To+kill+a+mocking+bird

To kill a mocking bird.
Chapter questions. Chapter 1 1. What do you learn in this chapter about Maycomb, Atticus Finch and his family?

They are in southern U.S.A. Atticus practiced economy. Maycomb was an old town. And most of Atticus' family has gone to different states to learn law, or medicine.

2. What do you learn about Dill's character?
He is seven years old, he is rather small, but rather brave, and curious.

3. What, briefly, has happened to Arthur “Boo” Radley? His elder brother came for a visit to take his place.

4. Why does the Radley place fascinate Scout, Jem and Dill? Because they never seen him, and he always stays in his house. And they wonder what he does in their.

5. What do you notice about the narrative voice and viewpoint in the novel? The narrative voice is the voice of Jem's sister, Scout.

Chapter 2 1. Why is Scout so looking forward to starting school? she wanted to learn the games that the kids were playing there

2. Why does Jem not want anything to do with Scout at school? Is his behaviour typical of an older child? Because he Jem doesn't want scout to tell the school kids his private life.

3. What do you think of Miss Caroline Fisher as a teacher? Can you find qualities which would make her good or not so good at her job? I think she would be good as a 1st grade teacher. She isn't a good teacher because she doesn't have good control of her students, and she is new to the area so she doesn't know how the residence works.

 Chapter 3 1. Who is Calpurnia? What is her place in the Finch household? Calpurnia was a black Maid to the Finches.

2. What is Walter Cunningham like? What does his behaviour during lunch suggest about his home life? Walter is a hillbilly redneck, who is a very good farmer. Putting a large amount of molasses on their dinner is considered to be a redneck kind of thing.

3. What do you think of the way Atticus treats Walter? He thought Walter was a good boy to talk to about crops and farming.

4. Does Scout learn anything from Walter's visit? What do you think this is? He learns that they need to treat their company with respect, no matter how weird they might be

5. Atticus says that you never really understand a person “until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. What does this mean? Is it an easy thing for Scout to learn? (In the last chapter of the novel, Scout repeats this, but she changes “skin” to “shoes” - this is probably not a mistake: Harper Lee suggests that Scout cannot clearly recall exactly what Atticus said and when, but the reader can check this!) It means that you don't know how they are like until you act like it.

6. What do you learn in this chapter about the Ewells? The Ewells are very pour and very bad people, who have no source of clean water, and only make their income for hunting out of season.

Chapter 4 1. What does Scout think of current fashions in education? she thought it was a half-decimal, half-dunce cap basis

2. What superstitions do the children have in connection with the Radley house? They thought if you eat the pecans that dropped on the school ground from Radely's house, they would die of poison. They thought he eats cats and squirrels. They thought he drools all of the time.

3. Why do the children make Boo's story into a game? Because Boo's story was good for a play.

4. What do they do in this game? Do you think the game is an accurate version of what happens in the Radleys' home? They rein act the story of how Boo Radely came to be. But the story is how they heard it from rumors and gossip.

5. What might be the cause of the laughter from inside the house? I think Boo saw the crash of the tire go in his front yard, and thought it looked funny.

 Chapter 5 1. Describe Miss Maudie Atkinson? How typical is she of Maycomb's women? What do the children think of her? She is a widow who like all of the women in Maycomb, tend to their gardens alot. (like the miss strangworth from the possibility of evil.) The children think she is a very sweet lady, because she makes nice cakes for them, and lets them play in her yard.

2. What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo? How does this compare with what Scout already believes? Miss Maudie said that "Mr. Arthur" was a very nice person in his life. And had a semi-decent job, as a foot washer in church.

3. Scout claims that “Dill could tell the biggest ones ” (lies) she ever heard. Why might Dill have told such lies? Because he's very curious, and believes in every rumor that he hears.

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 1. Why does Scout disapprove of Jem's and Dill's plan of looking in at one of the Radleys' windows? Because they could be caught, and be in extremely big trouble, or get killed.

