To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapters 13-31

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1 To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapters Chapter Thirteen 1. You have probably heard the South described as decadent. What symptoms of decadence are revealed in this chapter? a. Depending on your point of view, the town could be decaying based on economics or morality. b. Aunt Alexandra sees Maycomb declining in its values of tradition, Scout sees it as holding onto the past while the town deteriorates economically; its history as a political town is long passed and too far inland adequate 2. Alexandra comes to Maycomb for awhile. What motivates her visit? What kind of effect does she have on Scout s family? a....meant anything from three days to thirty years. b. Aunt had a way of declaring What Is Best For The Family c. she was never bored, and given the slightest chance she would exercise her royal prerogative d. This was not my father. My father never thought these thoughts...aunt Alexandra put him up to this, somehow. 3. How is Atticus torn about her sister's presence? a. He is torn because he does want to accommodate her, and, he knows that in her mind he does want what is best for the family. However, he knows that her presence will disrupt the family. 4. Describe and justify your attitude towards Aunt Alexandra. Chapter Fourteen 5. Atticus understands that a child s innocence protects her, but he overestimates a child s ability to understand adult problems. Discuss this statement with particular reference to Chapter Fourteen. a. Three bosses of the house rule b. Who was the her they were talking about? My heart sank: me. I felt the starched walls of pink cotton penitentiary closing in on me c. I breathed again. It wasn't me, it was only Cal d. Unreliable narrator : both were the issue. 6. Scout struggles with a definition of fine folks. How does her understanding of their term differ from Alexandra s? What do these differences reveal about Scout's values in contrast to her aunt s? a. Well intended people versus simple people i. Atticus vs the Ewells 7. How has Jem changed by the end of this chapter? a. He has aged in the sense that he understands in intricacies of adult interaction. Knows when people aren't being fair. b. Jem was standing there like the traitor he was. - Dill s flight

2 Chapter Fifteen c. Aunt Alexandra was present but silent, and when she went down the hall with Atticus, we heard her say,...just one of the things I've been telling you about, a phrase that united us again. 8. Why had Mr. Tate and the other men come to see Atticus at his house? What were their feelings toward him? a. They were talking about the temporary detainment of tom Robinson b. Worried about a lynch mob - Leary of Atticus cares more for individual rights vs civil disturbances of the majority 9....don t see why you touched it in the first place, Mr. Link Deas was saying. You ve got everything to lose from this Atticus. I mean everything. Do you really think so? (p ). Why did Mr. Dea s remark provoke Atticus s dangerous question? a. It was Dea s subtle attempt to dissuade Atticus from doing his best to defend Robinson. Could be a threat - but, Atticus is calling his bluff; Atticus knows that the town has more to lose than he does (culture, values). b. He might lose some respect, but gain respect of others. c. Atticus will go down in flames if necessary; a fight for civil rights can make a dent that carries the movement of equality forward. 10. Do you believe that Scout would act as she did, running to Atticus in the midst of the lynching gang? a. Unreliable narrator - does she care that much, or is she enough of a rebellious and zealous child to have done what she said? i. Factors: 1. Naive 2. Details 11. What emotions led Mr. Cunningham and his lynching party to give up and go away? a. Embarrassment, guilt b. Then he did a peculiar thing. He squatted down and took me by both shoulders. I'll tell him you said hey, little lady, c. Cunningham knew he would need to hurt Atticus; he wouldn't want to leave any child without a father. d. He realizes that he has more in common with Atticus even if they're on opposite sides of political beliefs. Chapter Sixteen 12. The court appointed Atticus to defend him. Atticus aimed to defend him. That s what they didn t like about it. It was confusing. (p ) Clarify the situation in your own words, showing why Scout was confused. a. What Scout fails to understand is the people of Maycomb want their justice system to exist, so long as it does not undermine the values of Maycomb. b. Atticus dedication to the law simultaneously holds society together and fragments it; he ensures equality of law but shakes the foundations of society.

