Partial, unedited transcript showing how students help their classmates understand the end of the novel by reading and responding to one another's comments.
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Subject: Who understands the end?
From: Michael
Date: Friday, October 18, 1996, 2:48 pm

Explain what happened in the last four chapters of the book. If you find it useful, you may cite passages from the textbook to support your answer.

*After you post your answer, read the answers of other students. Reply to at least one classmate. Our goal is to make sure that everyone understands the ending of the novel.

**When you respond, write the name of your classmate at the beginning of the response and type your name at the end.

***These questions should help you to know if you understood the final part of the story.

1. Who hurt Jem and tried to hurt Scout?

2. Who carried Jem home?

3. Who does Atticus think killed Bob Ewell?

4. How did Heck Tate say that Bob Ewell died? Is that how he really died?

5. Who was Heck Tate trying to protect? Why?

6. What does Scout mean when she says, ". . . it'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it? (bottom of p. 276) Who is she talking about?

7. What does Scout mean when she says: "We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad."? (bottom of p. 278)

8. What does Scout mean when she says: "Just standing on the Radley porch was enough."? (bottom of p. 279)

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Subject: Who understands the end
From: Abdullah.
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 11:18 am

1 Bob Ewell hurt Scout and Jem because he want Atticus to feel bad for what he did to him in the court.

2 Boo Radly carried Jem home.

3 Atticus know that Boo radly the one who killed Bob Ewell.

4 +5 Heck Tate, the sheref, said that Bob deid by laying on his knife because he was drunk but it was not the truth because the sheref knew that Boo did it and he wanted to protect him from geing in troble because there were no reason to exicet Boo for this matter also he think that Bob disearv what he got because Tom deid for no reason and he was the one was invalve in Tom deth.

6 Scout was talking to Atticus when she said " . . . It'd be sort of shooting a mockingbird, wouldn't it ? " she was talking about Boo and what it will be if anybody sue him for what he did because he did harme nobody. She think that it is not fare to do so.

7 Scout mean that they never like Boo and they always been ascard from him but he was not, in fact he loved them and saved tier lifes.

8 Scout mean bu saying : " Just standing on the Radley porch was enough " that she knew how kined Boo is bcause they always been ascard of him and thought that he will hurt them one day instat of saving thier lifes.

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Subject: The end of TKAM
From: Ayako
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 11:28 am

I didn't understand everything. I think Bob Ewell hurt jem and tried to hurt Scout. Becouse of the darkness, scout didn't notice that Boo Radly helped Jem and Scout and carried Jem home. She thought it was Atticus. After they arrived home, Aunt Alexandra called doctor and Aticus call Heck Tate and they started to discuss that what happened. Heck Tate found Bob's dead body and a kitchen knife stuck up under his ribs. I think Atticus thought Jem Killed Bob Ewell But he didn't want to think that Jem did it. I think Heck Tate was trying to protect Boo Radly, and he thought when Boo helped Jem and Scout, he stabbed Bob Ewell. I think everyone didn't know who killed Bob Ewell. In my oppinion, Jem killed Bob Ewell because a kitchen knife stuck up lower part of his body so a person who was short stabbed him.

This is everything that I understood. Ayako

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Subject: The End Of TKAM
From: chika
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 11:36 am

When Jem and Scout were walking in the dark,Scout heard something and she thought it was Cecil. But it was not. Bob Ewell tried to hurt them!!! Bob!! He had a knife!! I don't know what was going on when Jem and Bob were fighting, anyway, the man who helped Jem & Scout was----Boo Radley! He carried Jem home. Bob Ewell died at last. Who killed him? Atticus thought Jem had killed him because his elbow was broken. Heck Tate said that Bob fell on his knife and died. I don't think that's true, but he tried to protect someone who killed Bob Ewell---Jem or Boo?? I don't know who did because Jem is sleeping,and Boo does not speak about it ..never. ......That's what I know so far . I guess Boo is Mockingbird

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Subject: The end of TKAM
From: Kayo
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 11:47 am

I finished reading whole book, but I think I don't understand something. What I understood from chap.28-31 is Bob Ewell tried to kill Jem and Scout on the way back from the pageant to home. Bob Ewell yanked Jem down and Jem was unconscious. Bob Ewell tried to grab Scout, but before that someone yanked him down and he was pierced by this person. After all Bob Ewell died, but I think the person who killed him is Boo Radly. Actually in the book, it doesn't say anything exactly about who killed him, and also Jem was suspected Bob Ewell of murder, but I think it's not true. In the book, there is a scene that Atticus and Mr. Tate try to find out the murder, I think Mr. Tate tried to protect from the doubt for Jem.

