I need help answering some To Kill A Mockingbird questions

1.When Scout is talking about the Ewells' living conditions what is her tone? Is it sympathetic or disparaging or objective? I think it's sympathetic

2. When the story is talking about Mayella 's red geraniums and they say "had Miss Maudie deigned", what do they mean by that?

3.What does "the alien set of values" refer to when Scout talks about how Jem has changed? Adult standards, Southern manners, or foreign attitudes? I think its adult standards

4.In the sentence "With him, life was a routine; without him, life was unbearable," the second clauses
A.is antithetical to the first clause
B.reinforces the meaning of the first clause
C.dilutes the strength of the first clause
D.underlines the unimportant of the prepositional phrases in both clauses
E.is irrelevant to the first clause
I think its A

I agree with your answers. What confuses you about #2?

For #2, have you looked up "deigned" in a dictionary?

http://www.onelook.com/?w=deign&ls=a

1. Based on the information given, Scout's tone when talking about the Ewells' living conditions can be considered sympathetic. She shows an understanding and compassion towards their difficult situation.

2. When the story mentions "had Miss Maudie deigned," it means that Miss Maudie had condescended or stooped down to do something that she considered beneath her dignity or importance. In this context, it suggests that Miss Maudie, who is usually more refined and selective in her choices, decided to acknowledge or notice Mayella's red geraniums.

3. In the context of Scout talking about how Jem has changed, "the alien set of values" refers to adult standards. It implies that Jem has started adopting and conforming to the values and expectations of adults, which may seem different or unfamiliar to Scout.

4. In the given sentence, the second clause reinforces the meaning of the first clause. It presents an opposite contrast to emphasize the significance of the first clause. The absence of "him" makes life unbearable, highlighting the importance of "him" as a routine and integral part of life. Therefore, the answer is B - it reinforces the meaning of the first clause.

1. To determine Scout's tone when talking about the Ewells' living conditions, we need to analyze the language and context in which she describes it. To do so, we can refer back to the text in the novel. Look for specific words or phrases that indicate her feelings towards the Ewells. Is she expressing sympathy, disdain, or a neutral/objective viewpoint?

To answer this question, you can reread the sections where Scout talks about the Ewells' living conditions. Pay attention to any emotional or empathetic words she uses. Consider her perspective as a young child and her relationship with the Ewells. This will provide necessary context in determining her tone. Keep in mind that it's important to support your answer with specific examples from the text.

2. When the story mentions "had Miss Maudie deigned" regarding Mayella's red geraniums, it implies that Miss Maudie had considered it appropriate or worthy to have those flowers. "Deigned" means to condescend or stoop to doing something considered beneath one's dignity or social standing.

To fully understand the meaning, it might be helpful to examine the surrounding sentences and story context. Look for any clues that indicate Miss Maudie's attitude towards Mayella or her actions. This will give you a clearer picture of why the phrase "had Miss Maudie deigned" is used regarding Mayella's red geraniums.

3. To interpret what "the alien set of values" refers to when Scout talks about how Jem has changed, you'll need to consider the specific context in which it is mentioned. Look for any information provided in the text that sheds light on what these values might be.

Consider what aspects of Jem's behavior or attitude have changed and what factors could have influenced this change. Are these changes related to adult standards, Southern manners, or foreign attitudes?

By examining the situations and interactions that led to Jem's transformation, you should be able to identify the specific set of values being referred to. Look for any supporting evidence in the text to justify your chosen answer.

4. To analyze the sentence "With him, life was a routine; without him, life was unbearable," you can determine how the second clause relates to the first by examining the logical and grammatical connection between the clauses.

Read the sentence carefully and think about how the second clause contributes to the overall meaning or impact of the sentence. Does it contradict, support, weaken, emphasize, or have no direct connection to the first clause?

Consider the relationship between the words "routine" and "unbearable" and how they contrast with each other. This will help you to determine if the second clause is antithetical (opposite), reinforcing, diluting, underlining the unimportance of prepositional phrases, or irrelevant to the first clause. By analyzing the sentence structure and choice of words, you can select the most appropriate answer.