To kill a Mockingbird Chapter 27 Summary

To kill a Mockingbird Chapter 27

by Mike and Cooper

Chapter Theme

Quote #1

"It might be because he knows in his heart that very few people in Maycomb really believed his and Mayella's yarns. He thought he'd be a hero..." (Lee 250).

We decided to make our chapter theme vengeance because chapter 27 revolves around Bob Ewell's reasoning for Tom's trial and the things he has done after the trial. Because of the way the trial went, Bob tries to rob Judge Taylor's house and then follows Helen to work. Vengeance will be more relevant during the later chapters but this is where Bob's vengeance builds. The overall mood of the chapter is one of tension by telling the readers that Mr. Ewell has been a problem to everyone, that he's been saying bad things to Tom Robinson's wife and that he blames openly about Atticus.

This quote is said by Atticus when he talks with aunt Alexandra about Bob Ewell. This quote explains Bob Ewell's reasoning for accusing Tom Robinson of rape. He frames Tom of rape because he wanted to be a hero in Maycomb but inside he knew that very few people believed his and Mayella's stories. All he got for his hard work and planning was to go back to his dump and everything going back to normal. This quote builds Bob Ewell's character.

Quote #2

" I proved him a liar but John made him look like a fool" (Lee 250).

This quote is also said by Atticus while talking to Aunt Alexandra. During Tom Robinson's trial, Atticus proved that Bob Ewell was lying and that his testimony was made up but Judge Taylor made Bob look like a fool in front of everyone in court. Judge Taylor embarrassed Bob Ewell and this is one of the reasons why he would try to rob Judge Taylor's house. The book doesn't tell you exactly who attempted to rob Judge Taylor's house but this quote gives evidence that it is most likely Bob Ewell that attempted to rob Judge Taylor's house.

Summary

Minor Character

Analysis

Major Character Analysis

In the beginning of the chapter, things are settling down after Tom Robinson's death. 3 significant things had happened in Maycomb after Tom's death. We learn that Bob Ewell has gained a job at the WPA (Works Progress Administration) and lost the job in a matter of days. He lost his job because he was lazy. The second thing is that someone attempted to rob Judge Taylor's house. Aunt Alexandra believes that it is Bob Ewell who tried to rob Judge Taylor's house. The last event is that Tom's wife Helen has received a job from Link Deas. Aunt Alexandra and Atticus talk about Bob Ewell having a grudge against everyone that had to do with the case. The Halloween event is held in the high school because of the incident where a few kids hid the furniture of miss Frutti and Tutti in the cellar. Scout has to take part in a pageant and she asks Atticus if he wants to go see it. Atticus and Aunt Alexandra doesn't go because they are both tired.

Atticus: This is one of the only chapter that Atticus makes a mistake in. He believes that Bob Ewell is not going to be a threat but later that decision will impact him. He does not realize that Mr. Ewell will try to get revenge but instead he believes that he will act sensible. Bob Ewell blames Atticus for losing his job. Atticus thinks that "He'll settle down when the weather changes" (Lee 250). He and Aunt Alexandra also do not go to Scouts play and they have Jem take her to the highschool.

Scout: In the beginning of this chapter we learn that Scout becomes very confused with how it was Atticus' fault that Bob lost his job. But nothing really has changed for her until she is forced into playing as a ham in Mrs. Grace Merriweather's tribute to Maycomb agriculture for Halloween. Scout does not like the idea of forcing her to be in the play and having her wear the costume.

Prediction

We think that something bad might happen during Halloween night at the pageant. That Bob Ewell might try to get his revenge on Atticus and his kids for the trial and how it turned out. Aunt Alexandra and Atticus talking about how Bob Ewell has a grudge against everyone shows that he might try to plan his revenge.

Foreshadowing

The talk between Atticus and Aunt Alexandra foreshadows a bad event later on in the book. Bob Ewell has a grudge against everyone that is related to the case and especially Atticus, his family and friends since Atticus was Tom Robinson's lawyer.

Chapter title

Major Character Analysis

Chapter Title: Ewell's grudge

This exact scene is not in chapter 27 but this movie scene builds Bob Ewell's evil side just like it does in chapter 27 and the grudge he has against Atticus.

Bob Ewell: In this chapter we learn that Bob Ewell attempted to rob Judge Taylor's house and that he is seeking revenge for how the trial turned out. He got fired from his WPA job for laziness but somehow blamed it on Atticus. We get to learn why Mr. Ewell has a grudge against everyone: he wanted to become a hero by convicting Tom Robinson of rape even though no one believed it. He wanted to be a hero but after all his hard work, the only thing he got was "okay, we'll convict this Negro but get back to your dump" (Lee 250). After the trial, Mr. Ewell didn't receive anything and Judge Taylor made Mr. Ewell look like a fool during the trial. This develops Bob Ewell's evil side since now he has a grudge against everyone and he has already attempted to rob Judge Taylor's house. Since he hasn't done anything to the Finch's, later on in the book he will look to get revenge on Atticus.

Bob Ewell who is in the bottom of the social class in the town of Maycomb wants to become known as being in the top. While attempting to make a big difference in the white community he instead becomes hated for it. He is bitter about how the case ended and how he did not gain respect and become a hero but nonetheless he lost some respect. So because of that he isn't rising in the social class and projects his feelings and hatred to others in the community with his actions for example, at Judge Taylor's house. "It might be because he knows in his heart that very few people in Maycomb really believes his and Mayella's yarns. He thought he'd be a hero"(Lee 250). This chapter showed Bob ewells's grudge but also foreshadowed what is going to happen in the future.