TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
My To Kill a Mockingbird
Novel Unit Guide
Name: __________________________
Class period: ______ Book #: _____
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
My To Kill a Mockingbird
Novel Unit Guide (Part One)
Name: __________________________
Class period: ______ Book #: _____
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
PART ONE (Chapters 1-11)
INTRODUCTION & Chapter 1
1. Narrator: _________________________________________________________________
2. Describe the narrator: _______________________________________________________
3. Point of view: ______________________________________________________________
4. Setting (time period, place--city/state): __________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
5. What’s going on in the world? _________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
6. Family members of the narrator (list)
Name
Relation to Narrator
Brief Description
Jem
Atticus
Aunt
Alexandra
Uncle
Jimmy
Uncle Jack
(John)
Calpurnia
(not
related)
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
7. Other characters (some will be introduced in later chapters of part 1:
Name
Who is this person?
Brief Description
Dill
Miss
Maudie
Miss
Stephanie
Boo
Radley
Walter
Cunningham,
Jr.
Walter
Cunningham,
Sr.
Burris
Ewell
Miss
Caroline
Miss
Rachel
Heck Tate
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
8. Compare Maycomb’s community to our community. List the similarities & differences.
SIMILARITIES to Our Community
DIFFERENCES from Our Community
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 2
1. Scout makes three mistakes during her first day at school. What are her mistakes, and why
do they make Miss Caroline so angry?
2. What is the WPA, and why won't Mr. Cunningham work for it?
Chapter 3
1. Burris Ewell and Walter Cunningham are are both from extremely poor families. How do the
boys differ?
2. What advice (or “trick”) does Atticus give Scout to get along better with people?
3. What is the "compromise" which Atticus suggests?
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 4
1. Where do you suppose the gum and the pennies are coming from? What makes you think
so?
2. Describe the “Radley” game the children play. Did you ever play like this as a child? Share.
3. Scout has two reasons for wanting to quit the "Radley Game" What are they?
ENRICHMENT EXERCISE
Look up the program called “One Man’s Family” from 1932. Which kind (or genre) of TV shows
or podcasts would it compare to (or be similar to) today? Why?
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapters 5 & 6
1. What do Jem & Scout think of Boo Radley?
2. What does Atticus think of Boo?
3. What does Miss Maudie think of Boo?
4. Compare Miss Maudie & Miss Stephanie. How are the two women different? Are they alike
in any way?
5. What does Miss Maudie think of Atticus?
6. Why do people make fun of people who are different?
7. List some ways/tips/ideas to combat the tendencies to make fun of people.
8. What do you learn about the town/neighbors after the disturbance at the Radley place?
9. (Choose one sentence to complete)
FINISH THIS SENTENCE: If I were Jem, I would go back to the Radley’s because...
...OR: If I were Jem, I would not go back to the Radley’s because...
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 7
1. Why was Jem trembling when he came back from getting his pants?
2. Page 61: What do you think Jem is on the verge of telling Scout?
3. Nathan Radley claims he plugged the hole because the tree was dying. What is the real
reason he plugged it?
4. Why does Jem cry at the end of the chapter?
5. List all the items from the knothole from chapters 4 through 7:
6. What can we infer about the original owner of these items?
The Knot Hole by MagicMageKitty
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 8
1. What is Mr. Avery’s attitude toward children?
DRAW a picture of Jem & Scout’s
snow-person based on the book’s
description:
2. How does Miss Maudie react to her house
burning down? What does this tell you about
her character?
3. How does Boo show his character in chapter 8?
What does this tell you about him as a person?
ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY - Extra Credit (5 pts.)
Write either a RAP or COUNTRY/WESTERN song based on the events from chapter 8. It can
be to the tune of an existing song, but the words should be changed (or a majority of the
words). You may use a separate sheet of paper, if needed.
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 9
1. 1. When Atticus tells Scout not to use the “n” word because it’s “common,” what does he mean?
2. Atticus says if he didn’t take Tom’s case he couldn’t make Jem or Scout mind him. Why not?
3. What do you think of Atticus as a person? Is he a good man? Why?
4. Describe Francis.Would you want to be his friend? Why or why not?
5. What is Maycomb’s “usual disease”?
6. At the end of the chapter, why did Atticus want Scout to hear his words?
MOOD...