3 13. This chapter provides a very skilled, economical description of the town and the courthouse on the day of the trial. What elements of the description seem to you particularly convincing? a. References to voting history, individuals hardships, hobbies, cars exist but can't be afforded by the townsfolk - horse and carriages outside the courthouse. The way families are described outside of the courthouse is reflective of family life in the Great Depression. b. The decay and mix of styles in the courthouse is representative of Maycomb s decline. (architecture, where people sit, the state of the building) c. Jem's description of interracial discrimination is worth noting too. Chapter Seventeen 14. Why was Atticus particularly pleased by Mr. Tate s testimony? a. Proved that his memory was faulty b. Tate was trying to convince everyone how Tom could've been the perpetrator of the injuries c. No Doctors report means no medical proof - extent of injuries is circumstantial evidence 15. Examine closely Atticus s questioning of Mr. Ewell, and try to explain the psychology Atticus used. a. Atticus sees that Mr. Ewell is confident that people will believe his story no matter what, so, he is able to trick him into proving that he could've caused Mayella s injuries. b. Reverse psychology - wants people to believe he isn't the low life of Maycomb, so proves he is literate. Chapter Eighteen 16. Somehow, Atticus had hit her hard in a way that was not clear to me, but it gave him no pleasure to do so. (p ) Can you explain the implications of both parts of this sentence? a. In order to make progress in the trial, Atticus needed to poke holes in the victim s story in order to prove to the court that the incident is various stringing of circumstantial evidence. b. Atticus also put Mayella in the position of having to put her father in the crosshairs of the court (perjury). Atticus also exposed Mayella s vulnerability and history of abuse at the hands of her father in a public setting. Mayella could risk being the target of Maycomb s judgemental attitudes, and, she could lose her only source of stability (father). Chapter Nineteen 17. Is Mr. Gilmer s cross-examination of Tom Robinson skillful? Support your answer in a paragraph about a half a page long. a. Skillful because he uses the social prejudices and double standards to his advantage to sway the crowd, the jury, and to scare Tom Robinson into destroying his own reputation: i. Black men shouldn't feel sorry for a white person ii. Black men shouldn't strike a white person iii. Men shouldn't be scared, own up to mistakes

4 Chapter Twenty iv. Men should defend themselves. But not hit a woman he isn't related to. v. A man should tend to his own family; if he makes time for others, there is motive of some kind. vi. Tom Robinson accuses the white biased criminal justice of making him own up to crimes he didn't commit. 18. There are several surprising qualities about Mr. Dolphus Raymond, as we get to know him better in this chapter. Is there evidence here that he understands human beings well, and that he is kind? a. Understands that people need a reason for behaviour, logical order and patterns b. Knows that new generations can accept ideas easier than the previous c. Knows that Dill is among the few to understand the suffering caused by double standards, and one of the few to have compassion indiscriminately d. Knows that the town itself and its issues are all being displayed in the courthouse through this case; 19. What is your opinion of Atticus s final address to the jury? Chapter Twenty-One 20. It is not only the jury s verdict which reveals how hopeless the Negro s position is in Maycomb County. Every detail of the trial, every incidental event in and surrounding the courthouse that day, emphasizes the shame and difficulty of his position. Discuss this opinion with reference to Chapters inclusive. a. The crowd, its dispersion, reaction to the testimony, cheering... Chapter Twenty-Two 21. This is their home, sister, said Atticus. We ve made it this way for them, they might as well learn to cope with it. (p ). Explain more fully what Atticus means by this remark. Has Atticus changed from the beginning of the novel to the end? a. Moreso pessimistic, despite the fact that he claims to be exhausted from the trial proceedings; but stands up for himself against his sister b. Realist; Atticus knows that long term change in Maycomb will not come easy; will take time 22. How does Aunt Alexandra react to Atticus return after the trial? a. Assumes he is wallowing in self pity b. Berates the children for being cynical, but really, it s a form of denial 23. How does Jem react to the results? a. He is upset; tries to comprehend why the decision was made 24. What does Miss Maudie teach the children? a. Teaches them that some people have to work in careers that are challenging b. Atticus did score a victory; he had the jury deliberate on a case like this for the first time in Maycomb s history

