ENG II Ms. Walker
With thanks to Mrs. O’Connor
NAME:___________________________________________________Per._______
To Kill a Mockingbird
By N. Harper Lee
Questions will be graded on:
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Accuracy (25)
Completion (35)
Thoroughness (25)
Legibility (15)
Total Points Possible: 100
_______/ 100
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Character Chart
Character Name
Scout Finch
Jem Finch
Dill Harris
Atticus Finch
Bob Ewell
Mayella Ewell
Tom Robinson
Miss Maudie
Calpurnia
Boo Radley
Primary Role
Facts and Character Traits (4 or more)
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PART ONE
CHAPTER 1
1.) What is the setting of this book? What is it like then/there?
2.) Describe Boo Radley according to Jem’s description. Do you think his description is likely accurate?
CHAPTER 2
3.) What do you learn about the Maycomb community in this chapter? Consider Scout’s classmates, and their
reaction to Miss Caroline’s choice of reading.
4.) Why does Scout have a bad first day of school? What problems does she have with the teacher, Miss
Caroline?
5.) Describe the incident with Walter Cunningham. What is the Cunningham family like, according to Scout?
Who was more right (Scout or Miss Caroline) and why?
6.) Is the Finch family poor?
CHAPTER 3
7.) When Walter is eating lunch at the Finch house, why does Scout have to finish eating her lunch in the
kitchen? What does this punishment reflect about the rules and dynamics of the Finch household?
8.) What does Atticus mean when he tells Scout that in order to really understand a person, you must climb into
his skin and walk around in it?
9.) Describe the Ewell family. Why does Atticus say they aren’t a good example?
10.)
At the end of this chapter, do you think Atticus is a good father? Why or why not?
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CHAPTER 4
11.)
What was the significance of the knothole in the oak tree? What was found there, and what does it
mean?
12.)
What does Dill tell the Finches about his father? What does this suggest about Dill’s character?
13.)
Jem pushed Scout in the tire very hard. Describe what happened to Scout as a result of her ride in the
tire. What are your thoughts about Boo Radley at this point in the story?
CHAPTER 5
14.)
How does Miss Maudie seem to feel about Stephanie Crawford and her gossip? How do you know?
What does this suggest about Miss Maudie? Miss Crawford?
15.)
How and why were Jem and Dill planning to deliver a note to Boo Radley?
CHAPTER 6
16.)
What happened when Jem, Dill, and Scout tried to sneak up to the Radley house? How did Nathan
Radley describe these events later?
17.)
What happened to Jem as he was attempting to escape through the fence that made him go back
again later?
CHAPTER 7
18.)
What happened to Jem’s pants? What does it mean?
19.)
What is your impression of Mr. Nathan Radley at this point in the story? What does his behavior
suggest about his relationship to his brother?
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CHAPTER 8
20.)
What unusual (to Scout) thing happens near the beginning of this chapter, and how do the children
react to it?
21.)
What happened to Miss Maudie’s house? Why was help so slow? How did she react later?
22.)
What strange thing happens to Scout while she and Jem are outside in the cold? What do you think it
means?
CHAPTER 9
23.)
Why was Scout going to fight Cecil Jacobs?
24.)
What three reasons did Atticus give to Scout for defending Tom Robinson?
25.)
Dill?
What information does Francis reveal to Scout concerning Dill? Does this change your opinion of
26.)
Why does Scout fight Francis? Who is in the right, and why?
27.)
Why does Scout believe she had been unfairly treated by Uncle Jack? What does Atticus tell Uncle
Jack about dealing with children?
28.)
Why is Atticus defending Tom Robinson, knowing that it will not be accepted very well by the
general public? Would you have done the same if you were in his shoes?
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VOCAB ch. 1-9:
Stick your post-its to this area. They may overlap. Need at least 10 words defined.
CHAPTER 10
29.)
Atticus told Jem, “I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds.
Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Why is
it a sin to kill a mockingbird? What is the underlying meaning of this quote?
30.)
Who is Tim Johnson? What is wrong with him? Who is Heck Tate, and why is he there?
