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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Chapter 1
Question
What, briefly, has happened to Arthur “Boo” Radley?

Response
In his teens, Arthur Radley became acquainted with the Cunninghams and
formed ‘the nearest thing to a gang even seen in Maycomb’. The gang of
boys was finally arrested having driven an old car through the town square
and locked Maycomb’s beadle in the courthouse. Whilst the other boys were
sent to an industrial school for punishment, Mr. Radley kept his son at home
on the grounds that he could keep his son out of trouble that way. After 15-
years, “Boo” had allegedly stabbed his father with a pair of scissors and was
locked in the courthouse basement, away from the negroes in prison. He was
eventually brought back to the Radley house and after Mr. Radley died, his
older brother Nathan arrived to watch over Boo.
Question
Why does the Radley place fascinate Scout, Jem and Dill?

Response
The Radley place was described by the narrator (Scout) as ‘inhabited by an
unknown entity, the mere description of whom it was enough to make [them]
behave’. Furthermore, there were rumours about Arthur “Boo” Radley, a boy
hidden inside his home by his father after being brought to court, saying how
he was six-feet tall, had yellow-teeth and ate raw animals. Hence, Dill
developed an insatiable curiosity about Boo and dared Jem to touch the
house. After 3 days, Jem succumbed to the dare and touched the house.
When they later saw that ‘an inside shutter [had] moved’, all three friends
began to develop their curiosity with the Radley place.

Question
What do you notice about the narrative voice and viewpoint in the novel?

Response
The story is narrated from the viewpoint of Scout, one of the main characters.
The first chapter serves mostly to illustrate the background of Scout and
Maycomb County. The chapter starts from the end of the story, when Jem
broke his arm after their scuffle with Bob Ewell, before Scout proceeds to
recount the circumstances surrounding the accident starting from her fifth
birthday. As a result, the narrative voice constantly changes between her
older voice, looking back at her childhood, and Scouts younger voice,
describing events as they happen. This give the reader two perspectives from
which he can choose to interpret the situation from.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 2
Question
Why is Scout so looking forward to starting school?

Response
Scout spent winter observing from the tree house the games the
schoolchildren played. She also hid in Jem’s jacket while he was playing blind-
man’s buff with the schoolchildren, ‘sharing their misfortunes and minor
victories’. As such, Scout longed for an opportunity to join them in their
game. This opportunity came when school started and she had classmate
whom she could play the games with.

Question
Why does Jem not want anything to do with Scout at school? Is his behavior
typical of an older child?

Response
Jem was concerned that Scout may approach him and embarrass him in the
process as she may inadvertently reveal an embarrassing part of Jem’s life to
his friends. His behaviour is typical of an older child.

Question
What do you think of Miss Caroline Fisher as a teacher? Can you find qualities
that make her good or not so good at her job?

Response
I feel that Ms. Fisher is inexperienced as a teacher, only relying on proven
systems taught to her in college to teach the students. Perhaps because of
fear, she is unwilling to compromise on the system. For example, she was
upset when she learnt that Scout had started reading before the rest of the
class and in a bid to standardize the class, forbids her from reading, ‘[trying]
to undo the damage’.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 3
Question
Who is Calpurnia? What is her place in the Finch household?

Response
Calpurnia is the Finch’s black cook. She serves as a motherly figure to the
children, especially in the absence of their mother who had died. She cooks,
disciplines and generally takes care of ‘her kids’. For example, she
reprimanded Scout for remarking on Walter Cunningham’s table manners
during lunch. She was also the person who taught Scout to write prior to her
entry into school.

Question
What is Walter Cunningham like? What does his behavior during lunch
suggest about his home life?

Response
Whilst Walter Cunningham is not necessarily impolite and rude, as shown by
his conversation with Atticus, he is quite uncouth, greedily pouring syrup on
his food and noisily replacing the ladle, before gobbling down on his food.
This suggests that the Cunninghams are impoverished, and greedily eat food
when it is available

Question
What do you learn in this chapter about the Ewells?

Response
The Ewells are vulgar, as shown when Burris Ewell rudely answered the
teacher when asked about his attendance. He is also short-tempered and
attempted to resort to violence when Ms Fisher tried to discipline him. We
can also see that the Ewells are unclean as Burris was found with lice in his
hair in class.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 4
Question
What superstitions do the children have in connection with the Radley house?

Response
When Jem found out that Scout had picked up a wad of chewing gum from a
tree in the Radley lot, he forced her to spit the gum out, claiming that she’ll
get killed if she even touched the tree in question. This superstition is in line
with many of the Maycomb County residents’ beliefs concerning the Radley
Place and Boo Radley.

Question
Why do the children make Boo’s story into a game?

