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To Kill A Mockingbird: Part Two

Study Questions
Chapter 12
1. Describe Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase church.
 One lady was racist, but most weren’t.
 Wouldn’t let anyone leave until they raised enough money.
 Sang without hymn books- party bc they didn’t have enough books but mostly bc they couldn’t read.
2. What new things does Scout learn here about how the black people live?
 Most don’t have formal education.
 Don’t speak properly.
 Church is the biggest social interaction.
3. What does Scout learn from Calpurnia's account of Zeebo's education?
 Calpurnia taught him.
 Calpurnia go books from the Finch’s bc she grew up on Finch’s landing.
4. Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household and among her neighbors at church.
 Out of place.
 Her friends would think she was showing off.
5. Find and define:
 Frivolous- extra, excessive, not needing, having no purpose
 Austere- serious, strict, stern

Chapter 13
6. Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay with Atticus and his family? What is she like?
 She’s come to be a feminine influence on Scout and to help the children “learn who they are”. She wants
them to act more properly.
 She’s very bossy and opinionated.
7. Read the first two things Alexandra says when she comes to the Finch house. Are these typical of her or not?
 VERY! Treating Calpurnia harshly to keep her ‘in her place’ and correcting Scout’s behavior.
8. Alexandra thinks Scout is “dull” (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right? Are all adults good at knowing
how clever young people are?
 Because she doesn’t do things that a typical girl would do, and she thinks Scout is boring.
 I don’t think so!
9. How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Maycomb's social life?
 Joins clubs, hosts women’s events, gossiping with everyone.
10. Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family. Why does Atticus tell them to forget it? Who is right,
do you think?
 She thinks that it’s all about who your family is- the longer you’ve been around and the more you have, the
better you are as a person.
 Atticus tells them to forget it because he knows that Alexandra is wrong, and he wants his children to see
people for who they are, not who their family is.
11. Find and define: myopic- nearsighted

Chapter 14
12. Comment on Atticus's explanation of rape. How suitable is this as an answer to Scout?
 Gives a “dictionary” definition.
 This answer is ok to Scout because she doesn’t really understand.
13. Why does Alexandra think Atticus should dismiss Calpurnia? How does Atticus respond to the suggestion?
 She doesn’t like that Calpurnia has so much influence and authority in the lives of the children.
 He refuses. Says that Calpurnia won’t leave until she wants to.
14. Why is Scout pleased when Jem fights her back? Why is she less pleased when he tells Atticus about Dill?
 Because it shows that she’s not the only hothead- that he’s not better than her.
 She feels that he’s betraying their childhood. Feels sick. Is angry with him afterward.
15. What do we learn from Dill's account of his running away?
 Parents don’t care for him, life isn’t as good as he claims. New dad is the pits.
 Still has a very vivid imagination.
Chapter 15

16. What is the “nightmare” that now descends upon the children?
 Events surrounding the trial begin.
17. What was (and is) the Ku Klux Klan? What do you think of Atticus's comment about it?
 A white supremacist hate group.
 Atticus says they never gained much traction in Maycomb because there wasn’t anything to hate. Possible
that the hatred is just less organized. Atticus says it’s gone and won’t ever come back.
18. How does Jem react when Atticus tells him to go home, and why?
 Refuses to leave. He’s still afraid of the “gang” of men.
19. What persuades the lynching-party to give up their attempt on Tom's life?
 Scout (and the other children) being there. Atticus being outside of the jail.
20. Explain how Scout affects events without realizing it at the time.
 Scout just keeps talking, thinking she’s supposed to talk to people she knows. She’s not aware of the danger
of the situation. (It’s dangerous because the men had come to kill Tom Robinson.) The fact that a child is
there makes the men stop what they’re doing.

Chapter 16

21. What “subtle change” does Scout notice in her father?

 That he’s standing his ground against Aunt Alexandra. He’s not acting irritated, but he’s not letting her get
away with her snide remarks.
22. What sort of person is Dolphus Raymond?
 Drunk, married to a black woman
23. How does Reverend Sykes help the children see and hear the trial? Is he right to do?
 He brings them into the “Colored Balcony” and lets them sit with the black people. (They had to sit separately
because this was still under Jim Crow laws/segregation.)
24. Comment on Judge Taylor's attitude to his job. Does he take the trial seriously or not?
 He acts casual, but he takes his job VERY seriously.

