Question

When Helen saw Atticus in her yard, she seemed to know what had happened even before he told her. According to Dill, she said hello to Atticus and then suddenly collapsed: "...she just fell down in the a giant with a big foot just came along and stepped on her... Like you'd step on an ant." Students should note that Dill's simile parallels the incident with the roly-poly bug. Helen Robinson is another defenseless victim of the cruelty and injustice caused by others. What did Helen say to Atticus before collapsing?

1) Hello
2) Goodbye
3) How are you?
4) I need your help

Answer 1

Helen said 'Hello' to Atticus before she collapsed, symbolizing the overwhelming grief she felt in that moment.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Helen saw Atticus in her yard, before collapsing, she only had time to say 'Hello' to him. This brief interaction, followed by her sudden collapse, symbolizes the crushing weight of the grief Helen carries following the tragic news delivered by Atticus. The gravity of the situation is captured through the vivid simile described by Dill, likening her collapse to being stepped on by a giant, as if she were nothing more than an ant—underscoring her vulnerability and the severity of the injustice she and her family face.