Response
Although it is not explicitly stated in the novel why Jem came up with the idea
to make Boo Radley’s story into the game, the reader can infer that he was
bored with the games that the trio had been playing prior to this. Firstly,
when Scout suggested that they roll in the tire earlier in the chapter, Jem
sighed, as he was too old and too large to fit in the tire. Hence, he was
relegated to the task of pushing the tire, while the other children enjoyed
their ride in the tire. Jem could have chosen to reenact Boo Radley’s story as
it was a game where all three children could get involved and no one would
get left behind.

Question
What do they do in this game? Do you think the game is an accurate version
of what happens in the Radley house?

Response
In their game, the children acted out the roles of the Radley family going
about their daily business. Scout was to act out Mrs. Radley, Jem played Boo
and Dill played Mr. Radley. The children’s role-play is not an accurate
depiction of the goings-on in the Radley house as their plot or storylines are
based upon superstition and rumors spread around Maycomb. For example,
Boo Radley in the play occasionally ‘went under the front steps and shrieked
and howled from time to time’.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 5
Question
What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo? How does this compare with
what Scout already believes?

Response
When Scout asked her on whether she thinks Boo Radley is still alive, she
replied that he is probably alive, as she hadn’t ‘seen him carried out yet’. In
addition, Miss Maudie also gave an explanation as to where the rumours
surrounding Boo Radley originated, saying that they are ‘three-fourths
coloured folk and one-fourth Stephanie Crawford’, highlighting the fact that
Miss Stephanie Crawford is the neighbourhood gossip. Furthermore, she
elaborated further, proving to Scout that many of the rumours were probably
wrong. Compared with the circulated rumour, Miss Maudie’s account is
substantiated with evidence and portrays Boo Radley in a more favourable
light.
Question
Scout claims that “Dill could tell the biggest ones” (lies) that she ever heard.
Why might Dill have told such lies?

Response
Dill could have had several motives for lying to Jem and Scout. When Dill first
arrived in Maycomb and met Jem and Scout, he told the pair that he could
read and if they had ‘anything [that] need reading, he could do it’. This shows
that Dill may have had certain assumptions about Maycomb residents, in this
case, one where they are supposedly illiterate. When he later discovers that
the Finches are literate and live in a comfortable home with a loving parent,
he compares that to his own family, where his parents neglect him. Perhaps
in embarrassment, he concocted these stories to boast to Jem and Scout.

Question
What reasons does Atticus give for the children not to play the Boo Radley
game? Do you think he is right? Why?

Response
Upon discovering the children’s game, Atticus commented that ‘what [Boo
Radley] did was his own business’. In addition, he explained that ‘what [Boo
Radley] did might seem peculiar to [the children], but it did not seem peculiar
to [himself].’ Personally, I feel that Atticus has explained very well to the
children on why they should stop playing the Boo Radley game. He uses
examples to show that some people do not like to be disturbed, asking the
children how they would feel if he had ‘barged in on [the children] without
knocking’. Although Atticus tried his best to teach the children to stop
playing, the children still continue enacting the supposed life of Boo Radley,
fueled in part by Miss Stephanie Crawford’s rumours.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 6
Question
Why does Scout disapprove of Jem and Dill’s plan of looking in at one of the
Radley windows?

Response
Scout does not say why exactly she disapproves of Jem and Dill’s plan to look
inside one of the Radley’s windows. However, it could be because she was
disappointed that both of them had not kept Atticus’ promise of refraining
from bothering the Radley family. In addition, perhaps she found their idea of
walking into the Radley estate, what would have been considered reckless in
the earlier chapters, as sheer madness, wondering why both of them do not
find it frightening anymore.

Question
What does Mr. Nathan Radley know about the intruders in his garden? Why
does Miss Stephanie Crawford refer to a ‘negro’ over whose head Mr. Nathan
has fired?

Response
Mr. Nathan Radley said that he ‘scared [the intruder] pale’ by shooting his
shotgun in the air, adding that if ‘anyone sees a white negro around, that’s
the one’. Although the sentence can be taken in the literal form, the phrase
‘white negro’ implies that Mr. Radley may have known that it was the Finch
children who intruded onto his property. As it would be further revealed in the
later chapters of the novel, many of the Maycomb County town people apply
their general stereotypes of blacks to every single black in Maycomb. As
such, Mrs. Crawford refers to the intruder as ‘a negro’, perhaps believing that
all blacks are deceitful and cunning, and that only a black man or woman
would dare to intrude on a white man’s property.
Question
Why does Dill’s explanation of Jem’s state of dress almost land him in
trouble?
Response
When Atticus questioned Jem’s state of dress, Dill immediately came up with
an excuse, saying that he had won Jem pant’s from him in an earlier game of
strip poker. Although the rest of the townspeople were satisfied with his
story, Miss Rachel was outraged when she found out that the children were
playing gambling by her fish pool, before Jem elaborated further, explaining
that they were only playing with matches instead of cards. The children
would have been severely punished by Miss Rachel had Atticus not given
them the chance to explain.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 7
Question
When Jem tells Scout about getting his trousers back, he tells her of
something strange. What is this?

