Study Guide for To Kill a Mockingbird

Chapter 1

 

  1. Where and when does the story take place?  Describe the town.
  2. Who are the members of the Finch household?
  3. Who is Dill?
  4. What do we know for certain about Arthur “Boo” Radley?
  5. Who is Calpurnia and what is she like?
  6. Why do you think the children call their father by his first name, instead of calling him ”Daddy”?
  7. From whose point of view is the story told?
  8. What act of “courage” on Jem’s part ends the chapter?

Chapter 2

  1. On her first day of school, what does Scout get in trouble for?  List three things.
  2. What is Scout’s real name?
  3. Why are the professional people in Maycomb poor at this time?
  4. What are the Cunninghams like?
  5. How does Miss Caroline feel at the end of the day?  How do you know?

Chapter 3

  1. Why does Scout fight Walter?
  2. Describe Burris Ewell.  What kind of conclusions can you draw about his family?
  3. Atticus tells Scout, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb in his skin and walk around in it.”  What are some of the things that Scout begins to realize at this point?
  4. What is the “compromise” which Atticus suggests?

Chapter 4

  1. In what specific ways does Scout criticize the school she is attending?
  2. What is the first gift that appears in the hollow tree?  What other gifts do the children find?  Who is putting them there and why?
  3. Describe the game the children play that summer.
  4. What are two reasons why Scout wanted to stop the game?

Chapter 5

  1. What does Scout admire about Miss Maudie?
  2. Explain Miss Maudie’s statement “sometimes the Bible in the hands of one man is worse than a whiskey bottle in the hand of—oh, of your father.”
  3. How do the children attempt to contact Boo?

Chapter 6

  1. What plan do Dill and Jem come up with in their efforts to make contact with Boo?
  2. What are the results?
  3. Why does Jem return to the Radley place?

Chapter 7

  1. What does Jem reveal to Scout about the night raid?
  2. What new gifts are left in the knothole?  (There are five.)
  3. What end the knothole gifts?

Chapter 8

  1. What happens to Miss Maudie’s house and what is her reaction?  What does this tell you about her character?
  2. What incident happens to the children during the fire?
  3. Why does Atticus decide to keep the incident a secret?

Chapter 9

  1. What are the reasons Atticus give for defending Tom Robinson?
  2. How do other people feel about Atticus and his decision to defend Tom?
  3. Why does Scout fight her cousin at Christmas?
  4. What is “Maycomb’s usual disease”?

Chapter 10

  1. At the beginning of this chapter, Scout is ashamed of Atticus.  What are his faults as she sees them and why do you think she feels this way?
  2. Who said, “ . . . it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” and what is Miss Maudie’s explanation of that statement?  What does this mean?
  3. What incident causes the children to change their minds about Atticus?
  4. Why won’t Jem allow Scout to brag about Atticus at school?  Do you agree with him?  Why?
  5. Who is Heck Tate?
  6. What is Atticus’s old nickname?

Chapter 11

  1. Who is Mrs. Dubose?  What does she do that angers Jem?
  2. How does Jem react to Mrs. Dubose’s comment?
  3. What is Jem’s punishment?
  4. What is Mrs. Dubose’s secret?
  5. What is Atticus’s definition of courage?  Do you agree or disagree with it?  Why?

Chapter 12

  1. How did the Negroes react when Calpurnia brought Jem and Scout with her to church?
  2. What new insights do the children gain about Cal?
  3. Why does Cal speak one way around blacks and another around white people?  Is she being honest or hypocritical in what she does?  Explain?

Chapter 13

  1. What is Aunt Alexandra’s reason for coming to Maycomb?
  2. How does Alexandra fit into the world of Maycomb?  Give examples.
  3. How do Atticus and Alexandra differ in their outlooks as far as family is concerned?

Chapter 14

  1. How does Aunt Alexandra feel about Calpurnia?
  2. Why is Scout happy about her brawl with Jem?
  3. Dill tries to explain to Scout why he did not want to stay with his mother and stepfather.  State his reason in your own words.

Chapter 15

  1. Why do the men come to the house?
  2. Why does Atticus keep a vigil at the jail?
  3. What breaks up the lynch mob?
  4. Why do you think Atticus is so affectionate toward Jem after Jem disobeyed him?

