was parked, but find it deserted. … Atticus demands the children go home, but Jem stands up to him, and when a stranger grabs Jem by
the collar
, Scout attacks. Calmed by Atticus, she recognizes a face in the crowd – Walter Cunningham – and appeals to him, in a way.
When Atticus leaves the house suspiciously the children follow him where did Atticus go?
They find Atticus sitting
outside of the jail next to Tom's cell reading
.
How does judge Taylor run his courtroom?
From these seats, they can see the whole courtroom. Judge Taylor, a white-haired old man with a reputation for running his court in an informal fashion,
presides over the case
.
Why is judge Taylor's appearance and ability difference?
Judge Taylor's appearance and his ability are two different things
because he learned in the law
. Judge Taylor doesn't appear as he does on purpose.
What does the physical structure of the courthouse symbolize?
Symbolically, what does the physical structure of the courthouse show us about the people of Maycomb?
There is a white section on the main floor and a colored section on the balcony; the courthouse is segregated
. This is ironic because the court is supposed to be impartial to race. This show that this town is racist!