2. What does Mr. Nathan Radley know about the intruders in his garden? Why does Miss Stephanie refer to a “negro” over whose head Mr. Nathan has fired? Mr. Nathan Radley thought they were blacks. Mrs. Stephanie was talking about, Jem, Dill, and scout.

3. Why does Dill's explanation of Jem's state of dress almost land him in trouble? He said they were playing strip poker. and playing cards was a "fatal"

Chapter 7 1. When Jem tells Scout about getting his trousers back, he tells her of something strange. What is this? She tells her that his pants were sown and folded, hanging on the fence

2. Can you find any evidence that Jem is beginning to understand more than Scout about Boo Radley? What do you think this is?

3. Does Jem still fear the gifts in the tree? Give reasons for your answer. He doesn't, for he forgot the rumor that everything that came from the Radley house was poisoned

4. 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? The knot hole was cemented by Nathan Radley, because I think their was a crow living in there, that is steeling his stuff.

Chapter 8 1. Why does Scout quiz Atticus about his visit to the Radley house? How much does Atticus tell her? Because they have no idea what he looked like and what he does in his house. Atticus tells her very little.

2. What is the “near libel” which Jem puts in the front yard? How do Miss Maudie and Atticus react to it? Jem has made a snow man that looks like Stephanie Crawford and Mr Avery. Atticus was very impressed with their work, but thought they should give it a disguise. So Jem brought Miss Maudie's sun hat and clippers, to put on the snow man. Miss Maudie didn't like that idea so much, and Atticus had to talk to her.

3. Why does Atticus save Miss Maudie's oak rocking chair? Because he knew that she liked to go on it every day.

4. When Atticus asks Scout about the blanket around her shoulders, what does Jem realize? Jem realized that Boo Radley had put it on his shoulder. And that they would have seen him if they turned around.

5. 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? He means to say that it would not happen again in a very, very, very long time. So don't get your hopes up.

Chapter 9 [] [] [] 1. 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? He's trying his best to defend him. It is unusual, because Alabama is in America's south, which strongly dislikes blacks.

2. Scout and Jem have “mixed feelings” about Christmas? What are these feelings and why? The are excited, for they were going to see their Uncle Jack and decorate the tree. But they didn't like it if the had to see Aunt Alexandria, her son Henry, and Francis

3. Uncle Jack Finch tells Scout that she is growing out of her pants. What does this mean and why might he say it? He means to say that, she is talking like an adult, when she's only a child. He says it, because she was saying damn, at the table.

4. When Francis talks to Scout he reveals an unpleasant feature of Aunt Alexandra. What is this?

5. Does Scout learn anything from overhearing Atticus's conversation with Uncle Jack? What might this be? Jack said they were going to absorb some ugly things. These things are probably stuff you have to face, growing up.

6. Read the final sentence of this chapter. Explain in your own words what it means and why it might be important in the story. It means that Atticus wanted her to hear every word. It's important, because In the last part of it, she says, "And it's not until many years that I realized he wanted me to hear every word he said." (Forshadowing)

Chapter 10 1. 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?

2. In this chapter Atticus tells his children that “it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”. What reason does he give for saying this? Because the birds didn't do anything that deserves them to be shot at.

3. Why does Heck Tate not want to shoot Tim Johnson? Because he wasn't a good shot. If he missed, Tim would go straight into the Radley place.

4. 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? He would of said that Atticus was a incredible shot in his days. Atticus didn't want him to say it, because he was a proud man, and he didn't want his children talking about it in class.

5. 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?

Chapter 11 1. How does Atticus advise Jem to react to Mrs. Dubose's taunts? He tells him to not make her mad.

2. What does Mrs. Dubose say about the children's mother? How does Jem feel about this? She said that she wore exactly what Scout wore, and said she worked in the O.K. Cafe. Scout was terrified.

3. What request does Mrs. Dubose make of Jem? Is this a fair punishment for his “crime”? She requests that Jem should read to her for 2 hours, 6 days a weak, for 2 months. I think its a little to big of a punishment for destroying her flowers.

