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To Kill a Mockingbird
Some Quotes
"First of all," he [Atticus] said, "if you can learn a simple trick, Scout,
you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really
understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until
you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
Miss Maudie: "Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public
streets."
Atticus: "This case, Tom Robinson's case, is something that goes to the
essence of a man's conscience-Scout, I couldn't go to church and worship God
if I didn't try to help that man."
Atticus: "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 you see it through no matter
what."
Calpernia: "It is not necessary to tell all you know. It's not ladylike- in
the second place, folks don't like to have somebody around knowin' more than
they do. It aggravates 'em. You're not gonna change any of them by talkin'
right, they've got to want to learn themselves, and when they don't want to
learn there's nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their
language."
Scout: "Somewhere, I had received the impression that Fine Folks were people
who did the best they could with the sense they had, but Aunt Alexandra was
of the opinion, obliquely expressed, that the longer a family had been
squatting on one patch of land the finer it was."
Reverend Sykes: "Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin'."
Atticus: "So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell
one extra beating, that's something I'll gladly take. He had to take it out
on somebody and I'd rather it be me than that houseful of children out
there."
Atticus: "As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day
of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it-whenever
a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or
how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash."
Aunt Alexendra: "'Don't be silly, Jean Louise,' said Aunt Alexandra. 'The
thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till her shines, you can put him in
shoes and a new suit, but he'll never be like Jem. Besides, there's a
drinking streak in that family a mile wide. Finch women aren't interested in
that sort of people.'"
Scout: "Naw, Jem, I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks."
"It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated juns and had
never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived"
"Every mob in every little Southern town is always made up of people you
know - doesn't say much for them, does it?"
"This case, Tom Robinson's case, is something that goes to the essence of a
man's conscience-Scout, I could't go to church and worship God if I didn't
try to help that man."
Study Guide questions.
Chapter 1
1. What accident did Jem have when he was nearly thirteen?
2. What is the narrator’s relationship to Jem?
3. The narrator is how much younger than Jem?
4. According to Jem, who is responsible for the problems that led to Jem’s
accident?
5. According to the narrator, to whom should Jem attribute the events that
led to his accident?
6. Jem and the narrator were descendents of the Finches. Discuss the Finch
ancestry.
7. Identify the setting. (name the town and state)
8. Describe the setting.
9. What was Atticus’ relationship to the narrator and Jem?
10. Atticus is a lawyer. Describe how he feels about is occupation.
11. Describe Atticus.
12. Who is Calpurnia? Describe her.
13. What became of Scout and Jem’s mother?
14. In the summertime, how far away from the house did Calpurnia permit Scout
and Jem to play?
15. How old was the narrator and Jem when Dill came to town?
16. How old was Dill when they met him? (on page 11)
Describe Dill.
17. What’s the narrator’s name?
18. What place fascinated Dill?
When they had exhausted all play possibilities, what idea did Dill have
concerning the Radley place?
What other activities did the kids play?
19. How many Radleys were there?
Why were they considered different?
20. What was Boo’s real name?
Why hadn’t he been seen for fifteen years?
What was Jem’s description of Boo?
21. Who was Miss Stephanie Crawford?
What information did she impart to the narrator, Jem and Dill?
22. What was Mr. Radley like and what became of him?
23. What did Dill dare Jem to do?
Chapter 2
1. Who was Walter Cunningham? Describe him.
2. What mistake regarding Walter did Miss Caroline make?
Chapter 3
1. Who is Burriss Ewell? Describe him
.In what conflict did he become involved with Miss Fisher?
Why did Atticus defend Mr. Ewell’s right to break the hunting law?
2. How did Scout feel about her first day at school?
What compromise did Atticus make with Scout?
What advice did Atticus give to Scout?
Chapter 4
1. What was the first thing that Scout found in the knot hole of the tree?
2. On their last day of school shat did Jem and Scout find in the knot hole?
What did they plan to do with it?
3. According to Jem, what’s the superstition surrounding a hot steam?
4. Scout suggests that they “roll in a tire.” Where did she end up when Jem
pushed her?
5. What did Scout hear that made her uneasy about playing the game that Jem
later created?
Chapter 5
1. What was Miss Maudie’s favorite pleasure for which the “foot washing”
Baptists said she was going to hell?
2. What did Miss Maudie suggest was responsible for Boo Radley’s seclusion?
3. What scheme did Jem devise to get Boo Radley to come out?
4. Who came along and prevented the kids from succeeding with their plan?
Chapter 6
1. Who is Mr Avery? What do Jem and Scout think of him? What do Jem and
Scout observe Mr. Avery doing?
