Introduction:
As we read To Kill a Mockingbird, we walk in Scout's shoes through the history-making trial in the quiet town of Maycomb, Alabama, and face the prejudices, violence, and hypocrisy steeped in their society.
As you journey through this webpage, you will learn about the social climate in the South during the 1930s, American history leading up to the social climate in the South, and Harper Lee's background and motivation for writing To Kill A Mockingbird.
Section 1: About the Author
Click on the links below to read Harper Lee's biography. You will need to read both links to answer the questions.When you are finished, answer the questions provided to you.
As we read To Kill a Mockingbird, we walk in Scout's shoes through the history-making trial in the quiet town of Maycomb, Alabama, and face the prejudices, violence, and hypocrisy steeped in their society.
As you journey through this webpage, you will learn about the social climate in the South during the 1930s, American history leading up to the social climate in the South, and Harper Lee's background and motivation for writing To Kill A Mockingbird.
Section 1: About the Author
Click on the links below to read Harper Lee's biography. You will need to read both links to answer the questions.When you are finished, answer the questions provided to you.
Questions:
- When and where was Harper Lee born? What was her family like? Who was her childhood best friend? What did she study in college? Did she participate in any extra-curricular activities?
- Why might this be important to consider while reading To Kill A Mockingbird?
- How did her decision to move to New York make To Kill A Mockingbird a reality? What year was To Kill A Mockingbird published? When was it adapted to screen?
- Harper Lee's real life influenced many of the characters and events in To Kill A Mockingbird. Given what have you learned about her life (including personality traits, friends, family, experiences) make a prediction about what kinds of issues might surface in the book. Do you think that your knowledge about Harper Lee will influence your reading of the book? Should it influence your reading of the book? Why or why not?
Section 2: The History of Jim Crow
Click on the link below to start learning about the Jim Crow laws. When you are finished, answer the questions below.
Click on the link below to start learning about the Jim Crow laws. When you are finished, answer the questions below.
Questions:
- Where did the term, "Jim Crow," originate from? How is the origin of this term offensive? List 3 ways.
- How did the term "Jim Crow" become synonymous with the segregation laws in the South?
- What Supreme Court case upheld segregation, or "separate but equal?"
- Who was Rosa Parks? What was her role in the challenge of Jim Crow laws?
- How were these laws finally invalidated?
Section 3: The Scottsboro Boys
Click on the link below to start learning about the Scottsboro Boys and their trials. When you are finished, answer the questions below.
Click on the link below to start learning about the Scottsboro Boys and their trials. When you are finished, answer the questions below.
Questions:
Section 4: The Great Depression
Read through the links below to learn about the Great Depression and then answer the questions below.
- What were The Scottsboro Boys known for? Who were they? What did they do? How did they get in so much trouble?
- The Scottsboro Boys’ attorneys were extremely incompetent. How did the defense attorneys show their lack of experience? Please list at least 3 ways in which the defense lawyers were inadequate.
- Describe the trials. Were they fair or unfair? Please include at least 3 supporting facts to back up your description.
- Were the Scottsboro Boys ever pardoned of their convictions?
- The Scottsboro Boys' trial took place during the childhood of To Kill A Mockingbird's author, Harper Lee. Make a prediction about how this trial might be an important impetus for the book.
Section 4: The Great Depression
Read through the links below to learn about the Great Depression and then answer the questions below.
Use this website for the first 4 questions.
Use this website for the last questions.
Questions:
Instead of having you record details as you go, we will highlight critical details as we learn them.
Scout (Jean Louise Finch): The narrator and main character who begins her story at almost six years old. A rebellious tomboy, Scout has a fierce disposition toward any who challenge her, but at heart she believes in the goodness of people. Scout reacts to the terrible events of the book without losing hope in humanity.
Jem (Jeremy Finch): Scout's older brother, who is nearly ten at the beginning of the story. Jem is quieter and more reserved than his sister, and has very high standards and expectations for people. When these expectations are not met, Jem has a difficult time resolving his feelings.
