9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 1
1. Who is narrating the novel?
2. In the first lines Jem's broken arm is mentioned. File this away for later.
3. Be able to describe the setting. The author does not directly tell when the novel takes place but drops some
hints about events that are taking place in the world.
4. Be able to describe Maycomb. Develop a visual image of the neighborhood where the Finches live.
5. Look for incidents of stereotyping in the first few pages. Pay attention to these.
6.
Notice the time that Harper Lee gives to describing the roots of the Finch Family. Why? What did you learn?
What does this tell you? Why is it important to know?
7. Who was Dill? Where did he come from? Why? Describe him. How does he add to the summer?
8. Who is Boo Radley? What is his attraction to the children? How did Boo end up this way?
9. Describe in detail the dare that Dill and Jem have. What happens?
10. Pay attention to the last paragraph of the first chapter. At what does this hint?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 2
1. Who is Miss Caroline?
2.
What is the problem that Scout develops with Miss Caroline over her reading? Why does Miss Caroline not
want Scout to read?
3. Who is Walter Cunningham? How does Scout try to help Walter, and what happens to Scout as a result?
4. Why is Scout surprised at Miss Caroline's reaction to what Scout has told her about the Cunningham's?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 3
1. Why does Scout want to fight with Walter? What does Jem do? Why?
2.
Discuss what happens at lunch at the Finches. How does Scout react? Why? What is Calpurnia's reaction?
Why? What does Scout learn, if anything?
3.
Describe the incident with Burris Ewell at school that afternoon. Remember the name EWELL. Pay attention
to the description of the Ewells that Atticus gives to Scout later in this chapter.
4.
Why is Calpurnia so "nice" to Scout when she comes home from school that day? Does Scout understand
why?
5. Why is Scout so upset about not being able to read? What compromise do she and Atticus reach?
5.
By now you should be forming some opinions about some of the characters. What do you think of Atticus?
Is he a good father? Does he have a good relationship with his children?
9th Grade English~
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 4
1. What does Scout first find in the knot hole of the tree? Where did it come from?
2.
What do they find in the knot hole on the last day of school? Do you think that Jem has an idea where they
came from? Do you?
3. Dill returns in a blaze of glory for another summer.
Notice the story about who his father is and about getting
to drive the train. What does that say about Dill?
4. What happens with the tire incident? Why is Jem a little irritated with Scout? Be able to describe this incident
in detail.
5.
Scout, Jem, and Dill begin to enact a home made drama. What is this play about? What does this show about
the children and their fascination with Boo?
6. At the end of the chapter, it is revealed that Scout did not tell Jem and Dill about something that happened
when the tire crashed into the front steps of the Radley place. What?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus~
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 5
1.
Notice the subtle change in the relationship between Scout and the girls. To whom does Scout turn? What is
changing the relationship?
2. Be able to describe Miss Maudie. Notice how she is presented in children's terms.
3. What exactly is a foot-washing Baptist? What does this have to do with Boo Radley?
4. Describe what happens when the children try to give a note to Boo Radley?
5. Pay attention to the dialogue that Scout has with Dill about Dill's father and how Dill's story is inconsistent.
What do you feel are the reasons for this?
6. What does Atticus say when he discovers the children trying to give a note to Boo?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 6
1.
Who was Mr. Avery and what was the children's fascination with him? Why even bring this up in the novel?
What purpose does this episode serve?
2.
What do Jem and Dill decide to do on Dill's last night before summer ends? What happens? How does Jem
lose his pants? Where does the shadow come from? Who fires the shotgun?
3.
What explanation do the children give Atticus about the whereabouts of Jem's pants? Why is the explanation a
very tricky one?
4.
Why does Jem decide to go back to get his pants? What does Scout mean when she says that it was then that
"Jem and I first began to part company?" What is happening to make that a true statement?
5.
How is Jem when he returns with the pants? Why do you think his cot was trembling?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 7
1.
What does Jem reveal to Scout about the time he went back for his pants?
2.
What are some of the objects that the children find in the knot hole? Why don't they find things in the
summer?
3. What happens to the knot hole? Who does it? Why?
4. At the end of the chapter Jem is seen crying on the front porch. Why? What does this show about Jem?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 8
1. What unusual event happens in Maycomb that year, other than Mrs. Radley's death?
2. What do Jem and Scout make in the yard? Who does it resemble? How do they do it?
3. What neighborhood tragedy wakes everyone up and gets them out in the street that cold night?
3.
What happens with Scout and the blanket incident? Why does Jem react the way he does when he realizes
where Scout got the blanket?
