A plot diagram is a graphic organizer that looks like the top of a triangle or a peak of a mountain. On the bottom left there is the exposition, setting, and characters. Climbing up the hill is the escalation of events that move the plot forward towards the climax, which is at the very top. Then, down the right-hand side, after the climax, is the resolution. Fill in the information according to what happens in the story, or in this case, chapter 4 of To Kill a Mockingbird.
Chapter 4 mostly deals with Jem, Scout, and Dill (characters) trying to fill up their days of summer vacation with something interesting to do. They generally play in the Finch's yard (setting) and are very interested in the myths and legend surrounding the mysterious Boo Radley (exposition). The children's goal, then, is always to be doing something interesting or fun; but when it has to do with Boo Radley, or the Radley home, things get intense (plot).
The first event that surprises the children is Jem pushes Scout so aggressively in the tire that she rolls down the street and right up to the Radley front porch. Legend says that the Radley place means death, so Jem yells at Scout to get out of there quickly, but also to bring back the tire with her. She runs, but leaves the tire and tells Jem to go get it.
"'Go on, it ain't far inside the gate. Why, you even touched the house once, remember?'
Jem looked at me furiously, could not decline, ran down the sidewalk, treaded water to the gate, then dashed in and retrieved the tire.
'See there?' Jem was scowling triumphantly. 'Nothin' to it. I swear, Scout, sometimes you act so much like a girl it's mortifying'" (38).
Tensions are high between brother and sister because of their relationship, but also having to face the Radley house. In an effort to further show how brave he is, Jem declares that they will play out the life of Boo Radley in their yard--like a game. They end up playing out the story of when Boo supposedly stabbed his father in the leg with scissors, which the whole neighborhood knows about. Scout is afraid that Boo will see them playing out his life's story and haunt them during the night (the plot thickens).
The story that the kids play out gets more dramatic as the summer goes on. Jem always runs into the house and gets the real scissors in order to play the part where Boo stabs his father. One day, Atticus comes home and asks why they are playing with scissors (climax). He asks Jem if they have something to do with the Radleys and Jem lies. Atticus says, "I hope it doesn't" and goes in the house (40). The kids aren't sure after being caught by their dad if they should continue playing the Radley story. Scout doesn't want to, though, because the day that she rolled into their yard, she heard Boo Radley in the house laughing (resolution). Scout knows that Boo watches them play and she doesn't want to offend him and make him want to haunt her during the night.
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