To Kill A Mockingbird

Study Questions

• How does Maycomb react to the news of Tom's death?
• Comment on the idea that Tom's death was “typical”?
• Explain the contrast Scout draws between the court where Tom was tried and “the secret courts of men's hearts”. In what way are hearts like courts?
• Why did Jem not want Scout to tell Atticus about Bob Ewell's comment? Was this a wise thing to ask her to do?

Outline of the Week

Monday - Chapters 24-25
Tuesday - Chapters 26-27
Wednesday - Chapters 28-29
Thursday - Chapters 30-31
Friday - REVIEW
Monday - FINAL
Tuesday - No Class
Wednesday - TURN IN BOOKS, GO OVER FINAL, Celebrate

After the Court Case

You need to read chapters 22-23 today and answer the following study questions:

Chapter 22

• Although Atticus did not want his children in court, he defends Jem's right to know what has happened. Explain, in your own words, Atticus's reasons for this. (Look at the speech beginning, “This is their home, sister”.
• Miss Maudie tells Jem that “things are never as bad as they seem”. What reasons does she give for this view?
• Why does Dill say that he will be a clown when he grows up? Do you think he would keep this ambition for long?
• This story is set in the 1930s but was published in 1960. Have attitudes to racism remained the same (in the USA and the UK) or have there been any changes (for the better or worse) since then, in your view?
• Why does Bob Ewell feel so angry with Atticus? Do you think his threat is a real one, and how might he try to “get” Atticus?

Chapter 23

• What do you think of Atticus's reaction to Bob Ewell's challenge? Should he have ignored Bob, retaliated or done something else?
• What is “circumstantial evidence”? What has it got to do with Tom's conviction?
• What does Atticus tell Scout about why the jury took so long to convict Tom?
• Why does Aunt Alexandra accept that the Cunninghams may be good but are not “our kind of folks”? Do you think that people should mix only with others of the same social class? Are class-divisions good or bad for societies?
• At the end of this chapter, Jem forms a new theory about why Boo Radley has never left his house in years. What is this? How likely is it to be true, in your opinion?