Vocabulary
What is the best example of erratic behavior?
A. A runner finishes the same route every morning.
B. A student always arrives to class on time.
C. A dog suddenly runs in circles, then lies down, then starts barking for no clear reason.
D. A family eats dinner together every evening.
C. A dog suddenly runs in circles, then lies down, then starts barking for no clear reason.
TRUE or FALSE
Maycomb County is a fictional place based on Harper Lee's upbringing.
TRUE
Which character lies about his/her home life?
Dill
He lies and makes up stories about his father and where he comes from. Francis, Aunt Alexandra's grandson, tells Scout he doesn't have a home and gets passed around from relative to relative.
What happened to Miss Maudie's house? What was her reaction?
When Miss Maudie’s house burns down, she does not feel sorry for herself. Instead, she sees it as a chance to build a smaller home with more space for her garden. Her positive reaction shows her strength and resilience.
What obsession does Dill have?
He is obsessed with making Boo Radley come out. He wants to know more about the Radley place.
Which person would most likely be described as obstreperous?
A. A group of children shouting and refusing to listen to the teacher.
B. A baby sleeping peacefully.
C. A student reading quietly in the library.
D. A runner waiting patiently at the starting line.
A. A group of children shouting and refusing to listen to the teacher.
Why do many people in Maycomb pay for goods and services with food or other items instead of money?
A. Banks do not allow people to use cash.
B. Most families are poor because of the Great Depression.
C. The town has no stores.
D. It is against the law to use money.
B. Most families are poor because of the Great Depression.
Compare Walter Cunningham and Burris Ewell from Scout's first-grade class.
Walter Cunnigham is poor, has not shoes or lunch, but is polite. He won't take money from Miss Caroline because he knows he can't pay it back.
Burris Ewell lives in poverty and only comes to school on the first day. He is filthy and has bugs in his hair. He says mean and disrespectful things to Miss Caroline before he leaves.
Describe Scout's family tree. Who is in her immediate family? Who is in her extended family?
Scout's father-Atticus
Scout's brother-Jem
Scout's mom-died when she was 2
Uncle Jack-Scout's uncle, Atticus's brother, doctor; Scout likes him
Aunt Alexandra-Scout's aunt, Atticus's sister, lives on Finch Landing and is traditional
Uncle Jimmy-Aunt Alexandra's husband; didn't speak much (taciturn man)
Francis-Aunt Alexandra's grandson; teases Scout about Atticus defending a black man.
Why is Mrs. Dubose courageous?
Mrs. Dubose is courageous because she chose to fight her morphine addiction, even though she knew it would be painful and she was dying. Atticus uses her as an example to teach Jem that true courage means doing what is right or difficult even when success is uncertain.
Which sentence uses lineaments correctly?
A. Her lineaments made it easy to recognize her from across the room.
B. He packed his lineaments into a suitcase for the trip.
C. The lineaments on the table tasted delicious.
D. She watered the lineaments in the garden every morning.
A. Her lineaments made it easy to recognize her from across the room.
Which description best captures the atmosphere of Maycomb at the beginning of the novel?
A. Quiet, slow-moving, and traditional
B. Fast-paced and exciting
C. Busy and crowded with tourists
D. Dangerous because of frequent natural disasters
A. Quiet, slow-moving, and traditional
Which character teaches Scout how to treat her company?
Calpurnia
She pulls Scout to the kitchen when Scout questions Walter about pouring syrup on his pancakes.
Why does Scout rely on Miss Maudie more often?
As Jem begins to grow older, he starts to see himself as more mature and sometimes leaves Scout out of conversations or tells her she is "too young" to understand certain things. Because Jem is changing and becoming more distant, Scout turns to Miss Maudie as someone who still treats her like a thoughtful person.
Why does Atticus take the Tom Robinson case? How do most people in the county react?
