Notebook Check #1: Cast of Characters

Near each character’s name, write adjectives that describe this character, his or her personality, and his or her actions. Then, connect to characters with a line. On the line, describe their relationship. One connection has been done for you.

Jem Finch Atticus

Finch

Calpurnia

Dill Harris

Boo Radley

Mayella Ewell

Bob Ewell

Tom Robinsom

Miss Maudie

Scout

Brother/sister

Notebook Check : Plot Tracker Part II Plot Line #1

The Mystery of Boo Radley Plot Line #2

Jem Grows Up Plot Line #3

The Trial

Jem gets angry with Scout when she asks about Miss Gates and Hitler.

Bob Ewell spits on Atticus

Jem and Dill watch as Atticus tells Helen about Tom’s death.

Bob Ewell makes trouble for Judge Taylor and Helen.

Jem does not want Scout to kill a bug

Tom Robinson is killed

Jem shows Scout his chest hairs Atticus gives his summation

Scout walks Arthur home Jem learns Atticus put a Cunningham on the jury

Scout and Dill talk to Mr. Raymond

Atticus and Jem discuss justice and the jury system

Dill cries in the courtroom

Atticus and Mr. Tate argue over who killed Bob Ewell

Jem is disappointed in the people of Maycomb after the trial

Tom takes the stand

Scout sees Boo Radley for the first time

Jem cries as he leaves the courtroom

Atticus questions Mayella

Mr Tate finds Bob Ewell dead Jem flinches each time a jury member says Tom is guilty

Atticus humiliates Bob Ewell

Jem and Scout are attached Jem is happy that the jury is out for a long time

The children watch the trial

Cecil Jacobs scares Jem and Scout Atticus lets the children return to the trial to hear the verdict

Scout stops the lynch mob

Jem realizes that Boo stays in the house because he wants to

Jem and the children follow Atticus to the jail

Aunt Alexandra comes to stay

Jem tells Atticus that Dill is hiding in the house

Scout and Jem attend Calpurnia’s church

To Kill a Mockingbird Reading Guide Part 2

Chapter 12 Questions

1. What is the crime that’s been charged against Tom Robinson? He’s been accused of raping one of the Ewell daughters. A charge that a black man raped a white woman in this community is, of course, going to grab the public’s attention.

2. Why can’t Helen Robinson work and support her three children? She wants to work, but no one will hire her because of the charges against her husband. The white community doesn’t want to get involved with her family.

3. Briefly explain Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase church (Calpurnia's church). What do people think/feel about them? How do they feel about this experience?

This is a different experience for the kids. They see that racism goes both ways when they are accosted by Lula, who hates them because they are white.

4. Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household, and among her neighbors at church. How is language different in a workplace and in a social setting and/or around family?

She is well-educated but doesn’t want to seem like she is bragging to her people about it. Language in a workplace is much more formal and “proper” than in a social setting or around family where slang and colloquialisms are common.

Chapter 13 Questions

1. What’s the reason the children are given as to why Aunt Alexandra has come to stay with them? What do you think is the real reason? The children are told that they’re getting older and Aunt Alexandra will be able to help Scout become more of a lady. The real reason likely has to do with the upcoming trial. Atticus will be busy with the legal case and won’t be around as much to parent and protect his children. Aunt Alexandra will play more of the parent role this summer.

2. Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family. Why does Atticus tell them to forget it? Who is right, do you think?

Aunt Alexandra bases her opinions of family on one person in the family. For example, if one person drinks, the whole family is full of drunks. The only family this doesn’t apply to is her own. She believes that her family is perfect. Atticus sees how upset Scout is at trying to obtain this perfection, so he tells her to forget about it.

Chapter 14 Questions

1. Why is Jem considered a "traitor"? Why is he is also considered a maturing, more responsible young man?

Jem is considered a traitor because he told Atticus about Dill running away from home. This was against the code of secrecy Jem, Dill, and Scout had when they played together in the summer. He is considered mature and more responsible because he spends more time in his room than he did before.