How and why does the mood of the novel start to change in this chapter?
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 10
1. What is Jem & Scout’s attitude toward their father at the beginning of the chapter?
2. What is the one thing Atticus says is a sin to do while using their air rifles?
3. Why is it a sin?
4. P. 95-96: Heck says it is a “one-shot job” and asks Atticus to do it. What does this tell us about
Atticus?
5. Why, according to Miss Maudie, does Atticus only shoot in an emergency? What does this show (or
tell) you about Atticus as a person?
6. Why does Jem no longer care if Atticus has any special talents?
Chapter 11
1. Why does Jem destroy Mrs. Dubose’s camellias?
2. What do we learn about Mrs. Dubose’s health?
3. What is Jem’s punishment for destroying the flowers?
4. What does Mrs. Dubose leave Jem when she dies?
5. What is real courage, according to Atticus?
6. Why does Atticus want the kids to know what real courage looks like?
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Common Core Standards Non-fiction Writing Assessment
Harper Lee talks about the kudzu-covered porch at Mr. Avery’s house. Read the student
passage about kudzu. The following paragraph is an excerpt from a student's report
about plant life the southern United States. After reading the paragraph, you will identify
details that are unnecessary and explain why they should be removed.
The Invasion of Kudzu
In 1876, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, hosted the Centennial Exposition in honor of the country’s
100th birthday. The Japanese constructed one of the most popular exhibits, primarily due to an
amazing vine called kudzu. For centuries, the Japanese used the pea vine for many purposes,
including medicine, but what attracted the Americans the most were the sweet-smelling purple
flowers that covered the vine. The warm, moist climate of the southern states—from Georgia to
Florida and north to the Carolinas—was the most hospitable part of the US for the vine.
Temperatures in Georgia can reach into the 90s, and the humidity is often above 90%.
Residents all over the southeast began planting kudzu. The vine’s success caught the
attention of many, including Channing Cope who promoted its use for erosion control and
animal feed, especially during the Great Depression. Because of the depression, many homes
were left abandoned, so there was not anyone to care for them and keep the plants properly
groomed. No one predicted, however, that the vine would end up taking over. The vines slowly
engulfed pine forests, telephone poles, and even houses, leading to the destruction of native
plant life. Pines are not the only trees in the South, however. There are about 250 species of
trees in Georgia alone. As kudzu out-competed the local plants, it deprived them of nutrients
and, especially, sunlight. Kudzu now covers over 7 million acres of land, and it continues to
expand at the rate of 150,000 acres annually. That is almost one foot per day! Attempts to kill it
have proven difficult, as it is immune to most herbicides; thus, kudzu continues to smother the
southern states. Researchers continue to search for a solution to “the vine that ate the South,”
but the answer is nowhere in sight.
On a separate sheet of paper, identify the sentences from the paragraph that are
unnecessary, and briefly explain why each one should be removed.
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
My To Kill a Mockingbird
Novel Unit Guide (Part Two)
Name: __________________________
Class period: ______ Book #: _____
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Part Two: New Characters
Name
Who is this person?
Brief Description
Tom Robinson
Bob Ewell
Judge Taylor
Mr.
Underwood
Dolphus
Raymond
Rev. Sykes
Mr. Gilmer
Link Deas
Mrs.
Merriweather
Dr. Reynolds
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapters 12-13
1. How do you explain Lula's antagonism toward Jem and Scout?
2. Scout finds the church service to be similar to her own except for few differences. Explain what these are.
3. Why does Cal speak one way around black people and another way around white people? Is she being honest
or hypocritical in what she does? Explain.