Response
The previous night, Jem had gotten his trousers tangled in the fence by the
schoolyard. However, when Jem returned the following day to retrieve his lost
trousers, he discovered that they had been folded neatly across the fence. In
addition, Jem noticed that his pants had been sewed up crookedly, ‘not like a
lady sewed them’. Because of this, Jem believes that whoever sewed the
pants knew that he was coming back for them later. However, most of the
townspeople believed Dills story that Jem had lost his pants in a game of strip
poker, hence Jem believed that the person who sewed up his pants must
have known of the actual events happening that night.
Question
Does Jem still fear the gifts in the tree? Give reasons for your answer.

Response
Early in the chapter, when Jem and Scout find a ball of grey twine in the
knothole, Scout suggests that they should not take the items, as the knothole
may be another child’s hiding place. Although Jem did not believe Scout at
first, he eventually wised up, beginning to believe that the knothole bore no
relation to the Radley Place and was unaffected by the superstitions
surrounding it. Later, Jem and Scout’s findings reinforce their opinions as they
discover miniature soap dolls depicting the duo. They soon believe that the
person leaving the gifts behind must be someone close to them. When the
next gift arrives, Jem forgets about his fears and readily pulls out the item.
Question
When the children plan to send a letter to the person who leaves the gifts,
they are prevented, How does this happen? Who does it, and why might he
do so?

Response
As Jem was about to put the letter he wrote into the knothole, he noticed that
the knothole had been filled up with cement, preventing them from sending
their note to the mysterious person. Later that day, when the children are on
their way home, they pass by Mr. Nathan Radley, and questioned him about
the cementing of the hole. Although he said that he plugged the tree as it
was sick, he must have had foreknowledge of the objects placed in the hole
for the children. As Mr. Nathan Radley was tasked with taking care of Boo
Radley after his brother had passed away, he would try to keep Boo isolated
from the rest of Maycomb and prevent him from communicating with
outsiders.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 8
Question
What is the ‘near libel’ that Jem puts in the front yard? How do Miss Maudie
and Atticus react to it?

Response
When the children find out that it was snowing outside, Jem decides to build a
snowman using some snow from Miss Maudie’s front yard. As Jem built his
snowman, he commented how Mr. Avery, one of the locals, resembles a
snowman’s figure, and was inspired to make the snowman resemble Mr.
Avery. When Atticus discovered the snowman, he was initially proud of his
children’s handiwork. However, upon realizing that the snowman was meant
to resemble Mr. Avery, he chuckled, mildly warning the children to change
the appearance of the snowman. Miss Maudie acted less amicably and was
engaged with Atticus in an argument on her front yard about the snowman.
Question
Why does Atticus save Miss Maudie’s oak chair?

Response
As the other men of Maycomb County began moving furniture out of Miss
Maudie’s burning house, Atticus decided to save Miss Maudie’s oak rocking
chair first, a piece of furniture described by Scout as the one she valued
most. Atticus did this perhaps in anticipation that Miss Maudie would not
react well to the fire and that the presence of her treasured oak rocking chair
might comfort her. As Atticus had known Miss Maudie since he was a child, he
would probably have known Miss Maudie inside out, and saved her rocking
chair with the foreknowledge that it was the item that she valued most.
Question
When Atticus asks Scout about the blanket around her shoulders, what does
Jem realize?

Response
When Atticus questioned about the blanket around Scout’s shoulder, Jem
initially believed that Mr. Nathan Radley was the man who put the blanket
around Scout’s shoulder. He then began pouring out all the secrets he had
kept from Atticus about their experience with the knothole and their
encounter with what they presumed to be Boo Radley in an effort to convince
him not to send the blanket back to the Radleys. However, when Atticus later
suggests to the children that Boo Radley, Jem realizes that Boo was not as
they had imagined, although he later enacted Boo putting the blanket on
Scout based on his superstitions, believing that Boo had crept up to her in the
manner the townspeople would perceive.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 9
Question
Scout and Jem have ‘mixed feelings about Christmas’. What are these
feelings and why?

Response
Whilst Scout enjoyed Uncle Jack presence in Maycomb during Christmas Eve,
she treated the stay at Finch’s Landing on Christmas with disdain, lamenting
that ‘no amount of sighing could induce Atticus to let [them] spend Christmas
day at home’. Scout liked Uncle Jack, partly because he was ‘one of the few
men of science who never terrified [her]’ and partly because he often brought
presents for Jem and herself. In contrast, Scout detested the yearly visit to
Finch’s Landing as she had to spend the holiday with Francis Hancock, her
cousin, who ‘enjoyed everything [she] disapproved of and disliked [her]
ingenuous diversions’.

