To Kill A Mockingbird by Nelle Harper Lee Study Guide Strange Fruit Directions: Answer the following questions as you listen to the song by Billie Holiday. 1. What feeling do you get as you listen to this song? 2. List the types of images that come to your mind as you listen to the song. 3. What do you think this song is about? Scottsboro Trial VS. Tom Robinson s Trial 1930 s Northern Alabama Began with a charge of rape made by a white woman against African American men Poor white status of the woman accuser was a critical issue A central figure was the heroic judge, a member of the Alabama State Bar who overturned the jury s guilty verdict against the African American men This judge went against public sentiment in trying to protect the rights of the African American defendants The first jury failed to include any African Americans, a situation which caused the US Supreme Court to overturn the guilty verdict The jury ignored evidence, for example that the woman suffered no injuries Attitudes about Southern women and poor whites complicated the trial
Directions: Write your initial reaction to the following 12 statements. 1- Strongly agree 2- agree somewhat 3- disagree somewhat 4- strongly disagree 1. All men are created equal. 2. Girls should act like girls. 3. It is ok to be different. 4. Nobody is all bad or all good. 5. Some words are so offensive they should never be written or spoken. 6. Under our justice system, all citizens are treated fairly in our courts of law. 7. The old adage, Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you, is true. 8. Speaking correct grammar proves that a person is smart. 9. A hero is born, not made. 10. No one is above the law. 11. Education is the great equalizer. 12. When the law does not succeed in punishing criminals, citizens should do so. Character Identification Directions: Write two facts about the life or personality of each of the following characters. Scout Finch Jem Finch Dill Harris Walter Cunningham Buris Ewell
Atticus Finch Calpurnia Boo Radley Miss Stephanie Crawford Heck Tate Chapter 1 1. What is the function of relating the Finch family history at the outset of the novel? 2. What techniques are used to establish a feeling of mystery in the first chapter? 3. Explain the manner of narration. 4. Cite details which establish the setting of the novel. 5. What attitudes seem prevalent as a result of the elements of setting? 6. Contrast Dill s family situation with the Finches. Chapter 2 7. What satirical points are being made about education through Scout s experiences in school? 8. Why does Scout explain Walter Cunningham s situation to Miss Caroline? Chapter 3 9. Cite examples of contrast in Jem and Scout. 10. Contrast Burris Ewell with the other children. What is the reason for the description? 11. What is the thematic significance of the advice Atticus gives Scout?
Chapter 4 12. What is learned about Jem and Scout from their diverse reaction to the pennies in the knot hole? 13. What characteristics of children in general are revealed through the Boo Radley game? Why doesn t Scout enjoy the game as much as the boys do? Chapter 5 14. What functions does Miss Maudie Atkinson serve in the novel? Chapter 6 15. What is significant about Jem s decision to make a lone, nocturnal return to the Radley place? What is the significant outcome of the return? 16. What is significant about the town s conclusion regarding the disturbance of the Radley place? Chapter 7 17. What bewildering incidents occur to Jem and Scout? 18. Why is it significant that Jem had been crying? Chapter 8 19. How do people react to the fire at Miss Maudie s house? 20. What characteristics does Miss Maudie show after the fire? What caused the fire? Chapter 9 21. What can be deduced about the character of Atticus from his defense of Tom Robinson? 22. Contrast Aunt Alexandra and Atticus. 23. How does Atticus hope to prevent Jem and Scout from catching the disease of most people in Maycomb?
Chapter 10 24. Explain the symbolic meaning of mockingbird. 25. What are the effects of the chapter s main events on Atticus, Jem, and Scout? Chapter 11 26. What causes Jem to strike out against Mrs. Dubose? 27. As the nature of Mrs. Dubose s affliction is discovered, what is learned about her character? 28. What does Jem gain from his experience with Mrs. Dubose? Chapter 12 29. What accounts for the changed relationship between Jem and Scout? 30. What insights do Jem and Scout gain from attending church with Calpurnia? Chapter 13 31. What elements heighten the contrast between Atticus and Aunt Alexandria? Chapter 14 32. Cite examples of prejudice and lack of human understanding. 33. In what way does Jem break the one remaining code of childhood? 34. Further contrast Dill s home life with Scout s. Chapter 15 35. Contrast the two groups of men Atticus faces. 36. Explain Jem s reasons for following Atticus to town. 37. Why does the group at the jail disperse after Scout s talk? Chapter 16 38. Why does Scout cry after returning home from the jail? How does Jem s treatment of Scout show his maturity?
