Chapter 9 – Signs
of Trouble
Objectives
Be able to track a change in atmosphere in Chapter 9
Know how Aunt Alexandra is presented
Understand key quotations from the text
Summary of Events
 Atticus to defend a black man accused of rape
 Scout already taunted at school about her
father’s tolerance of black people
 Christmas at Aunt Alexandra’s home
 Scout fights her second cousin Francis
 Uncle Jack disciplines Scout
 Conversation between Atticus and Uncle Jack
Chapter 9 Summary
 Cecil Jacobs taunts Scout whose ‘daddy defended
niggers’. Atticus later explains that he intends to defend
Tom Robinson, a black man accused of rape. Meanwhile,
the children and Atticus spend Christmas with Aunt
Alexandra, sister to Atticus and Jack. Her grandson,
Francis, Scout’s second cousin, goads Scout about her
‘nigger-lover’ father so they fight. Uncle Jack, a doctor,
punishes her for fighting and for her abusive language but
apologises when he learns what the fight was about.
Scout later overhears – as she is meant to – Atticus telling
Jack that he hops his children will talk to their father about
the trial rather than listening to gossip.
Task
 For each quotation find the page number and
the name of the person/people speaking.
 With your partner discuss what the quotation
means, what it makes us think of the character/s
and how Harper Lee is showing that there are
signs of trouble in Maycomb. Make notes next to
each quotation and be prepared to share ideas.
Atticus had promised me he would wear me out if he ever heard of me fighting any more; I
was far too old and too big for such childish things, and the sooner I learned to hold in, the
better off everybody would be
"If you shouldn't be defendin' him, then why are you doin' it?"
"For a number of reasons," said Atticus. "The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my
head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or
Jem not to do something again." […]
"Atticus, are we going to win it?"
"No, honey."
"Then why-"
"Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not
to try to win," Atticus said.
"This time we aren't fighting the Yankees, we're fighting our friends. But remember this, no
matter how bitter things get, they're still our friends and this is still our home.”
"If Uncle Atticus lets you run around with stray dogs, that's his own business, like Grandma
says, so it ain't your fault. I guess it ain't your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides,
but I'm here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family-"
"Francis, what the hell do you mean?"
"Just what I said. Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned
out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the
family, that's what he's doin'.”
"When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness' sake. But don't make a
production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion quicker than adults,
and evasion simply muddles 'em.”
Homework
Read Chapters 10-11 (for Monday)
Answer the Questions on Ch 9-11
from your work booklets (For
Wednesday)