Dill (Charles Baker Harris): A friend of the Finch children, who is a little older than Scout, quite short for his age, has an active imagination (he often makes up “fibs”, especially about his home life, which is unusual) and exhibits a strong sense of adventure. He initiates the first expeditions toward the Radley house, and is Scout's best friend. Even though he lives farther away with his mother, Dill spends summers with his aunt, Rachel Haverford, who lives next door to the Finch family.
Atticus Finch: The father of Scout and Jem, Atticus is a lawyer and an extremely morally upright man who strives to deal with everyone fairly. He is always fair and he believes in justice. Even though he seems distant from his children, Atticus tries to teach them right from wrong through example. He does NOT share the racist attitudes of many of the townsfolk. Atticus' wife died when Scout was very small, and he has raised his children only with the assistance of his African-American cook and housekeeper Calpurnia.
Boo Radley: A recluse who never emerges from his house. As a young boy, he was in trouble with the police, and his strictly religious and reclusive parents have kept him indoors ever since. A prisoner in his home, he stabbed his father with scissors once, and no one has seen him since. The town has developed a myth that he is an insane monster who wanders around at night peering into people's windows. Throughout the book, he lives with his brother, who is highly controlling.
Tom Robinson: A black man who stands falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Atticus agrees to take his case, even though he knows it is probably hopeless, if only to show the white community how unjust and discriminatory it is.
Calpurnia: A black woman who works as the Finch family's cook and housekeeper. She is one of the many motherly figures in Scout's life and Atticus trusts her implicitly to take care of the kids.
Aunt Alexandra: Atticus's sister, who has very strict, traditional ideas of how society works and the role a Southern woman should play. She is appalled by Scout’s tomboyish behaviors and tries to convince her to act “like a lady.” Alexandra is concerned with raising Atticus's children "properly," and thus appears during the summer of Tom's trial to stay with them.
Maudie Atkinson: A kind, cheerful, and witty neighbor and trusted friend of Scout's, who also upholds a strong moral code and helps the children gain perspective on the events surrounding the trial. Like Atticus, she is one of the few people who is not biased by race and she believes all people are equal. She also loves gardening.
Bob Ewell: An evil, ignorant man who belongs to the lowest of Maycomb society. He lives with his nine motherless children in a shack near the town dump. Evidence from the trial suggests that he caught his daughter kissing Tom, proceeded to beat her, and then encouraged her to claim Tom raped her. He drinks heavily and spends his relief checks on whiskey rather than food for his family.
Mayella Ewell: The oldest of the many Ewell children, at age nineteen. She lives a miserable and lonely existence and has no friends. Tom Robinson is the first person to ever be kind to her by helping her with chores around the house when he passes by.
Heck Tate: Maycomb County's trusty sheriff, who is ultimately an honest and upstanding man.
Reverend Sykes: The reverend at the First Purchase African M.E. church, which Scout and Jem visit one day with Calpurnia.
Judge Taylor: The judge for Tom's trial. Taylor is a good, sensible man with a sense of humor, who manages a strict courtroom.
Mr. Gilmer: Lawyer for the Ewell family in Tom Robinson's case.
Mrs. Dubose: A mean, sick, very old woman who lives near the Finch family. Jem unknowingly assists her with her heroic attempt to conquer her morphine addiction, a fight that wins her Atticus's highest praises.
Walter Cunningham: A poor farmer who is among the "Sarum bunch," a crowd which assembles near the town jail the night before Tom's trial in order to start a lynching. He is deeply moved by Scout's friendly words when she tries to diffuse the situation, and as a result leads the rest of the men in going home. Ever after, he respects the Finch family greatly.
Walter Cunningham (Jr.): Son of the other Walter, who attends first grade with Scout.
Adolphus Raymond: A white man who chose to marry a black woman and have "mixed" children. He pretends to be a drunk so that the townspeople will have a way to more comfortably explain his behavior and life choices.
Helen Robinson: Wife of Tom.
Uncle Jack: Atticus's brother, a doctor Jem and Scout are very fond of.
Francis: One of Aunt Alexandra's grandchildren, who spends Christmas with the Finch family and annoys Scout by being both boring and cruel.