Chapter 15 Questions

1. Describe Jem's behavior when he confronts Atticus at the jailhouse and also meets a mob of hostile men.

Jem is very quiet, but refuses to leave Atticus with the group of men.

2. Describe Scout's behavior in the setting mentioned above.

Scout is very talkative and tries to talk the most to Walter Cunningham.

Chapter 16 Questions

1. Where do Jem, Scout and Dill sit in the courthouse? Why is this significant?

They sit in the balcony. This is significant because even though white people were not allowed to sit in the balcony, they were welcomed because Atticus is their father and he is considered their ally.

2. What does Scout learn about mob mentality? Answers will vary, but she certainly learned that a mob is made up of individuals who can still be reasoned with. If you can convince one person, like Mr. Cunningham, to see things from a different perspective, you might be able to alter the intentions of the entire mob.

3. Why didn’t Atticus tell his children that he had to defend Tom Robinson, that he was appointed by the court and didn’t really have a choice about taking the case? It’s true that Atticus was assigned the case, but he also wants to be the one to defend Tom and he wants to do the best job he can. If he said that he was only representing Tom because he was required to do so, that would be an excuse. By omitting this part of the situation in his conversations with his children, he is showing them that he’s choosing to do the right thing in a difficult situation, and that’s the lesson he wants to teach. To do otherwise would lessen the effectiveness of the message.

Chapter 17 Questions

1. Describe Tom Robinson's alleged crime, as told by Bob Ewell and Heck Tate. Tom Robinson was accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Heck Tate explains what happens from when he arrived. Mayella was crying and very beat up, with bruises all over her body and a black eye on her right eye. Bob Ewell explains how he heard someone screaming from the house and ran in to see what had happened. He saw Mayella on the floor crying and screaming and Tom Robinson Take off. He chased Tom Robinson and then went to get Heck Tate. He agreed with everything that Heck Tate said.

2. What evidence does Atticus reveal about Bob Ewell that may find him guilty of Tom Robinson's alleged crime? Atticus reveals that Bob Ewell is left handed. This is significant because most of Mayella Ewell's injuries were on the right side of her face. This would suggest that the person who hurt her was left-handed.

3. Characterize Bob Ewell (describe his actions, language/speech, and other people's points of view).

Bob Ewell is a rude, good-for-nothing man who abuses his daughter and likes to drink. Mr Ewell was disrespectful to nearly everyone else present in the courtroom as he used obscenities and slang in his speech. He certainly lived up to his reputation of being "white trash" and even mocked his own lawyer, calling him "cap'n" and not talking his questions seriously. Mr Ewell and his family "lived as guests" in their own county. Maycomb is accustomed to turning a blind eye to the Ewells habits, for example, the Ewell children are exempted from school and Mr Ewell is allowed to hunt out of season. They are the scum of the white society and they live in a dirty, run-down cabin behind the town garbage dump.

4. Judge Taylor refuses to close the courtroom and says, “People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for, and they have the right to subject their children to it...” What does he mean?

We are all biased and view the world through our own unique lens. We seek out information that confirms our biases, even if that information isn’t the full truth of what was said or of the situation. If you go into a situation expecting to be disappointed, you’ll be disappointed, no matter what actually happens

Chapter 18 Questions

1. What does Atticus do that makes Mayella Ewell think that he’s making fun of her? What does this show us about Mayella’s life? He refers to her as “ma’am” and “Miss Mayella,” which are both terms of respect. No one has ever addressed her with such respectful terms, so she thinks he must be mocking her. This is sad. We should pity Mayella here because she’s been treated roughly and disrespected her entire life.