Chapter 16

  1. What subtle change has Scout noticed in her father?
  2. Describe the atmosphere that prevails as the people make their way to the courthouse for the trial.
  3. Why do you suppose a man like Mr. Underwood, who disliked Negroes, was covering Atticus at the jail?
  4. Where do the children find seats for the trial?

Chapter 17

  1. According to Sheriff Tate, which side of Mayella’s face was beat up?
  2. Briefly describe the Ewell lifestyle.
  3. Why does Judge Taylor refuse to clear the courtroom?
  4. What is important about Mr. Ewell being left-handed?

Chapter 18

  1. Why does Mayella accuse Atticus of mocking her?
  2. Give a brief description of Mayella Ewell.  What is your opinion of her?
  3. What is Mayella’s version of what happened?
  4. What is so important about Tom Robinson’s physical appearance?  According to the testimony, what does this prove beyond a shadow of a doubt?

Chapter 19

  1. What kind of person is Tom Robinson?
  2. Describe Tom’s version of what happened?
  3. What mistake does Tom make during Mr. Gilmer’s cross-examination?
  4. Why does Dill become sick?

Chapter 20

  1. Why does Mr. Raymond pretend to be drunk?
  2. What did Atticus do that Scout had never seen him do before?
  3. What major point about the evidence does Atticus make in his closing remarks?
  4. According to Atticus, what is the offense which Mayella has committed?
  5. In Atticus’s view, what is the institution that makes all men equal?

Chapter 21

  1. What does Scout “know” about the verdict before she hears it?
  2. Why do the Negroes stand as Atticus leaves the courtroom?

Chapter 22

  1. How does the black community show their gratitude to Atticus and what is his reaction?
  2. What is Miss Maudies’s explanation for Judge Taylor’s selecting Atticus to be Tom’s defense counsel?
  3. What kind of clown does Dill decide to be?
  4. What does Bob Ewell do to Atticus?

Chapter 23

  1. How does Atticus react to Bob Ewell?
  2. What do the children want Atticus to do?
  3. What do the children discover about justice?
  4. Who was the hold out on Tom’s jury?
  5. Why won’t Aunt Alexandra allow Scout to invite Walter over?

Chapter 24

  1. What event is Scout attending at the beginning of this chapter?
  2. What is ironic about Mrs. Merriweather’s admiration for the missionary J. Grimes Everett, and her attitude toward the trial?
  3. What happens to Tom Robinson?

Chapter 25

  1. How does most of the town react to the news about Tom?
  2. How did Mr. Underwood react?

Chapter 26

  1. What grades are Jem and Scout in now?
  2. Scout is growing up.  Explain her feelings about
    1. their former cruel games concerning Boo
    2. her remaining desire to see Boo in person
    3. Atticus’s apparent knowledge about their previous activities
    4. “Current Events” in school
  3. What is ironic about the lesson in school about Hitler?

 

Chapter 27

  1. What three things happen concerning Bob Ewell?
  2. What is Atticus’s explanation for Ewell’s actions?
  3. What is Scout’s role in the Halloween pageant?
  4. What bit of foreshadowing occurs at the end of this chapter?

Chapter 28

  1. What does Cecil Jacobs do before the pageant which helps set up the incidents after the pageant?
  2. What disturbs Jem first and then Scout on the way home?
  3. Briefly describe the struggle.
  4. How badly is Jem injured?
  5. What/whom does Heck Tate find when he investigates the incident?

Chapter 29

  1. Why had Bob Ewell attacked Jem and Scout?
  2. What saved Scout’s life?
  3. Who rescued Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell?

Chapter 30

  1. Who does Atticus think killed Ewell?
  2. What is Heck Tate’s theory and why has he made that particular decision?
  3. Why does Scout agree with Tate?

Chapter 31

  1. What sign of affection does Boo give Jem?
  2. How does Scout treat Boo?
  3. What are the only words Boo ever says to Scout?
  4. What makes Scout sad about never seeing Boo again?
  5. How does Scout realize the truth of what Atticus had once said about not knowing a man until you stood in his shoes?
  6. What final bit of wisdom does Atticus share with Scout?
  7. Describe the feelings you experienced as you read the closing scenes.