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To Kill a Mockingbird STUDY GUIDE
TEST STATS: 75 questions- multiple choice (35), quotation identification matching (10), character identification matching (20), & true/false (10).
Quotations- know who said it, who it was said to/about, and what it means:
1. “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.”- Scout says it about seeing the world from Boo Radley’s perspective. She’s seeing the neighborhood from his porch when she thinks this.
2. “Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin’.”- Rev. Sykes says this to Scout in the courthouse. The entire black community stands out of respect of Atticus after the trial is over.
3. “Did it ever strike you that Judge Taylor naming Atticus to defend that boy was no accident? That Judge Taylor might have had his reasons for naming him?”- Miss Maudie says this to Jem and Scout when they’re so upset after the trial, and Jem claims that no one did anything to help Tom Robinson. Miss Maudie claims that people were all helping in their own ways- and Judge Taylor made Atticus the lawyer because he knew that Atticus would give him the best defense.
4. “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”- Atticus says this to Jem and Scout about Mrs. Dubose. He made the kids go spend time with her, even though he knew she was suffering- she was dying, and wanted to beat her morphine addiction, so she increased her suffering just so she could beat the addiction.
5. “It ain’t right, Atticus.”- Jem says this to Atticus after Tom Robinson is found guilty even though the evidence did not support that.
6. “Had her conduct been more friendly toward me, I would have felt sorry for her. She was a pretty little thing.”- Scout says this about Miss Caroline Fisher. Miss Fisher was upset about her class being out of control, and Scout was upset that she wasn’t nice to her.
7. “With him, life was routine; without him, life was unbearable.”- Scout says this about Dill- when he leaves for the school year.
8. “His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side.”- Scout says this about Tom Robinson. Significant because it’s when we realize how obvious it is that Tom didn’t commit the crime he’s accused of.
9. “His hands were white gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if every “guilty” was a separate stab between them.”- Scout says this describing Jem as he hears the guilty verdict in Tom’s trial. He was very confident that they were going to win, so the verdict was especially shocking for him.
10. “…it was not until many years later that I realized he wanted me to hear every word he said.” – Scout says this about Atticus. He had been talking to Uncle Jack about how tough it was going to be with the trial, and didn’t send her back to bed until he had finished saying everything. Atticus wanted her know how tough it was going to be.
Review questions:
11. Describe Scout’s relationship with Miss Caroline Fisher. Strained! Miss Fisher was mad at Scout on the first day of school because Scout already knew how to read.
12. Why is Mrs. Dubose brave? Because she overcomes addiction even though it caused her a lot of pain.
13. What is the setting of the story? What major world events are happening outside of Maycomb? Alabama, 1930s, Great Depression
14. What were the series of events that lead to Tim Johnson’s death? Jem saw the dog walking funny. Calpurnia figured out he was “mad” and called Heck Tate/Atticus. Atticus and Heck got to the house and knew the dog had to be killed. Heck made Atticus make the shot because he knew that Atticus was a better shot than him. The kids were STUNNED. (especially Jem) Very proud of their dad.
15. Why didn’t Walter take money from Miss Caroline Fisher? The Cunninghams didn’t take anything they couldn’t pay back, and Walter knew he didn’t have the money to pay her back.
16. Why does Dill visit in the summers? Who does he stay with? What is his relationship with Scout and Jem? His family passes him around because his homelife isn’t that great. He stays with his Aunt Rachel? He’s good buddies with Jem, and he ‘engaged’ to Scout.
17. Why is Dolphus Raymond an outcast in Maycomb? What secret to Scout and Dill learn about him? He’s an outcast bc he’s married to a black woman, and they have mixed children. He’s also the town drunk. Scout and Dill learn that he’s not actually drunk- he’s just drinking a Coke, but he keeps it in a paper bag so people will think he’s drunk. He does this so the people in town will have a built-in excuse for his behavior.
18. How was Boo Radley communicating with Scout and Jem? What does Nathan Radley do to stop Boo’s ‘communication’ with Scout and Jem? How does Jem react to him doing this? He was leaving little gifts for them in the tree. Nathan fills the tree in with cement. Jem questions it- even asking Nathan and Atticus about it.
19. What happened between Jem and Mrs. Dubose? What did they learn about her after she died? How did Atticus view her? Mrs. Dubose said mean things about Atticus to Jem and Scout. Jem retaliated by tearing up her yard. Atticus made him pay back his debt by reading to her every afternoon. They learned she was trying to overcome a morphine addiction. Atticus viewed her as brave for fighting to overcome addiction- even when she was dying.
20. What is the courthouse like on the day of the trial? How does it change when the people are waiting for the verdict? People are excited- like a carnival, but when they’re waiting for the verdict, it’s as quiet as a church.
21. What facts does Mr. Ewell testify that he saw? That he saw Tom Robinson on top of his daughter.
22. What does Atticus reveal in his cross-examination of Mr. Ewell? That he’s left handed. Like Mayella’s assailant.
23. What reasonable doubt is Atticus able to create for Tom Robinson? That Mayella’s assailant is left handed, and his left hand is completely immobile from an earlier accident.
