Chapters 17-19
Name the four witnesses who testify at the trial.
Mr. Heck Tate Mr. Robert E. Ewell Mayella Violet Ewell Tom Robinson
What secret does Dolphus Raymond reveal to Scout and Dill outside the courthouse?
Dolphus Raymond reveals that he is not an alcoholic. He drinks soda.
Who sends a note to Atticus during the trial?
Aunt Alexandra
Which of the ladies at the missionary circle luncheon treat Scout with the most respect? How is that respect shown to Scout?
Miss Maudie shows Scout the most respect by being the first to speak to her, saying, "You're mighty dressed up, Miss Jean Louise ... Where are your britches today?"
What was the jury's verdict?
Tom Robinson is guilty.
What crucial detail is revealed about Tom Robinson in this chapter?
It is revealed that Tom Robinson has a crippled left arm from getting in caught in a cotton gin.
What is the one thing that Mayella did wrong, according to Atticus?
She broke society's unspoken laws... She tempted and kissed a Negro.
What does Jem expect the verdict of the trial to be? Does Atticus think the same?
Jem expects it to be a "not guilty" verdict. Atticus does not feel the same...he thinks it could go either way.
How does the town of Maycomb respond to news of Tom’s death? Who do they blame?
A few of the people, who really cared, were upset about the news. The rest of the town, however, could not have cared less. Now that the hype had died down about the trial, people just thought Tom was another black person to be killed and they thought he got what he deserved.
Who enters the courtroom at the very end of chapter 20, making his/her way up the middle isle straight towards Atticus?
Calpurnia
What does Atticus ask Bob Ewell to do while on the witness stand and why does he ask him to do it?
Atticus asks Bob Ewell to write his name down because the crime was shown to have been committed by a person who was left handed. Bob Ewell wrote his name with his left hand.
At the end of the trial, why does Reverend Sykes tell Scout to “stand up”?
Sykes tells Scout to stand up as well because her father is passing by; he is showing not only Atticus, but also Scout the respect they all have for her father, and the work he has done on their behalf.
How does Miss Maudie define progress in overcoming segregation and discrimination in Maycomb?
Progress is occurring but very slowly "in baby steps"
Why does Jem respond so angrily when Scout brings up the courthouse?
He believed that the jury would find Tom innocent because the evidence that Atticus provided proved that Tom did not rape Mayella.
What difference is most important to Mrs. Merriweather between Maycomb and “J. Grimes Everett’s land”?
The biggest difference between Maycomb and "J. Grimes Everett's land" is that Maycomb is not as poor.
Why does Dill break down crying when Mr. Gilmer questions Tom Robinson?
Mr. Gilmer asks racists questions to Tom and this upsets Dill because he sees how rude Mr Gilmer is towards Tom but not to the other witnesses.
What distinction does Atticus make in his speech about the written and unwritten laws of Maycomb?
The written laws are actual laws and the unwritten law are the moral codes and customs of Maycomb. It is not against the law for a black person and a white person to share feelings for each other.
What conclusion does Jem draw about Boo Radley staying inside? What does he imagine Boo is trying to avoid?
Jem concludes that Boo Radley chooses to stay inside to avoid social prejudice and racism.
Is there any connection between the Boo Radley subplot and the story of the Tom Robinson trial so far in the book?
The children treat Boo with as much prejudice as the town shows Tom Robinson.
Why does Mayella say that she is afraid of Atticus when she first takes the stand?
Mayella thinks Atticus is going to really go after her, and she is scared he will learn the truth.
What are the unwritten rules about race that Mr. Gilmer attempts to get Tom to break?
Gilmer wants Tom to admit that he felt sorry for a white girl. This is an unwritten rule. Black men were not supposed to feel anything about white women.
During Atticus’s closing speech to the jury, he states, “This case is as simple as black and white.” Explain the double meaning of this statement.
In one sense, he means that the case is "cut and dried": The facts and evidence seem obvious. But, as Atticus knows, the trial all boils down to a white woman charging a black man with rape, and even Atticus can't convince this jury to be colorblind in this case.
Why is the amount of time it takes the jury to reach a verdict important? What insight might this give us into the "ways" of Maycomb?
Society in Maycomb is beginning to "silently" change. The jury is actually considering the side of Tom Robinson, something that never would have been done before. It may not necessarily be a Black man's word against a White man's...especially in the future.
After hearing about Tom Robinson’s death, for what does Alexandra criticize the town?
How does Miss Maudie answer her frustration?
How does Miss Maudie understand her role in helping Maycomb change?
Alexandra critizes the town for Atticus being the only moral person to help Tom.
Miss. Maudie answers her frustation by saying, "Whether Maycomb knows it or not, we're paying the highest tribute we pay a man."
She understand her role in helping Maycomb change by supporting black people.
Explain the contrast Scout draws between the court where Tom was tried and “the secret courts of men's hearts”.
In the court their was evidence provided to prove Tom's innocence. In "the secret court of men's hearts" their is racist and prejudice thoughts.