Ms. Lenihan (with thanks to Ms.Hunko) ELA 20 To Kill a Mocking Bird: Student Study Guide **Record your answers in your own notes** PART ONE: CHAPTERS 1-11 Point of View: the person or voice that is narrating or relating the events of the story. Third Person Point of View (limited or omniscient): The narrator does not participate in the action of the story as one of the characters. We learn about the characters through this outside voice. y y Omniscient: A narrator who knows everything about all the characters; is all knowing. Limited: A narrator who is limited to the thoughts of one character. In considering point of view we must ask ourselves the following questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. Who tells the story? From what position or angle does the narrator tell the story? How close is the narrator to the action? How reliable is the narrator? First Person Point of View The narrator participates in the action of the story (uses I ). When reading stories in the first person, we need to realize that what the narrator is recounting might not be the objective truth. We should question the trustworthiness of the accounting. Point of view in To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird is told in first person narrative (Scout). The narrative voice fluctuates between the child s point of view (telling the events as they happen), and the adult voice looking back on the childhood many years later. The child s naïve voice dominates the central plot. Find two examples of Scout s naïve voice Find two examples of Scout s adult voice Explain why the author uses Scout s adult voice in the nove A quick word or two on plot... Plot is the sequence of events that combine to create the action of the story. To Kill a Mockingbird has two separate plot lines which are gradually knit together as the conclusion of the novel approaches. The main storyline follows the events of Tom Robinson s trial and Atticus defence. Harper Lee introduces the children s relationship with Boo Radley as a subplot in the novel. 1|P a ge Ms. Lenihan (with thanks to Ms. Hunko) ELA 20 *** It is extremely important that you keep these two plots in the back of your mind throughout the entirety of the novel. *** Where would a novel be without characters? Characters can be designated as deep or shallow, simple or complex, stationary or developing, or flat or round. In To Kill a Mockingbird we will be focusing on the flat character and the round character. The Flat Character: they embody a single idea, trait or quality and can usually be summarized in a single sentence. They never change, grow or develop. Once introduced to the reader, flat characters are easily remembered and recognized. The Round Character: everything flat characters are not. Round characters are individualized. They cannot be summed up in a single sentence. They do not stand still; they must change, grow and develop. They are complex. A round character is an individual; there is no one else exactly like him/her, no one else quite the same combination of traits. Round characters must go up or down. They must grow in wisdom and understanding, overcome their weaknesses and learn to control the flaws in their characters so that the central conflict or problem posed by the novel can be resolved. INSTRUCTIONS: From the first few chapters you have read, make some predictions about which characters you think will be flat and which characters you think will be round and record them in your notes. Literary Devices Define flashback. Identify on example of flashback in chapter 1. Define suspense. How does the author create suspense in the first few chapters? Define foreshadowing. Can you find an example of foreshadowing? SET FOR ACTION One of the most important literary elements in To Kill a Mockingbird is the setting. Lee draws readers into the novel with her powerful descriptions of Maycomb. Simply stated, setting is the time and place in a work of literature. On a more complex level, setting also includes all cultural aspects of a particular place during a specific time period. Study the following list to get an idea of just how many elements make up setting. TIME: historical era, specific years covered in the narrative, season, period in main characters life GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: areas of the world, climate, landscape, building or landmarks 2|P a ge Ms. Lenihan (with thanks to Ms. Hunko) ELA 20 ENVIRONMENT: personality, occupation and lifestyle of characters as dictated by environment; morals/religion; customs; family life; education INSTRUCTIONS: Do some detective work about the setting of To Kill A Mockingbird. In the following chart, various elements of setting are listed. Gather descriptions of these