Chapter 17

25. What are the main points in Heck Tate's evidence? What does Atticus show in his cross-examination of Sheriff Tate?
 Heck Tate says that Bob Ewell called him to his home because his daughter had been raped by a black man.
When Heck arrived at the Ewells, he saw that she was badly beaten. When he questioned her, she claimed it
was Tom Robinson, so Heck went and picked up Tom from his home.
 Atticus questions Heck about the specific injuries that the victim had, and it turns out that the victim was
badly beaten on her right side.
26. What do we learn indirectly of the home life of the Ewell family in this chapter?
 The mother is dead, and Mr. Ewell isn’t a great father.
 Also learn that Mr. Ewell is racist- makes several remarks using the n-word in a hateful way.
27. What do you learn from Bob Ewell's evidence?
 That he had seen his daughter having intercourse with a black man.
 That he agrees with Heck Tate about the fact that his daughter was beat up.
28. yWhy does Atticus ask Bob Ewell to write out his name? What does the jury see when he does this?
 To show that he’s left handed. That he could have beat up his daughter.
 The jury is waiting and watching with great anticipation.

Chapter 18

29. Is Mayella like her father or different from him? In what ways?
 Different bc she attempts to tries to rise above the situation.
 Same bc she’s manipulative.
30. What might be the reason for Mayella's crying in the court?
 Afraid of what actually happened. Afraid of her dad.
 Intimidated by Atticus.
 To make herself seem innocent. To gain sympathy.
31. How does Mayella react to Atticus's politeness? Is she used to people being polite?
 Thinks he’s making fun of her and being rude.
 Not use to people being kind. Her dad speaks down to her like she’s a servant.
32. How well does Mr. Gilmer prove Tom's guilt in the eyes of the reader (you) and in the eyes of the jury? Can you
suggest why these might be different?
 To the reader- doesn’t use evidence, but just testimony.
 To the jury- he’s guilty bc he’s black, and she’s credible bc she’s white.
33. Find and define: pilgrimage- journey

Chapter 19

34. What made Tom visit the Ewell's house in the first place?
 Mayella called him over to help her with some chores.
35. Why does Scout think that Mayella Ewell was “the loneliest person in the world”?
 Because she doesn’t have anyone. She is stunned when Atticus is polite and again stunned when asked if she
has any friends.
36. In your own words explain Mayella's relationship with her father.
 He’s abusive, and she’s afraid of him.
37. How does Dill react to this part of the trial? Why is this, in your opinion?
 He gets really upset. He doesn’t like the way Gilmer is treating Tom Robinson.

Chapter 20

38. Scout says that “Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man”. Is she right?
 No- based on the rumors of the town. He’s considered evil because he is married to a black man.
39. In most states of the USA people who drink alcohol in public places are required to hide their bottle in a paper bag.
Why does Dolphus Raymond hide Coca-Cola in a bag?
 To make everyone think he’s drunk. If he’s a drunk, then that’s the reason he’s making all these “bad”
decisions.
40. What, according to Atticus, is the thing that Mayella has done wrong?
 Kissed a black man. She feels guilty.
41. Explain, in your own words, Atticus's views on people's being equal.
 People are not innately equal (some are smart, some are dumb, some are pretty, some are ugly, etc), but
they are equals in the courtroom.

Chapter 21

42. What does Jem expect the verdict to be? Does Atticus think the same?
 Jem thinks it will be not guilty, but Atticus thinks he’ll be found guilty. Jem is focused on the evidence, but
Atticus is focused on the people.
43. What is unusual about how long it takes the jury to reach a verdict? Is the verdict predictable or not?
 It takes them a few hours, which signifies that the jury wasn’t immediately unanimous. Shows that they
spent time trying to figure out what happened. At least SOME people thought he wasn’t guilty, so it required
conversation.
 A predictable verdict because Alabama in the 1930s would have chosen race over evidence every time.
44. As Scout waits for the verdict, she thinks of earlier events. What are these and how do they remind us of the novel's
central themes?
 Thinks about those quiet moments of waiting- waiting for winter, waiting for Atticus to shoot the dog- waiting
for the verdict now.
45. Find and define: acquit- give someone a “not guilty” verdict