Source: http://www.gradesaver.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/study-guide/character-list/
Chapter 1
Questions:
- What is "Black Tuesday" and why does it mark the beginning of the Great Depression?
- Many people believe that WWII marked the end of the Great Depression. How did the war affect the economy?
- What president was inaugurated in 1933? What were some of the changes made by this administration?
- What was the New Deal? How did the New Deal affect American citizens?
- What was the Dust Bowl?
- How did the Dust Bowl affect the Southern Plains?
- What affect did the Dust Bowl have on agriculture? How would this affect farmers and their employers?
- Given what you learned aout the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, make a prediction about what you think the setting of To Kill A Mockingbird will look like. What will the houses look like? What will the characters be wearing? How will the characters act towards each other? How will Scout's classmates act toward Scout knowing that her father is a lawyer?
Instead of having you record details as you go, we will highlight critical details as we learn them.
Scout (Jean Louise Finch): The narrator and main character who begins her story at almost six years old. A rebellious tomboy, Scout has a fierce disposition toward any who challenge her, but at heart she believes in the goodness of people. Scout reacts to the terrible events of the book without losing hope in humanity.
Jem (Jeremy Finch): Scout's older brother, who is nearly ten at the beginning of the story. Jem is quieter and more reserved than his sister, and has very high standards and expectations for people. When these expectations are not met, Jem has a difficult time resolving his feelings.
Dill (Charles Baker Harris): A friend of the Finch children, who is a little older than Scout, quite short for his age, has an active imagination (he often makes up “fibs”, especially about his home life, which is unusual) and exhibits a strong sense of adventure. He initiates the first expeditions toward the Radley house, and is Scout's best friend. Even though he lives farther away with his mother, Dill spends summers with his aunt, Rachel Haverford, who lives next door to the Finch family.
Atticus Finch: The father of Scout and Jem, Atticus is a lawyer and an extremely morally upright man who strives to deal with everyone fairly. He is always fair and he believes in justice. Even though he seems distant from his children, Atticus tries to teach them right from wrong through example. He does NOT share the racist attitudes of many of the townsfolk. Atticus' wife died when Scout was very small, and he has raised his children only with the assistance of his African-American cook and housekeeper Calpurnia.
Boo Radley: A recluse who never emerges from his house. As a young boy, he was in trouble with the police, and his strictly religious and reclusive parents have kept him indoors ever since. A prisoner in his home, he stabbed his father with scissors once, and no one has seen him since. The town has developed a myth that he is an insane monster who wanders around at night peering into people's windows. Throughout the book, he lives with his brother, who is highly controlling.
Tom Robinson: A black man who stands falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Atticus agrees to take his case, even though he knows it is probably hopeless, if only to show the white community how unjust and discriminatory it is.
Calpurnia: A black woman who works as the Finch family's cook and housekeeper. She is one of the many motherly figures in Scout's life and Atticus trusts her implicitly to take care of the kids.
Aunt Alexandra: Atticus's sister, who has very strict, traditional ideas of how society works and the role a Southern woman should play. She is appalled by Scout’s tomboyish behaviors and tries to convince her to act “like a lady.” Alexandra is concerned with raising Atticus's children "properly," and thus appears during the summer of Tom's trial to stay with them.
Maudie Atkinson: A kind, cheerful, and witty neighbor and trusted friend of Scout's, who also upholds a strong moral code and helps the children gain perspective on the events surrounding the trial. Like Atticus, she is one of the few people who is not biased by race and she believes all people are equal. She also loves gardening.
Bob Ewell: An evil, ignorant man who belongs to the lowest of Maycomb society. He lives with his nine motherless children in a shack near the town dump. Evidence from the trial suggests that he caught his daughter kissing Tom, proceeded to beat her, and then encouraged her to claim Tom raped her. He drinks heavily and spends his relief checks on whiskey rather than food for his family.
Mayella Ewell: The oldest of the many Ewell children, at age nineteen. She lives a miserable and lonely existence and has no friends. Tom Robinson is the first person to ever be kind to her by helping her with chores around the house when he passes by.
Heck Tate: Maycomb County's trusty sheriff, who is ultimately an honest and upstanding man.
