To Kill a Mockingbird Characters
What is Scout's real name?
Jean Louise Finch
In what town does To Kill a Mockingbird take place?
Maycomb, Alabama.
What do Scout, Jem, and Dill do in the summers?
They play games and try to get Boo Radley to come out.
What does Atticus mean when he says, “It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”?
Mockingbirds represent innocence and do no harm, so it’s wrong to hurt them.
Who is the man Atticus defends?
Tom Robinson
What is Atticus Finch's occupation?
Lawyer
During what historical period is the novel set?
During the Great Depression.
What unusual fact do we learn about the Radley family?
They rarely leave their house and are feared by the town.
Why does Atticus emphasize empathy in his parenting?
He wants Scout and Jem to understand that people’s actions often stem from their circumstances.
Who is narrator that is retelling the story?
Scout
What are the names of the Finch children
Jem and Scout
Why is it significant that Atticus is defending Tom Robinson?
Because he is a Black man, and racial prejudice is strong in the town.
What lesson does Atticus try to teach Scout after her rough first day at school?
To understand people by seeing things from their point of view.
How does the fire at Miss Maudie’s house serve as a turning point in the novel?
It shows the town’s ability to come together and reveals Boo Radley’s quiet kindness when he places a blanket around Scout.
What happened to Tom Robinson?
Tom was shot when he tried to escape from prison.
What is the name of the mysterious character that is never seen?
Arthur or Boo Radley
What does the Radley house symbolize in the first part of the novel?
Fear, mystery, and societal isolation.
Why does Uncle Jack get upset with Scout during Christmas, and how does Atticus intervene?
Scout uses bad language and fights with Francis. Uncle Jack disciplines her but later realizes he should have listened to her side of the story first, as Atticus advises.
How does Scout’s changing perception of Boo Radley reflect the novel’s theme of growing up?
At first, she sees Boo as a scary figure based on town gossip, but as she matures, she realizes he is kind and misunderstood, illustrating her growth in empathy and understanding.
What was Scout's part in the pageant?
She was to be a ham. Her ham costume would later save her life.
How does Miss Maudie serve as a positive role model for Scout?
She encourages Scout to be herself, teaches her about kindness and respect, and supports Atticus’s values.
How does Harper Lee use Maycomb’s setting to establish themes of racism and social class?
She portrays Maycomb as a slow-moving, judgmental town where racial and social divisions are deeply ingrained, setting the stage for conflicts in the novel.
Why does Jem return to the Radley yard to retrieve his pants, and what does he discover when he goes back?
Jem doesn’t want to disappoint Atticus by getting caught in a lie. When he returns, he finds the pants neatly folded and stitched up, suggesting that Boo Radley was watching over them.
How does Harper Lee use the children’s fear of Boo Radley to comment on prejudice?
The children’s misconceptions mirror the town’s racial prejudices—both are based on ignorance rather than truth.
Who saved Jem and Scout? Who killed Bob Ewell?
Arthur (Boo) Radley saved Jem and Scout and he killed Bob Ewell.