I'm pretty sure that To Kill A Mockingbird isn't meant to be analysed to this level.

CHAPTER 30 by insaneandluvingit

1. Who does Atticus think caused Bob Ewell’s death?

Atticus believes that Jem accidentally caused the death of Bob Ewell in the fight by stabbing him with the knife Ewell dropped on the ground. This is clear when he says to Mr Tate, “’ [Scout] said Jem got up and yanked him off her – he probably got hold of Ewell’s knife somehow in the dark . . . we’ll find out tomorrow.’”

2. Why does Heck Tate insist that Bob Ewell’s death was self-inflictive? In what way is this partly true?

“’Mr Finch,’ Mr Tate said stolidly, ‘Bob Ewell fell on his own knife. He killed himself’”
As shown, Mr Heck Tate uses persuasive language (and later Scout’s testimony) to support his argument. He follows the logic that when Ewell’s knife was stuck in the ground, Ewell must have tripped over a tree root and he “’Stabbed himself through that soft stuff between his ribs. His whole weight drove it in.’” While explaining this to Atticus, he uses a visual aid my miming what is thought to have happened to maintain his theory.

AND BLAH BLAH BLAH!

English. schmucks.