24. Why were the people of Maycomb angry when Tom Robinson claimed he felt sorry for Mayella Ewell? Because he’s black and she’s white, and he’s not supposed to look down on her.
25. What did Atticus claim about equality in his closing statements? How did he feel Tom Robinson should be judged? That all people aren’t actually equal, but should be treated as such when they’re in court. He felt Tom should be judged like every other man- by the evidence.
26. Why did Tom Robinson die? Because he gave up hope and tried to escape, but was shot by the guards when trying to climb the fence.
27. How does Heck Tate protect Boo Radley? Decides that Bob Ewell fell on his knife. Takes the switchblade from Bob’s body, so everyone will assume the kitchen knife was the one Bob had brought with him.
28. What interactions do Scout and Jem have with Reverend Sykes? Meet him at Calpurnia’s church. See him at the trial. He saves them seats during the whole trial, and then tells them to stand to honor their father.
29. What 3 things did Bob Ewell do that made Aunt Alexandra? Accuses Atticus of getting him fired, breaks into Judge Taylor’s house when he thinks he’s not home, and harasses Helen Robinson (and Link Deas).
30. What did Cousin Francis say about Atticus? Where did he learn these things? That he was an embarrassment to the family for defending Tom Robinson. Heard them from Aunt Alexandra.
31. How does the town react to Atticus defending Tom Robinson? Most people are very angry- saying horrible about (and to) Atticus and his family.
32. Why is it a sin to kill a mockingbird? Because they don’t do anything to hurt anyone- just sing and bring joy.
33. When does Jem realize that things aren’t as they seem in regards to the Radley’s? When he finds his pants folded and repaired on the fence.
34. What scares Scout about playing the “Boo Radley game”? She hears someone laughing after she crashes into the house.
35. How do the kids feel about playing near the Radley house at the beginning of the story? It scares them!
36. What are the Cunninghams like? Poor, but hardworking and honorable. Always try to do the right thing, but they don’t have any money.
37. What is Dill’s home life like back in Meridian? Tough. He feels like he’s not wanted by his family (or his new stepdad).
38. How does Atticus view the Ewells and the Cunninghams? How does Aunt Alexandra view the Ewells and the Cunninghams? Atticus thinks the Cunninghams are good people- poor, but hardworking. He thinks that the Ewells aren’t necessarily good people, but it’s not because they’re poor. He feels sorry for them. Aunt Alexandra thinks those families are both below her (and the Finch’s) because of their “background”.
39. Why is Tom Robinson found guilty? The dishonest words of a white person are taken over the honest words of a black person.
40. How is Miss Maudie different from the rest of the women in Maycomb? How does she show that she’s friends with Scout and Jem? She doesn’t gossip. She listens to them. She makes cakes for them. She never makes them feel stupid.
41. What was saved from Miss Maudie’s house during the fire? What strange visitor did Jem and Scout have during the fire? Some belongings that Mr. Avery rescued and her rocking chair that Atticus got for her. Boo comes out of his house and puts a blanket on Scout’s shoulders.
42. When do the kids find out that Atticus can shoot? Why have they never known this before now? When he shoots Tim Johnson. He has a natural talent, and feels like it’s a sin to brag about a talent you didn’t do anything to earn.
43. What was Christmas like for Scout and Jem? They loved having a break with Atticus. Loved Uncle Jack coming to visit. Hated going to Finch’s landing with Aunt Alexandra and cousin Francis.
44. Who is Miss Stephanie Crawford? Neighborhood gossip.
45. What does Uncle Jack learn from Scout? To always listen to both sides of the story.
46. When does Jem realize that they’re going to lose the trial? He doesn’t know it’s going to happen until the verdict is announced in the courtroom.
47. Where’s Jem and Scout’s mother? She died before the novel begins.
48. What is Calpurnia’s role in the Finch family? How does Atticus feel about this? How does Aunt Alexandra feel about it? She’s their cook, but has total authority in their home. Atticus wants her to be a part of their family, but Aunt Alexandra wants her gone because she thinks Cal has too much authority over influential children.
49. What is Scout’s Halloween costume? A ham!
50. What happens when Jem sneaks onto the Radley porch? Mr. Nathan Radley shoots at him. (But misses thankfully)
51. Who is Zeebo? Calpurnia’s son, leads the music at First Purchase Church (Cal’s church)
52. How is Calpurnia different around her friends than when she’s with the Finch’s? She speaks differently- in a less educated way.
53. According to Aunt Alexandra, how are people ranked in society? People are ranked by their family’s backrground. She is always pointing out someone’s behavior and explaining it by blaming it on their family.
54. Describe the events the night before the trial begins. How does Scout impact the evening without even realizing it? A mob of men show up at the jail to lynch (hang) Tom Robinson. Atticus is waiting for them outside. Jem, Scout and Dill show up at the jail- Scout starts talking to Mr. Cunningham about Walter, and inadvertently makes him change his mind about the lynch mob and everyone leaves.