elements that describe Maycomb. One has been done for you. (This chart can be completed on this page) SETTING ELEMENT Time Era Season (at the beginning of book) Period of life (for main characters) Depression era, mid 1930 s DESCRIPTION Geography Area of world Climate Landscape, buildings, landmarks Environment Occupations Lifestyle Morals/religion Customs Family life Education One step further: Now that you have gathered facts about Maycomb, summarize the impression Harper Lee creates of the town. Check the words in the following list that you believe accurately portray Maycomb and its citizens. Then discuss your responses with a group. Be sure that you can give evidence for your conclusions. ___ sluggish ___intellectual ___poor ___dull ___neighbourly ___ gossipy ___worldly ___fair ___progressive ___quiet ___isolated ___conservative THEMES 3|P a ge Ms. Lenihan (with thanks to Ms. Hunko) ELA 20 Theme is the central idea or message in the novel, either directly stated or implied. It should not be confused with either moral or plot. There are SIX major themes throughout To Kill a Mockingbird: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Growth (both physical and psychological) Superstition Education Empathy Prejudice Mockingbird In your notes, make a theme page. List each theme and leave space to write down examples that you find throughout the novel. Vocabulary to Define: The following words are most likely unfamiliar and it is your task to define, in context (fitting the meaning the author wanted in the novel) through the course of the novel. Assuage Apothecary Chattel Detention Tyrannical Morbid Profane Compel Scrawl Entailment Vexation Mortification Speculation Amiable Truant Judiciously Auspicious Sluggish Unanimous Dreary Scowl Quell Pursuit Incomprehensible Inquisitive Quibble Ramshackle Malignant Hover Baffle Meditative Perpetrate Ingenuous Diversion Guileless Provocation Evasion Feeble Inconspicuous Simultaneous Jubilant Bedecked Inaudible Undulate Propensity Inconsistent Appalling Haughty Confront Prerogative Preface Penitentiary Resilient Affliction Succinct Budge Futility Aggregation Sideboard Prominent Subpoena Affluent Sullen Glean Gavel Ambidextrous Pantomime Involuntary Shrivelled Compassion Prosecute Swivel Exodus Subtlety Expunge 4|P a ge Ms. Lenihan (with thanks to Ms. Hunko) ELA 20 Chiffarobe Sneer Detachment Calibre Relent Remorse Quiver Obscure Furtive Sprawl Apprehension Vocation Dreary Spurious Florid Garment Symptom Perforate Spasm Stolidly **The chapters are split into groups, with comprehension questions for each chapter and application questions for the group of chapters** CHAPTER 1 to 3 QUESTIONS: Comprehension Questions: Chapter One: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Describe each member of the Finch family. In what year does the story take place? What are some of the children s superstitions concerning Boo Radley? What is the occupation of Jem and Scout s father? What is the name of the town where the story takes place? What is it like? Chapter Two: 1) 2) 3) 4) Why had Dill been staying in Maycomb? What great thing happens to Scout in this chapter? What is irony? Why is it ironic that Scout gets in trouble for reading and writing? Does the teacher, Miss Caroline Fisher, understand the children of this town and their problems? Describe the teacher and her situation? Chapter Three: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Who is Calpurnia? What is her place in the Finch household? Why was Scout beating up Walter Cunningham in the school yard? What is his situation ? What makes Scout decide she wants to quit school and run away? What is the Ewell family history? Atticus says that you never really understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it . What does this mean? Is it an easy thing for Scout to learn? Application Questions: 1) Explain Scout s quote: Being Southerners, it was a source of shame to some members of the family that we had no recorded ancestors on either side of the Battle of Hastings (Lee, p3). 2) Describe the impression you, as a reader, get of the school system in Maycomb. 5|P a ge Ms. Lenihan (with thanks to Ms. Hunko) ELA 20 3) Give examples of Scout s childlike behaviours, using quotations. 4) Why does Walter pour syrup on everything? Why does Atticus get angry with Scout for noticing? 5) Describe the Ewells. 6) Make a quick, brief character sketch of Atticus Finch, using quotations from the novel, ensuring you note the page numbers. CHAPTER 4 to 6 QUESTIONS: Comprehension Questions: Chapter Four: 1) What does Scout find in the tree in the Radley s front yard? 2) What do Scout and Jem find a couple of days later? Where do you think these gifts are coming from? 3) What are some of the summertime games that Dill, Jem and Scout play? Would Atticus approve of the game? Why? 4) What kind of relationship do Jem and Scout have with each other? Chapter Five: 1) Who is Miss Maudie Atkinson? Why is Scout more and more in her company? 