The Ewells

The Ewells are the outcasts of the white community.  The rest of the community ostracise them from Maycomb because of the way they live and behave, but don't totally marginalise them because of the colour of their skin.


This is the first account of the Ewells, with Burris at school:

Below is an annotated response to the question, based on the pages above:

"How does Lee use details in this passage to present the Ewell family to the reader?"

The reason why this response is good is because it directly answers the question, using both language and contextual analysis to do so.

To get into Band 6 (which is the top band in your exam), you need to:

• Use accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Refer to language and context in your response and explain why it's used
• Pick the best quotations
• Analyse the quotations IN DEPTH
• Explore a range of detail (so not just one quote per answer)

Here is a couple of examples of the above essay re-written into an A answer.  Further analysis is given or a different, more apt quote chosen.

TASK: Complete the essay question: "In the novel as a whole, how does Lee present the Ewell family?"

Below are two responses to the above question.  One in annotated and one isn't.  Can you identify the elements of the top one to justify why it's an 'A' response?

For this question, you are expected to refer to another event where the Ewells are depicted and explain and explore that presentation.

The Ewells are described and mentioned and referred to throughout the book.  Lee always presents the Ewells as a whole as negative.  However, there are certain characters that are not presented as negatively.  Mayella Ewell, for instance is presneted as a mis-guided, misjudged member of the Ewell family. Lee does this through little details throughout the text, by referring to her flowers in the dirty garden as "bewildering Maycomb."  This is because these flowers are juxtaposed against the garden, which also emphasises her difference to the rest of her family.

Here are some essays that fully explain Mayella's presentation as a metaphorical mockingbird.

 

However, as stated previously, most Ewell descriptions tend to be negative.  This is shown when Uncle Jack and Atticus are talking about the case, and they're mentioned briefly, but the comment is one of negativity.

The Ewell description doesn't change throughout the text.  It continues to be presented as negative (see the trial section).  Even after Bob Ewell won the trial and got his way, he continues to haunt and taunt Atticus.  Why do you think Bob Ewell despises Atticus so much, even after he won?