Similarities:
Both boys come from the poorest class in Maycomb. Their fathers seem to be unemployed. The reader knows that Bob Ewell does not have a job, and because of the financial straits that the Cunninghams find themselves in (having to pay Atticus in a non-monetary manner), it is safe to assume that Walter's dad is also without a steady job. Both boys are proud and naturally do not want their poverty brought to light. When Miss Caroline singles out Burris and Walter at different times in front of the class, both are embarrassed. Both characters also seem to be motherless; the author states that Burris's mother is dead, and Walter's mom goes unmentioned in the novel. Thus, their father's play an influential role in their lives.
Differences:
While both boys come from the same social class, there is a marked difference between them and the manner in which they are raised. Burris's father makes a living off the town's welfare and goodness and does not stress education. Walter's dad deplores being indebted to any man and sees that his children attend school regularly. Burris's father teaches him to be disrespectful and bullish, while Walter's dad can be reasoned with and is willing to admit when he's wrong--the same can be said of Walter.
The author uses the two boys and their families to show that even in the midst of a depression and extreme poverty, one can hold onto his dignity (Walter and his family) instead of regressing to everyman for himself (the Ewell family).
The answer is
B) He wants revenge against Mordecai because Mordecai refuses to bow to him.
The desire to gain "invisible strength"
Amy Tan opens the story saying, "I was six when my mother taught me the art of invisible strength. It was a strategy
for winning arguments, respect from others, and eventually, though neither of us knew it
at the time, chess games." She talks about how gaining this "invisible strength" is one of the benefits of her chess playing. This isn't just mentioned in the first paragraph, but is shown again when she says, " I discovered
that for the whole game one must gather invisible strengths and see the endgame before
the game begins." She likes that chess has all these secrets that must never be told, and prides herself on learning these as she continues to get better.
