Vocabulary
Empathy
The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. In the novel, Atticus teaches his children that you never really understand a person until you "climb into his skin and walk around in it."
Who is Scout's older brother?
Jem Finch
What is the name of the fictional town in Alabama where the story takes place?
Maycomb
True or False: The story is told from the perspective of an adult looking back at her childhood.
True (Scout is the narrator).
What does the "mask" physically cover or hide?
The speaker's true pain, sorrow, and identity.
Guile
Sly or cunning intelligence; deceitful behavior used to achieve a goal. In "We Wear the Mask," the "debt we pay to human guile" refers to the dishonesty or artifice required to survive in an oppressive society.
What is Atticus Finch's profession?
Lawyer
During which historical decade does the story take place, defined by economic hardship and the Great Depression?
1930s
In the novel, the "mockingbird" is a symbol for what concept?
Innocence (specifically those who do no harm and are destroyed by evil).
What is the main reason the speakers choose to "wear the mask"?
To survive and avoid further persecution from society.
Grins
Broad, often forced smiles. In the poem, these are part of the "mask" the speakers wear to hide their true pain from the world.
What is Boo Radley’s real full name?
Arthur Radley
In the town’s layout, where do the children find hidden gifts like gum, carved figures, and an old pocket watch?
The knothole of the oak tree on the Radley lot.
What primary social injustice does Atticus Finch stand against when he chooses to defend Tom Robinson?
Racial prejudice and systemic inequality in the legal system.
How does the phrase "torn and bleeding hearts" contrast with the "grins" mentioned earlier?
It shows the reality of the internal suffering versus the outward appearance of happiness.
Vile
Extremely unpleasant, morally bad, or wicked.
Who is the neighbor who loves gardening?
Miss Maudie
The rigid social hierarchy of Maycomb meant that people were often judged based on their family background. What is the name of the Finch family's ancestral home in the country?
Finch's Landing
Explain the concept of "losing innocence" as it relates to Jem and Scout’s experiences in Part 1.
It refers to their transition from viewing Maycomb as a safe, simple place to realizing the existence of deep-seated cruelty, prejudice, and social secrets.
Why does the poet describe the world as "tortured" and "guileful"?
To reflect the harsh, judgmental, and dishonest nature of the society forcing them to hide.
Myriad Subtleties
A countless number of small, delicate, or precise distinctions or nuances. In literature, this often refers to the hidden meanings or complex layers of character behavior that are not immediately obvious to the reader.
Why is Dill in Maycomb?
Visiting his Aunt Rachel
How does the "Radley House" physically symbolize the isolation of its inhabitants compared to the rest of the town?
It is described as dark, shuttered, and unkempt, physically representing how the Radleys have "withdrawn" from Maycomb society to escape judgment and prejudice.
In the context of To Kill a Mockingbird, how does the novel contrast the "upper" class (the established town families) and the "lower" class (the struggling rural families like the Cunninghams or the Ewells)?
The "upper" class (or established families like the Finches and the Radleys) are characterized by their formal education, adherence to strict social etiquette, and family legacies. They occupy a position of perceived superiority and hold the power to shape community standards.
How does the concept of "wearing a mask" from Dunbar's poem apply to the lives of both Boo Radley and Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Both men must craft a public persona—a "mask"—to survive in a society that is hostile toward them.