Topic > 10-person English reading journal: To Kill a Bird Over the Hedge by Harper Lee

As autumn turns to winter in Maycomb County, Scout and Jem plan to make a snowman. This is an example of how their innocence is maintained in the beginning. Jem and Scout shape the snowman: “Jem looked at me, his eyes twinkling: 'Mr. Avery is shaped like a snowman, isn't he?"' (67) The tone of this quote suggests that the children are happy and naive. After creating their snowman, Jem and Scout witness the fire of Avery's house. Miss Maudie: “We stood and watched the street fill with men and cars as the fire silently devoured Miss Maudie's house.”(69) This damages their innocence in several ways. Since Scout and Jem are children, they have not yet lived a traumatizing event. After witnessing the destruction of Miss Maudie's house, the children are in shock and have lost some of their innocence: "She's gone, isn't she?" will last. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay One day, Jem and Scout decide to go hunting for a small rodent with guns focuses on something on the road. Jem reveals that he was looking at Maycomb's pet, Tim Johnson and Jem rush home to tell Calpurnia his condition and Calpurnia frantically calls everyone Mr. Heck Tate, the sheriff of Maycomb, forces Atticus to shoot the dog instead because he believes that he is not qualified to do so: "Mr. Tate almost threw the rifle at Atticus. "done now," he said, "(96) The dog represents the town's thinking that only Atticus is the only person who can help to dissuade the city and its children from prejudice. Mr. Heck Tate also informs Atticus the crowd of Tom Robinson's arrival: "...we'll move him to the county jail tomorrow," Mr. Tate was saying, "I'm not looking for any trouble, but I can't guarantee there won't be any." they will be…” (145) Mr. Heck Tate warns Atticus because he knows that Atticus will defend Tom, just as he knows that Atticus will shoot the dog to defend his children.Many events occur in the novel that highlight the racial inequality in Maycomb One of the most significant events is the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping and beating a 19-year-old white woman named Mayella Ewell. Even though the evidence implies that Tom Robinson is innocent, the city continues to vote him guilty: “Judge Taylor questioned the jury: 'Guilty...guilty...guilty....guilty...'” (211) Tom Robinson is only voted guilty because it's a white person's word against a white person's black person Another event is when Aunt Alexandra requested that Calpurnia be moved from home to Atticus. When Scout asks Atticus if she can visit Calpurnia's house, Aunt Alexandra answers for Atticus by saying, "You can't" (84) Because Aunt Alexandra is a woman with traditional and conservative values, she treats Calpurnia harshly and without respect. in moral education can be seen in many different examples in the book. Atticus Finch, Jem and Scout's father, always teaches the two to be respectful towards African Americans. For example, after the argument between Cecil Jacobs and Scout, Scout asks Atticus if he defends blacks by using a derogatory term. Atticus replies, “Of course I do. Don't say niggers, Scout. This is common. "(75) Atticus tells Scout not to call them a demeaning word because he cares about and supports racial equality and wants Scout to grow up with sympathy and empathy instead of prejudice and blind animosity like the rest of Maycomb County. Like Jem and Scout grow up, their opinions of Boo Radley change..