4. Why does Aunt Alexandra move in with the Finches?
5. How is Atticus’ speech to the kids an example of hypocrisy?
COMPLETE THIS STATEMENT:
Aunt Alexandra reminds me of _________________________ because… (give at least 3 reasons)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapters 14-15
1. Why do Jem and Scout get into a fist fight?
2. What is hiding under Scout’s bed?
3. How does Jem break “the remaining code of childhood”?
4. Why did Dill run away from his parents?
5. Explain why the first crowd of men comes to visit Atticus.
6. Explain why the second group of men visit Atticus downtown at the jail.
7. Why isn’t the sheriff there to back up Atticus?
8. How does Scout break up the mob outside the jail cell?
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 16
1. Why does Scout cry after returning home from the jail?
2. How does Jem treat Scout, and how does this treatment show his maturity?
3. Who is Dolphus Raymond?
4. Why is Scout confused after overhearing remarks about her father’s defense of Tom
Robinson?
5. Of the neighbors, who decides to go to the trial?
EXTENDED WRITING--Through Tom’s Eyes: You are Tom Robinson.
Today is your first day of your trial. The courtroom is packed. You just watched
everyone march in from your cell window. Write a letter to your wife, describing what
you see and the atmosphere of the courtroom.
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapters 17: The Trial
1. Where (and with whom) do the kids sit?
2. Who is Mr. Gilmer?
Through Atticus’s cross-examination, record the facts that are established and what they imply or infer.
BOB EWELL’S Testimony
HECK TATE’S Testimony
FACTS ESTABLISHED
WHAT THE FACTS IMPLY
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 18: Through Atticus’s cross-examination, record the facts that are established and what they
imply or infer.
MAYELLA EWELL’S Testimony
FACTS ESTABLISHED
WHAT THE FACTS IMPLY
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.
6.
6.
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 19: Through Atticus’s questioning, record the facts that are established and what they imply
or infer.
FACTS ESTABLISHED
WHAT THE FACTS IMPLY
1.
1.
2.
2., 3., and 4.
TOM ROBINSON’S Testimony
3.
4.
5.
5.
6.
6.
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 19
1. Why does Atticus point out that Tom’s record has one blemish: he served 30 days in jail?
2. Scout compares Mayella to Boo Radley: lonely, no friends. She realizes Tom was probably the only person
who treated her… (how?)
3. When Tom goes by the Ewell house on Nov. 21, why is it so quiet?
4. Why do you think she wanted to treat the kids to ice cream?
5. Why does Tom run (a sign of guilt) after Mayella “jumps” on him?
6. When Link Deas speaks out in court on behalf of Tom, Judge Taylor has a fit & throws him out of the courtroom.
Why is Judge Taylor so enraged?
7. Mr. Gilmer—the prosecutor—keeps referring to Tom as “boy”. Why?
8. Tom makes a fatal mistake in his testimony to Mr. Gilmer by saying he felt sorry for Mayella. Why was this the
wrong thing for Tom to say?
9. Dill has to leave the courtroom because it makes him sick watching Mr. Gilmer talk to Tom that way. Why
doesn’t it have the same affect on Jem & Scout?
10. As Scout is trying to comfort Dill she says, “…after all he’s just a Negro,” referring to Tom. Does this surprise
you that Scout still feels this way toward black people after all Atticus has tried to teach her?
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 20
1. Why does Dolphus pretend to be drunk?
2. Why does he confide in the children? Why tell them--entrust them--with his secret?
3. In Atticus’ closing remarks, Scout sees Atticus do something he has never done before:
unbutton his coat, vest, collar, & loosen his tie. The children had never seen him do this. He
always had his clothes buttoned up until he went to bed. So why does he do this in the
courtroom, in front of everyone?
4. Atticus argues that people abuse the Thomas Jefferson quote: “…all men are created
equal.” Explain.
*PREDICT the outcome of the trial:
Tom will be found...
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 21
1. Scout remarks that she hopes the Rev. Sykes saves their places—most people leave to
overtake the town square when the jury is out. When they return after supper (an hour later)
they find that the people in the courtroom have barely moved. What does this tell you about
the people?
2. As the kids are waiting in the balcony for the jury to come back with their verdict, Scout
started to get a feeling like she had the day in February when the mad dog came down the
street. Describe that feeling OR give an example of a time when you had the same sort of
feeling.
3. The mad dog symbolized the people of Maycomb—infected with “racism.” Atticus is the only
one who can shoot the dog before it harms anyone. How does this apply to Tom’s case?