31.)
Why are the children shocked about Tim Johnson’s fate? What do we learn—especially about
Atticus—from this event?
CHAPTER 11
32.)
What kind of a “deal” did Jem work out with Mrs. Dubose to repay her for the damages he had done?
33.)
What do you think was wrong with Mrs. Dubose? Is she sick?
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34.)
Atticus contends that Mrs. Dubose was a great lady, but Jem does not immediately agree. Why did
Atticus want Jem and Scout exposed to Mrs. Dubose during that very difficult time in her life? What do you
think he hoped they might learn from being exposed to her that would be of benefit to them?
PART TWO
CHAPTER 12
35.)
Comment on Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase church. (What happened? What was it like?
What do people think/feel about them? How do they feel about this experience?)
36.)
What new things do Jem and Scout learn here about how African-American people live?
37.)
Who is Zeebo? What does Scout learn from Calpurnia's account of Zeebo's education? Specifically
refer to literacy.
38.)
Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household, and among her neighbors at
church. How is language different in a workplace and in a social setting and/or around family?
(Try using the vocab word “dialect” in your answer. Here is the definition: “A provincial, rural, or socially distinct
variety of a language that differs from the standard language, especially when considered as substandard”
(dictionary.com) This is also the term for when a writer spells things “incorrectly” in order to reflect the accent with
which a character speaks.)
CHAPTER 13
39.)
Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay with Atticus and his family? What is she like?
40.)
Alexandra thinks Scout is “dull” (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right?
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41.)
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
42.)
Comment on Atticus's explanation of rape. How suitable is this as an answer to Scout, especially
given Atticus’s previous admonition to Uncle Jack to always explain things to children?
43.)
Why does Alexandra think Atticus should dismiss Calpurnia? How does Atticus respond to the
suggestion?
44.)
Why is Scout pleased when Jem fights her back? Why is she less pleased when he tells Atticus about
Dill? Why is Dill there?
CHAPTER 15
45.)
Where do the kids find Atticus on Saturday night before the trial? What is he doing, and why? Who
helps him?
46.)
Why do you think Scout’s conversation with Mr. Cunningham dispersed the crowd? Could anyone
other than Scout have achieved the same goal? Why or why not?
CHAPTER 16
47.)
What sort of person is Dolphus Raymond? What do we learn about Maycomb from the way he is
treated?
48.)
How does Reverend Sykes help the children see and hear the trial? Is he right to do so?
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49.)
Comment on Judge Taylor's attitude to his job. Does he take the trial seriously or not?
VOCAB ch. 10-16
Stick your post-its to this area. They may overlap. Need at least 10 words defined.
CHAPTER 17
50.)
What is learned from Heck Tate during the trial?
51.)
What do we learn indirectly of the home life of the Ewell family in this chapter? (Note: Be sure to
add to the character chart in this chapter!)
52.)
What do you learn from Bob Ewell's evidence? Why does Atticus ask Bob Ewell to write out his
name? What does the jury see when he does this?
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VOCAB ch.17
Stick your post-its to this area. They may overlap. Need at least 5 words defined.
CHAPTER 18
53.)
What might be the reason(s) for Mayella's crying in the court?
54.)
Do you believe Mayella’s testimony? Is she a victim? If so, of whom? If not, why not?
55.)
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
56.)
What made Tom visit the Ewell's house in the first place?
57.)
Why does Scout think that Mayella Ewell was “the loneliest person in the world”? Are you inclined
to agree with her?
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58.)
In your own words, explain Mayella's relationship with her father.
CHAPTER 20
59.)
Raymond says, “You little folks won’t tell on me now, will you? It’d ruin my reputation if you did.”
What “reputation” is he talking about? Why does Mr. Raymond want to keep that reputation? Why does he
share with Dill and Scout?
60.)
According to Atticus, what is the one American institution in which all men are truly created equal?
61.)
Consider Atticus’s closing speech: Who does he say is guilty, and why? Do you think he’s a good
lawyer after reading this speech?
CHAPTER 21
62.)