5. How does Miss Maudie act after the tragedy?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide – TKAM
Chapter 9
1. Who is Uncle Jack? Why is he coming to Maycomb? What does he have for Scout and Jem?
2.
Describe in detail what happened in the incident with Francis at Finches Landing. What provoked Scout?
How did Uncle Jack react? What was Scout's reaction?
3.
Describe in detail the conversation about the incident with Francis that Uncle Jack and Scout have once they
have returned home.
4. Near the end of the chapter, Atticus and Uncle Jack have a very important conversation that he wants Scout to
overhear. What is this conversation about? What dilemma does Atticus face?
5. At the very end of the chapter Atticus refers to "Maycomb's usual disease." What does he mean?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 10
1.
What does Atticus mean when he says to the children, "Shoot all the Bluejays you want if you can hit 'em, but
Remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." (Does this sound familiar?)
2. At the beginning of this chapter what do the children think about Atticus? Why? Is this a normal "stage" of
childhood?
3. What happened in the incident with Tim Johnson? What do the children learn about Atticus?
4. What lesson do Jem and Scout learn after they hear that their father's nickname was "Ol' One Shot?" Why did
Atticus not tell them about his prowess with a gun? What does this say about Atticus? What does Jem mean
when he says, "Atticus's a gentleman, just like me?"
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide – TKAM
Chapter 11
1.
What does Scout mean when she says in the beginning of this chapter that Boo Radley had become passe'?
Why?
2. Who was Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose? Describe her?
3. Why are Scout and Jem on their way to town? What does Mrs. Dubose say to them? Why?
4.
What does Jem do in reaction to Mrs. Dubose's comments? Why do you think he does this? What is
surprising about his reaction?
5.
Atticus sends Jem over to Mrs. Dubose's house to apologize, and at that time he and Scout have a fatherdaughter talk in which he explains the need for him to take the Tom Robinson case. What does Atticus say?
6. What punishment does Jem have to face for the damage he did to Mrs. Dubose's camelias?
7. Be able to describe the visits that the children have to make to Mrs. Dubose's house. What are the sessions
like? What goes on in the sessions?
8. What do the children learn about Mrs. Dubose after she dies? What present does she send to Jem?
9. What is Atticus's definition of courage as seen in Mrs. Dubose? Is Atticus true to his beliefs?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide – TKAM
Chapter 12
1. The chapter begins with a real difference in Jem. What is happening here? What is Calpurnia's explanation.
2. Where is Dill? What's happened? Why isn't he in Maycomb for the summer? What is Scout's reaction?
3. Why must the children go to church with Calpurnia? Where is Atticus?
4. Describe the First Purchase A.M.E. Church. What makes this church so unique? Why do the children say that
the cemetery is a "happy cemetery?"
5. Who is Lula? How does she act toward the children? What happens?
6.
Rev. Sykes takes up a special collection for Tom Robinson. What happens in this collection? What does the
Rev. Sykes do to make certain that enough money is in the plate?
7.
Notice how the story of Tom Robinson is explained to Scout and to the reader. What has Tom been accused
of? Why is this a particularly bad crime in Maycomb?
8. This is a wonderful chapter in that we learn a great deal about Calpurnia. What were some of the details of her
early life? How did she learn to read? Where was she from?
8.
In this chapter the children experience first hand the sting of prejudice and discrimination (Lula). Scout is
treated to a wonderful insight into life in general when she asks Calpurnia why she speaks one way in front of
white people and another in front of Blacks. What is Calpurnia's explanation for this? Do you agree with it?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 13
1. Aunt Alexandra comes to stay with the children! Why? What is Scout's reaction to this?
2.
Aunt Alexandra is very concerned about family. Notice the references to families on p.134: ""No Crawford
minds His own Business, Every Third Merriweather is Morbid, The Truth Is Not in the Delafields, All the
Bufords Walk Like That..." What are these examples of? Why is family so important to Aunt Alexandra and
others like her?
3.
Near the end of this chapter Atticus and Scout have a talk in which Atticus attempts to explain to Scout and
Jem that the Finches are not "run-of-the-mill people." Describe this conversation and the reactions of Scout
and Atticus. What prompted this conversation, and why is it so difficult for Atticus to do this?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus~
Study Guide – TKAM
Chapter 14
1. What was the substance of the conversation that Aunt Alexandra and Atticus have about Calpurnia? What was
the reason for this conversation do you think?
2. Why do Scout and Jem have such a big fight that night? What has happened?
3. What does Scout find under her bed?
4.
