Study Questions To Kill a Mockingbird

Chapters 1-3 Identify with as much detail as you can: Study Questions To Kill a Mockingbird Setting: Maycomb, Alabama small farming community in the 1930s (during the Great Depression) Narrator: Scout (Jean Louise Finch) she is telling the story as an adult reflecting back on her childhood, she s 6 when the events of the novel begin Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem) - Scout s brother, 10 at the beginning of the novel Calpurnia works for the Finches, cook/maid, African-American, takes care of Scout and Jem, authoritative Miss Rachel Haverford Dill s aunt, lives next door to the Finches Mr. and Mrs. Radley Boo s parents, keep to themselves, he walks to and from town and doesn t speak, she sometimes visited neighbors and watered flowers Arthur Radley (Boo) we are told that he got into trouble as a teen and has been held captive in his house since then Mr. Nathan Radley Boo s brother, like his father Miss Stephanie Crawford town gossip, she is who Jem gets all of his information about the Radleys from

Answer study questions with as much specific detail as you can, using page references where possible. Ch. 1 Begins with a hook how Jem broke his arm; Scout says the Ewells started it, and Jem says it started with Dill coming to Maycomb The kids boundaries are from the Radleys to Mrs. Dubose; as they grow, these boundaries will expand, both physically and emotionally A major theme is courage; in Part 1 it is exemplified in the kids attempts to get Boo Radley to come out; later on there will be examples of moral courage Motif a recurring idea/thought that acts as a unifying device and develops a commentary on characterization or ides in the novel 1. What does the Radley house represent to the children? mystery, intrigue, they think it s haunted, superstition surrounds it 2. What was the first dare made concerning the house? (13) that Jem wouldn t get past the Radley front gate 3. Who made the first dare and who carried it out? (13) Dill made it and Jem did it 4. How does Harper Lee make the house and the Radleys seem so mysterious? (8-13) description of the house, almost everything she says about them is hearsay/gossip is it really true?? (this information comes from Miss Stephanie) 5. Briefly describe the Finch family background. What was the disturbance between the North and the South? (3-5) the Civil War; Finch family has deep Southern roots, but Atticus and Jack have broken with tradition by leaving Finch s Landing; Alexandra stays behind she is the spokesperson for tradition in the novel 6. Explain the differences between Dill s family situation and the Finch family. Dill is passed from family member to family member; the Finches are very close-knit 7. Who is Jean Louise? Scout, narrator, tomboy, Jem s little sister 8. What is the difference between Jen and Scout s reaction to school? (18)Scout hates it, Jem loves it, he tells her it will get better Jem is more accepting of school

9. What does Scout tell Miss Caroline about Walter Cunningham? Why does she tell her? (20) that the Cunninghams never take anything they can t pay back; Scout respects people for their integrity Miss Caroline represents progressive classroom education One of the major themes in the novel is classroom education vs. real world education Lee thinks real world education is more effective Miss Caroline also has a blind spot (we see this in her reaction/treatment to Walter Cunningham) this is a major motif in the novel Lee will constantly mention the Radley house to keep it in the reader s mind (23) 10. How does Atticus explain the Ewell family? (30-31) he talks about compromise, he says they are members of an exclusive society that don t have to obey the law Burris Ewell incident represents another Miss Caroline blind spot (27) 11. According to Atticus, why must Scout attend school? (30) she s a member of the common folk and they must obey the law Point of view theme Scout will turn to this advice many times throughout the novel this is the real source of her education (30) 12. Describe what you know so far about Atticus personality. (5) lawyer, very tan, logical, tries to put himself in other people s shoes to understand their problems, patient, gentle, listens when kids talk, tolerant of other people Last line of Ch. 3 is a power line a stylistic device used by the author to add emphasis to the line Briefly summarize Chapters 1-3 Class distinction among whites evidenced by Cunninghams and Ewells Scout s formal education begins and so does her education in life with Atticus advice about considering other viewpoints Ch. 1-2 mysteries: Jem s broken arm and Boo Radley these will be solved by the end of the novel Pay attention to the last lines of each chapter power lines!!! Chapters 4-8 Ch. 4

