Chapter+13

In this chapter Aunt Alexander, comes to visit the family. When Scout asks Aunt Alexander why she is here to visit, she responds with “Well your father and I decided it was time I came to stay with you for a while… Jem’s growing up now and you are too. We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence. It won’t be many years, Jean Louise, before you become interested in clothes and boys.” Scout doesn’t agree with this decision whatsoever, but stays quiet about her thoughts. When Atticus gets home he tries to explain to them the reason for Aunt Alexander’s staying, but after it all Scout still thinks that Aunt Alexander was the one who made the decision based on her thoughts for “doing what’s best for the family.” Aunt Alexander is quite popular in Maycomb, especially with the feminine society. She believes that every family has a streak, whether it is a drinking streak, or a gambling streak etc. Scout doesn’t really make much of an effort with Aunt Alexander, and ignores her most of the time. Aunt Alexander’s first attempt in trying to help the children learn about their back round was by showing them a book that their cousin had written.
 * Summary of chapter 13 **

Aunt Alexandra comes to stay with Atticus and his family because she said that she and Atticus had decided that Scout needed some feminine influence in the house hold. She wanted Scout to be more lady like. Aunt Alexandra is a bit stubborn and bossy, she based majority of her decisions on doing what’s best for the family.
 * Questions **
 * 1. ** **Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay with Atticus and his family? What is she like? **

The first two things Aunt Alexandra says when she comes to the Finch house were “put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia” and “Jean Louise, stop scratching your head.” I think that these were typical things for her to say because Aunt Alexandra was the bossy type, and liked things to be done the “right” way.
 * 2. ** **Read the first two things Alexandra says when she comes to the Finch house. Are these typical of her or not? **

I think the reason as to why Aunt Alexandra thinks that Scout is “dull” was because Scout didn’t act like a young lady for her age; she liked to get dirty, hated dresses and was a tomboy. Aunt Alexandra hated this and wanted to change Scout’s ways. In my opinion Aunt Alexandra is wrong, Scout is only a young girl and should be able to be free and have as much fun as she wants. She should only have to start worrying about being lady like when she gets older. Not all adults are good at knowing how clever young people are. I think this is because some adults have such high expectations for children, and their view about them can vary in different ways.
 * 3. ** **Alexandra thinks Scout is “dull” (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right? Are all adults good at knowing how clever young people are? **

Aunt Alexandra involves herself in Maycomb’s social life by hosting missionary circle meetings. She is very popular amongst the feminie social side of Maycomb. In the book Scout mentions that Aunt Alexandra fitted into the world of Maycomb like a hand into a glove.
 * 4. ** **How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Maycomb’s social life? **

Aunt Alexandra is really passionate about family and their heritage. She wants the children to know about their relatives and where they came from. I think that the reason why Atticus tells them to forget about it was because he knows that they are smart kids, and that there will be a right time and place for them to know all this time, and the time wasn’t then. I think Atticus was right in telling them to forget it, because they were still young and had lots of time to still learn about their family background.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">5. ** **<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Comment on Aunt Alexandra’s ideas about breeding and family. Why does Atticus tell them to forget it? Who is right, do you think? **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dictionary Definitions **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chauffeur **<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – A person employed to drive a private auto mobile or limousine for the owner.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Formidable **<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">– Causing fear, apprehension or dread


 * <span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prerogative **<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> - A right, privilege, etc., limited to a specific person or to persons of a particular category


 * <span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Heredity **<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – The genetic characters so transmitted


 * <span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Obliquely **<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">– Indirectly stated or expressed; not straight forward


 * <span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Brethren **<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – Fellow members


 * <span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nimble-wittedness **<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">– Quick to understand, think, devise. Having wit, or wits.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tranquillity **<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – Quality or state of being tranquil, calmness, peacefulness, quiet or serenity.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Manoeuvre **<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – To change the position of.

<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">To communicate; impart; make known
 * <span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Conveyed **<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – To carry, bring or take from one place to another.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Elusive **<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – Clear perception or complete mental grasp; hard to express or define.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Starched **<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – A commercial preparation of this substance used to stiffen textile fabrics in laundering.