Reverend Sykes: The reverend at the First Purchase African M.E. church, which Scout and Jem visit one day with Calpurnia.
Judge Taylor: The judge for Tom's trial. Taylor is a good, sensible man with a sense of humor, who manages a strict courtroom.
Mr. Gilmer: Lawyer for the Ewell family in Tom Robinson's case.
Mrs. Dubose: A mean, sick, very old woman who lives near the Finch family. Jem unknowingly assists her with her heroic attempt to conquer her morphine addiction, a fight that wins her Atticus's highest praises.
Walter Cunningham: A poor farmer who is among the "Sarum bunch," a crowd which assembles near the town jail the night before Tom's trial in order to start a lynching. He is deeply moved by Scout's friendly words when she tries to diffuse the situation, and as a result leads the rest of the men in going home. Ever after, he respects the Finch family greatly.
Walter Cunningham (Jr.): Son of the other Walter, who attends first grade with Scout.
Adolphus Raymond: A white man who chose to marry a black woman and have "mixed" children. He pretends to be a drunk so that the townspeople will have a way to more comfortably explain his behavior and life choices.
Helen Robinson: Wife of Tom.
Uncle Jack: Atticus's brother, a doctor Jem and Scout are very fond of.
Francis: One of Aunt Alexandra's grandchildren, who spends Christmas with the Finch family and annoys Scout by being both boring and cruel.
Source: http://www.gradesaver.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/study-guide/character-list/
Chapter 1
- What do you learn in this chapter about Maycomb, Atticus Finch and his family?
- What do you learn about Dill's character? .
- What, briefly, has happened to Arthur “Boo” Radley.
- Why does the Radley place fascinate Scout, Jem and Dill?
- What do you notice about the narrative voice and viewpoint in the novel?
Chapter 2
1. What helps Scout forget about Dill going home to Meridian?
2. Why won't Walter Cunningham accept lunch money from the teacher?
3. What does Scout think the teacher is going to do to her hand?
4. How does Scout describe Miss Fisher?
5. What was Miss Caroline's attitude when she found out that Scout could read?
6. What did Miss Caroline tell Scout to tell her father?
7. Who taught Scout to write?
8. What medical problem did Walter have and how did he get it?
9. What was the reason that Walter did not take Miss Caroline's money?
10. What happened to Scout after she tried to explain Walter's situation?
11. What did Scout see Miss Caroline do after class and why?
12. What did Scout think of Miss Caroline?
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
1. Scout says, "The remainder of my schooldays were no more auspicious than the first."
Pick the best definition for "auspicious" (p. 32):
3. Summer is on the way. What is summer for Scout? (p. 34)
4. What are the objects Scout and Jem find in the knot-hole of the tree? [Some are in later chapters.]
5. : Write the words that describe Calpurnia's relationship with Scout before her first year of school. (p. 34)
6.. Write the words that describe Calpurnia's relationship with Scout after her first year of school.
7. Superstition makes the children afraid of which family's house?
8. According to the superstition, what is a Hot Steam? (p. 37)
9. According to the superstition, how can you not be hurt by a Hot Steam?
10. Scout says Calpurnia told her this is a:
11. Make a list of verbs Scout senses when she's in the tire and when it stops. (pp. 37-38)
12. What drink is a summer ritual in the middle of the morning?
13. When they play Boo Radley, who plays:
(a) Mrs. Radley?
(b) Mr. Radley?
(c) Boo?
Chapter 5
1. Describe Miss Maudie Atkinson. Is she similar to other women in Maycomb? What do the children think of her?
2. What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo? How does this compare with what Scout already believes?
3. Scout claims that “Dill could tell the biggest ones” (lies) she ever heard. Why do you think Dill lies so much?
4. What reasons does Atticus give for the children not to play the Boo Radley game? Do you think he is right? Why?
Chapter 6 & 7
1. Explain what happened to Jem's pants.
2. Was Jem's mission successful?
3. When Jem tells Scout about getting his trousers back, he tells her of something strange. What is this?
4. Can you find any evidence that Jem is beginning to understand more than Scout about Boo Radley? What do you think this is?