What Scout says, "We never put back into the tree-------------" is that although Scount and Jem were just curious about Boo Radly and they just mean to play with him by using the tree, but actually, they didn't do anything for him on the contrary, Boo Radly save their life. So it made Scout sad. Also, What she says " Just standing on the Radly porch was enough." means if they didn't do more than standing on the porch like Atticus said "Leave him alone", Boo would not be involved in this event. So, Scout felt sorry about him and regretted about what Scout and Jem did to him.

That's all I understood from chap.28-31.

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Subject: Re: Who understands the end?
From: Makoto
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 11:52 am

I focus on one sentence: "Thank you for my children, Arthur,"
It 'll probably tell us everything. Some main points are here:

(1) Bob Ewell hurt Jem and Scout, and Boo Radley try to save them from the stinky, drunk-smelled, and god-damn-mean guy.

(2) Mr. Atticus and Mr. Heck Tate know that Boo killed Bob Ewell.

(3) Mr. Heck Tate is trying to protect Boo because he is impressed with Atticus word "Jem killed Bob Ewell."

(4) Scout knows that Boo is cool guy with warm feelings.

(5) Scout understands that nobody can't despise Boo Radley, and nobody can't discriminate against anybody."

(6) Scout loves Boo.

Makoto

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Subject: Who understands the ends?
From: SUK
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 12:00 pm

AT LAST I FINISHED THIS BOOK. IT WAS HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHOLE CONTENTS BUT ANYWAY I FINISHED READING. ACTUALLY I CAN'T SURE LAST FOUR PARTS DESPITE OF READING IT. BUT I CAN SAY APPROXIMATELY. IN THE LAST PART, BOB EWELL TRIED TO KILL Mr. ATTICUS'S CHILDREN AS A REVENGE OF A COURT. FIRST HE HURT JEM AND AFTER HE KNOCKED JEM OUT HE ALSO TRIED TO HURT SCOUT. BUT WHILE HE WAS TRYING TO DO, BOO RADLEY APPEARED AND BOO KILLED BOB EWELL. AT THAT TIME JEM WAS ALREADY UNCONSCIOUS AND SCOUT ALSO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. BOO CARRIED JEM AND SCOUT TO THEIR HOUSE AND AFTER THEY ARRIVED THEIR HOME ATTICUS AND ALEXANDRA WERE ALARMED ABOUT THAT. Dr.REYNOLD AND HECK CAME TO ATTICUS'S HOUSE AND THEY GUESSED WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED. AT FIRST ATTICUS THOUGHT THAT JEM KILLED BOB EWELL TO PROTECT HIS SISTER. BUT HECK TATE SAID THAT BOB EWELL FELL ON HIS KNIFE AND HE DIED BECAUSE OF HIS FAULT NOT BECAUSE OF JEM. HECK DID HIS BEST TO PROTECT JEM BUT ATTICUS DIDN'T TRY TO BELIEVE.ACTUALLY ALL THESE WERE MERE GUESSWORK. THE TRUTH IS BOO KILLED BOB. HECK DIDN'T WANT TO BLAME SOMEONE BECAUSE OF BOB' DEATH. HE THOUGHT THAT BOB DESERVED TO DIE AND HE WANTED LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD. SCOUT ALSO THOUGHT LIKE THAT. BLAMING SOMEONE BECAUSE HE KILLED A PERSON WHO IS DESERVE TO DIE IS SORT OF LIKE SHOOTING A MOCKINGBIRD. TO SCOUT BOO WAS A MOCKINGBIRD WHO IS ALWAYS GOOD TO HER. BOO GAVE HER MANY THINGS AND IN ADDITION HE SAVED HER AND JEM'S LIFE.

SCOUT WAS VERY SORRY FOR BOO BECAUSE SHE ONLY TOOK SOMETHING FROM BOO. I THINK SHE REALLY WANTED TO RETURN HIS FAVOR SOMEHOW.BUT SHE REALIZED THE BEST THING TO BOO IS UNDERSTAND HIM SINCERELY KEEPING CONTACY WITH HIM.

