To Kill A Mockingbird Study Guide

Chapter 1:

  1. Describe the techniques used by Harper Lee to tell the readers the story.
  1. In this chapter the author prepares the reader for the attitudes and prejudices that create the mood that prevails throughout the novel. Cite examples (religion, superstition,Blacks and the law)
  1. Describe the setting as best you can. They "have nothing to fear, but fear itself."
  1. How do Jem, Scout and Dill entertain themselves?

Chapter 2:

  1. Look up the meaning of "satire." How has the author used satire to describe Scout's experience with Miss Caroline Fisher?
  1. What does her discouraging Scout from reading show?

Chapter 3:

  1. What is the significance of the "cootie" affair with Burris Ewell?
  1. At home, Scout told her father that her teacher told her not to read. Atticus' reply is a theme. What is it?

Vocabulary: expounding, tranquility, iniquities, diminutive, monosyllabic

Chapter 4:

What superstitions are mentioned in this chapter and what is their significance?

Vocabulary: villain, tutorial system, tyranny, arbitrated, decline, ritual

Chapter 5:

  1. Why did Scout grow closer to Miss Maudie Atkinson? Explain the expression "chameleon lady."
  1. What are "foot washing Baptists"?
  1. What does Miss Maudie say of talk about Boo Radley?
  1. "Jem … realized he that he'd been done in by the oldest lawyer's trick on record." Explain.

Vocabulary: aloof, benign, incomprehensible, quibbling

Chapter 6:

  1. What was the reason for the shot being fired? What was the real reason? How do we know that everyone knows?

Chapter 7:

  1. Who is leaving something in the tree? Why?
  1. Why is it cemented over?
  1. How does it affect Jem?

Chapter 8:

  1. Why did Scout believe the world was coming to an end?
  1. Who put the blanket around Scout? Why is it important?

Vocabulary: unfathomable

Chapter 9:

  1. For the first 8 chapters of the novel, the plot focused on Boo Radley. In this chapter we were introduced to another plot- one involving Tom Robinson. Explain who Tom Robinson was and his relationship to Atticus Finch.
  1. Analyze Atticus's statement: "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win."
  1. What does Aunt Alexandra have to say about the way the children are being raised?
  1. Toward the end of this chapter the author used foreshadowing to give us a hint of the4 trouble to come. Cite one or two examples.

Vocabulary: compromise, fanatical

Chapter 10:

  1. Atticus gave the children air rifles and some important advice. Explain the significance of the mockingbird.
  1. What is the significance of the "mad dog" incident?
  1. How does the children's opinion of Atticus differ from that opinion in previous chapters? Why?

Chapter 11:

  1. Why were Mrs. Dubose's rebukes especially distressing? How did Jem react?
  1. Explain Atticus's statement: "The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience." Do you agree?
  1. How does Atticus feel about the case?
  2. How did Atticus respond to Scout's question of whether or not he was a "nigger lover"?
  1. According to Atticus, why did Mrs. Dubose's actions show great courage? How did this relate to Atticus's own situation?

Chapter 12:

  1. What information do we learn about conditions in Alabama in 1935? Why might this information be significant in the plot?
  1. How and why has Jem's attitude towards Scout changed?
  1. What is the outcome of the service at the A.M.E.AfricanChurch?
  1. What is the feeling about Tom Robinson's crime in the black community?
  1. Why does Calpurnia speak differently in her church?

Chapter 13:

  1. How did the author use foreshadowing while explaining the reasoning for Aunt Alexandra's stay with them?
  1. Atticus lectured the children on trying to live up to their name. Why does this upset them?
  1. The author used foreshadowing near the end of this chapter. Explain.

Chapter 14:

  1. What is Scout curious about?
  1. What is Aunt Alexandra's suggestion? Why is it made? How does Atticus react?
  1. What happens to Dill? Why does Scout react as she does?

Chapter 15:

  1. How might the case hurt Atticus?
  1. What must Heck Tate do and why?
  1. What does Atticus do at the jail?
  1. Why did the angry townspeople leave the jail?
  1. The author used foreshadowing at the beginning of the chapter to give a clue to readers about the end of the chapter. Explain.
  1. Atticus did not reprimand Jem for disobeying his instructions to go home. Why?