2. Comparison: How are Mayella and her father similar? Contrast: How are they different? Mayella and her father are similar in some ways, such as being hesitant when Atticus asked them questions. However when Mr Gilmer, the prosecutor asked them questions, they were able to answer his questions quickly with ease. Also, both Mayella and Bob Ewell seemed to

not like Atticus. They have a good reason to why they do not like Atticus, and that is because Atticus thinks that the Ewells are purposely trying to blame Tom Robinson on beating up Mayella and raping her. Mayella and her father are different too. Mayella would panic sometimes when Atticus asked her questions but Bob Ewell did not. He remained calm, even when he didn't know what he was doing.

3. What does Scout notice about Mayella as she leaves the witness stand and passes Atticus’ defense table? Scout has never seen anyone stare at another person with so much hatred as Mayella stares at Atticus.

Chapter 19 Questions 1. Which characters have courage to break society's code of ethics for this setting? Explain their courageous acts.

The most obvious person who shows their courage to break society’s code of ethics in this setting is Atticus. There are many times when this is exemplified by Atticus just defending Tom Robinson and doing his job. Tom is also being courageous by saying that Mayella kissed him and implying that Bob, Mayella and Mr. Tate were not being truthful. He does this even though he is hesitant because he knows that the majority of the town is against him and it could possibly be dangerous for him, his family and even Atticus. Near the end of the chapter, Dill expresses how the way Mr. Gilmer was treating Tom made him sick and it wasn’t fair. Mr. Dolphus Raymond agrees with Dill showing he may not be as cruel as he originally appeared to be.

OR

In this chapter, Atticus has obviously showed courage against this society's code of ethics, just by defending Tom Robinson, and giving him a fair trial, and not judging him because of the colour of his skin and also the fact that people will judge him for defending a black man. Another character that has shown great courage in this chapter is Tom Robinson himself, by telling everyone in the courtroom that Mayella was trying to kiss him. This is very brave due to the fact that most of the people in that courtroom are against him, and that they won't believe him, and definitely ly will not like the things that he is saying that Mayella did. And the last character that I thought broke society's code of ethics with his courage is Mr. Link Deas. He did this by standing up for Tom Robinson, even though he is black. He did this by raising up in the middle of the courtroom and announcing that Tom Robinson is a good man and he never causes any trouble.

2. Why was it a “mistake” for Tom to say that he felt sorry for Mayella? The white community finds it offensive that a black man would feel sorry for a white woman because it implies that Tom thinks of himself in a position of being better than her. It sounds uppity to the white people in the room, even though he doesn’t mean it that way. Chapter 20 1. At the beginning of the chapter, we find out that Mr. Raymond sips only Coca-Cola from a paper sack, deliberately pretending to be drunk. Why does he do this? He says it makes it easier for people to accept his unconventional lifestyle choices if they think he’s a drunkard. He says the drunkenness is a reason that people can point to as an explanation of things they do not understand.

2. Why does Mr. Raymond tell Scout and Dill about his life? He knows that Dill was made ill by the injustice he witnessed. He says that children see things as they really are, so he doesn’t mind if they know his secret.

3. How does Atticus's closing statement help his defendant, Tom Robinson? How does his closing statement hurt his defendant?

Atticus's extremely long and profound closing statement helped his defendant Tom Robinson by telling the gentlemen of the jury that "all men are created equal" and that Tom should be treated fairly because he's a human being just like everyone else. Atticus also proved to the jury that the Ewell's and Heck Tate didn't have enough evidence to convict Tom Robinson and that their testimonies didn't make sense when put together. In some ways Atticus closing statement hurts his defendant Tom Robinson, when Atticus starts saying Meyella threw herself at Tom. I think this hurts Tom because he knows the jury won't believe what Atticus is trying to prove.

4. How do you think the jury will react to Atticus's closing statement? Explain your reasoning.

The jury will have some compassion for Tom Robinson but for the sake of the rules in society they will charge him as guilty because a white man’s word over powers a black man’s word.

Chapter 21 1. Why is a long-deliberating jury a good sign? Clearly, there’s some dissention. At least some of the jurors think Tom is not guilty.