4. Explain in your own words what Atticus thinks of insults like “nigger-lover”. How far do you agree with him? He say that he loves everyone, of every colour. I think he doesn't dislike negroes, I think he thinks that both colors can work together.

5. Why, in Atticus's view, was Mrs. Dubose “a great lady”? She is very brave, because she was going to die, and she was still able to do her normal routine.

6. Atticus says that Mrs. Dubose is a model of real courage rather than “a man with a gun in his hand”. What does he mean? Do you think he is right? It means that Mrs. Dubose shows real courage, than someone that can fire a gun.

7. Chapters ten and eleven are the last two chapters in the first part of the book. Explain why Harper Lee chooses to end the first part here. To set the mood for the next part.

 Chapter 12 1. Comment on Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase church. I think Jem and Scout learned a lot of stuff that Atticus didn't want them to know until their older.

2. What new things does Scout learn here about how the black people live? Scout learned that most of them can't read.

3. What does Scout learn from Calpurnia's account of Zeebo's education? She learned that Calpurnia was working for the finches, ever since they created the landing. And that Atticus' father taught Cal how to read, and cal taught Zeebo

4. Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household, and among her neighbours at church. Because when she's at church, she is with her race, and she has to talk like them. and when she is with the Finches, she talks like they do.

Chapter 13 1. Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay with Atticus and his family? What is she like? She is staying with them so she could tell scout how to be a girl, and Jem how to be a man.

2. Read the first two things Aunt Alexandra says when she comes to the Finch home: " Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia" and "Jean Louise, stop scratching your head". Are these typical of her or not? I think they are.

3. 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? I think she thinks it because Scout weres regular pants and shirts that a male would wear. I don't think she's right, and I think that Adults think they are high and mighty because their older.

4. How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Maycomb's social life? Aunt Alexandra is all about gossip.

5. Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family. Why does Atticus tell them to forget it? Who is right, do you think?

Chapter 14 1. Comment on Atticus's explanation of rape. How suitable is this as an answer to Scout. I think Atticus explains in as his law book explains it.

2. Why does Alexandra think Atticus should dismiss Calpurnia? How does Atticus respond to the suggestion? Alexandra thinks she is a bad example. And Atticus says that he will not dismiss her because she is an important part of the familly.

3. Why is Scout pleased when Jem fights her back? Why is she less pleased when he tells Atticus about Dill? Because she can take him down easilly. Because dill came into the house without an invatation.

4. What do we learn from Dill's account of his running away? His parents didn't care for him, and he's a drifter.

Chapter 15 1. What is the “nightmare” that now descends upon the children? The run in with the gang and Atticus

2. What was (and is) the Ku Klux Klan? What do you think of Atticus's comment"The Ku Klux/'s gone. It'll never come back." A clan, who is more of a political group. Atticus means to say that they aren't powerful enough to be a threat.

3. How does Jem react when Atticus tells him to go home, and why? He stays where he was because Atticus was in trouble, and he wanted to help him.

4. What persuades the lynching-party to give up their attempt on Tom's life? Scout talking to Mr. Cunningham

5. Comment on the way Scout affects events without realizing it at the time. Because he talks to them like they were regular people, which made the gang realize that hey were human and stop.

Chapter 16 1. What “subtle change” does Scout notice in her father? a faint starchiness in his voice.

2. What sort of person is Dolphus Raymond? A white man who makes better friends with the coloured then the whites.

3. How does Reverend Sykes help the children see and hear the trial? Is he right to do? He brings them to the coloured balcony. I don't think it's the best idea.

4. Comment on Judge Taylor's attitude to his job. Does he take the trial seriously or not? I don't think he takes it seriously, because he chews his cigar, and spit's it on the court ground.

Chapter 17 1. What are the main points in Heck Tate's evidence? What does Atticus show in his cross-examination of Sheriff Tate? that Heck also saw what happened to her. And Atticus wanted to confirm it.

2. What do we learn indirectly of the home life of the Ewell family in this chapter? They have seven kids in it, No mom, they live by the dump, and Mr. Ewell drinks away the money he gets.

