Name: Class Hr: To Kill a Mockingbird: The Trial Directions: Answer the following questions. Include the page numbers of where you find your answers. Chapter 16 1. What does Atticus mean when he says the following about how his children intervened with the lynch mob? So it took an eight-year-old child to bring 'em to their senses... That proves something that a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because they're still human. Hmp, maybe we need a police force of children. You children last night made Walter Cunningham stand in my shoes for a minute. 2. Dolphus Raymond (182-184) a. In 50 words or fewer, explain what people in Maycomb County believe and say about Dolphus Raymond. [Hint: You will find out later that some of it is totally untrue.] b. What does his story reveal about the culture of the Maycomb County?
Chapter 17 I. Heck Tate Takes the Stand A. What questions does Atticus ask Mr. Tate? Make a list. B. Briefly summarize Mr. Tate s testimony. C. What glaring evidence is beginning to materialize in Atticus s cross-examination of Sheriff Tate? II. Bob Ewell Takes the Stand A. How does Mr. Ewell act when he first takes the stand, and how does Judge Taylor react to him? B. What is Mr. Ewell s version of what happened? C. What are the signs that Mr. Ewell is uneducated? How does this play into Atticus argument?
D. What glaring evidence is beginning to materialize in Atticus s cross-examination of Bob Ewell? Chapter 18 I. Mayella Ewell Takes the Stand A. How does Mayella behave while she is on the stand? What seems to be her perception of Atticus? Why does she think Atticus is mocking her? B. What is Mayella s version of what happened? C. Does Mayella s testimony in any way contradict her father s? Where? D. Why do you think Atticus asks Mayella so many questions about her home life and family? E. Overall, do you think Mayella s testimony is believable? Why or why not?
Chapter 19 I. Tom Robinson Takes the Stand A. What do you notice about Tom Robinson when he first takes the stand? Why does he have such a hard time laying his hand on the bible? How might this be important to the case? B. How would you describe Tom s demeanor on the stand, especially in comparison to the Ewell s demeanor? C. What is Tom s version of what happened? D. Where were the other Ewell children the day of the alleged crime? How might this be important to Atticus s argument? E. What does Link Deas says about Tom at the end of the scene? Do you think Link Deas helped or hindered Tom Robinson s case by interrupting normal court proceedings? Should Dea s comments be struck from the court reporter s record? Do you think Deas needed to stand up and say what he did?
II. Tom Robinson Takes the Stand, Con t A. How would you describe Mr. Gilmer s demeanor toward Tom Robinson? What is his tone? What is his strategy? B. Do you agree with Mr. Gilmer that Tom Robinson looks guilty because he ran away from Bob Ewell and Mayella? Why did Tom run? Did he have any other choice? C. Why does Tom Robinson say he felt sorry for Miss Mayella? Why are all the white people in the courtroom shocked by Tom s admission? How do you think this admission of feeling sorry for Mayella will out for him at the end of the trial? D. What do you think is Atticus s strongest evidence for exonerating Tom Robinson from the crime of raping a white woman?