5. Does Jem still fear the gifts in the tree? Give reasons for your answer.
6. When the children plan to send a letter to the person who leaves the gifts, they are prevented. How does this happen? Who does it, and why might he do so?
Activity 1 - Lynching in America
Lynching is when a group of people hang someone without any arrest, trial, etc. Use the links on this page to learn more about the history of lynching in America. Then answer the questions below.
Write a paragraph: Lynchings were often attended by entire families. What does this say about the way those families viewed African Americans at the time. Analyze the psychological effects this must have had on the children who witnessed lynching with their families. What effect did this likely have on future generations?
Chapter 8
Character Chart:
Due when the novel is complete. Use the notes at the top of the page to help you complete this chart.
1. What helps Scout forget about Dill going home to Meridian?
2. Why won't Walter Cunningham accept lunch money from the teacher?
3. What does Scout think the teacher is going to do to her hand?
4. How does Scout describe Miss Fisher?
5. What was Miss Caroline's attitude when she found out that Scout could read?
6. What did Miss Caroline tell Scout to tell her father?
7. Who taught Scout to write?
8. What medical problem did Walter have and how did he get it?
9. What was the reason that Walter did not take Miss Caroline's money?
10. What happened to Scout after she tried to explain Walter's situation?
11. What did Scout see Miss Caroline do after class and why?
12. What did Scout think of Miss Caroline?
Chapter 3
- How does Jem solve the problem of Walter not having money for lunch?
- Why does Scout have to finish her lunch in the kitchen?
- What does Miss Fisher see that made her scream?
- What does Atticus tell Scout to do to get along better with other people?
- What compromise does Atticus propose to Scout to get her to go back to school?
Chapter 4
1. Scout says, "The remainder of my schooldays were no more auspicious than the first."
Pick the best definition for "auspicious" (p. 32):
- eventful
- boring
- exciting
- inspiring
- a way to organize a library
- a way to study math
- a way to study reading (according to Jem)
- a system of group dynamics
3. Summer is on the way. What is summer for Scout? (p. 34)
4. What are the objects Scout and Jem find in the knot-hole of the tree? [Some are in later chapters.]
5. : Write the words that describe Calpurnia's relationship with Scout before her first year of school. (p. 34)
6.. Write the words that describe Calpurnia's relationship with Scout after her first year of school.
7. Superstition makes the children afraid of which family's house?
- Crawford
- Finch
- Haverford
- Radley
8. According to the superstition, what is a Hot Steam? (p. 37)
- an "onsen"
- a hot place on a lonely river
- a ghost
- a vampire
9. According to the superstition, how can you not be hurt by a Hot Steam?
- saying some magic words
- holding your breath
- crossing through it
- crossing around it
10. Scout says Calpurnia told her this is a:
- black person's superstition
- children's superstition
- folk superstition
- Maycomb superstition
11. Make a list of verbs Scout senses when she's in the tire and when it stops. (pp. 37-38)
12. What drink is a summer ritual in the middle of the morning?
- cold milk
- iced tea
- iced coffee
- lemonade
13. When they play Boo Radley, who plays:
(a) Mrs. Radley?
(b) Mr. Radley?
(c) Boo?
Chapter 5
1. Describe Miss Maudie Atkinson. Is she similar to other women in Maycomb? What do the children think of her?
2. What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo? How does this compare with what Scout already believes?
3. Scout claims that “Dill could tell the biggest ones” (lies) she ever heard. Why do you think Dill lies so much?
4. What reasons does Atticus give for the children not to play the Boo Radley game? Do you think he is right? Why?
Chapter 6 & 7
1. Explain what happened to Jem's pants.
2. Was Jem's mission successful?
3. When Jem tells Scout about getting his trousers back, he tells her of something strange. What is this?
4. Can you find any evidence that Jem is beginning to understand more than Scout about Boo Radley? What do you think this is?
5. Does Jem still fear the gifts in the tree? Give reasons for your answer.
6. When the children plan to send a letter to the person who leaves the gifts, they are prevented. How does this happen? Who does it, and why might he do so?
Activity 1 - Lynching in America
Lynching is when a group of people hang someone without any arrest, trial, etc. Use the links on this page to learn more about the history of lynching in America. Then answer the questions below.
