To Kill a Mockingbird
Reading Guided Questions
Part One
To Kill a Mockingbird
Reading Guided Questions
Chapter 1
Identifying Facts
1. Describe the physical setting of the story.
2. What is the relationship between the narrator (identified as Scout or Jean Louise) and her brother Jem and their father?
3. Who is Dill?
4. When the “routine” of Jem, Scout, and Dill’s summer becomes tiresome, what idea does Dill have?
5. How had Mr. Radley seen to it that his younger son Arthur (Boo) caused “no further trouble” in Maycomb?
6. After Mr. Radley died, what changes occurred at the Radley place?
7. What dare of Dill’s does Jem finally accept?
Interpreting Meaning
8. Scout (the narrator) says that her father Atticus was related to almost every family in the town. In addition, she states that the Radleys, unlike other residents, kept to themselves. What conclusions can you draw about the people of Maycomb from these comments? Would you like to have lived in Maycomb? Explain.
9. Speculate on possible reasons Boo might have eventually come out of the house, as Dill wanted him to do.
10. Atticus, a widower, is rearing his two children with the help of Calpurnia. Speculate on the kind of father you think Atticus will turn out to be. Recall Scout’s comment about her and Jem finding him to be “satisfactory.” Why do you think the children call him by his given name?
Chapters 2 and 3
Identifying Facts
1. When Jem takes Scout to school for her first day, what “order” does he give her?
2. What 2 things does Miss Caroline tell Scout that Atticus is not to do anymore?
3. When Scout tries to spare Walter Cunningham any further humiliation, what does Miss Caroline do to her?
4. At the Finch’s for lunch, what reason does Walter give Atticus for not being able to pass the first grade?
5. After Calpurnia makes Scout leave the table, what “lecture” does she give Scout?
6. How does Scout describe Burris Ewell’s physical appearance? How does Little Charles Little describe Burris’ personality?
7. After Scout’s first day of school, what is her assessment and what is her plan?
8. After Scout begs Atticus not to make her return to school, what advice does she give her for getting along with people?
Interpreting Meanings
9. Jem tells Scout about Miss Caroline’s “new way of teaching,” explaining that children won’t “have to learn much out of books.” Comment on your opinion to this approach to education.
10. Atticus advises Scout the way to get along with someone else is to “climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Comment on your reaction to this advice.
11. Comment on Burris Ewell’s behavior in the classroom. Who is to blame for his being the way he is?
Chapters 4 and 5
Identifying Facts
1. Explain why Scout goes back to the Radley place one afternoon.
2. What is the neighborhood’s opinion of Mrs. Dubose?
3. What does Jem say about the “Indian-heads” they find in the knot-hole of the tree?
4. What new “game” do Jem, Scout and Dill play?
5. After Atticus catches the children with the scissors, what is Jem’s reaction? What is Scout’s and why?
6. Explain why Scout becomes annoyed with Dill.
7. What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about “some kind of men”?
8. What is Jem and Dill’s plan to contact Boo Radley?
9. What order does Atticus give the children regarding Boo?
Interpreting Meanings
10. When Jem talks about the Hot Steams, Scout tell him, “Calpurnia says that’s Nigger-talk.” When Scout tells Miss Maudie the stories about Boo Radley, Maudie states, “That is three-fourths colored folks…” What are Cal and Maudie implying?
11. Miss Maudie tell Scout that “Mr. Radley [Boo’s father] was foot-washing Baptist” and goes on to say that some men worry so much “about the next world” they never learned “to live in this one.” What is Maudie suggesting about Mr. Radley and his treatment of Boo? What Mr. Radley, in your opinion, a “Christian”? Explain.
Chapters 6 and 7
Identifying Facts
1. Why do Dill, Jem and Scout run from the Radley Place?
2. How does Dill explain Jem’s missing pants?
3. What, according to Scout, causes Jem and her to begin “to part company”?
4. Summarize Scout’s assessment of second grade.
5. What does Jem finally tell Scout about the pants that he retrieved?
6. What do Jem and Scout realize about the carved soaps they find in the knot-hole?
7. When Jem and Scout find the knot-hole filled with cement, what explanation does Nathan Radley give? What does Atticus tell them about the tree?