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Subject: The End of TKAM
From: Jung
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 12:02 pm

When Jem and Scout are on their way back to their house at night on Halloween, Bob Ewell Attacks Jem and scout. Jem is hurt by Bob Ewell and Bob trys to hurt scout. I think that Boo Radley save Jem and Scout. Boo carried Jem home, and he was in Jem's room. Atticus thought Jem killed Bob Ewell. I am not sure in this part. As I guess, Atticus probably knows Jem isn't big enough to kill somebody, and he may tell a lie to protect Boo. However, Heck Tate said that Bob held the knife and pretended to stumble; as he leaned, forward his left arm went down in front of him, and then his whole weight drove it in . therefore, he stabbed himself. I don't think that is how he really died. Heck wanted to propect Jem and Boo because he thought they did right thing for themselves and Bob had to be punished by somebody. Scout said it'd be sort of like shooting a mockingbird. I am not sure what she means. I think she knew the truth that Bob wasn't killed by himself. Everyone who knows about bob' death such as Atticus, Heck, and scout will not reveal the truth to protect something or somebody. Scout thought it wasn't good even though Bob was a bad guy. She is talking about Bob. #7, Scout knows what is neighbor. Boo was also her neighbor, and he gave his neighbor, Jem and Scout, a lot of things. However, they had given him nothing in return. Scout thought they had to do something for boo Radely. She said just standing on the radley porch was enough. I think it means she can understand Boo better than before. Before she met boo and knew what he did, she thought Boo was bad, and she had prejudice, but after she knew him, she could realize how generous and kind he was.

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Subject: The End of TKAM
From: Nakmin
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 12:06 pm

When Jem and Scout were coming back home from the pageant,someone stacked them. The night was dark and moonless. They were not scared very much at the first time, even though they noticed that somebody was chasing them. Bacuase they guessed him as Cecilwho had made them frightened before. But it was Bob Ewell. He tried to stab them with his kitchen knife. He failed to kill them. Boo Radley carried Jem home. When Atticus heard what had happened the night from Scout and Hect Tate, he was sure Jem had killed Bob Ewell. Heck Tate denied Atticus' opinion very hard. He insisted that Bob Ewell had killed himself with his knife by accident. Probably Heck Tate's idea is right. He also wanted to protect Jem because he thought Jem was too young to go the court.

I think that shooting a mockingbird means that Bob Ewell, a valueless person, deserved to death. Scout regretted that she hadn't given Boo Radley anything despite of the fact that he had given a lot of things to her. "Just standing on the Radley porck was enough." It seems like a paradoxical expression. Hardly could she understand the Radley because she didn't stand in thier shoes.

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Subject: Re: Who understands the end?
From: Kayo
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 12:09 pm

Makoto,

I just want to ask you that does Scout love Boo? Do you really think so? If so, could you explain the reason?
From Kayo.

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Subject: The End of TKAM
From: SUN
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 12:12 pm

Well, I don't know the end of this book exactly, but HERE IS MY UNDERSTOOD, GUESSED ENDING OF TKAM. :>

When Scout was going to the schoolhouse with Jem instead of her father to play the pageant in its auditorium at night, Cecil Jacobs leaped and shrieked them suddenly. Having arrived at the school, Scout wore the Ham Costume and played really funny things in front of many audiences, for she fell asleep during the pageant at back stage for a moment. When there were not many folks left in that auditorium after the play had finished, Jem and Scout left lastly, leaving her shoes inside school. While they were walking though woods they heard the sound that someone was following them. They thought it might be CeCil because he had done such a thing once before they arrived. All of a sudden Mr. Ewell was running toward them. When Scout fell to the ground and rolled with her costume ripped, she heard Jem and Mr. Ewell were fighting together hardly. Then Jem screamed after there came a dull crunching sound. Scout moved to the diraction where Jem's voice came, and she was squeezed the breath out of her by Mr. Ewell. Boo Radley, who was following and watching them carefully because he was wondering why Mr. Ewell followed Jem and Scout from his house(I think the place that they were fighting was near the Boo's house), attacked Mr.Ewell and stuck up under his ribs, so Mr. Ewell was killed. Boo carried Jem, but Atticus began to think that Jem might kill Mr. Ewell ,taking care of Jem with doctor, whereas Heck Tate started to think Mr.Ewell killed himself unexpectedly, trying to protect Jem because he worried about Atticus, Finch family. Finally Jem was hurt his arms, and Boo went back to his house after he touched and whated him for a while.

#6= It means that even though Mr. Ewell was killed by someone like Jem or Boo, they should make the story that Mr. Ewell died by himself to avoid other bad gossips about Atticus family in the future. In addition, as Mr.Ewell was a really bad guy, they thought it would be ok if they make the story like that. Thus, it also likes to kill M. (Mockingbird=Mr. Ewell)

#7= That means although Boo gave many things to Scout and Jem ,and even saved Jem's life, they hadn't given nothing to him, so she might be sorry about that.

