to kill a mockingbird chapter questions - clarkstown...

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English 8

To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

Chapter 1 Questions

1. Who is the narrator of the novel? What type of narration is used?

2. What do you learn in this chapter about Maycomb, Atticus Finch and his family?

3. How does Scout describe the way she and her brother feel about their father?

4. What happened to Scout and Jem’s mother?

5. Who is Calpurnia? How does Scout describe her?

6. How do Scout and Jem meet Dill?

7. How does Scout describe Dill?

8. What is frightening to the children about the Radley house?

9. Who or what lives in the Radley house?

10. What are some of the rumors surrounding the Radley house and its inhabitants?

11. How did the townspeople feel about the Radley family? How did they view Mr. Radley

in particular? Provide quotes from the novel to support your answer.

Chapter 2 Questions

1. Why is Scout so looking forward to starting school?

2. Why does Jem not want anything to do with Scout at school?

3. How did Scout learn to read and write?

4. Describe Scout’s teacher, Miss Caroline Fisher. What is irrational (does not make

sense) about her teaching methods?

5. Describe the Cunningham clan.

6. When Scout asks her father if they are as poor as the Cunningham’s, how does he

respond?

7. Through Atticus’s explanation, what does the reader learn about the Great

Depression and how it affected different classes of people in different ways?

8. Why does Miss Caroline Fisher punish Scout?

Chapter 3 Questions

1. Describe Walter Cunningham.

2. What does Walter Cunningham’s behavior during lunch suggest about his home life?

3. What does Scout do to make Calpurnia furious? What lesson does Calpurnia teach her?

4. How does Atticus treat Walter Cunningham during lunch?

5. What important lesson does Atticus teach Scout about understanding people?

6. Atticus says that you never really understand a person “until you climb into his skin and

walk around in it.” What does this mean?

7. What compromise does Atticus make with Scout at the end of the chapter?

8. Who are the Ewells?

9. What do you learn in this chapter about the Ewells?

Chapter 4 Questions

1. What does Scout find in one of the trees at the edge of the Radley lot?

2. Several days later, Scout and Jem find something else in the tree. What do they find?

3. What do the kids decide to do with the items they found in the tree?

4. Aside from the Radley place, what other house do the kids avoid and why?

5. What game do the children make up in this chapter?

6. What might be the cause of the laughter from inside the house?

Chapter 5 Questions

1. Describe Miss Maudie Atkinson.

2. What does Scout think of Miss Maudie Atkinson?

3. What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo Radley?

4. How does the information Miss Maudie gives Scout about Boo Radley compare with

what she already believes about him?

5. What reasons does Atticus give for the children not to play the Boo Radley game? Do

you think he is right? Why?

Chapter 6 Questions

1. Describe what Jem, Scout, and Dill do in the Radley yard at the beginning of the

chapter?

2. What do the children see in the Radley yard that makes them run away?

3. What happens to Jem’s pants?

4. What excuse does Dill make up to explain the situation?

5. Why is it important to Jem to get his pants before morning, even though it is dangerous

for him to go back to retrieve them?

6. Jem has decided that what he, Scout, and Dill did was wrong. What might the reason be

for his change of heart?

Chapter 7 Questions

1. When Jem tells Scout about getting his trousers back, he tells her of something strange.

What is this?

2. In this chapter, Scout and Jem find several more items in the knot-hole of the tree.

What are the things that they find? Which item do they consider their “biggest prize”?

3. When the children plan to send a thank you note to the person who leaves the gifts,

they are prevented. What exactly is done to the tree?

4. Who could have been the person who prevented the children from placing the letter in

the tree knot and why might he do so?

5. How does Jem find out the explanation for filling the knot hole is false?

6. When Jem finally comes inside the house, Scout notices that he has been crying. Why

do you think he was crying?

Chapter 8 Questions

1. At the beginning of the chapter, Scout mentions that old Mrs. Radley died but her death

“caused hardly a ripple” in the neighborhood. Explain why.

2. What dramatic event causes Atticus to wake up the children at one o’clock in the

morning?

3. Why does Atticus make the children leave the house and stand in front of the Radley

house?

4. Why does Atticus save Miss Maudie’s oak rocking chair?

5. When Atticus asks Scout about the blanket around her shoulders, what does Jem

realize?

6. Why do Atticus and Jem decide not to return the blanket at this time?

7. Up to this point in the novel, Boo Radley has been perceived as a lunatic or a monster.

What evidence in the past two chapters indicates that he is not at all the threatening

figure that people have made him out to be?