2. What happens one night when Dill, Jem, and Scout try to get a look at
Boo by sneaking up to a window on the Radley porch?
3.
4. How does Dill’s quick imagination provide a cover up for Jem?
5. What does Jem decide to do to remedy his problem? Is he successful? What
is his mood upon his return?
Chapter 7
1. What does Jem tell Scout about what he discovered when he returned for his
pants?
How would you describe this type of act?
2. What other objects do Jem find in the knothole of the tree that autumn?
List at least 6 items.
3. What do Jem and Scout plan to do about the objects they found?
4. The next day Jem and Scout discover what in the knothole of the tree?
What is Nathan Radley’s explanation of this?
5. When Jem asked Atticus for an explanation, what dies Atticus reply?
What does this imply about Nathan Radley?
6. Why was Jem crying?
Chapter 8
1. According to Mr. Avery, why has that winter been colder than any other
since 1885?
2. How does Jem construct the snowman, and in whose likeness?
How does Atticus deal with their behavior?
3. Why does Atticus wake Jem and Scout in the middle of the night?
4. Where does Atticus instruct Jem and Scout to go in order to stay out of
the way?
5. When Scout finds a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, where does it
seem to have come from?
6. What is Miss Maudie’s attitude about her tragic loss and what does this
illustrate about her character?
Chapter 9
1. Who is Atticus defending?
2. What did Scout and Cecil argue about?
3. What words did Uncle Jack not want to hear from Scout?
4. What did Jem and Scout get for Christmas?
5. Why did Scout split her knuckle to the bone on Francis’s front teeth?
6. Why did Uncle Jack jive Scout a spanking and then apologize for it?
7. Atticus is about to act as a defense attorney in an up and coming case.
Who is the plaintiff?
Chapter 10
1.Compare Scout’s description of Atticus with her view on other kids’ fathers.
2.Why is it a sin to kill a mockingbird?
3.Which neighbor speaks highly of Atticus’ legal talents?
4.Who informs Atticus about Mr. Harry Johnson’s mad dog, old Tim Johnson?
5.Who is the first to address Atticus by his old nickname? What is it?
6.Why doesn’t Atticus want Scout bragging about his marksmanship at school?
7.Explain why Scout and Jem have a renewed respect for their father.
Chapter 11
1. Why did Jem and Scout dislike passing by Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose’s
house?
2. How did Atticus advise Jem to behave toward Mrs. Dubose?
3. How does Scout feel about the way Atticus treats Mrs. Dubose?
4. What did Jem buy his sister?
5. What did Jem do to show his anger for Mrs. Dubose?
6. What did Jeremy have to do for one month?
7. What did Atticus bring the kids as a reward for completing their first
day’s reading session?
8. Mrs. Dubose was sick and could not really pay attention to Jem’s reading.
What was wrong with Mrs. Dubose?
9. Atticus would have insisted that Jem read to Mrs. Dubose because he wanted
his son to see an alternative view of what?
Chapter 12 study guide
1. Why is Jem acting less friendly toward Scout? Who does Scout turn to for
attention?
2. Why is Scout temporarily crushed?
3. While Atticus is out of town, where does Calpurnia take Jem and Scout?
4. Who is Lula? Who is Zeebo?
5. What is “ linin’ ” and why do they do it?
6. Why is Reverend Sykes collecting $10.00?
7. Of what crime is Tom Robinson accused?
Chapter 13
1. Why does Aunt Alexandra come to visit and stay with the Finches?
2. How is she received by the people of Maycomb?
Chapter 14
1.What is Aunt Alexandra’s attitude toward Calpurnia?
2.Who is hiding under Scout’s bed?
3.What is the author saying about Atticus as a father, through his dealings
with Dill?
4.Why did Dill run away from home? Why does he say that Boo Radley hasn’t
run away? How might these two characters be alike?
Chapter 15
1.Why did the crowd of men come to the Finch house? Why was Jem
frightened?
2.What events preceding this chapter have prepared us for Scout’s comments to
Mr. Cunningham?
3.Why do the men leave the jail?
4.Who was Mr. Underwood? What was he doing during the scene in front of the
jail?
5. Scout says that when the “full meaning” of the night’s events hit her, she
begins crying. What does she mean?
Chapter 16
1.Why did Mr. Underwood protect Atticus from the crowd in front of the jail?
2.What was the town’s attitude towards Tom Robinson’s trial?
3.Who was Dolpus Raymoind? What did he reveal to the children?
Chapter 17
1.Who are Mr. Gilmer, Judge Taylor, Rev. Sykes and Bob Ewell?
