Chapter 16
The main setting of Chapter 16.
What us the Finch house during breakfast?
During Heck Tate's testimony, what injury does he say Mayella Ewell sustained?
A black eye on her right side
During Chapter 18, who is the primary witness testifying about the alleged rape?
Mayella Ewell
What significant detail does Tom Robinson reveal about Mayella's advances toward him?
She grabbed him around the waist and kissed him
What does Mr. Dolphus Raymond pretend to be doing to give the Maycomb townspeople a reason to understand his lifestyle?
Mr. Raymond's act of pretending to be drunk by drinking Coca-Cola from a paper bag, which allows people to easily dismiss his interracial relationship
What is the Cunninghams?
What inconsistency does Atticus point out in Bob Ewell's testimony regarding Mayella's injuries?
The injuries were on the wrong side for a left-handed attacker
What aspect of Mayella's testimony appears to contradict her father's previous account?
The sequence of events / when things happened
What does Tom’s running away from the Ewell house suggest?
Tom was deeply afraid of being falsely accused of a crime by a white woman, Mayella Ewell
What did Atticus do in the court room that Scout and Jem had never seen him do before?
Take off his coat, loosen his tie
What is Raymond's role in the town and the impact of having mixed-race children?
Describe the Ewell home.
The Ewells live in poverty. It is unsure of how many children live there. The home is described as dirty and in a state of disarray.
Describe the way Tom Robinson looks as he stands up. What is unusual about his arms?
Tom's left arm is 12inches shorter than his right arm.
What role does Link Deas play in the trial?
He looks to defend Tom by shouting out that Tom has worked for him for 8 years and never caused trouble
According to Atticus, what motivated Mayella Ewell to accuse Tom Robinson of raping her?
She felt guilty and ashamed because she broke a severe, time-honored code: "She was white, and she tempted a Negro.
Scout's description of the atmosphere in Maycomb right before the trial.
What is a gala occasion? What is a party?
How does the description of the Ewell home impact our understanding of the characters and the trial?
This description can cause readers to have biased view of understanding the Ewells. / It may also help us understand that conflicts and issues could often arise in the Ewell home. / The Ewells are outcasts in the Maycomb society
Describe Mayella's final comment to the court.
She states that if they don't find Tom guilty that they are all cowards.
When Tom admits that he felt sorry for Mayella Ewell, How do the majority of white people in the courtroom react? Why?
The majority of white people react with shock, outrage, and disbelief / Racism & customs play a role in this reaction
Atticus says “A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up.” What does he mean by this assertion?
The justice system works only when each individual juror takes his duty seriously.
Analyze the town's reaction to Atticus defending Tom Robinson. What bothers the townspeople so much?
The town dislikes how Atticus is aiming to successfully defend Tom. A primary reason for the negativity is that Atticus's desire to be successful goes against the townpeoples' values. Racism & bias play a large role in this attitude
Jem thinks that Atticus has clinched the case by establishing that Ewell is left-handed. However, Scout is skeptical that the information proves anything. What are her doubts?
She suspects that Tom Robinson, the accused, might also be left-handed, which would undermine Atticus's argument that only Ewell could have inflicted the injuries on Mayella's face due to his dominant left hand.
Why does Atticus begin by asking Mayella a lot of questions about herself and her family?
To establish her background, highlight her isolation and vulnerability, and suggest that her accusations against Tom Robinson might be influenced by her difficult home life
What is revealed about Dill's character at the end of the chapter?
Dill cries during the trial, he feels that is unjust that the Gilmer and the people of Maycomb treat people of color so unfairly
At one point during his closing remarks, Atticus says to the jury, “This case is as simple as black and white.” What does he mean by this statement? How can it be interpreted on more than one level?
He is essentially stating that the evidence is clear-cut, but also highlighting the racial prejudice that is prevalent in Maycomb