What advice does Atticus give Scout about handling insults? What begins the fight between Scout and Francis? Why do you think Scout had trouble...

At the beginning of Chapter 9, Cecil Jacobs offends Scout by saying derogatory comments about Atticus on the playground. That night, Scout has a conversation with her father and asks him if he defends Negroes. Atticus proceeds to explain to Scout that he will be defending Tom Robinson. He then encourages Scout to control her temper by saying,

"You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don't you let 'em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change" (Lee 48). 

Scout follows Atticus' advice and walks away from Cecil Jacobs the next day on the playground. That Christmas, the Finch family gathers together to celebrate the holiday. Francis Hancock, Scout's cousin, provokes her by saying,

"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 again. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'" (Lee 52).

After Francis insults her father, Scout can no longer control her anger and ends up punching him in the teeth. Later that night, Scout explains to her Uncle Jack that she felt extremely provoked. Scout already had negative feelings towards Francis, and when he began insulting Atticus, Scout reacted with violence. Scout is naturally disposed to fighting, and she felt justified hitting Francis in the face.