What does Jem expect the verdict to be? Does Atticus think the same?
63.)
Describe what happened when Atticus left the courtroom. Why did this happen?
64.)
What is unusual about how long it takes the jury to reach a verdict? Is the verdict predictable, or not?
CHAPTER 22
65.)
Why did Judge Taylor appoint Atticus to Tom’s case? Did he make the right decision?
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66.)
This story is set in the 1930s, but was published in 1960. The Civil Rights Movement, of which
MLK, Jr. was a part, existed roughly between 1955 and 1968. Have attitudes to racism remained the same
since the 30s? The 60s? Or have there been any changes (for the better or worse) since then, in your view?
Remember that racism doesn’t have to be about African Americans and white people—there are many races
living in the US!
67.)
Given the outcome of the case, why does Bob Ewell feel so angry with Atticus? Do you think his
threat is a real one, and if so, how might he try to “get” Atticus?
CHAPTER 23
68.)
What do you think of Atticus's reaction to Bob Ewell's challenge? Should he have ignored Bob,
retaliated or done something else?
69.)
What does Atticus tell Scout about why the jury took so long to convict Tom? What does it mean?
70.)
Why does Aunt Alexandra accept that the Cunninghams may be good but are not “our kind of
folks”? In your opinion, are class-divisions good or bad for societies?
CHAPTER 24
71.)
How sincere are the missionary ladies in their desire to help the African tribe, the Mrunas? What is
strange about this desire? What is your opinion of the Maycomb ladies, as depicted in this chapter?
72.)
What happens to Tom Robinson in this chapter? What is Atticus's explanation for Tom's attempted
escape? Do you think his reasoning is right, or is there another possibility?
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CHAPTER 25
73.)
Why wouldn’t Jem allow Scout to smash the roly-poly she found on the porch?
74.)
Scout says that, to Maycomb Tom’s death was typical of a black man to cut and run. Take Atticus’s
advice and stand in Tom’s shoes. Why did he try to escape from prison when he had a good chance of
getting off on appeal?
CHAPTER 26
75.)
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? (Remember, World War II, when the Nazis fought
the Allied forces, didn’t start until the 1940s!)
76.)
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
77.)
Why, according to Atticus, does Bob Ewell bear a grudge? Which people does Ewell see as his
enemies, and why?
78.)
What was the purpose of the Halloween pageant? What practical joke had persuaded the grown-ups
to have an organized event?
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CHAPTER 28
79.)
Describe the scene as Scout and Jem are walking home. Why is this night referred to as Scout and
Jem’s “longest journey together”?
80.)
Who attacked the Finch children, and what happened to him?
VOCAB ch. 18-28
Stick your post-its to this area. They may overlap. Need at least 10 words defined.
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CHAPTER 29
81.)
What causes the “shiny clean line” on the otherwise “dull wire” of Scout's costume?
82.)
What explanation does Atticus give for the attack? What does Heck Tate give as the reason for the
attack? Why are their reasons different from one another, and do you think the sheriff's explanation or
Atticus's is more likely to be true?
CHAPTER 30
83.)
Who does Atticus think caused Bob Ewell's death? Who is really responsible?
84.)
Why does Heck Tate insist that Bob Ewell's death was self-inflicted? In what way is this partly true?
85.)
Is Heck Tate right to spare Boo the publicity of an inquest? What earlier idea does Scout compare
Tate’s conclusions to?
86.)
Is Boo what you expected him to be?
CHAPTER 31
87.)
How do the events of the final chapters explain the first sentence in the whole novel? In retrospect,
was this a good way to start the novel?
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88.)
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?
89.)
One of the greatest criticisms of To Kill a Mockingbird is that the two central storylines-- Scout, Jem,
and Dill's fascination with Boo Radley in Part 1 and the trial between Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson in
Part 2-- are not sufficiently connected in the novel. Do you think that Lee is successful in incorporating these
different stories? Were you surprised at the way in which these story lines were resolved? Why or why not?
VOCAB ch. 29-31
Stick your post-its to this area. They may overlap. Need at least 10 words defined.