What does Jem do, and what does Scout mean when she says, "...he rose and broke the remaining code of our
childhood."
5. What does Atticus do?
6. Why did Dill decide to come to Maycomb? What is the story he first tells? What is the real reason?
7. Notice the last three lines of the chapter, a conversation that Dill and Scout have. What does Dill mean?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 15
1. The Tom Robinson affair really starts to heat up.
2. Where is Tom Robinson? Why are Atticus and Heck Tate
worried? Who is the Old Sarum Bunch, and why would they
cause a problem?
3. Where does Atticus go after supper that night? What does
he take with him? Why? What is he worried about?
4. Why do the children decide to go downtown? What do they
see when they get there?
5. What is the danger that Atticus and Tom Robinson find
themselves in? Where is Heck Tate? What does the Old
Sarum Bunch want?
6. What does Jem do? What is the crowd's reaction? What does
Scout do? How is she able to diffuse the mob? What does
she do so innocently that gets the mob to leave. (Notice
how the mob is described - denim shirts buttoned up to
their collars, sleeves rolled down on a hot summer night,
hats pulled low over their eyes.
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 16
2.
How are Aunt Alexandra's feelings towards Blacks different from those of Atticus? What is the substance of
their conversation?
2. Notice the carnival atmosphere associated with the trial - Dolphus Raymond, Foot-Washers, etc. Pay attention
to the descriptions of both the Blacks and the Whites. Notice the differences in how and where they are
gathering and what they are doing?
3. Who is Dolphus Raymond? What did he do? Why is he so different from the usual Maycomb citizen?
4. How do Scout and Jem get into the courthouse? Where do they sit?
5. Be able to describe Judge Taylor.
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide – TKAM
Chapter 17
1. Who is Mr. Gilmer?
3.
Recount the testimony which Heck Tate gives. What does Atticus establish during his cross-examination of
Heck?
4.
Be able to describe Bob Ewell. Notice his description on pp. 172-173. How does Bob Ewell feel when he
takes the stand? Is he confident? Why?
4. What does Bob Ewell tell Mr. Gilmer? Of what is he accusing Tom Robinson?
5.
Atticus is able to establish a very important point in his testimony. What is it? Why is this so important
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 18
1.
Describe Mayella Ewell. Why do you think she is the way she is? What is particularly tragic about her
character?
2. Discuss the testimony that Mayella gives to Mr. Gilmer?
3. What tactics does Atticus use in his questioning of Mayella? What does he first want to prove?
4. What inconsistency is seen in Mayella's testimony?
5. What happened to Tom's arm? How could this possibly be an alibi?
6. What is Mayella's reaction to Atticus's cross-examination?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 19
1.
Tom Robinson takes the stand and testifies. Be able to recount his testimony. How does it differ from Bob
Ewell's and Mayella's? What do you think actually happened?
2. Tom Robinson faces a pretty tough cross-examination from Mr. Gilmer? Why does Gilmer act this way?
3. Why was it a critical error for Tom to say that he felt sorry for Mayella Ewell?
4. Why do Scout and Dill leave the courthouse before the testimony is concluded? What is the matter with Dill?
Why is he acting that way?
5. Who do Scout and Dill run into outside the courthouse?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 20
1. What is it about Dolphus Raymond that surprises the children?
2. Why does Dolphus Raymond pretend to be something that he is not?
3. How are Dolphus Raymond and Atticus different? How are they very similar?
6.
Be able to summarize Atticus's closing remarks. What are his arguments? What does he feel happened?
What do you feel happened?
6. Why does Harper Lee include a character like Dolphus Raymond at all? What is she trying to show us about
Atticus?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 21
1.
Why does Calpurnia come to the courtroom? Why are she and Aunt Alexandra so upset? What is Atticus's
reaction? What is the compromise that Atticus makes with Jem and Scout?
2. What does Jem feel the verdict will be? Why?
3. What is the verdict? Notice Jem's reaction. How does Jem feel? Why? What do you think he's learned?
4. What do the people in the balcony do? Why?
5. What "victory" does Atticus win? Why is this significant?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 22
1. How does Jem react to the verdict? What does Atticus say, and how do you think he feels?
2. What do the children find in the kitchen that morning? What is it all doing there?
3. Discuss the visit that the children have with Miss Maudie. What consoling words does she give to Jem? What
does she tell them about Atticus? What was his victory?
4. What do we learn at the end of the chapter? What did happen between Bob Ewell and Atticus?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 23
1. What was Atticus's reaction to the incident with Bob Ewell? What reaction did the children have?
2. How does Atticus explain Bob Ewell's motivation to Jem? What does this show about Atticus?
3. Atticus and Jem talk about the trial, and Atticus tells Jem about the jury. Who was the one man on the jury
who at first was unwilling to convict Tom Robinson? Why is this so surprising?
