Atticus is outside the prison where Tom Robinson is being kept. A mob emerges and confronts Atticus. S, J and D jump into the circle.

Tension is created because the readers can predict that Atticus is in danger.

Tension building

‘ You know what we want,’. A voice in the shadowed mob speaks with Atticus. The whole conversation between Atticus and te mob was in away sarcastic. This made the reader question how serious the situation really was. This confusion added tension because we knew that Atticus was in danger, but the way Harper Lee presents the scene leaves questions for the reader.

‘His face killed my joy’. At this point it was clear that Atticus was in danger and now that Scout also was. Atticus was putting a brave face on, however when the children arrived Atticus showed fear. The presence on Scout and the others builds on the current tension because it was suggested from Atticus’ reaction that they were in real danger.

Tention relieved

‘Mr Cunningham was moved to a faint nod.’. Tension is relieved at this point in the chapter because it shows that Mr Cunningham does reckognize Scout. Scout’s presence saves Atticus because Mr Cunningham’s morals tell him not to fight in the presences of children. Scout made Mr Cunningham think about his own son, Wallter Cunningham, and how he would have felt if he saw him get attacked.