#8=I think because there were many funny and bad rumors about Boo, she also thought Boo might be a strange or bad man something like that; however, after she had met him , she came to know lots of things of honest and innocent Boo Radley. Thus, having stood in Boo's shoes, she noticed his mind.

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Subject: the end
From: christina
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 12:15 pm

I think that Mr.Ewell hurt Jem and tried to hurt Scout. He had had feelings against Atticus. That night, he was under the oak tree,drinking a alcohol to have a courage to kill Atticus's children. It's from the middle of p269 Boo Radley carried Jem who has a injuries on. Jem was in trouble, Boo tried to help him, I think.Atticus seems to think that Boo Radley killed Mr. Ewell to save Jem's life.

Mr.Ewell died lying on the ground under the tree with the kitchen knife stuck up under his ribs. (from bottom of p.266) And his sleeves were torn down with holes and there were several marks which matched the holes of his sleeves on his arms. (from the top of p.269) I think this holes from Scout's costume, and Bob wanted to get that shiny things.

Scout was heard that killing a mocking bird was prohibited by people in Maycomb. Mocking bird never was harmful for people, hurt them. She thought that something bad happen in Maycomb was because of a shooting mockingbird in simile way.

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Subject: Re: Who understands the ends?
From: chika
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 12:16 pm

To:Suk

That's what I think!! Boo is Mockingbird !! To blame him is to kill a mockingbird.

From Chika

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Subject: Re: Who understands the end?
From: Ayako
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 12:20 pm

To Makoto

You wrote the sentence: Thank you for my children, Arthur. I understand the meaning of this sentence but I don't understand that why you focused on it.

AYAKO

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Subject: Re: the end
From: Abdullah
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 12:21 pm

christina writes:

>I think that Mr.Ewell hurt Jem and tried to hurt Scout. He had had
>feelings against Atticus. That night, he was under the oak
>tree,drinking a alcohol to have a courage to kill Atticus's children.
>It's from the middle of p269
>Boo Radley carried Jem who has a injuries on. Jem was in trouble,
>Boo tried to help him, I think.

I agree with what you said, but od you think that Bob died by luing the knife. I don't think so.

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Subject: Re: Who understands the end?
From: SUN
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 12:24 pm

Hey! Makoto !

You chose the best sentence which I also like: "Thank you for my children, Arthur." I think it includes all things that happened. I agree whole your answers, and I'm very pleased that everybody came to know about Boo and love him so much.....

FROM: SUN

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Subject: The end of TKAM
From: Rie
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 12:24 pm

What I got so far is while Jem and Scout were in the darkness, they had realized somebody was following them silently. So when they almost got to the oak tree, they tried to run away from somebody who was behind them. However, Scout lost sight of Jem, she only heard something happened him, struggling in the darkness, calling Jem but no answer. Somehow, Scout could reach home by herself, and knew Jem was hurt by somebody. As Heck Tate searched by Atticus's request, he found a dead body that was Bob Ewell.

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Subject: The end of TAKM?
From: Viboon
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 12:30 pm
Who understands the end?

Q-1: According to the novel, "a man breathing heavily and staggering " hurt Jem and tried to hurt Scout. Actually, I don't know clearly, yet after that the story is about BOb Ewell's death. I think Bob did it.

Q-2: I think Boo Radlley carried Jem home because the setting or this events is in front of the Radlley Place. Boo probably went out to help the kids.

Q-3: Jem or Boo. I'm not sure what he think, however he's worry about Jem got hurt.

Q-4: Mr. Hect Tate said, "Bob Ewell's died. He's lying on the ground under the tree with a kichen knife stuck up his ribs." Yes, he's really died with the kitchen knife.

Q-5: Heck Tate was trying to protect Boo Radlly becuse Boo don't want to participate in the society. However, he helped the kids.

Viboon
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Subject: Q?
From: Christina
Date: Monday, October 21, 1996, 4:35 pm

I also think Bdd killed MR. Ewell. I guess Boo killed him to save Jem,fighting with Ewell. But I don' t think It happened on purpose.

Even though Boo killed him as a result,Bob had a knife and had been killed. Atticus and Hect tate knew that Boo was innocent like a child. They knew that not only motive was more important than the result, but also that the court wasn't as smart as they know such truth.

I just knew why Scout regreted not to put back the thing taking from the tree. Because Boo wanted to contact Scout and Jem, but they didn't really understand him. Is that right?

... I have one question for you guys.

Do you remember Mr. Hect Tate said he wondered that there were several marks on Mr. Ewell's arms. I also wonder why such marks was on him and how the shiny paint on Scout's costume saved her life. Please,give me your idea. Thank you and See you.

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