What do you learn in Chapter 1 about Maycomb, Atticus Finch, and his family?
Maycomb is an old town in Alabama. Atticus is a lawyer and he is loving, understanding, and popular. His wife died. Even though the family is poor, they have it better than others.
What do you learn about Dill's character?
Dill is from Meridian, Mississippi, but he visits Maycomb every summer to stay with his aunt. He is a curious 7 year old boy whose real name is Charles Baker Harris.
What is Calpurnia's role in the house hold? How does she get along with the children?
Calpurnia is the Finch's cook and maid. She is black, but not a slave. She is a mother figure to the children.
What is learned in Chapter 1 about Boo Radley's history?
Boo Radley was young trouble. He was always blamed for all the bad things that would happen in the town. His father kept him inside. His real name was Arthur. He went to an asylum and his family was the town's gossip.
Why is Scout looking forward to starting school?
She is looking forward to being around other children and not being lonely.
Why does Jem not want anything to do with Scout at school? Is his behavior typical of an older child?
Jem does not want Scout to embarrass him. Yes, his behavior is typical of an older child.
What do you think of Miss Caroline Fisher as a teacher? Can you find qualities that would make her or not so good at her job?
I think she is not an open-minded teacher. Miss Caroline Fisher is not understanding and expects her students to only learn her way.
How does Scout get in trouble on the first day of school?
Scout can already read which annoys Miss Caroline. Scout felt obligated to explain to Miss Caroline all about the Cunninghams.
How does Scout describe the Cunninghams?
Scout describes the Cunninghams as a poor farming family that get by on what they have and do not take charity.
When does Scout realize that she loves to read? What does she compare it to?
Scout realizes she loves to read when Miss Caroline Fisher tells her that she cannot read at home anymore. She compares it to breathing.
What is Walter Cunningham like? What does his behavior during lunch suggest about his home life?
Walter Cunningham is quiet and honest. When he drenches his food in maple syrup this suggests that he does not get treats at home, much less maple syrup.
What do you think of the way that Atticus treats Walter?
Atticus treats Walter like an adult and with respect.
Does Scout learn anything from Walter's visit? What do you think it is?
Scout learned not to judge others and to stop and think before speaking.
Atticus says that you never really understand a person "until you climb into his skin and walk around in it". What does this mean? Is it an easy thing for scout to learn?
This means that you will only understand why someone did something if you see it form their point of view. This is not an easy thing for Scout to learn.
Describe the Ewell Family.
The Ewell family live like animals and they are a disgrace to Maycomb. The father is an alcoholic. The family relies on the government and they break laws, but the people ignore it.
Why do the children make Boo's story into a game?
The children were bored and wanted to have have fun.
What do the children do in the Boo Radley game? Do you think the game is an accurate version of what happens in the Radley's home?
The children reenact the legends of Boo. No, I do not think the game is an accurate version. I believe that Boo Radley is an average person and they based the game off the town's gossip.
What might be the cause of laughter from inside the house?
Scout had run into the house when inside the tire. This could have amused Boo Radley.
Discuss what is found in the knothole of the tree.
Scout finds gum and a lucky indian penny.
Describe Miss Maudie Atkinson. How typical is she of Maycomb's women? What do the children think of her?
Miss Maudie Atkinson is a gardener and baker. She loves the earth and hates being inside. Scout thinks of her as a friend.
What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo? How does this compare to what Scout already believes?
Miss Maudie tells Scout that Boo Radley was a good boy and that his parents were crazy. His real name is Arthur. This cannot compare to Scout's beliefs.
Scout claims that "Dill could tell the biggest ones" (lies) she ever heard. Why might Dill have told such lies
Dill wants to impress Jem and Scout. He seeks attention.
What reasons does Atticus give for the children not to play the Boo Radley game? Do you think he is right? Why?
Atticus thinks that they are making fun of Boo Radley. The game could get out of hand. Atticus is right because even thought hey don't think it, they are making fun of him.
Why does Scout disapprove of Jem's and Dill's plan of looking in at one of the Radley's windows?
