To Kill A Mockingbird Packet - Frisco ISD

To Kill A Mockingbird Packet
Directions: You are to complete this packet as you read. You should bring this packet, along with your
TKAM book, on the first day of class.
We will discuss TKAM the 1 st and 6 th Six Weeks – so keep this packet handy to help refresh your mind on
the material.

Character Identification:
1. Identify the following characters. Provide a direct quote that describes them along
with the page number where the quote can be found.
a. Atticus Finch:
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b. Jean Louise (Scout) Finch:
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c. Jeremy (Jem) Finch:
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d. Calpurnia:
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e. Charles Baker (Dill) Harris:
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f. Stephanie Crawford:
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g. Arthur (Boo) Radley:
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h. Miss Caroline Fisher:
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i. Miss Maudie Atkinson:
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j. Aunt Alexandra:
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k. Mrs. Dubose:
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l. Bob Ewell:
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m. Burris Ewell:
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n. Mayella Ewell:
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o. Tom Robinson:
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p. Mr. Underwood:
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Chapters 1 – 3
1) What does it mean to "act responsibly?" Explain what a person needs to do in order to "act
responsibly" in the 1930's in Maycomb, Alabama.
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2) What are some essential family values and family history that have shaped the people in this
community?
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3) What behaviors are acceptable in the Maycomb community? What behaviors are not acceptable in
the community?
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4) Which characters inform Scout about proper behavior? How do these characters tell her to act?
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5) What is Walter Cunningham like? What does his behavior during lunch suggest about his home
life?
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6) Describe Miss Caroline's interactions with Burris Ewell. What does this suggest about Miss
Caroline? What does this suggest about the Ewells?
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7) What did Dill dare Jem to do?
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8) What was Scout's first "crime" at school?
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9) Why didn't the Ewells have to go to school?
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10) Atticus says that you never really understand a person "until you climb into his skin and walk
around in it." What does this mean? What does this lesson suggest about Atticus? Is it an easy
thing for Scout to learn?
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Chapters 4 - 7
11) What risky behavior do Scout and Jem engage in?
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12) Why do the children make Boo's story into a game?
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13) How does Atticus react to the game? What does his reaction tell us about his character?
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14) What did Scout and Jem find in the Radleys' tree?
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15) What does Miss Maudie think of the Radleys?
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16) Describe the relationship between Dill and Scout. Include how he treats her and how she reacts to
his treatment. How is this treatment typical and atypical (not typical) of this setting?
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17) What kind of risky activity do Scout, Jem and Dill engage in? Explain their cover-up (how they
avoid being caught).
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18) Who is blamed for trespassing on the Radley Place? What does this blame reveal about the setting
(time and place) of the novel?
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19) What ALL do the kids find in the tree?
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20) Why would there be no more surprises in the tree?
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21) Can you find any evidence that Jem is more mature and wise (intelligence and awareness that
comes with age/experience) than Scout? Provide at least one example that supports your answer.
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Chapters 8 - 9
22) Why is Jem's snowman creation so unacceptable to both Atticus and Miss Maudie?
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23) What does the fire at Miss Maudie's house reveal about the people living in Alabama in the 1930s?
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24) Why does Atticus feel he should defend Tom Robinson? Is it usual for (white) lawyers to do their
best for black clients in Alabama during this time period?
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25) Scout and Jem have "mixed feelings" about Christmas. What are these feelings and why do they
feel this way?
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26) Describe Aunt Alexandra and explain her negative feelings about Scout. How does Aunt Alexandra
perpetuate (promote and continue) stereotypes?
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27) Does Scout learn anything from overhearing Atticus's conversation with Uncle Jack? What might
this be?
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28) Explain at least two examples that reveal Atticus's parenting skills. Hint: What is Atticus trying to
teach his children, Jem and Scout?
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Chapters 10 - 11
29) Scout says that "Atticus was feeble" (weak). Do you think that this is her view as she tells the story
or her view when she was younger? Does she still think this after the events recorded in this
chapter? Why/Why not?
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30) In this chapter Atticus tells his children that "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” What reason does he
give for saying this?
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31) What does the shooting of Tim Johnson reveal about Heck Tate and Atticus? How does Atticus feel
about how well he can shoot?
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32) Jem and Scout have different views about telling people at school how well Atticus can shoot.
Explain this difference. Which view is closer to your own?
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33) How does Atticus advise Jem to react to Mrs. Dubose's taunts?
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34) What request does Mrs. Dubose make of Jem? What does Mrs. Dubose gain from this "punishment"
to Jem? What does Jem gain?
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35) What does Atticus teach Jem and Scout about understanding antagonizing and belittling language
and people like Mrs. Dubose?
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36) Chapters ten and eleven are the last two chapters in the first part of the book. Explain why Harper
Lee chooses to end the first part here.
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Chapters 12 - 14
37) 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?
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38) What new things do Scout and Jem learn at this church about how the black people live?
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39) 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?
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40) Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay with Atticus and his family? What is she like?
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41) How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Maycomb's social life?
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42) Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family. Why does Atticus tell them to
forget it? Who is right, do you think?
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43) Who does Scout find hiding under bed? Why is this person hiding in the Finch home?
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44) Why is Jem considered a "traitor"? Why is he is also considered a maturing, more responsible
young man?
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Chapters 15 - 17
45) Describe Jem's behavior when he confronts Atticus at the jailhouse and also meets a mob of hostile
men.
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46) Describe Scout's behavior in the setting mentioned above.