4. Why do all the black people in the balcony stand when Atticus passes underneath them?
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 22
1. When Aunty objects to the kids being exposed to Tom’s trial Atticus points out that what
happened there is just as much Maycomb as Missionary teas. What are they referring to?
2. How is Atticus’ remark to Jem about why Tom was convicted similar to Dolphus Raymond’s?
3. Atticus is brought to tears when he enters the kitchen and sees all the food the black
community has brought for him. Knowing the outcome of the trial, why did they bring it for him?
Why is Atticus moved to tears?
4. Why did Miss Maudie only bake two little cakes & one big one for the kids?
5. When Jem asks Maudie who, besides Atticus, helped Tom, how does she reply?
6. Why does Dill want to be a clown & laugh at people?
7. What happens to Atticus at the end of chapter 22?
8. Why do you think Bob does this to Atticus?
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 23
1. How does Atticus react to Bob Ewell spitting on him?
2. Explain Atticus' statement about the following:
a. reasonable doubt:
b. "When it's a white man's word against a black man's, the white man
always wins":
To Kill a Mockingbird--Bob by
JoeComicBook
c. "People have a way of carrying their resentments right into the jury box":
d. "It's all adding up, and one of these days we are going to pay the bill for it.” (What is this
foreshadowing?):
3. Briefly show the difference in attitude toward the Cunninghams as expressed by:
a. Atticus:
b. Aunt Alexandra:
4. Why can't Jem accept Scout's opinion that there is "just one kind of folks--folks"?
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapter 24
1. What unfortunate characteristics do the ladies of the missionary circle display?
2. Do you think this is typical of such groups?
3. Discuss the irony of Mrs. Merriweather's admiration for J. Grimes Everett and her attitude
toward the trial. (Hint: While she shows such compassion & a sense of responsibility for the
Mrunas, what, then, does she feel toward the black people of Maycomb?)
4. Why do you think people are more apt to help those in far away countries, but have a hard
time helping the poor people in their own communities? For example, how many people in our
country are opposed to welfare or affirmative action? What is the difference between helping a
poor, hungry child in Africa & one in America?
5. Scout feels she prefers men to women. Why?
6. Tom being shot 17 times is an indication of what?
7. What does Miss Maudie mean by "we're paying the highest tribute we can pay a man"?
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapters 25-26
1. How does most of the town react to Tom's death?
2. In what way is Mr. Underwood's editorial in the Maycomb Tribune similar to Atticus' advice to
Jem and Scout when they got their guns?
3. What “connection” does Scout make during their Current Events lesson at school (regarding
democracy)?
4. What is the irony of Miss Gates' lecture on democracy when compared to her comments at
the trial?
5. When Scout tries to tell Jem about Miss Gates, why does he react so violently?
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapters 27-28
1 What were the three threatening things that had happened in Maycomb by the middle of
October?
2. What is the point of the Misses Tutti & Frutti Barber story?
3. Why doesn’t Atticus or Aunt Alexandra attend the pageant?
4. What happens as Scout & Jem are walking to the school for the pageant?
5. Why is Scout embarrassed after the pageant?
6. What happens to the children on their way home?
HAM
Scout’s Ham
Costume
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapters 29-31
1. What clues tell Scout that the man in the corner is not a “countryman”? (List 4-6 clues in the
passage that indicate he isn’t a “countryman”.)
2. Reread page 263. What does Scout feel sticking out of Bob’s ribs?
3. Regarding the item in #2, who did it really belong to?
4. How did Bob Ewell really die?
5. What does Heck Tate mean when he says “Let the dead bury the dead” on page 276?
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
Chapters 29-31, continued...
6. Who is Heck Tate covering up the truth for? Why?
7. How does Scout assure Atticus that Mr. Tate is right?
8. When she takes Boo home, Scout understands many things as she sees the street from this
new point of view. Explain some of the things she "sees" now.
9. After you read the last lines of the novel, how did you feel?
10. Re-read the first page. Who do you side with: Jem or Scout? Why?
To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012
TKaM Chapter Questions
NAME: _________________________________
To Kill a Mockingbird Discussion Questions
Copyright ©2012, Tracee Orman, All Rights Reserved
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To Kill a Mockingbird Student Discussion Questions ©Mrs. Orman - 2001-2012