2) What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo? How does this compare with what Scout already believes? 3) What is Jem and Dill s next plan for Boo Radley? Does it work? 4) What opinion does Miss Maudie have of Atticus Finch? Chapter Six: 1) What is the children s plan for Dill s last night in Maycomb? Describe the incident and its outcome. 2) How does Jem lose his pants and how does Dill explain the loss of his pants? 3) Why does Jem decide to return alone that night to retrieve his pants? 4) What is happening to Jem Application Questions: 1) What do the presents show us about Boo? What do the children s reactions tell us about the society they live in? 2) Describe how Boo must feel seeing the enactment of his past and the scissors every day on his porch. 3) Who was laughing at Scout and what does this tell us about what Boo is really like? CHAPTER 7 to 9 QUESTIONS: 6|P a ge Ms. Lenihan (with thanks to Ms. Hunko) ELA 20 Comprehension Questions: Chapter Seven: 1) How is Scout s learning of the need for empathy again displayed in the beginning of this chapter? 2) When Jem tells Scout about getting his trousers back, he tells her of something strange that happened to him. What is it? 3) What new gifts do the children find in the knothole? 4) What happens to the knothole? What is Nathan Radley s explanation? 5) Why does Jem cry at the end of the chapter? Chapter Eight: 1) 2) 3) 4) What unusual thing happens in Maycomb that year? Who did the snowman resemble? Why? What happens to Miss Maudie s house? How does she react to her tragedy? What mysterious event occurs during the fire? How is it explained? Why is it significant in revealing the true Boo Radley? Chapter Nine: 1) What is Atticus about to do which places his honour in question? 2) Why is Atticus defending the man? Does he expect to win the case? 3) How do the children feel about their relatives who come over for Christmas, especially Aunt Alexandra? 4) What occurs between Scout and her cousin? 5) How does Uncle Jack attempt to discipline Scout? Is he more or less successful than Atticus? Why? 6) How does Aunt Alexandra feel about the way Scout and Jem are being brought up? 7) How does Atticus tell Scout everything he wants her to know about the difficult time he sees ahead for them? Application Questions: 1) Why does Mr. Radley cement up the tree and what does this tell us about his character? 2) Institutionalized Prejudice: Define this term by researching it online (use of Wikipedia is suggested). How does Scout s reaction to the kindness of Boo a function of this? 3) Why is Atticus defending Tom? Should he take the case on? Why? **We will be reading Chapters Ten and Eleven aloud, as a class** 7|P a ge Ms. Lenihan (with thanks to Ms. Hunko) ELA 20 CHAPTER 10 and 11 QUESTIONS: Comprehension Questions: Chapter Ten: 1) 2) 3) 4) Why are Scout and Jem ashamed of their father? What does Atticus say about mockingbirds? What does this symbolize? What does Atticus do which makes him a hero in the sight of his children? Why had Atticus given up shooting? Chapter Eleven: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) What kind of woman is Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose? What makes Jem so angry that he beats down Mrs. Dubose s camellias? What is Jem s punishment for this act? How does Atticus explain to Scout why he has taken the Tom Robinson case? What does Atticus tell Jem about Mrs. Dubose after her death? What quality had Atticus wanted Jem to see in this woman? What does Jem learn from this experience? Application Questions: 1) What does the mad dog incident show about Atticus? 2) What does it mean to say it is a sin to kill the mockingbird? PART TWO: CHAPTERS 12-31 CHAPTER 12 to 14 QUESTIONS: Comprehension Questions: Chapter Twelve: 1) How old are the children at this point in the story? What are some of the changes Jem is going through? 2) Why doesn t Dill come to Maycomb this summer? 3) Where does Calpurnia take the children on Sunday? Comment on this visit. 4) What does Scout mean when she says that Calpurnia has command of two languages? 5) How does Calpurnia s community differ from the rest of Maycomb? Chapter Thirteen: 1) Why has Aunt Alexandra come to stay with the Finch family? 