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47) Describe how the Maycomb people act at the courthouse square--when they arrive to view the
trial of Tom Robinson.
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48) Where do Jem, Scout and Dill sit in the courthouse? Why is this significant?
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49) Describe Tom Robinson's alleged crime, as told by Bob Ewell and Heck Tate.
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50) What evidence does Atticus reveal about Bob Ewell that may find him guilty of Tom Robinson's
alleged crime?
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51) Characterize Bob Ewell (describe his actions, language/speech, and other people's points of view).
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Chapters 18 - 21
52) Characterize Mayella on the witness stand. Remember, characterization includes personality
traits, actions, thoughts/feelings, language/speech, and other people's points of view. What are
your opinions of her? Explain.
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53) Comparison: How are Mayella and her father similar? Contrast: How are they different?
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54) What is Mayella’s account of what happened with Tom Robinson?
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55) What is Tom’s account of what happened?
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56) How does Mayella incriminate her father on the witness stand? Why does this help Tom
Robinson's case?
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57) How does Tom Robinson's testimony help his case? How does his testimony hurt his case?
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58) Which characters have courage to break society's code of ethics for this setting? Explain their
courageous acts.
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59) How does Atticus's closing statement help his defendant, Tom Robinson? How does his closing
statement hurt his defendant?
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60) Who believes that Tom Robinson has a chance at being set free? Why do they believe this?
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61) Why do Reverend Sykes and the rest of the African American spectators stand for Atticus, even
after his defendant Tom was found guilty?
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Chapters 22 - 25
62) How do the children (Jem, Scout, and Dill) deal with the outcome of the trial? What do their coping
mechanisms reveal about each of them?
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63) How do the adults (Atticus, Miss Rachel, Calpurnia, Aunt Alexandra, Miss Stephanie, Miss Maudie,
and Bob Ewell) deal with the outcome of the trial? What do their reactions and comments reveal
about each of their characters?
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64) How did Bob Ewell confront Atticus? How did Atticus react? What does Atticus's reaction reveal
about his character?
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65) 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?
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66) What can you learn from the women of Maycomb about proper and improper behavior?
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67) Why did Tom try to escape from prison?
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68) Explain briefly how Tom was killed.
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69) How is the meaning of the title revealed in this chapter?
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70) Why is Tom's death considered "typical" in Maycomb?
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71) How does Mr. Underwood feel about Tom's death? Why did the author choose to include Mr.
Underwood's opinions about Tom's death?
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Chapters 26 - 31
72) Why is it hypocritical of Miss Gates to teach a lesson on Hitler's persecution of the Jews?
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73) What is Harper Lee's purpose in writing this chapter? Think about the messages she wants to send
her readers.
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74) Identify three threats that Bob Ewell allegedly makes against some Maycomb townspeople.
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75) Why do you believe the author, Harper Lee, included the Halloween story in her novel? Describe
any significance you believe it has.
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76) Identify at least two signs that foreshadow trouble ahead.
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77) Describe the significant event in this chapter that forever changes Jem and Scout.
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78) Who is the stranger standing in the corner of Jem's room? Why might he be there?
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79) Why is Scout's ham costume significant to the story?
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80) Who is the perpetrator (the person responsible for the crime)? How do you know who he is?
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81) Why does Heck Tate insist that Bob Ewell's death was self-inflicted? In what way is this partly
true?
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Whole Book Questions:
82) How do Scout, Jem, and Dill characterize Boo Radley at the beginning of the book? In what way did
Boo's past history of violence foreshadow his method of protecting Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell?
Does this repetition of aggression make him more or less of a sympathetic character?
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83) The title of Lee's book is alluded to when Atticus gives his children air rifles and tells them that
they can shoot all the bluejays they want, but "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." At the end of the
novel, Scout likens the "sin" of naming Boo as Bob Ewell's killer to "shootin' a mockingbird." Do
you think that Boo is the only innocent, or mockingbird, in this novel?
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84) Scout ages two years—from six to eight—over the course of Lee's novel, which is narrated from
her perspective as an adult. Did you find the account her narrator provides believable? Were there
incidents or observations in the book that seemed unusually "knowing" for such a young child?
What event or episode in Scout's story do you feel truly captures her personality?
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85) To Kill a Mockingbird has been challenged repeatedly by the political left and right, who have
sought to remove it from libraries for its portrayal of conflict between children and adults;
ungrammatical speech; references to sex, the supernatural, and witchcraft; and unfavorable
presentation of blacks. Which elements of the book-if any-do you think touch on controversial
issues in our contemporary culture? Did you find any of those elements especially troubling,
persuasive, or insightful?
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86) Jem describes to Scout the four "folks" or classes of people in Maycomb County: "our kind of folks
don't like the Cunninghams, the Cunninghams don't like the Ewells, and the Ewells hate and
despise the colored folks." What do you think of the ways in which Lee explores race and class in
1930s Alabama? What significance, if any, do you think these characterizations have for people
living in other parts of the world?
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87) One of the chief criticisms of To Kill a Mockingbird is that the two central storylines—Scout, Jem,
and Dill's fascination with Boo Radley and the trial between Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson—
are not sufficiently connected in the novel. Do you think that Lee is successful in incorporating
these different stories? Were you surprised at the way in which these story lines were resolved?
Why or why not?
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88) By the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, the book's first sentence: "When he was thirteen, my brother
Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow," has been explained and resolved. What did you think
of the events that followed the Halloween pageant? Did you think that Bob Ewell was capable of
injuring Scout or Jem? How did you feel about Boo Radley's last-minute intervention?
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