Chapter 9 Questions

1. As the chapter begins, Scout is yelling at Cecil Jacobs, a boy at school. Why are they

fighting?

2. Who is Atticus defending?

3. What are the townspeople saying about the case?

4. What is Atticus’ response to the gossip?

5. When Scout asks Atticus if he is going to win the case, he tells her, “No, honey.” She

then asks him why he is taking on a case that cannot be won. What is his response?

6. Is it usual for white lawyers to do their best for black clients in Alabama at this time?

7. Scout and Jem have “mixed feelings” about Christmas. What are these feeling and why?

8. Uncle Jack Finch tells Scout that she is growing out of her pants. What does this mean

and why might he say it?

9. What does Francis say about Atticus?

10. How does the above comments illustrate that racism exists not only in the town, but

also within the Finch family as well?

11. What does Scout learn when she overhears the conversation between Atticus and Uncle

Jack?

Chapter 10

1. Scout compares Atticus to other fathers. What is different about Atticus?

2. How do Scout and Jem feel about their father being different?

3. In this chapter Atticus tells his children that “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Why is it a

sin?

4. What might a mockingbird symbolize?

5. How might the killing of a mockingbird be a metaphor for one of the novel’s major

theme?

6. What dramatic incident causes people to lock their doors and stay inside?

7. What does Atticus do that surprises the children and makes them feel proud?

8. What do the children learn about their father from Miss Maudie?

9. Jem and Scout have different views about telling people at school how well Atticus can

shoot. What are the two views?

10. What might the “mad dog” be a symbol of?

Chapter 11 Questions

1. Scout tells the reader about Mrs. Dubose. How do Scout and Jem feel about her?

2. How does Atticus advise Jem to react to Mrs. Dubose’s taunts?

3. What does Mrs. Dubose say about the children’s mother?

4. How does Jem react to Mrs. Dubose’s cruel taunts which shocks Scout?

5. What is Jem’s punishment for his shocking reaction?

6. How does Jem feel about this punishment?

7. What is odd about Mrs. Dubose’s behavior each afternoon when Scout and Jem visit

her?

8. When Scout tells Atticus what Mrs. Dubose has been calling him, what is his

response?

9. One evening Atticus is summoned to Mrs. Dubose’s house. What does he reveal to

Jem and Scout when he returns?

10. What was the one goal Mrs. Dubose had made for herself before she died?

11. How did Jem unknowingly help Mrs. Dubose reach her goal?

12. How does the above explain the significance of the alarm clock by Mrs. Dubose’s

bed?

13. Why, in Atticus’s view, was Mrs. Dubose “a great lady”?


1. Why is Dill not coming to Maycomb this summer?

2. How does Scout feel about his absence?

3. Why must Atticus leave for two weeks?

4. How is his absence related to the country’s economic trouble?

5. How does Calpurnia’s church differ from the church Jem and Scout usually attend?

6. When they arrive at the church, Scout and Jem experience first-hand what it feels like to

be the object of racial intolerance. Briefly describe the incident and how it is resolved.

7. What prompts Reverend Sykes to order the doors be closed and that no one be allowed

to leave for a period of time?

8. Why is Helen Robinson finding it difficult to get work?

9. Why is Tom Robinson arrested? Explain who accused him.

10. In this chapter, Scout and Jem seem to see Calpurnia in a new light (different than

before.) What do they learn about Calpurnia, and how does it change their views about

her?


1. Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay with Atticus and his family?

2. How does Scout feel about Aunt Alexandra’s arrival?

3. Describe Aunt Alexandra. What is she like?

4. Scout states that there is a “caste system” in Maycomb. How does she explain the

system?

5. When Atticus comes into Jem’s room before bedtime to speak with the children,

what information does he relay to them from Aunt Alexandra?

6. Does it seem like Atticus believes what he said to the children at Aunt Alexandra’s

urging?

7. What makes Scout cry while Atticus is talking to her and Jem?

8. How do the last few paragraphs indicate that Atticus was merely following Aunt

Alexandra’s orders and that he feels bad about doing so?


1. How is the trial affecting the children’s weekly visits to town?

2. What are people saying about the Finch’s?

3. What does Alexandra want Atticus to do to Calpurnia?

4. How does Atticus respond to Alexandra’s request?

5. What does Jem tell Scout she should do when dealing with Aunt Alexandra?

6. How does Scout react to Jem’s suggestion?

7. Scout thinks there may be a snake under her bed. What is actually under her bed?

8. What does Jem do that shocks Dill and Scout?

9. How does Jem explain his actions?

10. How do Jem’s actions establish his maturity?

11. What reasons does Dill give for running away from home?

12. What question does Scout ask Dill at the end of the chapter?

13. How does Dill respond to Scout’s question?


1. Why did Heck Tate and the other men come to see Atticus?

2. After the men leave, Jem reveals his fear to Atticus. What is Jem worried about?

3. According to Scout, Atticus does “something that interest” her and Jem. What is it?

4. What other surprising thing does Atticus do, and why does this suggest to Jem that

something is wrong?