2.How do Atticus and Mr. Gilmer differ in their questioning? What does this
reveal about each of them?
3.Where did the Ewell’s live? What was their home like?
4.What impression do you get of Bob Ewell?
5.What “astounding “ revelation does Atticus make about Bob Ewell? What does
it mean?
Chapter 18
1.Describe Mayella Violet Ewell. What impression do you get of her?
2.Is Mayella telling the truth? How do you know?
3.Of what significance are Mayella’s red geraniums?
4.What atmosphere prevails over the courtroom?
Chapter 19
1. What kind of man is Tom Robinson?
2.Who is Mr. Link Deas?
3.How does Tom’s testimony differ from Mayella’s?
4.What Mr. Gilmer says, “You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?”
What does he mean? What implications are involved?
5.Why did Dill get sick?
6.“He’s the same in the courtroom as he is on the public streets,” means
what about Atticus?
7.What do you expect the outcome of the trial to be at this point?
Chapter 20
1.What does Mr. Raymond mean in his speech to Dill that when he gets older he
won’t cry or get sick?
2.What is Mr. Raymond’s “secret”?
3.In Atticus’s summation to the jury, what does he reveal of his own personal
philosophy of man? Is it consistent with his character? How?
Chapter 21
1. Why does Calpurnia come to the courtroom?
2. What feeling does Scout get in the courtroom waiting for the jury’s
verdict?
3. What is the verdict?
4.Why did all the Negroes stand when Atticus walked out?
Chapter 22
1.Why was Jem so upset?
2.“It seems that only children weep” means what?
3.What gesture moves Atticus to tears?
4.How is Dill cynical?
5.Compare Miss Stephanie to Miss Maudie with respect to their reactions to
the trial.
6.When Miss Maudie says, “…we’re making a step-it’s just a baby step, but
it’s a step.” What does she mean?
7. Why does Dill want to be a clown?
Chapter 23
1.How does Bob Ewell threaten Atticus? What is Atticus’s response?
2.Why does Evell want revenge?
3.Atticus refers to the “ugly facts of life.” What are they?
4.Why does Jem think juries should be done away with? What defense does
Atticus give for the legal system?
5.Who is one of the jurors?
6.What are Aunt Alexandra’s feelings about the Cunninghams?
7.How is Jem showing that he is maturing both socially and mentally?
Chapter 24
1.What is the general tone among the ladies at the tea party?
2.How does Scout feel about being with the ladies?
3.Who are really being hypocrites? What is the irony of the statements made
at the tea?
4.Why does Atticus come home early?
5.Why is Atticus so upset? ( p. 235)
6.How does Aunt Alexandra feel now?
7.What does Miss Maudie say about some of the people in the twon?
8.What evidence do you have of Scout’s maturing?
Chapter 25
1.What is happening to Jem?
2.How does Maycomb feel about Tom’s death?
3.Explain this quote: “[…] but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus
had no case.”
4.a) Mr. Underwood compares Tom Robinson’s death to what? Write down this
quote and identify which literary elements are being employed in the
comparison. b) How does Mr. Underwood’s editorial relate to the title of
the book? Explain.
5.Explain this game of ‘telephone’: Jem hears gossipy Miss Stephanie tell
snobby Aunt Alexandra that she has heard malicious Bob Ewell say…what? What
does it imply?
Chapter 26
1.How do things “settle down” after the Tom Robinson episode?
2.How do the other children now treat Scout and Jem?
3.What do the children in Scout’s class learn in current events?
4.What is bothering Jem now?
Chapter 27
1.Why is Bob Ewell fired from the WPA?
2.What two events involving Bob Evell frighten Scout?
3.Why is Bob Ewell so hateful to everyone connected with the Robinson case?
4.Who are Miss Tutti and Miss Frutti?
Chapter 28
1.What is Scout’s blunder at the Halloween pageant?
2.Why does Scout refer to the walk home from the pageant as “our longest
journey together?” What happens to Scout and Jem?
3.What is significant about Aunt Alexandra giving Scout her overalls to wear?
4.What happens to Bob Ewell?
Chapter 29
1.Who is responsible for saving Jem and Scout’s lives?
2.How does Scout’s description of Boo now differ fro the one at the beginning
of the book?
Chapter 30 & 31
1.Why does Atticus “fight” Heck Tate over who has killed the attacker? Who
actually did?
2.Why does the sheriff decide to tell everyone that the attacker has fallen
on his knife?
3.What does Scout think of Boo Radley?
4.What does Scout see differently from the Radley’s point of view of the town?
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