To Kill a Mockingbird
By: Harper Lee
Student Name: ______
Period: ______
Key Facts
full title: To Kill a Mockingbird
author: Harper Lee
type of work: Novel
narrator: Jean Louise “Scout” Finch
Genre: Coming-of-age story; social drama; courtroom drama; Southern drama, Southern Gothic
setting (time): Early 1930s
setting (place): Maycomb, Alabama (fictional town)
point of view: First person retrospective
tone: Childlike, humorous, nostalgic, innocent; as the novel progresses, increasingly dark, foreboding, and critical of society
themes: The coexistence of good and evil; the importance of moral education; social class
symbols: Mockingbirds; Boo Radley
Character List
Atticus Finch—A Southern lawyer and the father of Scout and Jem.
Scout Finch (also known as Jean Louise)—Atticus' daughter. She is six years old when the story begins.
Jem Finch (also known as Jeremy Atticus)—Atticus’ son, who is ready for fifth grade when the story begins.
Charles Baker Harris (Dill)—A six-year-old who visits his Aunt Rachel Haverford in Maycomb.
Calpurnia and Zeebo—The cook for the Finch family and her son, who also drives a garbage truck.
Aunt Alexandra Hancock—Atticus’ sister, who is married to Jimmy Hancock. She has one son named Henry and a seven-year-old grandson named Francis.
Arthur Radley (a.k.a.“Boo Radley”)—A recluse in the neighborhood and the younger brother of Nathan Radley.
Mr. Robert Ewell—The irresponsible father of Burns and Mayella. He spends his welfare checks on alcohol.
Mayella Ewell—Robert Ewell’s daughter; she accuses Tom Robinson of raping her.
Miss Maudie Atkinson—A friend of Jem and Scout who lives up the street.
Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose—An elderly woman on Jem and Scout’s street. They call her the “meanest old woman in the world.”
Tom Robinson and Helen Robinson—Husband and wife; Tom is accused of rape.
Heck Tate—The sheriff.
DIRECTIONS: For each chapter, answer the questions using complete sentences.
Chapter 1
1. What events led to Arthur’s being shut into the house?
2. What goal do the children plan to achieve before the end of the summer?
3. Cite details which establish the setting of the novel.
Explain the following quote using evidence from the text to support your answer.
“Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop . . . [s]omehow it was hotter then... bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum. . . . There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County. But it was a time of vague optimism for some of the people: Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself.”
Chapter 2
1. What events lead to the conflict between Scout and Miss Caroline?
2. The students in the class show some prejudice against Miss Caroline when she tells the class she is from Winston County, Alabama. Explain this prejudice.
3. Describe the Cunningham family.
Chapter 3
1. Describe Burris Ewell.
2. Why does Walter think he almost died the first year in school?
3. Why does Atticus say Scout should ignore Jem in the tree house?
4. What does it mean to “climb into his skin and walk around in it?”
5. Cite examples of contrast between Jem and Scout.
6. Contrast Burris Ewell with the other children.
7. What is the thematic significance of the advice Atticus gives Scout?
Explain the following quote using evidence from the text to support your answer.
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
Chapter 4
1. How do cowardice and bravery figure into Scout’s taking part in the dramas about the Radley family?
2. What is learned about Jem and Scout from their diverse reaction to the pennies in the knot-hole?
Chapter 5
1. Why do the children have faith in Miss Maudie?
2. How do the children try to send the message to Boo?
3. What does Miss Maudie mean when she says Atticus is the same in his house as he is on the public streets?
4. What gesture of friendship cements Miss Maudie’s and Scout’s relationship?
Chapter 6
1. What is significant about Jem’s decision to make a lone, nocturnal return to the Radley place? What is the significant outcome of the return?
2. What is significant about the town’s conclusion regarding the disturbance at the Radley Place?
Chapter 7
1. What secret does Jem share with Scout?
2. What was unusual about Jem’s pants when he retrieved them from the fence?
3. What does Mr. Nathan Radley do to the tree where the gifts are placed?
4. Why is it significant that Jem had been crying?
Chapter 8
1. Why does Atticus take the children out of the house at 1:00 A.M.?
2. How do people react to the fire at Miss Maudie’s house?
Chapter 9
1. Why does Atticus take a case which is causing so much dissension in the neighborhood?
2. What can be deduced about the character of Atticus from his defense of Tom Robinson?
3. Contrast Aunt Alexandra and Atticus.
4. What is Maycomb’s “unusual disease” that Atticus hopes Scout and Jem will not contract? How does he hope to prevent Jem and Scout from this “disease”?
Chapter 10
1. What action of Atticus’ makes him unpopular with the community?
2. Explain the symbolic meaning of the mockingbird.
Explain the following quote using evidence from the text to support your answer.