Write a paragraph: Lynchings were often attended by entire families. What does this say about the way those families viewed African Americans at the time. Analyze the psychological effects this must have had on the children who witnessed lynching with their families. What effect did this likely have on future generations?
Chapter 8
- Why does Scout quiz Atticus about his visit to the Radley house? How much does Atticus tell her?
- What is the “near libel” which Jem puts in the front yard? How do Miss Maudie and Atticus react to it?
- Why does Atticus save Miss Maudie's oak rocking chair?
- When Atticus asks Scout about the blanket around her shoulders, what does Jem realize?
- Explain what Atticus means by telling Jem not to let his discovery “inspire ” him to “further glory”? Is there any reason why Jem might now do as his father says?
- Why does Scout think the world is ending?
- Who is the model for the children's snowman?
- Why does Atticus wake the children in the middle of the night?
- Who covers Scout with a blanket?
Character Chart:
Due when the novel is complete. Use the notes at the top of the page to help you complete this chart.
Chapter 9 Questions
Chapter 10 Questions
- How well does Atticus feel he should defend Tom Robinson? Is it usual for (white) lawyers to do their best for black clients in Alabama at this time?
- Scout and Jem have “mixed feelings” about Christmas? What are these feelings and why?
- Uncle Jack Finch tells Scout that she is growing out of her pants. What does this mean and why might he say it?
- When Francis talks to Scout he reveals an unpleasant feature of Aunt Alexandra. What is this?
- Does Scout learn anything from overhearing Atticus's conversation with Uncle Jack? What might this be?
- Read the final sentence of this chapter. Explain in your own words what it means and why it might be important in the story?
Chapter 10 Questions
- Scout says that “Atticus was feeble”. Do you think that this is her view as she tells the story or her view when she was younger? Does she still think this after the events recorded in this chapter?
- In this chapter Atticus tells his children that “it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”. What reason does he give for saying this?
- Why does Heck Tate not want to shoot Tim Johnson?
- Near the end of this chapter Atticus cuts off Heck Tate as he is speaking to Jem. What might Heck have been about to say, and why would Atticus want to stop him from saying it?
- Jem and Scout have different views about telling people at school how well Atticus can shoot. Explain this difference. Which view is closer to your own?
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Chapter 12 Questions
1. Where did Scout and Jem go with Calpurnia?
2. Why was Lula angry with Calpurnia?
3. Why did Calpurnia speak differently at the church?
4. Who was waiting on the porch when the children arrived home from the church?
Chapter 13 Questions
Chapters 14-15
Chapter 14
1. Explain the tensions that develop when Scout asks Atticus if she can visit Calpurnia’s home. Explain Jem’s reaction.
2. How are the Jem and Scout’s perception of things changing?
3. Explain the reasons for Dill running away. Compare his relationship with his parents to Scout’s relationship with Atticus and Cal. How does this contribute to Dill being a “mockingbird”?
Chapter 15
4. Describe the events that occur Sunday night before the trial. What was the “mob” trying to do? What stopped them? How is this related to a theme in the story?
5. What was Mr. Underwood doing while this was going on? Why is it strange that he would do this? And why does he do this?
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
1. Where did Scout and Jem go with Calpurnia?
2. Why was Lula angry with Calpurnia?
3. Why did Calpurnia speak differently at the church?
4. Who was waiting on the porch when the children arrived home from the church?
Chapter 13 Questions
- Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay with Atticus and his family? What is she like?
- Read the first two things Alexandra says when she comes to the Finch house. Are these typical of her or not?
- Alexandra thinks Scout is “dull” (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right? Are all adults good at knowing how clever young people are?
- How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Maycomb's social life?
- Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family. Why does Atticus tell them to forget it? Who is right, do you think?
Chapters 14-15
Chapter 14
1. Explain the tensions that develop when Scout asks Atticus if she can visit Calpurnia’s home. Explain Jem’s reaction.
2. How are the Jem and Scout’s perception of things changing?
3. Explain the reasons for Dill running away. Compare his relationship with his parents to Scout’s relationship with Atticus and Cal. How does this contribute to Dill being a “mockingbird”?
