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To Kill A Mockingbird: Part Two
Chapter 12
Study Questions
1. Describe Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase church.
 One lady was racists, but most weren’t.
 Wouldn’t let anyone leave until they raised enough money.
 Sang without hymn books- party bc they didn’t have enough books but mostly bc they couldn’t read.
2. What new things does Scout learn here about how the black people live?
 Most don’t have formal education.
 Don’t speak properly.
 Church is the biggest social interaction.
3. What does Scout learn from Calpurnia's account of Zeebo's education?
 Calpurnia taught him.
 Calpurnia go books from the Finch’s bc she grew up on Finch’s landing.
4. Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household and among her neighbors at church.
 Out of place.
 Her friends would think she was showing off.
5. Find and define:
 Frivolous- extra, excessive, not needing, having no purpose
 Austere- serious, strict, stern
Chapter 13
6. Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay with Atticus and his family? What is she like?
 She’s come to be a feminine influence on Scout and to help the children “learn who they are”. She wants
them to act more properly.
 She’s very bossy and opinionated.
7. Read the first two things Alexandra says when she comes to the Finch house. Are these typical of her or not?
 VERY! Treating Calpurnia harshly to keep her ‘in her place’ and correcting Scout’s behavior.
8. Alexandra thinks Scout is “dull” (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right? Are all adults good at knowing
how clever young people are?
 Because she doesn’t do things that a typical girl would do, and she thinks Scout is boring.
 I don’t think so!
9. How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Maycomb's social life?
 Joins clubs, hosts women’s events, gossiping with everyone.
10. Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family. Why does Atticus tell them to forget it? Who is right,
do you think?
 She thinks that it’s all about who your family is- the longer you’ve been around and the more you have, the
better you are as a person.
 Atticus tells them to forget it because he knows that Alexandra is wrong, and he wants his children to see
people for who they are, not who their family is.
11. Find and define: myopic- nearsighted
Chapter 14
12. Comment on Atticus's explanation of rape. How suitable is this as an answer to Scout?
 Gives a “dictionary” definition.
 This answer is ok to Scout because she doesn’t really understand.
13. Why does Alexandra think Atticus should dismiss Calpurnia? How does Atticus respond to the suggestion?
 She doesn’t like that Calpurnia has so much influence and authority in the lives of the children.
 He refuses. Says that Calpurnia won’t leave until she wants to.
14. Why is Scout pleased when Jem fights her back? Why is she less pleased when he tells Atticus about Dill?
 Because it shows that she’s not the only hothead- that he’s not better than her.
 She feels that he’s betraying their childhood. Feels sick. Is angry with him afterward.
15. What do we learn from Dill's account of his running away?
 Parents don’t care for him, life isn’t as good as he claims. New dad is the pits.
 Still has a very vivid imagination.
Chapter 15
16. What is the “nightmare” that now descends upon the children?
 Events surrounding the trial begin.
17. What was (and is) the Ku Klux Klan? What do you think of Atticus's comment about it?
 A white supremacist hate group.
 Atticus says they never gained much traction in Maycomb because there wasn’t anything to hate. Possible
that the hatred is just less organized. Atticus says it’s gone and won’t ever come back.
18. How does Jem react when Atticus tells him to go home, and why?
 Refuses to leave. He’s still afraid of the “gang” of men.
19. What persuades the lynching-party to give up their attempt on Tom's life?
 Scout (and the other children) being there. Atticus being outside of the jail.
20. Explain how Scout affects events without realizing it at the time.
 Scout just keeps talking, thinking she’s supposed to talk to people she knows. She’s not aware of the danger
of the situation. (It’s dangerous because the men had come to kill Tom Robinson.) The fact that a child is
there makes the men stop what they’re doing.
Chapter 16
21. What “subtle change” does Scout notice in her father?
 That he’s standing his ground against Aunt Alexandra. He’s not acting irritated, but he’s not letting her get
away with her snide remarks.
22. What sort of person is Dolphus Raymond?
 Drunk, married to a black woman
23. How does Reverend Sykes help the children see and hear the trial? Is he right to do?
 He brings them into the “Colored Balcony” and lets them sit with the black people. (They had to sit separately
because this was still under Jim Crow laws/segregation.)
24. Comment on Judge Taylor's attitude to his job. Does he take the trial seriously or not?
 He acts casual, but he takes his job VERY seriously.
Chapter 17
25. What are the main points in Heck Tate's evidence? What does Atticus show in his cross-examination of Sheriff Tate?
 Heck Tate says that Bob Ewell called him to his home because his daughter had been raped by a black man.
When Heck arrived at the Ewells, he saw that she was badly beaten. When he questioned her, she claimed it
was Tom Robinson, so Heck went and picked up Tom from his home.
 Atticus questions Heck about the specific injuries that the victim had, and it turns out that the victim was
badly beaten on her right side.
26. What do we learn indirectly of the home life of the Ewell family in this chapter?
 The mother is dead, and Mr. Ewell isn’t a great father.
 Also learn that Mr. Ewell is racist- makes several remarks using the n-word in a hateful way.
27. What do you learn from Bob Ewell's evidence?
 That he had seen his daughter having intercourse with a black man.
 That he agrees with Heck Tate about the fact that his daughter was beat up.
28. Why does Atticus ask Bob Ewell to write out his name? What does the jury see when he does this?
 To show that he’s left handed. That he could have beat up his daughter.
 The jury is waiting and watching with great anticipation.