Final answer:
Atticus is likely concerned about forthcoming societal conflicts, ethical challenges, and emotional strains that could affect his family. These "ugly things" refer to moral and social issues that the characters will confront, testing their integrity and prompting character development.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Atticus refers to "ugly things" that the family will face in the next few months, he is likely expressing concern about the difficulties and unpleasant events they will encounter. Given that the story in question is not specified, one can infer from typical narrative structures that Atticus might be worried about societal conflicts, possibly related to moral or ethical challenges, that can bring about emotional strain and destabilize the peace of his family. The forthcoming adversity could entail facing deep-rooted societal prejudices or injustices, standing up against popular but harmful beliefs, or bearing the brunt of backlash for defending what is right.
Such "ugly things" are common themes in narratives that challenge characters to confront social issues or personal ethics. The struggles faced by characters like Atticus often illuminate the human condition and spark discussions around courage, integrity, and social change. Phrases like "ugly things," therefore, set the stage for character development and can foreshadow conflicts that test the moral fiber of characters within a story.