4
What is Aunt Alexandra's reaction to Scout's plan to invite Walter Cunningham for dinner? How does Scout
react to Aunt Alexandra's feelings?
5. Jem take Scout to his room and they have a wonderful conversation about different kinds of people. Be able to
summarize this conversation - especially Jem's observations about different kinds of people.
7.
Read carefully the final paragraph of the chapter. What does that tell you about Jem? What's happened to
him?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 24
1. In this chapter we see Scout acting very differently. What is she doing? Why?
2. What is the event Aunt Alexandra is hosting?
3. Pay special attention to the discussion the adults are having. On the one hand they are talking about the
Mrunas and the Missionary, J. Grimes Everett, and then they talk about the Negroes in Maycomb. What is the
irony here?
4. What news does Atticus bring? What has happened to Tom? Be able to describe it.
5.
Read carefully the last paragraph of the chapter. What does Scout mean in the last sentence? What do you
think Scout has learned?
6.
Notice how Miss Maudie pays tribute to Atticus when she says that Maycomb trusts him to do right. What
does this mean?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 25
1. What is the symbolism present in the incident which opens this chapter - Scout and Jem with the roly-poly?
2.
Describe what happened when Atticus had to tell Tom's wife about his death. How does Dill happen to
witness this?
3. How does Maycomb accept Tom's death? What does Mr. Underwood say in the paper?
4. What did Bob Ewell mean when he said that Tom's death meant one down and two to go?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 26
1.
School begins again and the children pass by the Radley house. How does Scout feel now about her
adventures with Boo?
2. Pay special attention to the irony present in Scout's teacher, Miss Gates's, description of Democracy and what
has happened in Germany. What is ironic about this? Compare this with the Mrunas.
3. What does Scout know about Miss Gates's real feelings? How is this upsetting to Scout?
4.
How does Jem react when Scout mentions seeing Miss Gates come out of the courthouse? What is Atticus's
Explanation for Jem's behavior?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide – TKAM
Chapter 27
1.
What are the three incidents which happen? One is with Bob Ewell...one with Judge Taylor...one with Helen
Robinson. Is this foreshadowing? Is the author preparing you for something to come?
2. What is the story about Misses Tutti and Frutti? Of what importance is this episode, if any?
3. What part will Scout play in the school pageant?
4. Who will take Scout to the pageant? Why?
5. Notice the description of Scout's costume. This may be important later on.
6. Notice the last sentence. FORESHADOWING!
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 28
1. On their way to the pageant, who do they meet? What does he do? What purpose does this journey have?
2. Describe what happens in the play? What mistake does Scout make? Why? What happens?
3. Why do they wait until all the people are gone before they start to go home?
4
How does the author build up suspense during the walk home? How did the description of the walk to the
school help to set the stage for the events to come?
5.
Exactly what happens to the children? Remember the event is described by Scout who has limited visibility
because of her costume.
6. Heck Tate comes to the Finches. What has he found in the woods?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide – TKAM
Chapter 29
1. What does Atticus feel happened to the children? Who does he think actually killed Bob Ewell? What do you
think?
2.
Scout tells her story to Heck Tate and Atticus. Who is the person who saves the children? Who does Scout
finally meet?
3. From Scout's account, are you able to determine in your own mind what happened?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus~
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 30
1.
Dr. Reynolds comes into the room and Boo, Scout, Atticus, and Heck go out to the porch. Why do they go
outside instead of staying in the living room?
2. How does Scout react to meeting Boo? What kind of conversation do they have?
3. What are Heck and Atticus talking about? How are they in disagreement? Who do you think is right?
4
Why is Heck Tate so insistent that Bob Ewell fell on his own knife? Why are there two knives there? What
do you think really happened?
5. Why is it important that the town not know exactly what happened?
9th Grade English
Mr. Malkus
Study Guide - TKAM
Chapter 31
1.
Describe the scene when Scout takes Boo down the hall to see Jem? What does Boo do? What does this tell
you about Boo?
2. Scout takes Boo home, and on her return she starts to reminisce about the past. She realizes that Atticus was
right when he said that you never get to know someone until you walk around in their skin. When she gets
home Atticus is sitting with Jem and reading. What is he reading? Why is that significant?
2.
Discuss the last few lines of conversation that Atticus and Scout have before the end of the novel. How are
they fitting lines for the conclusion?