Chapter 10: “Remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. “Your father's right,” she said. “Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
Chapter 11
1. Why do Jem and Scout hate Mrs. Dubose at first?
2. What is Atticus’ advice to Jem when Mrs. Dubose angers him?
3. What things does Atticus require Jem to do to make amends for his rage?
4. What does Atticus say is the one thing that “doesn’t abide by majority rule”?
5. As the nature of Mrs. Dubose’s affliction is discovered, what is learned about her character?
6. What does Jem gain from his experience with Mrs. Dubose?
Chapter 12
1. What does the political cartoon of Atticus chained to a desk and wearing short pants mean to Jem?
2. How does Calpurnia say that people can be changed?
3. What accounts for the changed relationship between Jem and Scout?
Chapter 13
1. Why does Alexandra come to live with the Finch family?
2. What elements heighten the contrast between Atticus and Aunt Alexandra?
Chapter 14
1. What does Atticus mean when he says, “…rape to riot to runaways”?
2. Cite examples of prejudice and lack of human understanding.
3. Contrast Dill’s home life with Scout’s.
Chapter 15
1. What are the only two reasons grown men stand outside in the yard, according to Scout?
2. Who is the “mockingbird” in this chapter? Why?
3. Contrast the two groups of men Atticus faces.
Chapter 16
1. What does Atticus say had brought the mob to its senses?
2. What two things keep Mr. Raymond from being trash?
3. What does Maycomb’s turnout for the trial imply about human nature?
Chapter 17
1. Why is it important that Mr. Ewell signs his name with his left hand?
2. What does it mean when Scout says the Ewells live as guests of the county?
3. What does Atticus attempt to establish through Heck Tate’s testimony?
4. What devices does the author use in chapter 17 to characterize the Ewells, especially Bob Ewell?
5. What does Atticus attempt to establish through Bob Ewell’s testimony?
Chapter 18
1. Why is Tom’s left arm crippled?
2. Whom does Mayella say she is afraid of?
3. What question does Atticus ask Mayella that makes her furious?
4. What does Mayella’s testimony add to the case?
5. What startling revelation is made about Tom?
Chapter 19
1. What is Link Deas’ opinion of Tom?
2. What does Tom say that Mr. Ewell saw through the window?
3. Why was Tom afraid to push Mayella out of the way?
4. When Tom was approached by Mayella, he did something which Scout says was a sure sign of guilt. What was it?
5. Scout acquires an important realization during Tom’s testimony. Discuss the realization and its significance.
6. What tragic racial situation is illustrated in this chapter? How does it apply to the theme?
Chapter 20
1. What does Atticus argue are some of the reasons that Tom should not be convicted?
2. What thematically related insights do Scout and Dill receive outside the courtroom?
3. What is Atticus actually condemning in his closing remarks to the jury? What is the target of Atticus’ final plea?
Chapter 21
1. How does Scout know the verdict before it is read? What is the broader implication of the jury’s behavior?
Chapter 22
1. What special things do the people do to show their appreciation to Atticus the next morning?
2. What does Mr. Ewell say and do to Atticus?
3. What kind of person does Miss Maudie say that Atticus is?
4. What finally forces Jem over the threshold toward adulthood? What symbolic incident occurs that testifies to Jem’s move toward adulthood?
5. What hope and what fear are expressed at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 23
1. What is the thematic significance when Atticus tells Jem, to “stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes…”?
2. What does Aunt Alexandra call Walter Cunningham that angers Scout?
Chapter 24
1. What bad news does Atticus bring home?
2. What is ironic about the missionary circle’s convention?
Chapter 25
1. What does Mr. Underwood do to confront society?
2. To what does Mr. Underwood compare Tom Robinson?
3. What does Mr. Ewell say when he hears of Tom’s death?
4. Why does Scout not tell Atticus what Mr. Ewell said?
5. Discuss the mockingbird symbol in relation to Tom Robinson.
6. How is the feeling of apprehension conveyed at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 26
1. How does Scout define democracy?
2. Why is Jem unable to speak about the trial without being angered?
Chapter 27
1. What three incidents concerning Ewell occur? From these incidents and from Atticus, what do we learn from Bob Ewell?
2. What were the "discomforts" of Scout's ham costume?
Chapter 28
1. Who frightens the children on the way to the auditorium?
2. Why are the children among the last ones to leave the auditorium?
3. Why does Scout wear her costume home?
4. Why can Jem see Scout in the dark?
5. Who does Sheriff Tate find has been killed in the scuffle?
Chapter 29
1. What is Atticus’ one sign of inner turmoil?
2. Why does Atticus want Scout to raise her head when she talks?
3. What does Scout call out to Cecil Jacobs?
4. Why does Mr. Tate say Mr. Ewell acted the way that he did?
5. How does Scout know that she is under the tree?
6. Who brings Jem into the house?
7. What does Scout say to the man who rescued Jem and her?
Chapter 30
1. Why do they take Boo on the front porch?
2. What does the sheriff say had happened to Mr. Ewell?
3. What does Atticus say had happened to Mr. Ewell?
4. What comparison does Scout make with Boo?
5. What situation do both Atticus and Scout recognize?
6. Discuss Scout’s comments about the mockingbird in relation to Boo Radley.
Chapter 31
1. What does Atticus say most people are like when you finally see them?
2. In what way does Scout demonstrate sensitivity and compassion in the previous and final chapter?
Explain the following quotes using evidence from the text to support your answer.
“A boy trudged down the sidewalk dragging a fishing pole behind him. A man stood waiting with his hands on his hips. Summertime, and his children played in the front yard with their friend, enacting a strange little drama of their own invention. It was fall, and his children fought on the sidewalk in front of Mrs. Dubose's. . . . Fall, and his children trotted to and fro around the corner, the day's woes and triumphs on their faces. They stopped at an oak tree, delighted, puzzled, apprehensive. Winter, and his children shivered at the front gate, silhouetted against a blazing house. Winter, and a man walked into the street, dropped his glasses, and shot a dog. Summer, and he watched his children's heart break. Autumn again, and Boo's children needed him. Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.”
“When they finally saw him, why he hadn't done any of those things . . . Atticus, he was real nice. . . .” His hands were under my chin, pulling up the cover, tucking it around me. “Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.” He turned out the light and went into Jem's room. He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.”