Interpreting Meanings
8. Jem risks his life by going back for his pants so that Atticus won’t find out what they had done, which, as he admits to Scout was something they shouldn’t have done. Scout doesn’t understand Jem’s behavior. Do you? What would you have done if you were in Jem’s situation?
9. The evening after Jem and Scout fine the knot-hole filled with cement, Scout discovered that Jem, who had ordered her not to cry, had been crying himself. Why do you think Jem is upset?
Chapter 8
Identifying Facts
1. Describe how Jem constructs his “snow man.” What compliment does Atticus give Jem?
2. What does Atticus criticize Jem for?
3. Why does Atticus wake the children in the middle of the night?
4. What is Scout wearing? How does Atticus explain the presence of what Scout is wearing?
5. Describe Scout’s reaction to the news she receives?
6. What is Miss. Maudie’s reaction to the condition of her house?
Interpreting Meanings
7. According to Atticus, Boo Radley places a blanket on Scout’s shoulders. Recall the “crimes” the townspeople have attributed to Boo. How do you explain the disparity between Boo’s act of kindness towards Scout and the stories of the townspeople?
8. Miss Maudie tells her children her only concern about the fire that had destroyed her home, had been the danger to the neighborhood. What does Miss Maudie’s attitude reveal about her character?
Chapter 9
Identifying Facts
1. Why does Scout forget what Atticus told her about fighting?
2. What does Atticus tell Scout to do when she hears “ugly talk” at school?
3. What comparison does Scout use to describe her relationship with Aunt Alexandra?
4. Explain Scout’s reasoning regarding her “cussing fluently.”
5. Why does Scout fight Francis?
6. What does Scout make her Uncle Jack promise not to tell Atticus the truth about?
7. What does Atticus tell Jack he hopes Jem and Scout will do instead of listening to the town?
Interpreting Meaning
8. Atticus tells Scout to try fighting with her head for a change instead of using her fists. Comment on this advice both with regard to Scout, yourself, and others. Why, in your opinion, do people resort to physical violence to settle disagreements?
Chapter 10
Identifying Facts
1. Explain why Scout is upset over Atticus being “so old”.
2. Atticus tells the children they’re not to kill mockingbirds because so is a sin. How does Miss Maudie explain Atticus’ reasoning to Scout?
3. Why doe the sheriff ask Atticus to shoot Tim Johnson?
4. What explanation does Miss Maudie offer for “Ol’ One-Shot” (Atticus) putting his gun down thirty years ago?
5. What does Jem tell Scout to do about their father’s shooting of the dog?
Interpreting Meaning
6. In this chapter, it is explained that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they don’t do anything harmful; they simply sing their hearts out. Comment on this idea. Although it is expressed simply is there more to this statement than simply the idea that a harmless creature shouldn’t be killed? How do you think the statement might apply to the novel thus far? Discuss.
7. Miss Maudie states that “people in their right minds never take pride in their talents.” What does she mean? Do you agree or disagree?
Chapter 11
Identifying Facts
1. What does Atticus do that cause Scout to say she felt he was the “bravest man who ever lived?”
2. What does Jem do to Mrs. Dubose’s camellia bushes? Explain why he does this.
3. What does Mrs. Dubose want from Jem as payment for his “crime”?
4. What change had occurred in Mrs. Dubose by the last week Scout and Jem went to her home?
5. How does Atticus explain “courage” to Jem?
Interpreting Meaning
6. Atticus tells Jem it is his job not to let Mrs. Dubose make him ad. Jem, of course, doesn’t know at this point what Mrs. Dubose is going through. Are a person’s reactions to others and to situations his or her responsibility or “job”? If you become angry, according to Atticus’ theory, who is to blame? Why? Discuss.