Chapter 15
4. Describe the events that occur Sunday night before the trial. What was the “mob” trying to do? What stopped them? How is this related to a theme in the story?
5. What was Mr. Underwood doing while this was going on? Why is it strange that he would do this? And why does he do this?
Chapter 16
- What “subtle change” does Scout notice in her father?
- What sort of person is Dolphus Raymond?
- How does Reverend Sykes help the children see and hear the trial? Is he right to do?
- Comment on Judge Taylor's attitude to his job. Does he take the trial seriously or not?
Chapter 17
- What are the main points in Heck Tate's evidence? What does Atticus show in his cross-examination of Sheriff Tate?
- What do we learn indirectly of the home life of the Ewell family in this chapter?
- What do you learn from Bob Ewell's evidence?
- Why does Atticus ask Bob Ewell to write out his name? What does the jury see when he does this?
Chapter 18
- Is Mayella like her father or different from him? In what ways?
- What might be the reason for Mayella's crying in the court?
- How does Mayella react to Atticus's politeness? Is she used to people being polite?
- How well does Mr. Gilmer prove Tom's guilt in the eyes of the reader (you) and in the eyes of the jury? Can you suggest why these might be different?
Chapter 19
- What made Tom visit the Ewell's house in the first place?
- Why does Scout think that Mayella Ewell was “the loneliest person in the world”?
- In your own words explain Mayella's relationship with her father.
- How does Dill react to this part of the trial? Why is this, in your opinion?
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Chapter 20
Chapter 21
1) Explain how Atticus' character has influenced Jem. Identify evidence that supports Jem's reaction to the guilty verdict.
2) How do the children (Jem, Scout, and Dill) deal with the outcome of the trial? What do their coping mechanisms reveal about each of them?
Chapter 23
1. Describe how Atticus reacted to Bob Ewell’s insult.
2. How do the children react to Bob Ewell’s insult?
3. Page 218: Why (according to Atticus) does Bob Ewell spit on and threaten Atticus? Why is this ironic?
4. Pages 220-221: Reread the two paragraphs beginning with, “You couldn’t, but they could and did…” and ending in, “…children’s time.” What does this reveal about Atticus’s character that we have not seen before?
5. Page 222: What about the jury’s deliberation gave Atticus a glimmer of hope and made his efforts worthwhile?
6. Page 227: What is Jem’s interpretation of the Maycomb caste system? What is happening to Jem? What is Scout’s response, and what does this show about her?
Chapter 24
1. Discuss Aunt Alexandra’s missionary circle. What is the point of the meeting? What do the women talk about? What are their views of other cultures? Are they hypocritical?
2. Characterize Grace Merriweather and Mrs. Farrow (describe them).
3. Page 235: We find out that Tom Robinson dies. Why does he run?
4. Aunt Alexandra goes back into the circle of women who have just insulted her brother. She is polite and courteous. What important lesson does Scout learn from her?
Chapters 25-26
Chapter 25
1. Page 238: Summarize the “roly-poly” bug incident. How does it reinforce a theme?
2. Page 241: Why is it significant that Mr. Underwood describes Tom’s death as “the senseless slaughter of songbirds” in his editorial?
Chapter 26
3. We find out that Atticus knows about the incident with Jem’s pants. How does this affect Scout’s perception of her father?
4. Page 245: Because of the students’ current events assignments, Mrs. Gates discusses democracy and Hitler. What does she say about prejudice? Why is this ironic? (See page 247.)
5. How does this (Mrs. Gates and prejudice) affect Scout?
Chapter 27
1. Pages 248-249: What three strange events happen in Maycomb?
2. Page 250: Reread the paragraph beginning “I think I understand….” Why does Atticus believe that Bob Ewell acts so cruelly?
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Take Home Test Below:
- Scout says that “Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man.” Is she right?
- In most states of the USA people who drink alcohol in public places are required to hide their bottle in a paper bag. Why does Dolphus Raymond hide Coca-Cola in a bag?
- What, according to Atticus, is the thing that Mayella has done wrong?
