Harper Lee continues to build up tension by creating a cautious and gripping atmosphere and when it comes to Scout first noticing the man, and describes him as a “shadow”, the reader’s mind refers back to the rumours about the ‘scissor’ incident (mentioned on page 12- chapter one). Also Scout addresses the shadow as “it”. This again gives the reader the sense of mystery and fear, as we normally associate animals or monsters/ghosts with “it”.
After that, the pace quickens in the chapter and the feeling of panic and confusion grips the reader and keeps them reading on. Eventually, the humour of Miss Stephanie Crawford’s “white nigger” joke and her questioning Jem of his absence of pants break this atmosphere of tension, panic, fear etc.
…………………………
The second example of when Harper Lee creates tension would be on page 166 (part of Chapter fifteen) when the people protesting against Atticus (for defending Tom Robinson) came forward to the jail.
Firstly she describes the jail by writing about the unusual “solitary” light, which was on. Her choice of “solitary”, as an adjective, gives us the feeling of isolation. Then Harper Lee goes on to describe the arrival of these people in such a way to give them a sense of authority and power: “four dusty cars came in from the Meridian highway, moving slowly in a line”. She also writes about how the “shadows became a substance” and the way the men talked: “in near whispers”, giving us a sense of fear and suspicion.
Then Harper Lee goes on to describe the men themselves. This part (when I first read it), actually quite surprised me for at the beginning, when the men first arrived, I sensed the feeling of authority, so when the men were described as “dark, smelly bodies” and a “smell of stale whiskey and pig-pen about”, the reader now gets the impression that these men are probably just ordinary people, perhaps farmers. This now slightly relieved the tension a little, however, I still had the sensation that the now ‘lower standard’ of people, probably had a ‘lower standard’ of morals and so therefore, more capable of physically (or mentally) hurting Atticus, Tom Robinson and/or the children.
This theory of mine was later confirmed when one of the men spoke up threateningly: “you got fifteen seconds to get ‘em outa here” (and when he “grabbed Jem roughly by the collar”)- at this point the reader may be thinking ‘or what?’ questioning if the man could do something bad to the children. This build up of tension, however, is soon broken down by Scout’s innocence, when the men were driven away.
…………………………..
The third and final example is found in Chapter twenty-eight (pages 280-282 and 285-290). Harper Lee begins by describing the weather in short sentences, creating the aura of pace/excitement: “there was no moon” justifies this and also gives the reader the impression that the night is very dark- therefore, Jem and Scout cannot see anything and so this anticipates fear and danger. She also describes the weather as being “unusually warm” which gives the reader the impression that something dangerous or unusual might happen.
Soon Harper Lee introduces the feeling of fear and tension by mentioning streetlights: “The street lights on the corner cast sharp shadows on the Radley house”. This again refers our minds back to the Boo Radley rumours (shadow/scissor incident) and also the mentioning of the Radley house as it is portrayed as ‘bad, mysterious, eerie etc’. Also, nobody really knows anything about the Radley family or their house, which too creates this fear.
Then the reader reads on to Scout and Jem’s conversation about ghosts (or “haints”): “a’int you scared of haints?” Also, Harper Lee introduces fear, in a different way, into this chapter by mentioning that “Boo must not be at home”. This makes us think ‘where is he, then?’ and so portraying the aura of suspicion, anxiety and fear.
Soon Harper Lee again builds up tension by including an incident (when scout tripped). This makes us think that this could be dangerous, however it is not. When Harper Lee goes on to describe the surroundings, she uses tension-building adjectives such as “pitch black”. Also, she builds up tension by giving the reader the impression that Jem and Scout could be lost: “how do you know where we’re at, Jem?” Harper Lee then creates, again, tension and suspicion by Scout’s quote: “we had slowed to a cautious gait”. Then, Harper Lee creates an incident- building up the tension and pace (short sentences): “someone leaped at us”- we soon find out that it was only Cecil Jacobs.
Later on in the chapter (page 285), the build up of tension really starts to mount high (as Harper Lee is now approaching the major incident). She starts by Jem and Scout refusing a lift home (how convenient!), so they will be walking home alone. (Also the “someone” said to Jem: “be careful of haints”- which creates the feeling of fear, and Harper Lee does not portray this person to be anyone but “someone” and a “voice”, which creates the aura of suspicion.)
Harper Lee then describes the outside atmosphere as “black dark” and “black school yard”. She also mentions that the “auditorium lights went off”- so it is almost like Jem and Scout have no way out. After this the reader is almost certain that something bad is going to happen, because Harper Lee soon goes on to describe the actual incident. She starts this by suddenly creating tension by Jem being cautious: “hush a minute Scout”. This tension builds up more through the text, and the reader can especially be aware of the pace, fear, excitement and suspicion when Scout describes her feelings, creating imagery. Scout mentions that “the night was still,” and that she could hear “his breath coming easily beside me” (Jem). Harper Lee also uses adjectives such as “sudden”, “bare” (-creating a sense of vulnerability), “windy” and also a very prominent sentence: “this was the stillness before the thunderstorm”- this especially gives the reader the aura of tension and fear for the word “stillness” gives the feeling of solemness and also the word “thunderstorm” always refers ones mind to horror books, for thunderstorms are associated with scary, bad things.
…………………………..
Harper Lee continues to build up tension, throughout these past three examples and also right to the very incident of the last example. However, she occasionally tends to break up this tension by humour so as to ‘play with your mind’. This is probably because she wants to relax the tension a little, so when the real ‘scary’ event occurs, the reader will not be ‘prepared’ for it and so therefore this will make the reader even more fearful and excited when he/she comes to read about the event.
Michelle Kirk 5/1/2007