8|P a ge Ms. Lenihan (with thanks to Ms. Hunko) ELA 20 2) Alexandra thinks Scout is dull (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right? Chapter Fourteen: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) How has the town s behaviour towards the Finches changed? Why does Alexandra want Calpurnia sent away? What does Scout find in her bedroom when she is sent to bed? What does Scout mean when she says, Jem broke the remaining code of our childhood ? What are the real reasons why Dill ran away? Application Questions: 1) 2) 3) 4) Why will no one hire Tom s wife? Indicate, with a quote, how Scout has grown. How are girls treated differently than boys? Why? Support your answer with quotes. Is Aunt Alexandra racist? Support your answer. CHAPTER 15 to 17 QUESTIONS: Comprehension Questions: Chapter Fifteen: 1) What is Atticus worried about when he goes and sits in front of the jail? 2) What is the Ku Klux Klan? What do you think about Atticus s comment about it? 3) Describe the incident of the mob in front of the jail and children s part in it. How does Scout cause the crowd to disperse? 4) Do you think that Atticus would have been in real danger without the intervention of Scout? Chapter Sixteen: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) How does Atticus explain the mob s retreat? How does the empathy theme enter into this? What is peculiar about Mr. Dolphus Raymond? What happens to Scout and Jem as a result of the crowding in the courthouse? Comment on Judge Taylor's attitude to his job. Does he take the trial seriously or not? Why is Scout confused about her father s defense of Tom Robinson? Chapter Seventeen: 1) Who is Heck Tate and what position does he hold in Maycomb? 2) What kind of people are the Ewells? Describe them. Has your descriptions changed from the first three chapters? Why? 3) What is Mr. Ewell s testimony? 9|P a ge Ms. Lenihan (with thanks to Ms. Hunko) ELA 20 4) What was Atticus trying to show? Application Questions: 1) 2) 3) 4) Why did Mr. Cunningham retreat? What did Scout do and how does her presence change the situation? How does using the word them relate to racism? How do people react in the mob? Would they react differently individually? Why? CHAPTER 18 to 20 QUESTIONS: Comprehension Questions: Chapter Eighteen: 1) What impression does Atticus bring out from Mayella Ewell s testimony about their home and family life? 2) What is peculiar about Tom which would lead one to believe he could not have grabbed Mayella and beaten and raped her? 3) What is the atmosphere like in the courtroom when Tom stands up? Why? 4) Why does Mayella object to Atticus calling her ma am and Miss Mayella ? Chapter Nineteen: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) What does Scout realize about Mayella while listening to Tom speak? What was the true story of the rape ? What kind of man is Tom Robinson? What is the fatal mistake that Tom makes in his testimony and in his life? What is it that makes Dill feel sick? Why doesn t this bother Scout and Jem? Chapter Twenty: 1) 2) 3) 4) Whom do the children meet outside the courtroom after Dill feels sick? What is the truth the children learn about Dolphus Raymond? What comments does Dolphus have on the innocence of childhood? In his speech to the jury, Atticus says he feels pity for the chief witness. Who is the chief witness? 5) Who do you believe beat Mayella? Why? 6) Why does Atticus unbutton his vest, loosen his collar, take off his watch and chain, etc.? Why does this surprise Jem and Scout? Application Questions: 10 | P a g e Ms. Lenihan (with thanks to Ms. Hunko) ELA 20 1) Write a brief 50 word character sketch of Dolphus Raymond. Why does he act the way he does? 2) Explain how the case is evolving. Is the case as clear cut as it was in the beginning? Why? CHAPTER 21 to 23 QUESTIONS: Comprehension Questions: Chapter Twenty-One: 1) In regards to the atmosphere in the courtroom, Scout stays: A steaming summer night was no different from a winter morning (p210). What does she mean by this? 2) Why does Calpurnia come into the courtroom? What is the effect of her entry? 3) 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? 4) Why do all the Negroes stand up as Atticus leaves the courtroom? Chapter Twenty-Two: 1) What does Atticus mean when he says, This is their home... we ve made it that way for them, they might as well learn to cope with it. (p212)? 2) How does the Negro community show its appreciation for what Atticus tried to do? 3) What has happened to Jem that he says, It s like bein a caterpillar in a cocoon, that s what it is...like somethin asleep wrapped up in a warm place. I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, least that s what they seemed like. (p215)? 4) Why does Miss Maudie consider the case to be a step forward in spite of the verdict? Chapter Twenty-Three: 1) Again, as Atticus tries to explain Bob Ewell s behaviour to his children, the theme of empathy is brought up. Explain. 