5. What do Jem and Scout do after Atticus leaves the house? Why do they do it?

6. Where do the children find Atticus and what is he doing when they spot him?

7. What is the explanation as to why Atticus left the house with an extension cord and a

light bulb?

8. How does Jem react when Atticus tell him to go home?

9. Why have the men come to the jail?

10. Briefly summarize what happens when Scout pushes her way through the group of men.

How does she ultimately defuse (make less dangerous or tense) the situation?


1. What is the mood in the courthouse square on the first day of the trial?

2. What is disturbing about this atmosphere?

3. Who is Mr. Dolphus Raymond? Describe what sort of person he is.

4. According to Jem, what are “mixed” children, and why are they sad?

5. Compare and contrast the behavior of the white spectators to that of the black

spectators.

6. How are blacks and whites segregated inside the courthouse?

7. How does Reverend Sykes help the children see and hear the trial?

8. Why is Scout confused after overhearing remarks about her father’s defense of Tom

Robinson?

Chapter 17 Questions (The Trial)

1. What are the main points in Heck Tate’s evidence?

2. What does Atticus spend much of his time asking Mr. Tate?

3. How does Mr. Ewell act when he first takes the stand, and how does Judge Taylor react

to him?

4. What do we learn indirectly of the home life of the Ewell family?

5. What is Mr. Ewell’s version of what happened?

6. Why does Atticus ask Bob Ewell to write out his name?

7. What does the jury see when Ewell writes his name?

8. What does Jem think when Atticus establishes that Ewell is left handed?

Chapter 18 Questions – (The Trial)

1. What is Mayella’s version of what happened?

2. Which part of her testimony contradicts that of her father’s testimony?

3. Why does Mayella think that Atticus is “mocking” (making fun) of her?

4. Why does Atticus begin by asking Mayella a lot of questions about herself and her

family?

5. Describe the way Tom Robinson looks as he stands up. What is unusual about his

arm?

6. How does Mayella react to Atticus’s politeness?

7. Is Mayella used to people being polite to her?

8. Considering the evidence and testimony up to this point, do you think Tom Robinson

is guilty? Explain your answer.

Chapter 19 – (The Trial)

1. When Tom Robinson takes the oath, what is made clear about his left hand?

2. How might the state of his left hand help Atticus’s case?

3. What made Tom visit the Ewell’s house in the first place?

4. According to Tom Robinson’s testimony, what happened on the day of the

alleged crime?

5. Where were the other Ewell children on that day?

6. What does this suggest about Mayella’s motives concerning Tom Robinson?

7. What does Tom Robinson’s running away from the Ewell house suggest?

8. Did Tom Robinson have any other choices but to run away?

9. Describe Mayella’s relationship with her father.

10. How does Mr. Gilmer’s treatment of Tom Robinson contrast with Atticus’s

treatment of Mayella when she was on the stand?

11. What social mistake does Tom Robinson make in his testimony?

12. How do the majority of white people in the courtroom react to Tom Robinson’s

testimony?

13. Why does Dill begin to cry?

Chapter 20- (The Trial)

1. Why does Dolphus Raymond pretend to drink liquor?

2. How does Dolphus Raymond explain Dill’s crying?

3. What does Jem think the verdict will be? Why does he think that? Explain with details.

4. What, according to Atticus, is the thing that Mayella has done wrong?

5. During his closing argument, Atticus does something that astonishes Scout and Jem.

What does he do? Why?

6. At one point during his closing remarks, Atticus says to the jury, “This case is as simple

as black and white. What does he mean by this statement?

7. How can the above statement be interpreted on more than one level?

8. According to Atticus, what motivated Mayella Ewell to accuse Tom Robinson of raping

her?

9. How is Atticus’ closing statement in defense of Tom Robinson also an attack upon

racism?

10. Atticus says, “A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men

who make it up.” What does he mean by this statement?

Chapter 21- (The Trial)

1. Calpurnia comes into the courtroom to hand a note to Atticus. What does it say?

2. Why is Jem certain that Tom Robinson will be acquitted of the charges against him?

3. What is unusual about how long it takes the jury to reach a verdict?

4. Is the verdict in the trial predictable? Explain.

5. When the jury comes in, what does Scout notice about the jurors’ behavior?

6. The climax occurs when the jury gives its verdict. How does Jem react to the

verdict?

