Sunday, March 8, 2009

Focus #2 - The Curious Case of Boo Radley

Boo Radley is the town recluse and the object of curiosity for the town, especially Jem and Scout, due to unsubstantiated rumours and his aura of mystery.


  1. Read Chapters 4-7 in To Kill A Mockingbird.
  2. With your group, discuss and record your thoughts, questions, predictions and connections to your reading. The following questions may be used to guide your response.
  • There is a humourous tone in the early chapters of the novel. Discuss some of the passages that you found humourous. Make connections between the passages and your own childhoods.
  • Why are the children so consumed with Boo? Can you relate to this obsession?
  • Are there any popular urban myths or legends in your area?
  • What else have you learned about Boo in this chapter? What new characteristics would you use to describe Boo?
  • Discuss education. How do you think Harper Lee feels about education? How is this similar to your feelings about education? How is education today similar and/or different from the education provided to the children of Maycomb?

How does To Kill A Mockingbird frame issues of courage and cowardice against the backdrop of the American South in the 1930s?

With your group, discuss the various examples of courage and cowardice in the novel. Post your nomination for the most cowardly and most courageous character thus far. Provide support for your argument by using references from the novel.


  1. I think that the children are so obessed with Boo Radley because they have never seen him. A childs brain is like a sponge, they want to learn and pick up everything anyone says. When children grow older they hear things and usually seem interested in things or subject they don't know. They ask more questions, and then the more they learn about it, they want to create their own opinion. So with their opinions being said and discussed with their friends, so by someone being mysterious they are more interested in talking about them, and knowing them because they don't know them.

  2. I learned that Boo Radley (Arthur) is still alive

  3. I learned that Scout has been "one of the guys" for most of her life

    Jem has more information on boo than she does because he's older and knows more

  4. I think the children ae so obsessed over Boo because he is a mysterious man that they have heard stories about but have never seen. I have learned that Boo is still alive and not dead like previously stated. I would describe Boo as a loaner and shy. He doesnt like coming out during the day which could mean that he is possibly sick.

  5. I think it is funny how someone does anything in their power to get to know more about someone that they have heard about, but have never really seen. I once heard about this family, I'm not going to tell their personal lives; but i tried every trick in the book to find out who they were and if the story was all true. I also think its funny on how people only care about what they want, and nobody elses feelings. I think the children are so consumed with Boo because of the 'rumors' about him; and I think they only want to fond out the truth. I can relate to their obsession completely. I try to find out the truth to all of the 'rumors' I hear; but sometimes if they seem personal, I just stay out of it. I'm not sure if there are any myths in my area; but I bet there is something going on around here. In this chapter I have learned that Boo may still be alive. I would use the characteristics of being sneaky and nice to also describe Boo.

    I think Harper Lee thinks of education as important; but not always easy. This is familiar to what I think about education beacuse I do think it is important; but at sometimes it could be confuzing. The education today is easier I think because you can learn outside of school and it also seems like we have technology on out side, while the children of Maycomb probably don't have any technology.

  6. I think that some children are so obsessed with Author Radley because they have never seen him before and they heard all of the stories that people have made up because of what they heard or belive is the truth. I think that it is humorous when Jem is talking about hot steams because when I was younger I always would see like this black tail and it made me think of my dog lady that we had to put down because she had cancer.

  7. i learned that Boo Radley(Arthur) is still alive and how i found that out was once Scout was talkin to Miss Maudie about him.

  8. I am not really a part of this project, but I am blogging anyway.

    I think that the children are so concerned with Boo Radley because he is the unknown to them. Children strive to know the unknown. They think they know everything and when the come in contact with something that confuses them all they want is to know more about it. Boo Radley is just a topic on the street that they want to be included in on. Feel like they are in the loop and actually have something decent to say.


  9. I think that the children are so interested in Boo Radley because he is so mysterious. They have heard a lot of stories about him but they don't know if any of it is really true so they want to find out for themselves. I have learned that Boo is still alive but he stays inside all the time.

  10. I think that Scout and Jem think of Boo as the scary grumpy man that we always see in stories about younger kids. Boo used to hang around with the neighborhood troublemakers as a teenager, therefore he was kept in his house (that's what I think). Also it says that his father was very religious and believed that anything done for personal satisfaction was a sin, maybe this is also why the Radleys stay inside all day. I think that as the story progresses, Jem and Scout will learn more and more about Boo and will find a true answer.

  11. I think the children are so consumed with Boo because they've never seen him or been able to interact with him. All children are somewhat like this because all children have a certain curiousity to them. Children can be very "nosey". I guess in a way i can relate to this obsession because when I was a younger child I wanted to know everything about everyone.

  12. Final Post-Focus #2
    I beleive that this looks like the south in the 30's because you still see ton's of rascism. You immediatly see people still calling African American's "niggers" wich is very innapropriate. African American's in the book still represent slaves such as Calpurnia. All in all in the book African American people are treated as if they were less not even getting fair trials. All these are just like the American South in the 1930's

  13. Final Post- Focus #2
    A lot of Maycomb county id obssesed with the case of Boo Radley. Many children dont know what the whole story is they just hear rumors that get passed on and exaggereated. The Finch children and Dill have ben amazed by the stories and decide to go to the house to see if they can see Boo; but they were not successful.

  14. Hey, I'm Cody Lane. The Finches' and Dill's obsession with Boo Radley is something that can be called more than childlike as it relates to adults as well. This obsession is the human trait known as curiousity. Curiosity is something that is a part of everyone, whether it's scientists conducting experiments or a couple of kids trying to contact a mysterious recluse. Curiosity is more prevalent in kids because there is less they know. The reason Dill and the Finches are so interested in Boo is because he is the one thing in their life that is a mystery. They want to figure out the mystery by seeing Boo. What kid would not try to make some guy come out of his house when they had never seen him before, especially after hearing so many stories about him? Every neighborhood has a house with some crazy story behind it. This draws kids in thinking they might solve a great mystery or something because their imagination just runs wild wondering about that house. As kids get older, they lose their imagination and interest in these mysteries because they grow up realizing that its just their imagination. This is just like Dill, Jem and Scout who eventually lose interest in Boo as they mature. Even though people lose their imagination as they mature, their curiousity remains; its just much more sensible.

  15. The Finch children are obviously some what obsessed with Boo Radley. To children, something so mysterious and unseen is alluring. All kids want to know, or experience things, and their constant inability to do what they want enrages them and makes their urge almost irresistable. This almost reminds me of a drug addict, and their constant desire for their bad habit. The children are the same way. They've spent large amounts of time trying to pry open this mystery. Like drug addicts, they can't stop. They are addcits.

  16. The Finch children are some what obsessed with Boo Radley. To children something so mysterious and unseen gets there attention. their urge to see him is irresistable. They've spent large amounts of time trying to open this mystery. with all the racism in the town and everyone knowing everyone you can tell that the book is from the south.

  17. This book shows couragenousness by atticus standing up for a "nigger" People back then didnt respect black people like we do today. By atticus defending a black guy shows that hehas courage and respect for everyone.


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