How does Harper Lee create suspense leading up to the confrontation at the jailhouse in chapter 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

In her classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee slowly builds suspense leading up to the trial of Tom Robinson. Lee's portrayal of Maycomb's racial tensions gradually sharpens as the trial date approaches. We see the effect of this tension on the Finch family and the townspeople through the eyes of the story's narrator, Scout Finch.

About halfway through the story, Lee uses a plot device called “foreshadowing” to heighten the suspense of...

In her classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee slowly builds suspense leading up to the trial of Tom Robinson. Lee's portrayal of Maycomb's racial tensions gradually sharpens as the trial date approaches. We see the effect of this tension on the Finch family and the townspeople through the eyes of the story's narrator, Scout Finch.

About halfway through the story, Lee uses a plot device called “foreshadowing” to heighten the suspense of the story. Sheriff Heck Tate shows up at the Finch house, expressing worry over the fact that Tom Robinson was being moved to the county jail in preparation for the trial scheduled to begin in a couple of days.

Scout and Jem eavesdrop on the conversation:

“. . . movin' him to the county jail tomorrow,” Mr. Tate was saying, “I don't look for any trouble, but I can't guarantee there won't be any . . .”

A moment later the situation starts to sound a little scarier:

“—besides,” Atticus was saying, “you're not scared of that crowd, are you?”

“. . . know how they do when they get shinnied up.”

When a writer foreshadows, they are giving the reader a hint of something that might possibly happen in the future. This usually causes the reader to wonder what will happen next, thus creating suspense. In this case, the reader doesn't have to wait too long. In the same chapter, Atticus will find himself facing an angry, drunken gang who want to drag Tom Robinson out of jail and lynch him. The situation is grim for Atticus until Scout shows up and, through her innocence and naivete, inadvertently shames the group into leaving.