Name:
1. “Hush your mouth! Don’t matter who they are, any body sets foot in this house’s yo’ company” (24).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Calpurnia tells this to Scout when
she embarrasses Walter when he
pours syrup all over his dinner.
empathetic
Calpurnia is invested in more than just her household responsibilities, but
in teaching the children how to grow up to be good people. She is also
concerned about making Walter feel comfortable in the Finch’s home.
2. “Shoot all the bluejays you want…but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (90).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Atticus says this to Jem; he is
setting the ground rules for the
children after they receive air rifles
for Christmas.
empathetic
compassionate
compromising
The only time Atticus warns the children that something is a sin is when
he cautions them against killing mockingbirds. Miss Maudie enlarges
upon this and says that mockingbirds don’t cause any harm; they are
gentle and give of themselves through song. Atticus is referring to people
whose natures are like that of the mockingbird. It is a sin to destroy a
gentle person.
3. “Now you tell your father not to teach you any more…You’ll tell him I’ll take over from here and try to undo the damage-“ (17).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Miss Caroline says this to Scout.
She is reprimanding her for
already knowing how to read and
write on the first day of first grade.
insecure
unsure of herself
scared
Scout’s experiences in school are rich in educational satire. Miss
Caroline’s displeasure with Scout’s skills in reading and writing satirize
educational preoccupation with structure and sequence. Miss Caroline
imposes the standards of her own educational experience rather than
relating to her students’ situation.
4. “Reason I can’t pass the first grade…is I’ve had to stay out ever’ spring an’ help Pa with the choppin’, but there’s another’n at the house now
that’s field size” (24).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Walter Cunningham says this to
Atticus during lunch. Jem invites
Walter to lunch after Scout
embarrasses Walter on the first
day of school.
hard-working
dedicated
responsible
Walter is needed on the farm to help his family during the very difficult
economic time called The Great Depression. Walter values education but
is not able to access it because of his socio-economic background.
5. “I was on the verge of leavin’—I done done my time for this year” (27).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Burris Ewell says this to Miss
Caroline when she asks him to
leave and treat his hair for cooties.
rude
disrespectful
ignorant
The main reason for describing Burris Ewell is to lay the foundation for
the larger role the Ewells will play later in the novel. This quote
illustrates his extreme lack of respect for rules and other people.
6. “You never understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (30).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Atticus says this to Scout when she
is upset after her first day of
school.
empathetic
Atticus’s advice to Scout is thematic. He tells her that she must learn to
consider things from other people’s point of view. He is advising her of
the need for compassion and empathy. Harper Lee’s observation of life is
that one achieves maturity when he/ she has learned to empathize.
7. “What I meant was, if Atticus Finch drank until he was drunk he wouldn’t’ be as hard as some men are at their best” (45).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Miss Maudie says this to Scout
when Scout starts to spend more
time with Miss Maudie while the
boys are off together.
wise
thoughtful
Miss Maudie is telling Scout that Atticus is a great man. Even at his
theoretical very worst, Atticus is a better man than some are at their best.
8. “Looks like all of Maycomb was out tonight, in one way or another” (71-72).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Atticus says this after the fire when observant
it is revealed that Boo put a
blanket around Scout because she
was cold.
Why is this quote significant?
Atticus is commenting about how everyone in Maycomb came out and
revealed their true character through their actions during and after the
fire. Scout became the benefactor in Boo Radley’s desire to do his part in
helping by wrapping Scout in a blanket when he sees that she is suffering
from the cold.
9. “Mr. Nathan, Mr. Arthur, mad dogs comin’ ! Mad dog’s comin’ !” (94).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Calpunia yells this on the Radley’s
porch when she tries to warn them
of Tim Johnson’s approach down
the street.
intelligent
courageous
Calpurnia is alerting the Radleys that a mad dog is approaching; she is
trying to protect Maycomb against Tim Johnson spreading the disease of
racism through the town.
10. “Good evening Mrs. Dubose! You look like a picture this evening” (100).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Atticus says this and other similar
complements to Mrs. Henry
DuBose on his nightly walks home
from work.
empathetic
gentlemanly
Atticus is modeling his gentlemanly behavior to his children. Even with
the most disagreeable of people, Atticus is able to find the good in them;
he never compromises his principles. We can’t control what others say or
think, but we can control how we respond to them.