7. Scout says that she considered her father the bravest man alive for visiting Mrs. Dubose and speaking kindly to her. Atticus later tells the children, after her death, that Mrs. Dubose was the “bravest person” he ever knew. Comment on the 2 views of bravery presented here. What is your definition of the term?
Part Two
Chapter 12
Identifying Facts
1. List the 3 things that are perplexing Scout at the beginning of the summer.
2. Explain what Scout finds unusual about Calpurnia’s manner of speaking at the Negro church.
3. Why does Reverend Sykes order the doors of the church shut?
4. Why does the congregation sing the hymns by “lining”?
5. What explanation does Cal give for talking “nigger-talk”?
6. Who is sitting on the Finch’s front porch?
Interpreting Meanings
7. Cal tells Scout that it isn’t necessary to tell all one knows and that folks are aggravated by having someone around who knows more than they do. Do you agree or disagree with Cal’s view? Why might she have said this?
Chapters 13 and 14
Identifying Facts
1. How does Atticus explain Aunt Alexandra’s arrival?
2. What does Aunt Alexandra request that Atticus try to convey to the children?
3. Explain why Scout cries.
4. What does Atticus tell the children to do concerning the conversation about family pride?
5. How does Atticus respond to Alexandra’s suggestion that they don’t need Cal any more?
6. What does Scout say she had never heard of or seen before, and how does it make her feel?
7. How does Atticus deal with Scout’s question about whether she has to mind Jem?
8. How does Atticus deal with finding Dill in Scout’s room?
9. What question does Scout ask Dill about Boo Radley? What is Dill’s response?
Interpreting Meanings
10. When Atticus returns from Montgomery, Scout asks if he brought her a book. When you were a child, what would you have asked for from a parent returning from a trip? What does Scout’s request indicate about her and Atticus’ influence on her? Do you think she’s an unusual child? Explain.
11. Aunt Alexandra believes that “gentle breeding” is a result of heredity: that some people are better then others simply because of the families they come from. Scout, on the other hand believes that “Fine folks were people who did the best they could with the sense they had.” What do you believe?
12. Dill explains to Scout that his mother and stepfather love him. They buy him whatever he wants, and they aren’t mean. But he also states that “they just wasn’t interested” in him. What point is Dill trying to make? Is this behavior typical of many parents? If so, what explanations can you offer for it?
Chapter 15
Identifying Facts
1. Even though Dill gets permission to stay in Maycomb, why does Scout say their peace ended after a week?
2. Describe Dill’s latest plan to get Boo Radley to come out.
3. When Jem asks Atticus if the men who came to the house were a “gang,” what is Atticus’s response?
4. What does Jem tell Scout he fears?
5. After Atticus leaves the house late at night, where to the children find him? What is he doing?
6. Explain why the men have to come to the jail.
7. After Scout talks to Mr. Cunningham about Walter and the entailment of his farm, what does he do?
8. What had Mr. Underwood been doing?
Interpreting Meanings
9. When he is asked whether he can get a change of venue for Tom Robinson-that is, a change in the location of the trial-the sheriff says, “Not much point in that, now is it?” What is the sheriff implying?
10. Atticus tells the children there had been a Ku Klux Klan in Maycomb many years ago but that they hadn’t been able to scare anybody so they went away. He goes on to say that the Klan is gone and won’t ever come back. What do you know about the Ku Klux Klan? Have you ever seen anything about it on television news of read anything about it? Is the Klan truly “gone”?
11. Jem defies Atticus’ order that they go home. Scout expects Atticus is angry with Jem while they walk home, but she sees Atticus tousle they boy’s hair, his one gesture of affection. Why do you think Atticus wanted them to leave? Why do you think Jem refused to do so? Why do you think Atticus in not angry with him?
Chapter 16
Identifying Facts
1. What connection does Scout make that causes her to cry?
2. What subtle change does Scout notice in Atticus?
3. How does Atticus explain the “mobs” to the children?
4. What is Miss Maudie’s reaction to everyone wanting to go to the trial?
5. Why does Jem say the “mixed children” are sad?
6. What news does Scout overhear about Atticus’ defending Tom Robinson? Does it give her any comfort?