2 Why do the people in the balcony gallery stand when Atticus leaves the courtroom?

They stand to show respect. Yes, Atticus lost the case, but he fought valiantly. There’s honor in the fight and they recognize that he launched the best defense possible.

3.Who believes that Tom Robinson has a chance at being set free? Why do they believe this? After Tom Robinson was accused of raping Mayella Ewell and put to court, mainly the Finch children - Jem and Scout - truly believed that Tom had a chance to be set free. I think they felt this way because after listening and watching the testimonies of the community members apart of the case, it was strongly obvious of the truth. The clues all showed that Tom was in fact not guilty and it was Bob Ewell who hurt Mayella. The children also knew that their father Atticus was an excellent lawyer and throughout the case demonstrated outstanding skills for defending Tom Robinson. In the end Tom was announced guilty, even though everyone knew the truth. It was a matter of black versus white. Both children are still quite young and can't even understand how or why people think that black people aren't even human and the awful racism that took place. These reasons all explain why they believed this.

Chapter 22 1. Atticus lost the case, yet the black community has reacted with generosity, filling his kitchen

with food. Why did people drop off so much food?

This is their way of thanking Atticus for doing the best job he could in defending Tom. These folks don’t have much, but they’ll give what they have to show their appreciation to Atticus.

2. Explain how Atticus's character has influenced Jem. Identify evidence that supports Jem's reaction to the guilty verdict. The children deal with the outcome of the trial in different ways. Jem was extremely affected by the guilty verdict and was crying at the end of it. Worried, Jem constantly was asking Atticus questions about what was going to happen after. Dill was not very affected by the verdict and neither was Scout, although they both had certainly thought that they would have won the trial and knew that the verdict had been unfair.

3. At the end of the chapter, what do we discover happened to Atticus that morning? Bob Ewell found Atticus downtown, spit in his face, and threatened that “he’d get him if it took the rest of his life.” Atticus is now a target. Chapter 23 1. How does Atticus react to Bob Ewell’s threat against him? He uses dry humor to try to diffuse the situation. 2. In thinking about the injustices faced by Tom and other members of the African-American community, Atticus says, “Don’t fool youselves – it’s all adding up and one of these days we’re going to pay the bill for it. I hope it’s not in you children’s time.” What is his concern/prediction about the future? Atticus knows that a group of people can be mistreated/put down for only so long. He hints here about an uprising, which may turn ugly and violent. If we don’t treat the minority community well, a major problem will eventually explode, he suggests.

3. Why don't Maycomb citizens sit on juries in their town? Atticus says that the jurors are always from the country because there would be a conflict of interest among the people of the town. For instance, if the owner of the town grocery store was on the jury and sided with the defendant or the prosecution, then the town grocery store may lose business and customers if others did not like the way the grocer voted during a trial. This could be said with any business person in town.

4. Why does Scout want to befriend Walter Cunningham now (after learning more about the inner workings of the trial)? After the Robinson trial, we learn that it was a Cunningham on the jury who stood up for Tom. This would have been a courageous thing to do in Maycomb at this time period. However, Atticus explains that not only will the entire Cunningham clan nottake charity, but they are loyal:

...once you earned their respect they were for you tooth and nail. Atticus said he had a

feeling...that they left the jail that night with considerable respect for the Finches.

In light of this news, Scout thinks:

I remembered the...occasion when I rushed to young Walter Cunningham's defense. Now I

was glad I'd done it.

It was a Cunningham who had stood up against the rest of the jurors, fighting for Tom's acquittal. Jem and Scout are amazed, but Scout now sees the Cunninghams with respect—they may be poor, but they're "good folks." Scout dismisses thoughts of beating him up, and plans to be nicer to Walter in the future.