11. “Atticus is a gentleman, just like me!” (99).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Jem yells this to Scout after he
learns Atticus is Ol’ One Shot and
has saved the town from the
dangerous Tim Johnson.
maturing
excited
inspired
Jem is proud of Atticus’s courage and skill, but overlook the more refined
quality of his modesty. Jem’s admiration of Atticus is shown in his jubilant
throwing of a rock and claiming that Atticus is “like me.” What Jem does
not realize is that being governed by conscience is a lifelong journey; it is
not like turning on a switch.
12. “Always wanted a smaller house…gives me more yard. Just think, I’ll have more room for my azaleas now!” (73).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Miss Maudie says this to Jem and
Scout after her house burned to
the ground.
empathetic
positive
optimistic
Miss Maudie shows an invincible spirit. She views the fire as a blessing
which will allow her more space for her flowers and permit her more time
outdoors. In spite of the fact that she has lost all of her possessions in the
fire, she empathizes with the children; she does not want them to worry
about her, so she tells them she is glad about the fire.
13. “You know what’s going to happen as well as I do, Jack, and I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most
of all, without catching Maycomb’s usual disease” (88).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Atticus is talking to his brother
while Scout is listening in on their
conversation. He is voicing his
concerns about his children and
the upcoming trial.
caring
worried
Atticus hopes to prevent Jem and Scout from being inflicted with
Maycomb’s usual disease of prejudice by his own example. His defense of
Tom Robinson is his ultimate declaration of his example. It is his hope
that they will become and remain individuals with strong values and will
turn to him for guidance.
14. “I thought I wanted to be a lawyer but I ain’t so sure now!” (50).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Jem shouts this to Atticus when he
is out of earshot after Atticus
reprimands him for playing the
Radley game.
confused
scared
angry
Being a lawyer means being like Atticus. Atticus is governed by
conscience. Jem knows that bothering the Radleys is the wrong choice,
but he chooses not to be governed by conscience and he plays the Radley
game. He is not sure that he wants to take on the responsibilities of being
governed by his conscience.
15. “I- it’s like this, Scout. Atticus ain’t ever whipped me since I can remember. I wanta keep it that way” (56).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Jem tells this to Scout when he is
explaining to her why he has to go
to retrieve his pans that are caught
on the Radley’s fence.
proud
worried
nervous
Jem’s decision to return to the Radley Place in spite of his fears, sounded
and unfounded, is significant because it reveals his respect for Atticus.
Jem cares about what Atticus thinks of him.
16. “Shot in the air. Scared him pale, though. Says if anybody sees a white nigger around, that’s the one” (54).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Miss Stephanie says this to the
people who come out after Nathan
Radley fires a shot in the air
because he suspects a black person
has been trespassing in his garden.
meddlesome
racist
The significance of the town’s conclusion regarding who it was in the
Radley collard patch exemplifies the prejudice and foreshadows the Tom
Robinson trial. It is simply assumed by the town that only a Negro could
have been guilty, even when Jem is standing in the crowd without any
pants!
17. “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists
down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t let them get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change…it’s a good one, even if it
does resist learning” (76).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Atticus says this to Scout after she
gets into trouble for fighting Cecil
Jacobs because Cecil is talking
about Atticus’s decision to defend
Tom Robinson.
empathetic
wise
proud
Atticus is giving Scout advice. She can’t settle her disagreements with her
fists. This shifts the attention onto Scout and not where it belongs.
Violence only begets violence; it is not the answer.
18. “A nigger-lover. I ain’t very sure what it means, but the way Francis said it—tell you one thing right now, Uncle Jack, I’ll be—I swear before
God if I’ll sit there and let him say somethin’ about Atticus” (86).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Scout is recounting her encounter
with Francis to Uncle Jack.
loving
proud
brave
fearless
This passage is significant because it shows that Scout is trying to do the
right thing; she does not want to disappoint Atticus. The reader is
reminded of when Jem went to get his pants because he does not want to
disappoint Atticus. Scout is growing up.
19. “Yes indeed, what has this world come to when a Finch goes against his raising? I’ll tell you! Your father’s no better than the niggers and
trash he works for!” (102).
Who is the speaker; what is the context?
What is learned about the speaker?
Why is this quote significant?
Mrs. DuBose shouts this from her
porch to Jem and Scout as they
pass by her house to spend Jem’s
birthday money.
racist
rude
unkind
Mrs. DuBose is a sickly and soured old lady who shouts disparaging
remarks at Jem and Scout when they walk by. The remarks are usually
dour predictions of their future. When she insults Atticus and their
deceased mother, Jem gets particularly upset. Jem has a hard time
remaining a gentleman.