5 Chapter Twenty-Three 25. What is the value of this chapter in the total structure of the novel? a. Serves as a debrief from the trial, and sets up the final conflict 26. Does Aunt Alexandra seem to you to be gradually becoming less objectionable? If so, what is altering your attitude toward her? a. Protective of Atticus b. Because-he-is-trash, that's why you can't play with him c. Jem defends her by saying she is trying to help Scout to become a lady 27. What does Jem decide about Boo Radley s desire to always stay home? What does this reveal about him? a. Jem is understanding how the people of Maycomb think while maintaining an outsider s perspective; Boo does not want to leave the house because he knows he may be persecuted (and already is) 28. Did Atticus underestimate Mr. Ewell? a. Do what? Put him under a peace bond? b....he had to take it out on somebody c. What on earth could Ewell do to me, sister? Activity: tell the story from Boo s perspective. Chapter Twenty-Four 29. I tell you there are some good but misguided people in this town. (p ) Mrs. Merriweather s comment is unconsciously ironic. Can you explain how events of this chapter emphasize the irony? a. Mrs. Merriweather berates parts of the Maycomb community and its citizens (the Robinsons, for example) for having backward values and being ignorant. However, the white folk of Maycomb have the same issue. 30. What evidence is there in this chapter that Scout is beginning to understand her aunt better, and even to like her? a. She gave Miss Maudie a look of pure gratitude, and I wondered at the world of women b. They're perfectly willing to let him wreck his health doing what they're afraid to do c. After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I. Chapter Twenty-Five 31. Does this chapter make you very angry? If so, why? a. But in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. b. Maycomb had lost no time in getting Mr Ewell s views of Tom s demise and passing them through that English Channel of gossip, Miss Stephanie Crawford.

6 Chapter Twenty-Six 32. Can you explain why Miss Gates feels so strongly about Hitler s persecution of the Jews, and yet is herself violently prejudiced against Negroes? a. I don't know Henry. They contribute to every society they live in, and most of all, they are a deeply religious people. b....the Jews have been persecuted since the beginning of history, even driven out of their own country. It's one of the most terrible stories in history c. Irony 33. Are there elements of a coming of age story in this chapter? a. Starts to see Boo as a person, not a boogeyman b. Realizes how deeply rooted discrimination is (families, classrooms) c. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an then turn around and be ugly about folks at home- Chapter Twenty-Seven 34. How does this chapter increase the tension concerning Mr. Ewell s threats against Atticus? a. I suppose his brief burst of fame brought on a briefer burst of industry, but his job lasted as long as his notoriety: Mr. Ewell found himself as forgotten as Tom Robinson. b...., that if Bob Ewell wanted to discuss Atticus s getting his job, he knew the way to the office. c. I don t like it, Atticus, I don t like it at all, was Aunt Alexandra s assessment of these events. That man seems to have a permanent running grudge against everybody connected with that case. I know how that kind are about paying off grudges d....he thought he d be a hero, but all he got for his pain was was, okay, we ll convict this Negro but get back to your dump e...., somebody just walked over my grave. Chapters Twenty-Eight to Thirty-One 35. How did Arthur Radley know the children were in danger? a. You all want a ride home? someone said Be careful of haints, the voice said. Better still, tell the haints to be careful of Scout b. Saw their pageant, followed them home to make sure they were safe. 36. Why did Atticus agree to let Mr. Heck Tate s story of Ewell s death stand? Was he right to do so? a....there's a black boy dead for no reason, and the man responsible for it s dead. Let the dead bury the dead this time, Mr. Finch. Let the dead bury the dead. b. Prediction: what were to happen if Maycomb knew the truth? 37. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it; we had given him nothing, and it made me sad. (p ). Is Scout right? Had they given Arthur Radley anything? a. They had given him a connection the outside world and a reason to care/move about the world. 38. Why is Scout s sleepy version of the story The Gray Ghost an appropriate ending to the novel?

7 a. Most people had villainized Boo, wrote him off as a nuisance society. However, rather than destroy society, he protected.