Atticus believes in standing up for what is right even when it goes against the majority. He believes Tom deserves a fair trial even if he thinks they will not win due to the town's prejudice.
Through his actions, he teaches Jem and Scout that true courage means doing what is right, even when the outcome seems hopeless.
Scout often is taunted by others for her father defending a black man.
Which situation is an example of provocation?
A. A friend thanks you for your help.
B. A student intentionally insults another student to start an argument.
C. A teacher explains the homework.
D. A neighbor waves hello.
B. A student intentionally insults another student to start an argument.
How would the story be different if it were set in the present day in a larger city?
People would be less likely to know everyone's personal business, so gossip and reputation would have less influence on the characters.
Because people don't usually know all of their neighbors or spread rumors the way they do in Maycomb, Boo would probably not become a neighborhood legend.
Modern technology, such as cell phones, security cameras, and social media, could also affect how crimes are investigated and how information spreads.
Although prejudice still exists today, the laws and legal system have changed since the 1930s, giving Tom Robinson a better chance of receiving a fair trial.
Describe Aunt Alexandra's character
Aunt Alexandra is Scout's aunt and Atticus's sister. She is traditional and does not like that Scout wears pants and overalls instead of dresses.
How did the mad dog incident reveal a new side of Atticus to Jem and Scout?
In the mad dog scene, Atticus shoots a rabid dog that threatens Maycomb. Jem and Scout are surprised to discover that their quiet father is an excellent marksman, but Atticus never told them because he did not want to boast. The scene shows that Atticus is humble, responsible, and courageous.
Describe Scout's experiences and feelings about school.
Over the years, she finds school disappointing and unfulfilling. She often tries to convince Atticus not to make her go to school. She even starts cussing more in hopes Atticus thinks she learns it at school and will not make her go. She mentions Atticus did not go to school and he is doing well.
The principal explained that the sudden drop in test scores was an aberration, since the school had performed well for many years.
Based on the context, what does the word aberration most nearly mean?
A. A normal pattern that happens every year
B. An unusual event that is different from what is expected
C. A reward for excellent performance
D. A problem that cannot be solved
B. An unusual event that is different from what is expected
What was happening during the 1930's that inspired Harper Lee to write this novel?
1. The Great Depression
2. Racial Injustice and Segregation
3. The Scottsboro Boys Trial (1931)
This real-life court case was one of Harper Lee's biggest inspirations.
Give 2 examples of Atticus's parenting style.
1. Atticus teaches through conversations instead of punishment.Throughout the first eleven chapters, Atticus takes time to explain life's lessons rather than simply giving orders. After Scout's difficult first day of school, he teaches her to understand other people's perspectives by "climbing into their skin." When Scout wants to fight classmates for insulting him, Atticus encourages her to show self-control instead of using her fists. He wants his children to think critically and make wise choices.
2. Atticus leads by example and lives by the values he teaches. Atticus demonstrates honesty, courage, and humility through his own actions. He accepts Tom Robinson's case because it is the right thing to do, even though the town criticizes him. He never boasts about being the best marksman in Maycomb after shooting the rabid dog, showing humility. By living according to his principles, Atticus teaches Jem and Scout that actions speak louder than words.
3. Atticus uses mistakes as opportunities to build character. Rather than reacting with anger, Atticus helps his children learn from their mistakes. After Jem destroys Mrs. Dubose's flowers, Atticus requires him to read to her each day, teaching responsibility and eventually explaining what true courage looks like. Instead of simply punishing his children, Atticus helps them understand why good character and compassion matter.
What did Jem do to Mrs. Dubose and what was his punishment?
What Jem did:
His punishment:
What is the meaning of the title, To Kill a Mockingbird?
Mockingbirds do nothing wrong to people, so it would be a sin to kill a mockingbird.
A mockingbird is a symbol of people who are treated unfairly but are innocent.
In this book, we have 2 mockingbirds who are misunderstood and mistreated: Boo Radley and Tom Robinson