Chapter 16:

  1. How did Jem's behavior toward Scout show his growing maturity?
  1. What are Scout's feelings about Atticus?
  1. What was the atmosphere of the town before the trial?
  1. What is significant about the way the townspeople enter the courthouse?
  1. With whom do Jem, Dill, and Scout view the trial?

Chapter 17:

  1. When Mr. Tate testified that Mayella Ewell had been beaten on her right side, something became clear to both Mr. Tate and Atticus. Predict what that might be.
  1. How are the Ewells described?
  1. Why did Atticus ask Mr. Ewell to write his name?
  1. Scout became nervous when Atticus asked this question. Why?

Chapter 18:

  1. Cite evidence that Mayella was different from the other Ewells.
  1. What does Atticus do after he questions Mayella about the rape? Why is this significant?
  1. What did Atticus try to get her to say?

Chapter 19:

  1. How did Tom's testimony differ from Mayella's?
  1. Who else spoke in Tom's behalf?
  1. How does Dill show his sensitivity?

Chapter 20:

  1. What do we learn about Dolphus Raymond?
  1. What does Atticus say in his speech to the jury?

Chapter 21:

  1. Jem misinterpreted Atticus's statement,"But I expect it'll be over before you get back. Explain.
  1. As Scout awaited the return of the jury, she was overcome with a certain impression.

It reminded her of an impression she had had the winter before. Explain.

  1. What clue made Scout believe the verdict would be guilty?
  1. Why did Reverend Sykes ask Scout to stand?

Chapter 22:

  1. How does Atticus explain the verdict?
  1. What does the Black community do for Atticus and why?
  1. According to Miss Maudie, what ray of optimism could be found in the outcome of the trial?
  1. How does Bob Ewell react?

Chapter 23:

  1. What does Atticus say is the reason for Bob Ewell's Behavior? Relate this to the advice he gave Scout about understanding people in chapter3.
  1. What was it about the statute that bothered Atticus?
  1. Atticus showed pride in Jem's power of observation. Explain.
  1. What surprising news did Atticus tell Jem about the jury in the Robinson case?
  1. Why does Aunt Alexandra think a Finch is different from a Cunningham?
  1. What does Scout say is Boo Radley's reason for staying inside?

Chapter 24:

  1. Explain the irony in the missionary circle's concern with the "squalid lives of the Mrunas."
  1. What happened to Tom Robinson? What was unnecessary about it?
  1. What incident shows that Scout is becoming a lady?

Chapter 25:

  1. Jem stopped Scout from killing a roly-poly. Relate this to the major theme of the book.
  1. The symbol of the mockingbird appeared again in this chapter. Explain.
  1. What was the town's reaction to Tom Robinson's death?
  1. Analyze the statement: "In the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case."
  1. There is an uneasy feeling at the end of this chapter. What caused it?

Chapter 26:

  1. Scout showed evidence of her growing maturity when she felt "a twinge of remorse" when passing the Radley place. Explain.
  1. What was ironic about Miss Gate's harsh censure of Hitler's persecution of the Jews?
  1. Analyze Jem's inability to discuss anything to do with the courthouse.

Chapter 27:

1. What three things happened to further frustrate Bob Ewell?

2. What was the "Tutti-Fruiti-Barbar Affair" and what was its effect on Halloween?

  1. There was a feeling of apprehension at the end of this chapter. What elements helped create this mood?

Chapter 28:

  1. The apprehensive mood of the last chapter continues here. Cite details that contributed to this mood before the attack on the children.
  1. Guess who brought Jem home?

3. Describe Jem's condition after the attack?

  1. After Heck Tate investigates, what does he find?

Chapter 29:

  1. Why did Aunt Alexandra feel guilty about the attack on the children?
  1. What prompted Mr. Tate to say,"We'll have to make him (Jem) a deputy"?
  1. Who brought Jem into the house? Was your guess right?

Chapter 30:

  1. How does Scout show kindness to Boo?
  1. What conclusion did Atticus jump to regarding the death of Bob Ewell?
  1. Who really killed Bob Ewell? What evidence of this is there?
  1. Scout showed maturity by taking advice her father had given her and applying it to this situation. Explain.

Chapter 31:

  1. How did Scout continue to show compassion to Boo?
  1. What do you think the Gray Ghost symbolized? Find the sentence that makes you think this.
  1. What helped Scout "stand in Boo Radley's shoes"?