3. What do you learn from Bob Ewell's evidence? that he rushed home, he rushed to the window and rushed inside of the house.

4. Why does Atticus ask Bob Ewell to write out his name? What does the jury see when he does this? To see if he was left handed, and that he could've done it.

Chapter 18 1. Is Mayella like her father or different from him? In what ways? She is different, because she supports the family better than bob ewell

2. What might be the reason for Mayella's crying in the court? Because she Is in court and a lot of pressure on her.

3. How does Mayella react to Atticus's politeness? Is she used to people being polite? She thinks she is being made fun of. Her house isn't the best, so she isn't really used to it.

4. 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 1. What made Tom visit the Ewell's house in the first place? Because he felt bad for her, and he wanted to help her.

2. Why does Scout think that Mayella Ewell was “the loneliest person in the world”? Because she never left her house in 25 years.

3. In your own words explain Mayella's relationship with her father. I think Mayella is afraid of her father because she didn't want her father to hear what really happened

4. How does Dill react to this part of the trial? Why is this, in your opinion? Dill starts crying because he thinks its not fair, Because he thinks blacks should be treated as equals.

Chapter 20 1. Scout says that “Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man”. Is she right? No

2. 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? Because he thought he would be more looked down upon.

3. What, according to Atticus, is the thing that Mayella has done wrong? Explain, in your own words, Atticus's views on people's being equal.

Chapter 21 1. What does Jem expect the verdict to be? Does Atticus think the same? Jem thinks tom is innocent. But Atticus doesn't think he will.

2. What is unusual about how long it takes the jury to reach a verdict? Is the verdict predictable or not? It takes them more then an hour to make their verdict. It was some what predictable, because they don't really support black guys.

3. 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?

==***Describe 5 examples of instances where the children in the novel demonstrate a higher level of insight than some adults simply because they are still children and their judgment has not been clouded by society and the prejudice of adulthood. To be collected in hard copy form Friday, April 30th.**==

Chapter 22 1. Although Atticus did not want his children in court, he defends Jem's right to know what has happened. Explain, in your own words, Atticus's reasons for this. (Look at the speech beginning, “This is their home, sister”. Because he knew as a father, that they would later ask the question, and he would answer, so he might as well answer right now.

2. Miss Maudie tells Jem that “things are never as bad as they seem”. What reasons does she give for this view? because she knows that things always get better a maycomb

3. Why does Dill say that he will be a clown when he grows up? Do you think he would keep this ambition for long? Because he can't do anything with other folks except laugh at or with them. I don't think he will keep it for long.

4. This story is set in the 1930s but was published in 1960. Have attitudes to racism remained the same (in the USA and the UK) or have there been any changes (for the better or worse) since then, in your view? I think that they have changed in a good way because they don't have separate places between whites and coloured.

5. Why does Bob Ewell feel so angry with Atticus? Do you think his threat is a real one, and how might he try to “get” Atticus? Because Atticus was defending the person that made his life a whole lot more difficult.

Chapter 23 1. What do you think of Atticus's reaction to Bob Ewell's challenge? Should he have ignored Bob, retaliated or done something else? He wished that he didn't chew tobacco, I think he should ignore him or give snappy comebacks to his bad mouthing.

2. What is “circumstantial evidence”? What has it got to do with Tom's conviction? Its that tom robinson was their at the time of the beating. Because they can easily point the finger at tom for his black skin.

3. What does Atticus tell Scout about why the jury took so long to convict Tom?

4. Why does Aunt Alexandra accept that the Cunninghams may be good but are not “our kind of folks”? Do you think that people should mix only with others of the same social class? Are class-divisions good or bad for societies? Because he is a nice boy and is easy to talk to, but they live in a poor farm land

5. At the end of this chapter, Jem forms a new theory about why Boo Radley has never left his house in years. What is this? How likely is it to be true, in your opinion? Because he __wants__ to stay inside. I don't think it is completely true, because he went outside to put a blanket on Jem.