Chapter 22

46. 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”.)
 He believes that they have the right to know what Maycomb is REALLY like- to see the racism alongside their
own sheltered views of Maycomb.
47. Miss Maudie tells Jem that “things are never as bad as they seem”. What reasons does she give for this view?
  Because there are always men like Atticus Finch who are going to the tough jobs in the world.
48. Why does Dill say that he will be a clown when he grows up? Do you think he would keep this ambition for long?
 To be able to laugh at the people of the world.
 Probably wouldn’t keep this ambition long bc he’s realize laughing at the problem doesn’t fix it.
49. This story is set in the 1930s but was published in 1960. Have attitudes to racism remained the (in the US or in the
South) or have there been any changes (for the better or worse) since then, in your view?
 THIS SHOULD BE YOUR OPINION!
 This is MY opinion: I think things have gotten better. I think that there is far more racial equality in the US
and the South, however, I think that racism still exists. I think it still shows up in more than just black/white.
50. 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?
 Bob’s mad because Atticus embarrassed him, and now everyone knows the truth despite the verdict.
 I don’t think his threat is to actually hurt him, but to make his life miserable.

Chapter 23

51. What do you think of Atticus's reaction to Bob Ewell's challenge? Should he have ignored Bob, retaliated or done
something else?
 THIS SHOULD BE YOUR OPINION!
 This is MY opinion: I think that Atticus did the right thing by ignoring the threat. Bob Ewell was “all talk”.
52. What is “circumstantial evidence”? What has it got to do with Tom's conviction?
 Circumstantial evidence is evidence that requires the jury to infer what it means. Such as a fingerprint- it
doesn’t prove the person committed the crime- just proves they touched something. The jury has to infer
that the person committed the crime.
 None of the evidence against Tom was “hard evidence”—it was all the based on circumstances.
53. What does Atticus tell Scout about why the jury took so long to convict Tom?
 There was someone (maybe a Cunningham!) who wanted to acquit Tom.
54. 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?
 They’re “below” them because they’re “yappy”—they’re tacky and not as good as the Finch. She blames the
“drinking streak” in the family.
 I think people should be able to “mix” with anyone they want- because “there’s only one kind of folks”.
55. 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?
 He didn’t WANT to leave because he didn’t want to deal with the people of Maycomb. (Because Jem has
decided that the people of Maycomb aren’t as great as he once thought.)
56. Find and define: wryly- twisted into an expression of disgust, disappointment, or annoyance.

Chapter 24

57. Do you think the missionary ladies are sincere in worrying about the “Mrunas” (a tribe in Africa)? Give reasons for
your answer.
 Party. They care, but only because they’re not like them. They don’t understand how anyone’s life could be
good if it isn’t like theirs.
58. Compare the reactions of Miss Maudie and the other ladies when Scout says she is wearing her “britches” under her
dress.
 The ladies laugh at her. Miss Maudie just holds her hand- a sign of “solidarity”.
59. What is your opinion of the Maycomb ladies, as depicted in this chapter?
 VERY two faced! They sit in Atticus’s house, eating his food, but then go on talking trash about him. They
complain about the fact that he’s “stirred up” the black community, but then go on and eat his food.
60. Explain briefly how Tom was killed. What is Atticus's explanation for Tom's attempted escape. Do you think agree
with Atticus?
 Tried to escape and was shot climbing the fence at the prison.
 Tom had given up hope.
61. How, in this chapter, do we see Aunt Alexandra in a new light? How does Miss Maudie support her?
 See her compassion for Atticus. See her anger at the town letting him the only one to do the right thing. See
her question (like Jem) the town’s support for Atticus.
  Maudie tells her that the townspeople give Atticus the highest honor they know: they trust him to take care
of the problems.

Chapter 25

62. How does Maycomb react to the news of Tom's death?

 His wife collapses in the dirt.
 Most people thought it was a “typical n” who tried to run away and got caught. They didn’t have much
compassion.
 Mr. Underwood wrote an editorial condemning the killing- claiming it was a sin to kill a crippled person.
63. Comment on the idea that Tom's death was “typical”?
 The townspeople call it typical because they want to blame his death on the fact that he was black. They
make his death his own fault, rather than taking any blame.
64. 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?
 Scout is claiming that before there was a trial, people in the town had already decided he was guilty in their
hearts.
 Our hearts judge and create verdicts of people based on evidence we’re presented. This is WHY we judge
people to decide if they’re “good” people.
65. Why did Jem not want Scout to tell Atticus about Bob Ewell's comment? Was this a wise thing to ask her to do?
 He didn’t want to worry Atticus.
 Atticus probably heard all of the same rumors, but he knew they should just be ignored.

