Characters & Relationships
Identify the narrator of the story and explain in one sentence how her perspective affects the reader's understanding of events.
Scout Finch; first-person child narrator whose voice combines innocence and retrospective insight.
Where and when (historical period) is the novel set? Give one sentence about how setting influences the story.
Maycomb, Alabama, 1930s (Great Depression); slow, traditional town shaping characters’ attitudes.
Define simile and give a novel-appropriate example that could describe Scout’s first day at school.
Simile = a comparison using like or as. Example: “Scout felt like a small boat tossed in a big sea of rules.”
State the primary theme of the novel in a single sentence.
Primary theme: moral conscience vs. social prejudice.
Identify the key physical piece of evidence Atticus highlights that undermines the prosecution’s case.
The crippled left arm of Tom Robinson undermines the prosecution’s claim that he physically assaulted Mayella.
Describe Tom Robinson and describe his relationship to the Finch family and why it matters to the plot.
Tom Robinson is a Black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell; the Finches’ defense of him tests community morals.
Summarize the main events that lead to Tom Robinson’s trial in two sentences.
Mayella’s accusation of Tom after a private encounter with him; Bob Ewell supports the accusation, leading to arrest and trial.
Define metaphor and write a metaphor that captures Maycomb’s slow pace.
Metaphor = direct comparison. Example: “Maycomb was a sleeping giant of habit.”
Explain how courage is shown through one character (not Atticus) and give a brief example.
Courage shown by Mrs. Dubose (fighting morphine addiction) with example of Jem reading to her.
Explain why Atticus emphasizes Tom Robinson’s left arm in court and what that demonstrates about the alleged crime.
Atticus shows Tom’s left arm is nonfunctional; demonstrates Tom could not have caused Mayella’s injuries.
Who is Boo Radley? Provide two actions from the novel that change Scout’s and Jem’s perception of him.
Boo Radley is a reclusive neighbor; examples: leaves gifts in knot-hole, later rescues the children.
Describe the incident at the jail the night before the trial and explain Scout’s role in how it ends.
A lynch mob gathers at the jail; Scout speaks to Mr. Cunningham, reminds him of personal ties, and he disperses the mob.
Define irony (literary) and explain one ironic moment from the novel.
Irony = outcome opposite of expectation. Example: It’s ironic that the supposedly moral town convicts an innocent man.
Discuss the idea of moral education (growing up ethically) in Jem or Scout with one supporting detail from the text.
Jem learns about injustice and loss of innocence after the trial; e.g., he cries over the guilty verdict.
Describe one witness from the trial (other than Atticus) and summarize how their testimony supports or contradicts Mayella’s version.
Mayella Ewell — her testimony is inconsistent and suggests loneliness and social pressure; Bob Ewell’s hostility also factors.
Explain Aunt Alexandra’s role in the Finch household and one way her views create conflict with Scout.
Aunt Alexandra enforces family reputation and “proper” behavior; she pressures Scout to be more ladylike.
Explain the sequence of events that lead to Bob Ewell’s death, including who is involved and how the town responds.
After the trial, Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout; Boo Radley intervenes and Bob dies; the town covers up details to protect Boo.
Define symbolism and identify an object from the book that functions symbolically; explain its symbolic meaning.
Symbolism example: The Radley tree’s knothole gifts symbolize communication and connection across differences.
Analyze how prejudice affects two different characters in different ways; provide one short example for each.
Prejudice harms Tom Robinson (racial injustice) and Boo Radley (social ostracism); Tom is convicted, Boo hidden.
Explain the role of social class and community reputation in how the jury evaluates evidence; give one textual-based reason.
Jurors’ social conditioning and fear of community judgment bias their interpretation of testimony and evidence.
Describe Bob Ewell’s relationships with his family and the community, and analyze how those relationships help motivate his actions late in the novel.
Bob Ewell is abusive, resentful, and marginalized; his grievance and desire to reclaim power lead to violent acts.
Provide a concise explanation of why Atticus is assigned to defend Tom and how that decision exposes broader social tensions in Maycomb.
Atticus is appointed because Tom cannot afford counsel; the assignment exposes racial injustice and community divisions.
Define personification and craft a sentence personifying the Radley house that fits the novel’s mood.
Personification example: “The Radley house sighed under its blanket of creeping ivy.”
Explain how the title To Kill a Mockingbird connects to two characters’ actions or fates.
Title connection: Mockingbird as innocence — Tom (destroyed by prejudice) and Boo (an innocent protector) — both reflect the theme.
Analyze Atticus’s closing argument strategy: identify one rhetorical move he uses and explain how it is intended to influence the jury.
Rhetorical move: appeals to jurors’ sense of justice and use of logical evidence to dismantle the prosecution’s assumptions.