Scout disapproves of this because Atticus said not to go to the house and she does not want to disobey Atticus. She is afraid
What actually happens when Scout, Jem, and Dill try to look into the Radley house?
They see a shadow and then hear gunshots. They run away, but Jem's pants get stuck on the fence and he loses them.
Can you find any evidence that Jem is beginning to understand more than Scout about Boo Radley? What do you think this is?
Jem is not as afraid as he was before. He is done listening to the town's rumors about Boo Radley. Jem can now walk more easily past it.
Does Jem still fear the gifts in the tree? Give reasons for your answer.
No, Jem does not fear the gifts in the tree because Jem is now more curious. Jem and Scout found soap carvings, a pocket watch, and a spelling bee medal. Jem decided to write a note and put it in the knothole.
Discuss Jem's reaction when he runs into Mr. Nathan plugging up the knothole of the tree.
He was upset to find Mr. Nathan plugging up the knothole. Jem had stayed outside until nightfall crying.
What happens on the night of the snowfall and who makes an appearance?
Miss Maudie Atkinson's house caught on fire and Boo Radley had put a blanket on Scout without her knowing.
How well does Atticus feel he should defend Tom Robinson? Is it usual for (white) lawyers to do their best for black clients in Alabama at this time?
Atticus feels that he should defend him as well as he can. It is very unusual for a (white) lawyer to defend a negro. If Atticus did not do his best, he would feel that he could not represent the town on a legislature, hold his head high, tell Jem and Scout what to do, and feel good about himself.
How did Francis' comments to Scout about her dad reflect how some of her family members feel about Atticus defending Tom Robinson?
Atticus's family members feel that he's a disgrace to the family and that he has tarnished the family name.
What does Scout teach Uncle Jack about children?
Scout teaches Uncle Jack that he should hear both sides of the story before inflicting a punishment.
Read the final sentence of Chapter 9. Explain in your own words what it means and why it might be important in the story. What does it refer to?
"But I never figured out how Atticus knew I was listening, and it was not until many years later that I realized he wanted me to hear every word he said."
Atticus does not want the children to get sucked into the town's gossip and racism. He knows that once the trial for Tom Robinson begins, the town will make him out to be a bad guy. Atticus fears that Scout and Jem will let it get to their heads.
Scout says that "Atticus was feeble". Do you think that this is her view as she tells the story or her view when she was younger? Does she still think this is after the events recorded in Chapter 10?
This quote comes from Scout's young point of view. She does not still think this because Atticus had shot a rabid dog which changed her opinion.
Why is it a sin to kill a mockingbird?
It is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they're innocent birds that only sing for humans and are not a nuisance.
Jem and Scout have different views about telling people at school how well Atticus can shoot. Explain the difference.
Scout wanted to tell people at school, but Jem had told her not to because if Atticus wanted them to he would have told them about it himself.
Why does Miss Maudie think Atticus quit hunting years ago? What does this tell you about Atticus?
Miss Maudie says that Atticus has a gift and he does not use it unless he has to because to him it's an unfair advantage over others.
What makes Atticus the bravest man Scout has ever known?
Every time Atticus passes Mrs. Dubose, he would compliment her and her flowers. Atticus was a gentleman to her in spite of her rudeness.
What causes Jem to snap with Mrs. Dubose one day? How does he react?
Mrs. Dubose called Atticus no better than the negroes. Jem took Scout's baton and ruined her flowers and then broke the baton.
Describe Jem's punishment.
Jem had to clean Mrs. Dubose's flowers and then read to her everyday for two hours for a month.
Atticus says that Mrs. Dubose is a model of real courage rather than "a man with a gun in his hand". What does he mean? Do you think he is right?
Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict. She wanted to die sober. She could have died not in pain, but she wanted to break herself of the morphine. Atticus is right because she was strong.
Chapters 10 and 11 are the last two chapters in the first part of the book. Explain why you think Harper Lee chooses to end the first part here.
Harper Lee wanted to show the progression of their maturity.
what was dills real name
charles baker