13. What treasures do Scout and Jem find in the Radley s oak tree? How do these finds heighten the mystery of the Radley house? (33) 2 pieces of chewing gum, small box with 2 Indian head pennies someone is using the Radley tree as a hiding place Radley knothole is part of the secrets motif Jem Hush a minute, I m thinking Jem is struggling with problems while Scout isn t he is starting to grow up (34) Grown folks don t have hidin places when and how adults hide things is a key theme in the novel (35) 14. What is one of the stories the children tell about Boo? he dies years ago and they stuffed him in the chimney (43); he bit off Mrs. Radley s finger (39) Power line Jem was a born hero foreshadowing (39) 15. How does Atticus react to the children s dramatizations about the Radley family? He stays calm and tells them their game better not be about the Radleys (40-41) Jem tells Scout to stop acting like a girl gender prejudice is a theme (41) Ch. 5 16. Who is Miss Maudie Atkinson? Describe the children s relationship with her. Lives across from the Finches, reasonable, children like her especially Scout (she grows closer to her when Jem and Dill become close) (44) reasonable characters Miss Maudie and Atticus; look for more as we read (45) 17. Describe Jem s attempt to deliver a note to Boo. What does Atticus do when he discovers what Jem, Dill and Scout are attempting? They use a fishing pole, attach a note to the end of it, try to stick it through a shutter; Atticus simply tells the kids that he hopes they will stop tormenting Boo it s none of their business (46, 49) Atticus gives the kids a lot of latitude before he approaches them about the Boo Radley problem he doesn t try to overpower his kids, he wants them to figure it out (49) Ch. 6 18. Why do Jem, Dill, and Scout wait until the last night of summer to try to peek into the Radley s back window? Because if Boo kills them they will miss school instead of summer vacation (51) Angel May gender prejudice 19. Describe in detail what happens when the children are caught in their prank. They lie to the adults about playing strip poker by the fishpool, Jem says Dill won his pants (54-55) 20. What is significant about the neighbors conclusion as to whom they think was in the Radley s yard. They think it was a Negro shows the prejudice and racism in the town

Lee s narrative technique the reader stays home with Scout while Jem gets his pants so she can create suspense (in the next chapter, something about Jem s pants is revealed) Motif it s not time to worry yet This line is repeated throughout the novel Scout uses it as comfort Theme courage: Jem confronts a lot things in this chapter The Radley house Adults Nathan Radley s shotgun The fact that he did something wrong Ch. 7 21. How does Scout feel about second grade? Doesn t like it worse than first grade; she does like that she gets to go home with Jem (57-58) 22. What does Jem reveal to Scout about his pants and who does he think is responsible? They were poorly sewn up thinks the Radleys did it (58) 23. What five additional treasures do Jem and Scout find in the Radley oak? Why do they think the treasures are for them? 2 dolls carved out of soap, pack of gum, medal, twine, pocket watch with aluminum knife (60) Symbol watches Atticus and someone else have given Jem a watch try to figure out what this means 24. The children suspect various characters as having left the treasures. Cite each suspicious character and the reason why Jem and Scout eliminate each possibility. Mr. Avery he carves Miss Stephanie s sweetheart he lives in the country Miss Maudie can t chew gum and she probably wouldn t have a watch and chain (60-61) 25. What does Mr. Nathan Radley do to the oak tree and how do Jem and Scout react? He fills it with cement, the kids get very upset and Jem cries (62-63) Ch. 8 26. Why does Scout react to the snow by yelling The world s endin, Atticus! She s never seen it before and doesn t know what it is (64) 27. What is the significance of the reference point of Appomattox in Mr. Avery s remark, It hasn t snowed in Maycomb since Appomattox.? Uses it to comment on how long it s been since it snowed in Maycomb reference to Civil War (65)

28. Why do you think Boo Radley covered Scout as she watched the fire? How did she react when she learned the identity of her benefactor? Because he s nice she almost throws up when she finds out it s him (72) The children are threatened by snow (something that is just unfamiliar and can t hurt them) and a fire (something that can actually harm them). This will parallel to the Boo Radley plot; Boo is someone who is unfamiliar to the children, but he doesn t seem to want to harm them. In Part 2, we will meet someone who is like the fire; someone who wants to harm them. 29. What character traits does Miss Maudie show when she reacts to the burning of her house? She s optimistic she hated her house and thought of burning it herself (73) Ch. 8 is a transition from a childish fear of Boo to a justified fear of the fire. Motif it s not time to worry yet (69) Jem says this to Scout Briefly summarize Chapters 4-8 Chapters 9-11 Ch. 9 Introduces the 2 nd major plot strand in the novel the Tom Robinson trial We move from childhood terrors (Boo) to adult terrors (racial prejudice, etc.) 30. What is Maycomb s usual disease? Who coined this phrase? The tendency of people in the community to just follow what everyone else does not to think for themselves; coined by Atticus (88) 31. What does Cecil Jacobs announce at school about Atticus, and what does Scout do about it? He said that Atticus defends niggers ; she prepares to fight him (74) The Cecil Jacobs incident introduces the motif of losing battles. Scout will come to understand that losing is not the point. (74) 32. Who is Tom Robinson? Why is Atticus defending him? Why does Judge Taylor appoint Atticus? Black man that Atticus is defending; says if he didn t defend him he couldn t hold his head up in town; Judge Taylor appoints him because he thinks he s the only one who can handle it (75) Atticus and Maudie deliver lines that shape the children s ideas about race. They both insist on calling people by a single name. Atticus says, I m simply defending a Negro his name is Tom Robinson. Maudie says, His name is Arthur and he s alive. (75) Theme courage: Atticus says, Simply because we were licked (76). Scout will learn to fight in the face of assured loss. This also ties in with the losing battles motif. 33. For what does Scout receive a spanking from Uncle Jack? Why does Atticus believe she deserved it?