5. 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 and/or race? Are class/race-divisions good or bad for societies? Scout's Aunt Alexandra is very proud of her family heritage. Simon Finch was one of the earliest settlers in the area, and Alexandra is proud of several other past family members (though she tended to exaggerate about their credentials). She was fond of sayings like "What Is Best for the Family" and "Fine Folks," but she tended to dwell on the negative side of people in most of her conversations. In Alexandra's mind, the Finches ranked at the top of the social scale, and few other families could compare. She directs Atticus to explain to his children about the family's generations of "gentle breeding," and how "you are not from run-of-the-mill people." The Cunninghams, however, were run-of-the-mill people. As Alexandra explained,

"... they're good folks. But they're not our kind of folks."

The Cunninghams were poor, and they had

"a drinking streak in them a mile wide."

Scout was still curious about why her aunt specifically disliked the Cunninghams, and Alexandra finally--and angrily--came to the point.

"I'll tell you why," she said. "Because--he--is--trash, that's why you can't play with him. I'll not

have you around him, picking up his habits and learning Lord-knows-what."

They may not have been the same kind of trash as the Ewell family--"the disgrace of Maycomb"--but they were not fit to mix with Finches, at least in Alexandra's mind.

Chapter 24 1. How does Scout feel about the women (Aunt Alexandra, Miss Rachel, Mrs. Merriweather, Miss Stephanie, and Miss Maudie) and their discussions in this chapter? How do they treat Scout? Scout is required to be engaged in the discussion with the women, while being more "lady-like". The women tend to condescend to her and through their perspective, Scout is a source of entertainment. Scout knows they are patronizing her and it isn't something she particularly likes. Even so, the ladies treat Scout fairly. The sequence of events in this chapter proves that the women are influencing Scout to be more obedient and polite. "'Stop that shaking', Miss Maudie commanded, and I stopped." (Lee 317)

Scout feels on the spot when the discussion is directed at her, and she tries to control her temper. Otherwise, she wants nothing to do with the gathering of the women and strongly wishes to be elsewhere.

2. What can you learn from the women of Maycomb about proper and improper behavior? You can learn the supposed "Do's" and "Do Not's" of proper etiquette in Maycomb, and

proper topics of conversations for example, Tom Robinson's death was not a proper conversation topic for the gathering, so Aunt Alexandra and Miss Maudie composed themselves as not to raise suspicion.

3. Explain briefly how Tom was killed. What is Atticus’ explanation for Tom’s attempted escape? Do you agree with Atticus? Tom ran and tried to jump the prison fence in a failed escape attempt. He did this right in front of several guards and was shot 17 times. Atticus says he had tried to give Tom hope for a successful appeal of the conviction, but that Tom had lost all hope. The escape attempt almost feels like a suicide attempt, as Tom would’ve known he’d be shot for trying to climb the fence. Students’ answers to the last question will vary.

Chapter 25 1. How is the meaning of the title revealed in this chapter? The meaning of the title To Kill a Mockingbird is revealed when Tom Robinson is shot at the prison. The author used this metaphor to show it is a sin to kill an innocent person.

2. Explain how Scout’s treatment of the roly-poly bug mirrors the way the town of Maycomb treated Tom Robinson. Scout is tempted to squash the bug when she’s done toying with it, just as the townspeople flatten Tom with their injustice. Neither Tom nor the bug was causing any harm. Both were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

3. Why is the court of public opinion sometimes more influential than the court of law? Refer to the novel and an example in real life. The court of public is sometimes more influential than the court of law since there are more people in the public than in any court of law. Also, the public can believe anything they want and in the law all they can believe is what the law presents to them for each case.

4. What do you think Ewell meant when he said "it made one down and about two more to go"? What can you predict will happen next?

When Mr. Ewell said “it made one down and about two more to go” I think he meant now that Tom is dead there are only two more people standing in his way. I also think that one of the ‘targets’ is Atticus since Jem told Scout not to worry. Another clue as to Atticus being a ‘target’ happens when Mr. Ewell spat in Atticus’ face.