Chapter 26

66. In her lesson on Hitler, Miss Gates says that “we (American people) don't believe in persecuting anyone”. What
seems odd to the reader about this claim?
 It seems odd because the entire Tom Robinson trial was about persecuting some because he’s black. The
‘status quo’ of Maycomb is persecution of black people.
67. Why is Scout puzzled by Miss Gates' disapproval of Hitler?
 Because she hates Hitler for his prejudice, but is prejudice herself.
68. Why does Scout's question upset Jem? Is there a simple answer, or any answer, to the question “How can you hate
Hitler an’ then turn around an’ be ugly about folks right at home?”
 Jem is upset because Scout brings up the courthouse, and he doesn’t want to talk about it.
 I (personally) think there is a simple answer- people quickly point out flaws in others, but are slow to
acknowledge their own.
69. Find and define: remorse- deep regret or guilt

Chapter 27

70. What three things does Bob Ewell do that alarm Aunt Alexandra?
 Accuses Atticus of getting him fired.
 Sneaks onto Judge Taylor’s property.
 Harasses Helen Robinson as she walks by, and harasses Link Deas when he tries to get him to stop.
71. Why, according to Atticus, does Bob Ewell bear a grudge? Which people does Ewell see as his enemies, and why?
 Bob was made to look foolish to the city.
 He views anyone connected to the trial as an enemy.
72. What was the purpose of the Halloween pageant? What practical joke had persuaded the grown-ups to have an
organized event?
 To keep the children out of trouble.
 Last year the kids moved all the furniture in Tutti/Fruiti’s house to the basement.
73. Find and define: notoriety- the state of being famous for a bad quality or deed

Chapter 28

74. Comment on the way this chapter reminds the reader of earlier events in the novel.
 The hot steams and the Radley house- they used to scare Scout and Jem, but now they can joke about them.
75. Why does Jem say that Boo Radley must not be at home? What is ironic about this? (Is it true? Does he really mean
it? Why might it be important for him and Scout that Boo should not be at home?)
 Bc the house is dark. It’s ironic bc he’s always home. They probably say this so they won’t be scared.
76. Scout decides to keep her costume on while walking home. How does this affect her understanding of what happens
on the way?
 She’s sory of trapped inside and can’t see, so a lot of what she knows is based on what she hears and not
what she sees.
77. Why had Atticus not brought a chair for the man in the corner? Who might this stranger be?
 Because Atticus is more concerned with Jem and Scout being hurt, and probably hasn’t even noticed the
stranger.
78. Find and define:
 Alleged- something said without proof, accused
 Untrammeled- not restricted or hampered
 Gait- a person’s manner of walking

Chapter 29

79. What causes the “shiny clean line” on the otherwise “dull wire” of Scout's costume?
 A puncture wound from the knife stabbing into the chicken wire.
80. What explanation does Atticus give for Bob Ewell's attack?
 That he’s a crazy man.
81. What does Heck Tate give as the reason for the attack?
 That he’s a mean drunk.
82. Do you think the sheriff's explanation or Atticus's is the more likely to be true?
 OPINION- I think Heck Tate’s reason is more likely…

Chapter 30

83. Who does Atticus think caused Bob Ewell's death?

84. Why does Heck Tate insist that Bob Ewell's death was self-inflicted? In what way is this partly true?
85. Is Heck Tate right to spare Boo then publicity of an inquest? Give reasons for your answer.
86. How does the writer handle the appearance, at the end of the story, of Boo Radley?
87. Find and define:
 Connived-
 Eluded-

Chapter 31

88. How do the events of the final chapters explain the first sentence in the whole novel?
89. How does the writer summarizes earlier events to show their significance?
90. How does Scout make sense of an earlier remark of Atticus's as she stands on the Radley porch?
91. How much of a surprise is it to find what Boo Radley is really like? Has the story before this point prepared the reader
for this discovery?
92. At the end of the novel, Atticus reads to Scout. Comment on his choice of story. Does it have any connection with
themes earlier in the novel and in its ending?