- Explain, in your own words, Atticus' views on people's being equal.
Chapter 21
- What does Jem expect the verdict to be? Does Atticus think the same?
- What is unusual about how long it takes the jury to reach a verdict? Is the verdict predictable or not?
- As Scout waits for the verdict, she thinks of earlier events. What are these and how do they remind us of the novel's central themes?
1) Explain how Atticus' character has influenced Jem. Identify evidence that supports Jem's reaction to the guilty verdict.
2) How do the children (Jem, Scout, and Dill) deal with the outcome of the trial? What do their coping mechanisms reveal about each of them?
Chapter 23
1. Describe how Atticus reacted to Bob Ewell’s insult.
2. How do the children react to Bob Ewell’s insult?
3. Page 218: Why (according to Atticus) does Bob Ewell spit on and threaten Atticus? Why is this ironic?
4. Pages 220-221: Reread the two paragraphs beginning with, “You couldn’t, but they could and did…” and ending in, “…children’s time.” What does this reveal about Atticus’s character that we have not seen before?
5. Page 222: What about the jury’s deliberation gave Atticus a glimmer of hope and made his efforts worthwhile?
6. Page 227: What is Jem’s interpretation of the Maycomb caste system? What is happening to Jem? What is Scout’s response, and what does this show about her?
Chapter 24
1. Discuss Aunt Alexandra’s missionary circle. What is the point of the meeting? What do the women talk about? What are their views of other cultures? Are they hypocritical?
2. Characterize Grace Merriweather and Mrs. Farrow (describe them).
3. Page 235: We find out that Tom Robinson dies. Why does he run?
4. Aunt Alexandra goes back into the circle of women who have just insulted her brother. She is polite and courteous. What important lesson does Scout learn from her?
Chapters 25-26
Chapter 25
1. Page 238: Summarize the “roly-poly” bug incident. How does it reinforce a theme?
2. Page 241: Why is it significant that Mr. Underwood describes Tom’s death as “the senseless slaughter of songbirds” in his editorial?
Chapter 26
3. We find out that Atticus knows about the incident with Jem’s pants. How does this affect Scout’s perception of her father?
4. Page 245: Because of the students’ current events assignments, Mrs. Gates discusses democracy and Hitler. What does she say about prejudice? Why is this ironic? (See page 247.)
5. How does this (Mrs. Gates and prejudice) affect Scout?
Chapter 27
1. Pages 248-249: What three strange events happen in Maycomb?
2. Page 250: Reread the paragraph beginning “I think I understand….” Why does Atticus believe that Bob Ewell acts so cruelly?
Chapter 28
- Comment on the way this chapter reminds the reader of earlier events in the novel.
- Why does Jem say that Boo Radley must not be at home? What is ironic about this? (Is it true? Does he really mean it? Why might it be important for him and Scout that Boo should not be at home?)
- Scout decides to keep her costume on while walking home. How does this affect her understanding of what happens on the way?
- Why had Atticus not brought a chair for the man in the corner? Who might this stranger be?
Chapter 29
- What causes the “shiny clean line” on the otherwise “dull wire” of Scout's costume?
- What explanation does Atticus give for Bob Ewell's attack?
- What does Heck Tate give as the reason for the attack?
- Do you think the sheriff's explanation or Atticus's is the more likely to be true?
Chapter 30
- Who does Atticus think caused Bob Ewell's death?
- Why does Heck Tate insist that Bob Ewell's death was self-inflicted? In what way is this partly true?
- Is Heck Tate right to spare Boo then publicity of an inquest? Give reasons for your answer.
- How does the writer handle the appearance, at the end of the story, of Boo Radley?
Chapter 31
- How do the events of the final chapters explain the first sentence in the whole novel?
- Comment on the way the writer summarizes earlier events to show their siginificance.
- How does Scout make sense of an earlier remark of Atticus's as she stands on the Radley porch?
- How much of a surprise is it fo find what Boo Radley is really like? Has the story before this point prepared the reader for this discovery?
- At the end of the novel, Atticus reads to Scout. Comment on his choice of story. Does it have any connection with themes earlier in the novel and in its ending?
Take Home Test Below:
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