Chapter 26 1. Identify at least one example that Scout is growing up and maturing and one example that Jem is growing up and maturing. An example of Scout growing and maturing was when Jem and Scout passed the Radley house everyday, and Scout stopped being scared of him, even though she still wanted to see him. An example of Jem maturing was when he showed his chest hair, and he said he would try out for the football team. He also takes up the responsibility of keeping Scout on the right track.

2 Why does Scout’s question upset Jem?

He doesn’t want to think about the trial anymore because it just upsets him. He has tried to make sense of the events of the past summer, but hasn’t been able to reconcile

his feelings about the injustice. Atticus knows that Jem just needs time to process everything and sort it out. This will just take some time.

3. What is Harper Lee's purpose in writing this chapter? Think about the messages she wants to send her readers. Answers will vary

Chapter 27 1. Why do Atticus and Aunt Alexandra not intend to go to the Halloween pageant?

Both of them are too exhausted by the end of the day (Atticus was in Montgomery and Alexandra was setting up for the school’s Halloween party) to go to the school’s gym and watch Scout stand on stage in a ham costume.

2. Why do you believe the author, Harper Lee, included the Halloween story in her novel? Describe any significance you believe it has.

Most importantly, the Halloween adventures that take place in Chapter 28 serve as the climax to the novel. I'm sure Harper Lee must have considered Halloween an appropriate night for the evil act perpetrated by Bob Ewell, and the holiday is perfect for the actions performed by the ghoul-turned-hero--the "malevolent phantom," "Boo" Radley. Lee deliberately creates a "scary" setting for Jem and Scout, who must walk to and from the school pageant by themselves on a moonless night, and the addition of it being Halloween--an evening universally known for its evil connotations--is the perfect complement for the events that follow the children's return home. As for Lee's decision for Bob to seek revenge upon Atticus by harming his children, it is an event foreshadowed much earlier when Atticus wonders aloud

"What on earth could Ewell do to me, sister?" (Chapter 23)

and Aunt Alexandra answers "Something furtive." Lee creates a surprise ending by employing Boo as the hero, and it helps to tie together the two main plots of the story (the children's fascination about Boo, and the trial of Tom Robinson) when Boo and Tom's accuser meet on the dark trail from the school. Good finally triumphs over evil: Bob gets his just dessert, and Scout's fantasy comes true when she finally gets to meet Boo, who is transformed from the scary, unseen neighbor into the saviour of the children.

Chapter 28 1. Identify at least two signs that foreshadow trouble ahead. One sign that foreshadows trouble ahead is that Jem and Scout go, alone, to the pageant. They also do not have a flashlight when it becomes dark. Another sign is when Jem and Scout hear footsteps behind them when they are walking home.

2 Describe the significant event in this chapter that forever changes Jem and Scout.

The significant event in this story happens the night of Scout's pageant at her school. Atticus and Aunt Alexandra are too tired to take Scout so Jem goes with her. After the pageant, they begin walking home. They start hearing footsteps behind them, brushing it off as if it is Cecil, who had scared them earlier. They soon realize that it isn't him. Scout is having trouble walking in her ham costume. The person following them catches up to them. He tries to attack both of the kids and Scout isn't quite sure what is happening. It is Bob Ewell. She hears Jem struggling, them a snap and his scream. The next thing she knows is that she is being brought back to her house and Jem is being carried, limp. Scout believes that it was Jem who killed Bob Ewell, but it looks as if he had fallen on his own knife.

3. We don’t know yet who the stranger is that carried Jem home, but you might have a good idea. Take a guess. Yes, of course, it’s Arthur “Boo” Radley who came to the rescue.

Chapter 29

1. Who is the perpetrator (the person responsible for the crime)? How do you know who he is?

Bob Ewell was responsible for the attempted murder and assault of Jem and Scout. You know that it was most likely him because he stated that he wanted to get revenge on Atticus by any means necessary, even if that meant putting the lives of Atticus' children in danger. You also know that it was Bob because Heck Tate found him dead with a knife wound near where Jem and Scout were attacked, which implies that he was around and armed with a knife, and a knife made the marks on Scout's ham costume.