2) What man on the jury took longest to be convinced that Tom was guilty? What are your thoughts on this? 3) What does Atticus mean when he says, Don t fool yourselves it s all adding up and one of these days we re going to pay the bill for it. (p221) 4) What conclusions does Jem come to at the end of this chapter? Application Questions: 1) What is the significance of Scout and Jem sitting in the Gallery ? 2) What does Dill mean when he makes the statement that all he can do about folks is make them laugh? Do you agree? Why? What evidence do you have? 3) Is Boo a prisoner or a refugee? Explain. 11 | P a g e Ms. Lenihan (with thanks to Ms. Hunko) ELA 20 4) Describe the Cunninghams. CHAPTER 24 to 26 QUESTIONS: Comprehension Questions: Chapter Twenty-Four: 1) Why does Scout attend her aunt s meetings and teas? 2) What does Harper Lee do to make the ladies amusing and ridiculous to the reader? What is ironic about their conversation? 3) What news is received of Tom Robinson? 4) Why does Atticus need to borrow Calpurnia during Aunt Alexandra s meeting? 5) What does Miss Maudie mean when she says, They are paying the highest tribute to Atticus that they can pay a man by trusting him to do right. ? Chapter Twenty-Five: 1) How did the people of Maycomb react to the news of Tom s death? 2) Why is it that Mr. Underwood can say whatever he pleases in his newspaper? 3) What was reported to be the reaction of Bob Ewell to Tom s death? Chapter Twenty-Six: 1) What does Scout believe about Boo Radley? 2) What bothers Scout about Miss Gates thinking? 3) Why does Jem have trouble speaking about the trial? Application Questions: 1) Examine and explain the connotations of the word hypocrisy. Give the denotative meaning. 2) Why did Tom go mad in the prison? 3) Give examples of Scout growing up. CHAPTER 27 to 29 QUESTIONS: Comprehension Questions: Chapter Twenty-Seven: 1) What three things oreshadow the upcoming trouble for Maycomb? 2) Why is Bob Ewell still causing trouble for everybody connected with the case? 3) What is to be different about Halloween this year in Maycomb? 12 | P a g e Ms. Lenihan (with thanks to Ms. Hunko) ELA 20 4) What is peculiar about Scout s costume? 5) What does Scout mean when she says, Thus began our longest journey together. ? Chapter Twenty-Eight: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) What first fright do Scout and Jem receive when they are on their way to school? Describe the pageant. Why does Scout wear her ham costume home? What happens while Scout and Jem are walking back across the school yard? What does Scout notice about the man who had brought Jem home? What news does Heck Tate bring the family? Chapter Twenty-Nine: 1) What saved Scout from being stabbed? 2) Who is the man in the corner that saved the children and stabbed Bob Ewell? 3) Why is it logical that Boo Radley would have been the one to save the children? Do you think this is ironic? Application Questions: 1) Contrast the fictitious dangers of the Haunts and the real dangers of Bob Ewell. Which do the characters pay more attention to? Why? 2) Was the act of murder justified? Why? CHAPTER 30 and 31 QUESTIONS: Comprehension Questions: Chapter Thirty: 1) What fantasy of Scout s comes true in this chapter? 2) Who does Atticus think is responsible for Ewell s death? Who is really responsible? 3) Why do the two men, Heck Tate and Atticus, tacitly agree to say that the stabbing had been accidental ? Is this a difficult decision for Atticus to make? 4) How does Scout show that she understands why Atticus and Heck Tate agree on this version of what happened? Chapter Thirty-One: 1) What does Scout do on the Radley s porch after Boo goes in? 2) What does Scout mean when she says, I thought Jem and I would get grown but there wasn t much else left for us to learn, except possibly algebra. (p279)? 13 | P a g e Ms. Lenihan (with thanks to Ms. Hunko) ELA 20 Application Questions: 1) Is Atticus correct in changing his opinion about the courtroom? Why? 2) Consider this paraphrase of Heck Tate s statement: Bringing the truth out into the open would mean punishing someone who is essentially good. Does this mean the law is different for different people? Why? 3) Is justice different from the law? Is justice or the law the same as being correct? 4) How has Scout changed? Has Atticus changed? 5) Is Boo any more safe from people than he was at the beginning of the novel? ...A Few Final Questions... 1) 2) 3) 4) Did you learn anything from this book? Did the author change your mind about anything you believed before reading the story? Did you enjoy this book? Explain your reasoning. Pick your favourite quote from the novel and explain why you chose it. Does it have a certain resonance or power? Is it a description of words that flows particularly well? Why did you choose this quote? 14 | P a g e