How does the humor of Scout missing her entrance change the tone of the novel in the eyes of the reader? Why did Harper Lee include this scene in the plotline?
Scout's inability to see things around her creates a sense of foreboding, as she is trapped inside the large, bulky costume. Then, she misses her cue, and ends the night upset and embarrassed. When she and Jem turn around to go back for her shoes, the school lights go out, leaving the children alone in the darkness. These events set up the attack on the children by Bob Ewell.
http://www.gradesaver.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/study-guide/summary-chapters-25-31
