To Kill a Mockingbird – Journal
We will be keeping a Journal throughout this book, which we will turn in when we finish
reading the novel. You will need an entry for each chapter; 31 entries/chapters total. Each
entry will be numbered with the number of the chapter, but no dates are necessary. Each
entry, unless otherwise instructed, should be at least 3 sentences.
Chapter 1: What is your impression of the narrator, Scout?
Chapter 2: Record the following quote in your journal: “Until I feared I would lose it, I
never loved to read. One does not love breathing." (p.18) –Explain why Scout says this
and respond to the quote.
Chapter 3: Record the following quote in your journal: Atticus tells Scout, “You never
really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you
climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (p.30) –And respond to the quote.
Chapter 4: Scout and Jem find a few things in a knot hole of a tree… whose do you think
they are? Do you think it was okay for them to just take them?
Chapter 5: Record the following quote from Miss Maudie in your journal: “…Sometimes
the bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whiskey bottle in the hands of [another]...”
(p.45) – Explain what Miss Maudie means by this, as well as your own opinion on the
matter.
Chapter 6: Your choice – anything that you liked or disliked from the chapter, something
that stood out to you, that you can relate to, that you thought was funny, a question you
may have, etc. (at least 3 sentences)
Chapter 7: List all of the items that Jem and Scout have found in the knothole in the tree.
Who do you think is putting all those things in the tree for Scout and Jem? Why? Who do
you think carved the figurines? Why do you think Nathan Radley plugged the knothole
with cement?
Chapter 8: Your choice – anything that you liked or disliked from the chapter, something
that stood out to you, that you can relate to, that you thought was funny, a question you
may have, etc. (at least 3 sentences)
Chapter 9: Record the following quote in your journal: “Simply because we were licked a
hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (Atticus, p.76). We
find out that Atticus is defending a Negro man in this chapter, but we don’t know much
more about the case other than that. People in town are criticizing him for doing it, but he
is doing it anyway. He also knows that he isn’t “going to win it.” Why do you think Atticus
is still taking the case? (3 sentences)
Chapter 10: Scout and Jem get air rifles for Christmas! Record the following quote in
your journal from Atticus: “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but
remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Atticus, p.90). Scout asks Miss Maudie why it is
a sin to kill a mockingbird, and she gives an explanation on p.90. In your own words, why
is it a sin to kill a mockingbird? (3 sentences)
Chapter 11: Because of certain circumstances, Scout and Jem end up reading to Mrs.
Dubose, the mean old lady down the street, ever day after school for a month. At the end
of the chapter we find out why. Atticus gives a good definition of courage on the last page
of the chapter. Read this definition and summarize it in your journal. Is this similar to
your own definition? Different? How? (3 sentences).
Chapter 12: This chapter begins Part II of the novel – which is going to be about Tom
Robinson’s Case. In this chapter we find out what Tom is being accused of. What is he on
trial for? Who else is involved? Based on the limited knowledge we have so far, do you
think he is guilty or innocent? Explain (3 sentences).
Chapter 13: Aunt Alexandra has come to stay with the family for awhile! Ugh! In this
chapter we see that she fits right into Maycomb County. However, she asks Atticus to talk
to the kids about something. How do the kids react? How does Atticus handle the
situation? Explain (3 sentences)
Chapter 14: In this chapter, Scout finds a surprise under her bed! This journal is your
choice – anything that you liked or disliked from the chapter, something that stood out to
you, that you can relate to, that you thought was funny, a question you may have, etc. (at
least 3 sentences)
Chapter 15: In this chapter, there are a few men that come to the jail where Tom
Robinson is being held and want to hurt him. Atticus is there guarding the jail. The men
seem to mean business until something stops them. What was it? Why did they turn
around and go home? Be specific – explain exactly what it was that softened their
hearts (at least 3 sentences).
Chapter 16: In this chapter the trial begins! For your journal you will need to draw a
picture of the courthouse from the description in the chapter (the inside of the courthouse
– just a sketch of where things are and who sits where).
Chapter 17-19: For these three chapters we are taking notes on important details from
the trial. Pay close attention to the four testimonies of Sheriff Heck Tate, Bob Ewell,
Mayella Ewell, and Tom Robinson, and write down anything that stands out or is
important from testimonies.
Chapter 20: Mr. Dolphus Raymond lets Scout and Dill in on a secret. What is his secret
and explain why he does what he does (3 sentences).
Chapter 21: Before you read this chapter, write down what you think the jury will decide
– guilty or not guilty? After you have read the chapter, respond to the verdict – were you
surprised? What do you think of it? Why do you think they chose what they did? (3
sentences).
Chapter 22: Your own choice (3 sentences).
Chapter 23: At the end of this chapter, Jem says to Scout, “I think I’m beginning to
understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time…it’s because
he wants to stay inside.” In your own words, explain why Jem thinks Boo doesn’t want to
come out? (3 sentences).
Chapter 24: Your own choice – respond to anything you want from the chapter (3
sentences).
Chapter 25: After reading this chapter, go back to your journal entry from chapter 10
and read your entry about why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Based on the events of this
chapter and the discussion we’ve had in class, tell me in your own words why you think this
novel is called To Kill a Mockingbird? Is it really about mockingbirds, or do you think a
mockingbird represents something else? (3 sentences).
Chapter 26: Your own choice – respond to anything you want from the chapter (3
sentences).
Chapter 27: Draw a picture of Scout’s costume.
Chapter 28: Do your best to put together the pieces of what happened in the last half
of ch.28. What was all the scuffling/kicking/wheezing/crunching? If the sun was out and
Scout could’ve seen everything that happened, what would she have seen? Include all four
men under the tree in your description (give your best guess; 3-4 sentences).
Chapter 29: Who is the man in the corner? Describe him (3 sentences).
Chapter 30: Why is Sherriff Tate trying to hush up what really happened? What really
did happen? Why would not hushing it up be “sort of like shooting a mockingbird,”
according to Scout?
Chapter 31: Scout walks Boo home and is able to see the street from his point of view;
she re-states Atticus’s quote: “you never really know someone until you’ve walked around
in his shoes.” She also summarizes all the events from the novel in a nutshell. Is this an
appropriate ending? How do you feel about the last chapter of the novel–are you satisfied
with the ending? Why or why not? (3 sentences).