7. How does Atticus react to the jury’s verdict?

8. What do the black spectators do as Atticus leaves the courtroom?

9. What does this show about the attitude of the black spectators towards Atticus?

Chapter 22

1. What does Atticus mean when he says “it seems that only children weep” after Jem’s

reaction to the verdict?

2. On the morning after the trial, the kitchen table in the Finch household is “loaded with

enough food to bury the family.” Who brought the food, and why?

3. How does Atticus respond to all the food?

4. What does Miss Maudie mean when she says, “…we’re making a step-it’s just a baby

step, but it’s a step.” What evidence does she use to explain her optimism?

5. As the children watch the neighbors gossip with each other, Dill states what he will be

when he grows up. What does he say, and what are his reasons?


1. What explanation does Atticus give for Bob Ewell’s personal attack and threat?

2. What reason does Atticus give about why the jury took so long to convict Tom?

3. If Tom is found guilty on appeal, what will his punishment be?

4. What does Atticus reveal about one of the jurors?

5. How does Jem describe the social hierarchy in Maycomb?

6. At the end of this chapter, what conclusion does Jem draw about Boo Radley?


1. What is hypocritical about the missionary ladies of Maycomb’s concern about a tribe in

Africa?

2. What does Miss Maudie answer Mrs. Merriweather that silences her?

3. What does Calpurnia say to Miss Rachel’s cook about Tom’s despair?

4. What was the last thing Tom told Atticus?

5. When Atticus arrives home, what news does he bring about Tom Robinson? Summarize

what happened to Tom.

6. Why did Tom keep running even when the guards warned him to stop?

7. Alexandra asks Miss Maudie, “What else do they want from him, Maudie, what else?”

What does she mean by this?

8. How does Miss Maudie reply to Alexandra’s question?


1. How does Maycomb react to the news of Tom’s death?

2. To what does Mrs. Underwood’s editorial compare Tom’s death?

3. What is the significance of this comparison?

4. What was Scout confused about when she read the editorial?

5. What became clear to Scout upon reflecting on the editorial later?

6. What remark did Mr. Ewell make upon hearing of Tom’s death?

7. What is significance of the above remark?


1. Scout says that the Radley place had ceased to terrify her. Why?

2. How does Scout feel about the way she, Jem and Dill treated Boo Radley?

3. What are Scout’s thoughts about Boo Radley at this point?

4. In her lesson on Hitler, Miss Gates says that “we (American people) don’t believe in

persecuting anyone.” What seems odd about this claim?

5. Why is Scout surprised that her teacher hates Hitler?

6. How is Miss Gates similar in this regard to the ladies in the missionary circle?

7. Scout states, “How can you hate Hitler an then turn around an be ugly about folks right

at home.” Do you think this is a valid statement? Explain your view.


1. What three things does Bob Ewell do that alarm Aunt Alexandra?

2. Why, according to Atticus, does Bob Ewell bear a grudge?


1. How does Scout describe the night of the pageant? What mood is suggested by Scout’s

description of it?

2. How have Scout’s feelings about Boo Radley changed since the beginning of the novel?

3. Scout and Jem’s journey from school to the big oak tree is one of suspense and

foreboding. Describe what happens when Scout and Jem arrive at the tree?

4. What does Scout see when she looks down the road after the attack?

5. What is surprising about the way Aunt Alexandra speaks and tends to Scout after the

attack?

6. What are Jem’s injuries?

7. The chapter ends on a dramatic note. According to Sheriff Tate, what or who does he

find under the oak tree and what is the condition?


1. According to Heck Tate, why did Bob Ewell go after Scout and Jem instead of

Atticus?

2. How does Scout describe Boo Radley?

3. How does Scout react when she finally realizes Boo saved her and Jem?


1. Who does Atticus think caused Bob Ewell’s death?

2. Why does Atticus not want the death covered up?

3. Heck Tate tries to convince Atticus that Scout was wrong about who killed Bob Ewell.

What is Tate’s theory?

4. Who killed Bob Ewell?

5. Why does Tate decide to keep this information from the public?

6. To what does Scout compare Boo’s exposure? Explain her meaning.


1. In what ways is Boo Radley like a child in this chapter?

2. What lesson comes to Scout’s mind as she reminisces on the Radley porch?

3. What is Atticus’s final statement about people?

4. What theme does Atticus’s statement highlight?

to kill a mockingbird chapter questions - clarkstown...

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