For fighting with her cousin Francis; she deserves it because Atticus had already warned her about fighting (83, 87) Losing battles motif - Scout loses the battle with Francis Theme courage: Atticus asks Scout not to let words/names bother her (87) 34. What comparison does Scout use to describe her relationship with Aunt Alexandra and what does this reveal about her character? compares her aunt to Mt. Everest she was cold and there ; shows that Alexandra is stuck in her ways (77) Religious allusion Let this cup pass from you, eh? This compares Atticus to Jesus. He will sacrifice himself for the sin of others. Atticus will fight the racial battle of the Tom Robinson case for Maycomb s well-intentioned citizens (78). 35. Explain Scout s reasoning regarding her cussing frequently. She thinks that Atticus will think she learned it at school and she won t have to go back (79) Comment on education education in school can bring some students down (like if it exposes them to things like cussing) (78-79) 36. What has Scout learned about injustice from Miss Caroline and the townspeople? She learns that everyone is going to judge Atticus because he s defending a black man they re prejudice Ch. 10 This chapter is about the children judging Atticus. In this chapter, his physical courage impresses them. However, later on his mental/moral courage will impress them. 37. Explain why Scout is upset that Atticus is so old. b/c he wasn t like the other fathers she didn t think anyone admired him (89) 38. Why does Atticus tell the children about mockingbirds? How does Miss Maudie help this explanation? b/c they were learning how to shoot Maudie says they only make music for people to enjoy (90) Introduces the mockingbird motif/symbol innocent creature that only brings pleasure. The mad dog is a symbol for other creatures who are not innocent. 39. Why does the sheriff ask Atticus to shoot Tim Johnson? b/c Atticus is the best shot in Maycomb County (96) Blindness/blind spot motif Atticus doesn t have good vision and he has to take off his glasses to shoot the dog. He sees clearly when he has to. 40. What explanation does Miss Maudie give for Atticus putting his gun down 30 years ago? Atticus realized that God gave him an unfair advantage over most living things, so he wouldn t shoot unless he had to (98)

41. What does Jem tell Scout to do about their father s shooting of the dog? Don t say anything about it (98) Shows that Jem is maturing Ch. 11 Boundary motif 1 st paragraph introduces it By the end of the chapter, the children have pretty much mastered the physical boundaries of their neighborhood. Part 2 introduces that moral, social, emotional, and political boundaries (99) Notice the description of Mrs. Dubose (99-100) Mrs. Dubose is the first adult to insult the kids their boundaries are expanding (102) 42. What does Atticus do that causes Scout to say he was the bravest man who ever lived? He talks to Mrs. Dubose (100) 43. What does Jem do to Mrs. Dubose s camellia bushes and why? Uses Scout s baton to cut off the tops of all of them b/c she was saying mean things to them about Atticus and his family (103) It s not time to worry yet motif (104) Atticus reasoning for taking the Tom Robinson case is to avoid being a hypocrite he couldn t live with himself if he didn t take it (104-105) 44. What does Mrs. Dubose want from Jem as payment for his crime? Come to her everyday after school and Saturdays for a month and read to her (105) Lee s narrative technique she mentions the Radley place it s her way of keeping it in our minds (105) 45. How does Atticus explain the term nigger-lover to Scout? Says it doesn t mean anything ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody is favoring Negroes over and above themselves (108) 46. What change had occurred in Mrs. Dubose by the last week Scout and Jem went to her home? Instead of the alarm clock sounding to release them, Mrs. Dubose would just say, that ll do and allow them to leave (109) Definition of a lady Jem and Atticus have different ideas about what a lady is (112) 47. How does Atticus explain courage to Jem? It s when you know you re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what (112)

Briefly summarize Chapters 9-11