2. What does Atticus think was wrong with Mr. Ewell? What does Heck Tate think was wrong with Mr. Ewell? With whom do you agree and why? Atticus thinks Mr. Ewell must have been insane to want to attack children. Heck disagrees and thinks Mr. Ewell was just a low-down, trashy soul, not “worth the bullet it takes to shoot ‘em.” Students’ answers will vary on the last question.

Chapter 30 1. Why does Heck Tate insist that Bob Ewell's death was self-inflicted? In what way is this partly true?

Following the incident, Heck Tate welcomed Atticus to the hypothesis that Bob Ewell's death had been self-inflicted. Heck demonstrated how Bob Ewell had allegedly fallen on the kitchen knife in his left hand. His theory is partially true, backed up by the one fact that Jem hadn't killed Bob. However, Boo Radley had stepped in to assist the kids.

2 When Atticus first thinks that Jem was the one who killed Bob Ewell, what is Atticus ready to do? What does this show the reader about Atticus? He’s mentally figuring everything that will need to be done for Jem to turn himself in and be defended in court. This shows that Atticus respects the law above all else and wouldn’t allow Jem to be treated differently than any other man.

3. Did Heck Tate do the right thing? Explain your answer. Students’ answers will vary, and this question often leads to compelling class discussions

Chapter 31 1. After she takes Boo home, Scout understands many new things because she is able to see the street from his point of view. Explain some of the things she now understands about Boo’s perspective. She realizes that he has been a part of her childhood, watching the important events of the last few years unfold. He has a vantage point to view each and every drama in the neighborhood and to feel a kinship with his neighbors, even if he isn’t personally involved with them. He’s part of this community, too. 2. Reread the first line from chapter 1. How do the events in the final chapters connect to this line? Do you find this storytelling technique effective? Why or why not? We now understand the story behind Jem’s broken arm. Lee has brought the story full circle, answering all of the questions that may have lingered in our minds from the launch of the story. Students generally like this technique and find it effective, as it lends an air of mystery as the story unfolds. 3. At the end of the novel, Atticus reads to Scout as she drifts off to sleep. How does the topic of the story connect to one of this novel’s major themes? In the story, a boy is misjudged; he’s suspected of vandalism, yet he’s an innocent, good soul. Of course, this idea is echoed through so many characters and incidents in the novel. I like to have students brainstorm a list of characters who are different at their core than they first appear to Scout. Certainly, the list will include Boo, Tom, Mrs. Dubose, Miss Maudie, Mr. Avery, the Judge, and Atticus himself.

Literary Elements in To Kill a Mockingbird Directions: For each literary element, write the element’s definition and find the examples from the text.

Simile: a comparison of two or more things using like or as

Metaphor: a comparison of two of more things without using like or as

1. Find a simile on p. 53 that describes the shadow Scout sees as it moves across the porch.

“Crisp as toast”

2. On p. 142, find a simile that refers to how nervous Dill was when his Aunt Rachel showed up and heard

about how he had run away from home.

“he shivered like a rabbit”

3. Find the metaphor on p. 5 about men’s collars. What are they compared to?

Collars wilted—like flowers or plants in the heat

4. What metaphor refers to Arthur (Boo) Radley on page 11?

Boo as a ghost

5. On p. 137, find a metaphor that describes Scout’s angry reaction when Jem tells her not to antagonize

her aunt.

Scout: “My feathers rose again” comparing her actions to an angry bird’s defensive maneuver

Hyperbole: extreme exaggeration 1. On p. 72, find an example of hyperbole that refers to Scout’s stomach after she learns that Boo Radley

had put a wool blanket around her shoulders during Miss Maudie’s house fire.

