Reading Guide for To Kill A Mockingbird. Part Three: Chapters Pages (Second half of Part 2)

Transcription

1 Reading Guide for To Kill A Mockingbird Part Three: Chapters Pages (Second half of Part 2) Name: Hour: The events surrounding Tom Robinson s trial send shock waves through Maycomb. The trial forces Scout, Jem, and Dill to grow up. At the end of the book, you should be able to discuss the novel s title, themes, characters, and resolution. Pg. 201 Dolphus Raymond only pretended to be a drunk. Infer why he did that. Consider his wife and children and how he lives. Pg. 205 Atticus said the one place all men should be treated equally is in the courtroom. Why do you think he reminded the jury of this fact? Do you think it will matter? End Chapter 20

2 Pg. 211 Tom s verdict is in. Was your prediction correct? Pg. 211 The Black community rises to their feet when Atticus passed by them. Why did they do this? End Chapter 21 Pg. 213 Referring to Alabama juries, Atticus said, They ve done it before and they did it again tonight and they ll do it again and when they do it - seems only the children weep. Remember when Dill left the court weeping? What is Atticus saying about kids and racism? What is he saying about Alabama juries and racism? Pg. 217 The chapter ended with Bob Ewell confronting Atticus. What did Bob do and say? Why do you think he did this even though he won the case? End Chapter 22

3 Pg. 223 Jem learned that the Cunninham who wanted to kill Atticus and Tom at the jail was on the jury. Why did Atticus think he was a good pick to sit on the jury? Pg. 225 Alexandra thinks the Cunninghams are trash and advises the children not to get too friendly with them. Have your parents ever advised you to stay away from certain people? Why? End Chapter 23 Pg 231 Mrs. Merriweather is a gossip and a hypocrite! She told Scout she was lucky to live in a world free from sin and squalor (poverty). Why is that quote ironic? Pg. 235 Atticus is home early and interrupts the tea. What sad news does he bring? End Chapter 24

4 Pg. 239 Visualize Helen s behavior when Atticus visited her at her house. What inferences can you make about Helen based on her behavior? Pg. 241 Mr. Underwood, the editor of The Maycomb Tribune, wrote an editorial (article) about Tom Robinson. How does it connect to the novel s title? End Chapter 25 Pg. 247 Scout heard her third grade teacher, Mrs. Gates, uttering racial slurs after the trial. Re-read Mrs. Gates s comments about Adolph Hitler on pages 244 and 245. Why is she seen as hypocritical by Scout? End Chapter 26 Pg. 254 Visualize the first paragraph that described the weather on Halloween night. What mood does this create for the reader?

5 Pg. 259 Why did Scout make Jem wait backstage with her until everyone left? Why might this be a dangerous situation for them? Pg. 262 Jem s arm is broken, and Scout is attacked and released. Summarize what you think has happened. End Chapter 28 Pg. 273 Atticus thinks Jem is responsible for what happened to Bob Ewell. He s planning Jem s legal defense. What does this say about Atticus as a father? What does it say about him as an officer of the court? Pg. 276 Heck Tate gets so angry with Atticus that he swears at him (that s a big deal in this book)! What is Heck Tate s story? Who is Sheriff Tate protecting and why? Evaluate the sheriff s reasons for this. Is he doing the right thing? Why? Why not?

6 Answer the Following Big Ideas A. Integrity is doing the right thing even when the right thing is unpopular and/or difficult. Which characters have integrity in the book and give one reason why? B. Everyone doesn t get a square deal in American courts. In the past, African Americans and women were not allowed to be on juries. Today that s not true, but many people believe that rich people can get away with anything while poor people often are convicted of whatever they re charged with. 1. Do you believe in justice? Why or Why not? C. The Great Depression was a backdrop to the story. Consider that racism made the Depression worse for minorities. 1. What did you learn about the 1930 s? D. Family was a major theme of To Kill A Mockingbird. Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell are single fathers facing the challenges of raising children. 1. What lessons do we learn about parenting from these characters? 2. How much influence do these men have on their children? 3. Compare Atticus as a father to Bob Ewell as a father?