39. What does Maycomb s turnout for the trial imply about human nature? 40. Why is Scout confused after overhearing remarks about her father s defense of Tom Robinson? Chapter 17 41. What does Atticus attempt to establish through Bob Ewell s testimony? 42. What does Atticus attempt to establish through Heck Tate s testimony? 43. What devices does the author use in chapter 17 to characterize the Ewells, especially Bob Ewell? Chapter 18 44. What does Mayella s testimony add to the case? 45. What startling revelation is made about Tom? Chapter 19 46. Scout acquires an important realization during Tom s testimony. Discuss the realization and its significance. 47. What tragic racial situation is illustrated in this chapter? How does it apply to the theme? 48. Why is it significant that Dill should be the one who gets sick in the court room? Chapter 20 49. What thematically related insights do Scout and Dill receive outside the court room? 50. In reference to Dill, what pessimistic note does Dolphus Raymond cast? What is the implication of the remark?
51. What is Atticus actually condemning in his closing remarks to the jury? What is the target of Atticus final plea? Chapter 21 52. How does Scout know the verdict before it has been read? What is the broader implication of the jury s behavior? Chapter 22 53. What finally forces Jem over the threshold toward adulthood? What symbolic incident occurs that testifies to Jem s move towards adulthood? 54. What hope and what fear are expressed at the end of the chapter? Chapter 23 55. Give Atticus interpretation of recent events. 56. Cite examples which demonstrate Jem s continuing maturity. Chapter 24 57. What is ironic about the missionary circles conversation? 58. What did Tom do in this chapter and why? 59. What insight is gained into Aunt Alexandra s character? Chapter 25 60. Discuss the mockingbird symbol in relation to Tom Robinson. 61. How is the feeling of apprehension conveyed at the end of the chapter? Chapter 26 62. What satirical points are made on the subject of education?
63. Why is Jem unable to speak about the trial without becoming angered? Chapter 27 64. What three incidents concerning Bob Ewell occur? From these incidents and from Atticus what do we learn about Bob Ewell? 1) 2) 3) 65. What comic incident is related in this chapter and what function does it serve in the novel? Chapter 28 66. What details in this chapter and the last add to the mounting tension before Jem and Scout are attacked? How is this ironic? 67. Discuss the attack and the events that follow. Chapter 29 68. Discuss the credibility of the person who defended Jem and Scout. Chapter 30 69. What insight is gained into Heck Tate s character? 70. What situation do both Atticus and Scout recognize? 71. The quote, Let the dead bury the dead this time, means what? 72. Discuss Scout s comment about the mockingbird in relation to the person whop rescued them. Chapter 31 73. When Scout is recalling past events, from which person s point of view is she referring to?
74. What is The Grey Ghost a parallel to? 75. In what way does Scout demonstrate sensitivity and compassion in the previous and final chapter? Vocabulary terms: Define the terms using inferences from the novel. Chapters 1-11 aberrations analogous auspicious arbitrated breastwork caricatures contemptuous contentious desolate disapprobation edification entailment flivver Gothic guilelessness illicitly indigenous ingenious
inordinately invective malevolent mausoleum obstreperous palliation perplexity philippic predilection propensities scold tacit taciturn tyrannical vapid vexations unfathomable Chapters 12-31 acrimonious adamant altercation antagonize
apprehensive austere bovine credibility contraband corroborating cynical ecclesiastical elucidate feral formidable furtive impudent integrity infallible haughty martyr Mennonites notoriety obliquely prerogative pilot fish
pinioned purloined sordid stealthily temerity unmitigated sibilant subpoena stolidly venerable Motifs Symbols Themes