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In Chapter 9 of To Kill a Mockingbird, why did Scout split her knuckle to the bone on Francis' front teeth?

In Chapter 9, the Finches spend their Christmas with their extended family at Finch's Landing. Scout is forced to spend time with her older cousin, Francis Hancock. She mentions that Francis enjoys everything that she hates, and Scout tries her best to avoid him. After the family is finished eating dinner, Scout walks to the back yard to sit on the steps and Francis follows her. The two begin to discuss the dinner and Scout mentions that she doesn't want Dill to cook for her when she gets older. Francis makes a rude comment about Dill by calling him a "little runt." Scout defends Dill and Francis goes on to say how his grandmother, Aunt Alexandra, says that Dill hasn't got a home. Scout gets upset, and Francis tells her that she doesn't know any better. When Scout asks what he means by that, Francis says,



"I guess it ain't your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I'm here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family" (Lee 110).



Scout asks Francis what he means by that, and Francis says,



"Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'" (Lee 110).



Aware that he has deeply offended Scout, Francis sprints down the catwalk toward the old kitchen away from her. Scout runs after Francis and grabs him by the collar and tells him to take it back. Francis jerks loose and yells, "Nigger-lover!" (Lee 110). Scout lets Francis run away, and Alexandra comes to back porch looking for Francis. Francis tells Alexandra that Scout won't let him come out of the old kitchen, and Scout denies that she is keeping him in there. After Alexandra goes back into the house, Scout baits Francis by telling him that she is not going to bother him. Francis slowly approaches Scout and whispers, "Nigger-lover...." (Lee 112). Scout then punches Francis in his front teeth, splitting her knuckle to the bone.

The reason Scout punches Francis in the mouth is because he kept calling Atticus a "nigger-lover." Although Scout is not fully aware of the meaning of the term, she understands that it is derogatory and insulting.

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