Monday, February 29, 2016

In To Kill a Mockingbird, how does finding the gifts in the tree affect Jem?

Jem is moved that the "haint" of Boo Radley has reached out to them in friendship; he is also impressed with how well Boo has carved the little figures of Scout and himself.


When Scout and Jem discover that there is something in the knothole of the Radley's tree that they pass every day on the way home from school, he lets Scout pull them out. She extracts two carved figures from soap of a boy and a girl. Scout thinks of "hoo-dooing," and in fright throws the figures to the ground. This action angers Jem, who quickly snatches them up, scolding Scout, "What's the matter with you?....I've never seen any this good." Then, he realizes that Boo has carved the two of them in close likenesses. Clearly, he is touched emotionally because Jem stands still, staring at Scout, probably without really seeing her. And, when the children return home, Jem takes the two figures and puts them safely in his trunk.

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