Chapter 16
Why does Miss Maudie refuse to go to the trial?
Why does Mr. Dolphus Raymond sit with the
African American people?
Briefly describe Judge Taylor
Why do you think, Reverend Sykes gave the
children the best seats?
Fey
Subtle
sundry
ruddy
Chapter 17
In questioning Sheriff Heck Tate, Atticus has raised two
important points for the jury’s consideration. State these two
points.
Write one-two detailed paragraph about the Ewell home.
Why was it so important for Atticus to show that Bob Ewell was
left handed? How did he do this?
Two parts: a) Do you believe that this case would have come to
trial today? Tell why or why not.
b) What new technologies would the defense use today to prove
Tom’s innocence?
Skewed
infinite
sullen prosperity
ambidextrous
Chapter 18
How does Mayella try to win the court’s sympathy
when she is called to the stand?
Name four specific things that we learn about Mayella
in this chapter (besides the fact that she is a liar)
What did Jem and Scout notice about Tom when he
stood up? Why is this important?
Why did Mayella think Atticus was making fun of her?
How do you feel towards Mayella? Explain.
Chapter 19
Write 2-3 detailed paragraphs about Tom’s
version of the fateful day. What are the
differences between his version and Mayella’s
version of the day’s events. This is to be done
by the end of class.
To Kill a Mockingbird Reading
Questions Chapters 19 – 24
What do we learn happened to Tom’s arm when he was a child?
How did this incident affect its ability to function?
2. What caused Dill to begin crying in the courtroom?
3. What was in Dolphus Raymond’s paper bag? What reason
did Dolphus Raymond give the children for pretending to be a
drunk?
4. What did the people in the balcony do as Atticus leaves the
courtroom? Why did they?
5. What was Jem’s physical reaction to the guilty verdict? Why
was he troubled by the verdict?
6. What did the Finches find on their doorstep the day
following the trial, and from whom had these items come?
Ch 19-24 continued
7. After the trial, Miss Maudie bakes three cakes. Describe
them. For whom were these cakes? Why did she bake them?
8. What violent act does Bob Ewell perform on Atticus one
day? What does Atticus say most people believe about Ewell
following the trial?
9. How did Tom Robinson die? Why did Atticus not promise
Tom he’d be eventually found innocent of the crime?
10. What was the topic of the meeting at the Finches one day?
What tragic news interrupts Scout’s experience at the meeting?
11. Explain Miss Maudie’s line to Miss Merriweather: “His food
doesn’t stick going down, does it?” Who is the “he” being
referred to? What effect did the line have on Ms. Merriweather?
Ch 19-24 continued
12. What observation about female society in the South does
Scout make at the end of the chapter? What had she learned?
13. For what had Aunty thanked Maudie after the incident
mentioned in question 11?
Give two points to explain or define the following: answer in
complete sentences
a. Judge Taylor
b. Mr. Braxton Underwood
c. Calpurnia’s note
d. Enfield Prison farm
e. “trash”
f. Mrs. Grace Merriweather
g. the missionary circle
h. J. Grimes Everett
i. seventeen bullets
Ch 25-31
1. Why didn’t Jem want Scout to kill the roly-poly?
2. Harper Lee develops her theme of the wrongness of hurting
defenseless things using similes. How is this true in her
description of Tom’s wife hearing the news of Tom’s death?
3. Further to the question above, what does Mr. Underwood
write about Tom’s death?
4. What might Bob Ewell mean by saying “One down, about
two more to go”? Who told Jem that Bob Ewell had said this?
5. Why was Scout confused by Miss Gates’ thoughts in class on
how bad it was for Hitler to oppress another race of people?
What was Jem’s reaction to hearing what she said on the
courtroom steps?
Ch 25-31 continued
6. What had caused Judge Taylor to be sleeping with a shotgun
across his lap?
7. Name two things Bob Ewell had begun doing to Tom’s wife.
Who stopped from harassing her, and how did it happen?
8. Why was Scout walking home after the play in a costume?
What had she forgotten back at school?
9. Describe what happened to terrify the children on their way
home through the woods. How did Jem get home?
10. Name two things Heck Tate later find in the woods. What
did he find in Bob Ewell’s body?
Ch. 25-31 continued
11. What had saved Scout’s life? Who killed Bob Ewell?
12. What was Heck Tate’s version of how Bob Ewell died? Who
did Atticus initially think killed Bob Ewell?
13. Did Heck understand who killed Bob Ewell? How did he
justify changing the circumstances of his death?
14. What did Scout mean when she said to Atticus: “Well, it’d be
sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?”?
15. As Scout looked out at her neighbourhood from the Radley
porch, she regretted not giving Boo anything in return for his
gifts to her and Jem. In fact, she had given Boo a great deal,
according to the author. What?
16. Where was Atticus when the story ends? What observation
does Scout make about this?
Ch. 25-31 continued
Identify the following (remember to note at least two things
about each):
a. roly-poly
b. B.B. Underwood’s editorial
c. “current events”
d. Maycomb County: Ad Astra Per Aspera
e. a papier-mâché ham
f. “haints”
g. a kitchen knife
h. a switch-blade knife’s owner
i. Dr. Reynolds
j. The Grey Ghost