Her stomach turned to water

2. On p. 103, find an example of hyperbole that describes how long it took for Atticus to get home. “Two

geological ages later”

3. On page 162 find an example of hyperbole that refers to how ridiculous the people of Maycomb were

when it came to race. One drop of negro blood makes you all black

4. Write two other examples of hyperbole below: answers will vary

Irony: the difference between appearance and reality

What are three types of irony and their brief definition?

1. Verbal irony: when someone says something but means something else.

2. Situational irony: when something happens that wasn’t expected to happen

3. Dramatic irony: when readers/audience knows more than the characters know

1. Find an example of irony on p. 17 in reference to the children’s understanding of the alphabet.

Everybody knew the alphabet was because most of them had failed it the year before.

2. On p. 41 find an example of irony in what Jem tells Scout about her behavior because she doesn’t want

to play “Boo Radley” anymore. He told her she was behaving like a girl—she is a girl

3. What is the irony of situation in the scene on p. 83? [Francis is telling scout all the things that are

wrong with Atticus—even calling him a n****-lover who raises his children with no manners.]

Francis tells Scout that Atticus is ruining the family when it’s actually he and Aunt Alexandra

who are behaving poorly. Atticus is acting with kindness.

Allusion: reference to any historical, literary, religious event within another work of literature or speech

1. Find an allusion to a famous person on page 156. Why would Mr. Underwood want to “live down” his

name? He was named after a confederate General BRAxton Bragg— a slow steady drinker

2. On page 160, find an allusion to a famous person in history.

William Jennings Bryan

Euphemism: a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt

1. Scout says, “What in the sam holy hill did you wait till tonight? (p.51) “Sam holy hill” is a euphemism

for something. Can you guess what it is?

“Holy hell”

2. Find a euphemism for getting a spanking on p. 74.

Atticus had promised he’d wear Scout out

3. Find a euphemism on page 146 that is a polite way of saying Tom Robinson could be put to death.

“the boy might go to the chair”

Colloquialism: a word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation.

1. Find a colloquialism on p. 21. “What does it mean?

“Starting off on the wrong foot” – it means not beginning in a good/expected way

2. Find the colloquialism on p. 44. It refers to why Jack Finch would yell a marriage proposal across the

street at Miss Maudie.

…get Miss Maudie’s goat

3. On page 65, what do you think this colloquialism stands for? “Yessum,” called Jem. It’s beautiful, ain’t

it, Miss Maudie?

“Yes, Ma’am”

4. Find a colloquialism on p. 73 that refers to Mr. Avery.

“right stove up” –injured in bed for a week

5. On p. 102, find a colloquialism that means it takes Jem a long time to lose his temper.

A slow fuse

6. On. Page 151, when the mob challenged him, Atticus said Heck Tate, the sheriff, was nearby. Atticus

was then told, “…Heck’s bunch is so deep in the woods they won’t get out till morning. Called ‘em off

on a snipe hunt…” What does this colloquialism mean?

A wild goose chase in the wilderness—searching for nothing and failing

Pun: a play on words

1. Find a pun on p. 109. It is also a literary allusion to a famous writer, Sir Walter Scott.

Sir Walter Scout—play on Scout’s name referring to Sir Walter Scott

2. Write three other examples of a pun: Answers will vary

Foreshadowing: a hint or clue to future events in the story

1. On p. 76, find an example of foreshadowing. It refers to the future outcome of the trial.

“ Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try

to win.”

Personification: giving human qualities to something inanimate

1. Find an example of personification on page 5. Maycomb is a tired old town

2. Find an example of personification that refers to the Radley house on p. 12. “the house died”

3. Find personification on p. 45 that refers to the Radley house. “Sad house”

4. On p. 154, find an example of personification that refers to a car starting. Engine coughed

Onomatopoeia: a word whose sound imitates or suggests its meaning.

1. On p. 137, find an example of onomatopoeia that refers to Aunt Alexandra’s knitting needles.

Punk, punk, punk

2. Write four other examples of onomatopoeia: answers will vary