Chapter 24 1. Do you think the missionary ladies are sincere in worrying about the “Mrunas” (a tribe in Africa)? Give reasons for your answer. Because their friend is helping them and they want to help them.

2. Compare the reactions of Miss Maudie and the other ladies when Scout says she is wearing her “britches” under her dress. Miss maudie knew she wasn't trying to joke so she didn't laugh. The others thought it was a joke and started laughing

3. What is your opinion of the Maycomb ladies, as depicted in this chapter? That they are older ladies that just won't shut up when you ingage in conversation.

4. Explain briefly how Tom was killed. What is Atticus's explanation for Tom's attempted escape. Do you think agree with Atticus? How, in this chapter, do we see Aunt Alexandra in a new light? How does Miss Maudie support her? Tom got shot to death by the gaurds for trying to escape the prison.

Chapter 25 1. How does Maycomb react to the news of Tom's death? They gossip about it for two days.

2. Comment on the idea that Tom's death was “typical”?

3. Explain the contrast Scout draws between the court where Tom was tried and “the secret courts of men's hearts”. In what way are hearts like courts?

4. Why did Jem not want Scout to tell Atticus about Bob Ewell's " One down and about two more to go" comment Was this a wise thing to ask her to do?

Chapter 26 1. In her lesson on Hitler, Miss Gates says that “we (American people) don't believe in persecuting anyone”. What seems odd to the reader about this claim?

2. Why is Scout puzzled by Miss Gates' disapproval of Hitler? Because she doesn't understand what hitler did.

3. Why does Scout's question upset Jem? Is there a simple answer, or any answer, to the question (“How can you hate Hitler an’ then turn around an be ugly about folks right at home?”

Chapter 27 1. What three things does Bob Ewell do that alarm Aunt Alexandra? Bob spat on Atticus, Bob was threatening to take atticus' life, and He followed Mrs. Robinson to her work

2. Why, according to Atticus, does Bob Ewell bear a grudge? Which people does Ewell see as his enemies, and why?

3. What was the purpose of the Halloween pageant? What practical joke had persuaded the grown ups to have an organized event? The twin sister prank when a kid moved all the furniture done to the basement. Chapter 28 1. Comment on the way this chapter reminds the reader of earlier events in the novel. While scout and jem were walking to the school, they talked about the Haints that they learned from dill when they were still kids.

2. 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?) Because his lights were off. Because boo is always home. I don't think it's really true because he could've been asleep. It's important to them because they have been trying to see him ever since they were younger.

3. Scout decides to keep her costume on while walking home. How does this affect her understanding of what happens on the way? Because she looses her balance, and becomes disorientated.

4. Why had Atticus not brought a chair for the man in the corner? Who might this stranger be? Because that person is Boo Radley and he doesn't really want a chair.

 Chapter 29 1. What causes the “shiny clean line” on the otherwise “dull wire” of Scout's costume? A knife blade

2. What explanation does Atticus give for Bob Ewell's attack? Because Bob ewell wanted to kill him, and this was the closest he could get.

3. What does Heck Tate give as the reason for the attack?

4. Do you think the sheriff's explanation or Atticus's is the more likely to be true?

Chapter 30 1. Who does Atticus think caused Bob Ewell's death? Scout

2. Why does Heck Tate insist that Bob Ewell's death was self-inflicted? In what way is this partly true? Because scout fell on bob ewell when he had a knife.

3. Is Heck Tate right to spare Boo then publicity of an inquest? Give reasons for your answer. I think so because if people hear it, they will try to talk to Boo, and hheck doesn't want him disturbed.

4. How does the writer handle the appearance, at the end of the story, of Boo Radley? An old farmer with white gray hair Chapter 31 1. How do the events of the final chapters explain the first sentence in the whole novel? It tells everyone how Jem broke his arm.

2. Comment on the way the writer summarizes earlier events to show their significance.

3. How does Scout make sense of an earlier remark of Atticus's as she stands on the Radley porch? Atticus said that you had to stand in someone's shoes and walk around in them to know how they live. Jem just needed to stand on the Radley porch.

4. 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?

5. 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?