Question
When Francis talks to Scout, he reveals an unpleasant feature of Aunt
Alexandra. What is this?

Response
When Scout questioned on why Francis called Atticus a nigger lover, Francis
reveals an earlier conversation with his grandmother, Aunt Alexandra, where
she said that ‘it’s bad enough that [Atticus] lets [Scout] run wild, but now
he’s turned a nigger-lover, [the Finches will] never be able to walk the streets
of Maycomb again’ and that he is ruining the family name. The above
conversation shows that Aunt Alexandra strongly objects to Atticus defending
a black man in court. Although it is not clear if Aunt Alexandra explicitly used
the racist term ‘nigger-lover’ in her conversation or if Francis picked up the
phrase from somewhere else, the reader can see from the rest of the
conversation that Aunt Alexandra displays a mild form of racism.
Question
Does Scout learn anything from overhearing Atticus’ conversation with Uncle
Jack? What might it be?

Response
The first part of Uncle Jacks and Atticus’ conversation involves the argument
between Scout and Francis at Finch’s Landing and Atticus’ advice on
parenthood, that is, to tell children the truth and avoid evading the question
as Uncle Jack had done with Scout earlier on, because ‘[children] can spot an
evasion faster than adults’. Through this, Scout doesn’t learn much apart
from the fact that Uncle Jack kept his word. The later parts of the
conversation concern Atticus’ fears of his children not being able to cope with
the controversy surrounding the court case and if they succumb to the
rampant racism in Maycomb County.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 10
Question
In this chapter, Atticus tells his children that ‘it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’.
What reason does he give for this?

Response
According to Scout, Atticus knew that the children would go and try to shoot
birds with their new air rifles, and that they could ‘shoot all the blue jays
[they wanted], but to remember that it was a sin to kill a mockingbird’. When
Scout consulted Miss Maudie for an explanation, Miss Maudie agreed with
Atticus, reminding Scout that ‘mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make
music for us to enjoy’. The ‘mockingbird’ carries on through the rest of the
novel, and is one of the most discussed themes. Perhaps one of the most
prominent characters embodying the mockingbird theme is Boo Radley, an
innocent man plagued by rumours and superstitions spread by Maycomb
County residents, with Miss Stephanie Crawford in particular.
Question
Why does Heck Tate not want to shoot Tim Johnson?
Response
When Heck Tate and Atticus arrived, Tim Johnson had reached the side street
in front of the Radley Place. After a few minutes of hesitation, Heck Tate
passed the rifle to Atticus, explaining that Tim Johnson’s close proximity to
the Radley Place requires a good shooter lest someone gets injured. Heck
Tate was a friend of Atticus’ and knew that he was sharp shooter in his
younger days, therefore he thrust his rifle into Atticus’ hands, with the belief
that Atticus would not miss Tim Johnson.

Question
Near the end of the chapter, Atticus cuts off Heck Tate as he is speaking to
Jem. What might Heck have been about to say, and why would Atticus want
to stop him from saying it.

Response
The Finch children express a certain disbelief when Heck Tate passed Atticus
his rifle. After Zeebo removed Tim Johnson, Heck Tate notices Jem’s
apprehension when he asked Atticus about his shooting skills and tries to
explain to the children when Atticus cuts him off. His true motives are later
revealed when Miss Maudie talks to Jem and Scout later in the chapter. She
explains that ‘people in their right minds never take pride in their talents.
Later in the story when Mrs. Dubose dies, Atticus reveals that ‘he wanted
[Jem] to see what real courage was, instead of getting the idea that courage
was a man holding a gun’, referencing the events in this chapter.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 11
Question
How does Atticus advise Jem to react to Mrs. Dubose’s taunts?

Response
Upon hearing that Jem was furious at Mrs. Dubose for frequently admonishing
them, Atticus reminded Jem that Mrs. Dubose was old and ill, advising him to
‘hold [his] head high and be a gentleman’, adding that ‘it’s [his] job not to let
her make [him] mad’. However, later in the chapter, when Jem and Scout
pass by Mrs. Dubose’s house, Mrs. Dubose made a snide remark, proclaiming
that Atticus was ‘no better than the niggers and trash he works for’. This
provoked Jem so much so that he went up to Mrs. Dubose’s front yard and
destroyed all her camellias, ‘forgetting everything Atticus had said, forgetting
that [Mrs. Dubose] packed a pistol under her shawl, forgetting that if she
missed, Jessie probably wouldn’t’.
Question
Explain in your own words what Atticus thinks of insults like ‘nigger-lover’.
How far do you agree with him?

Response
To Atticus, words such as ‘nigger-lover’ are meaningless and are only used
unlearned and ill-mannered people. He also adds that name-calling does not
necessarily reflect badly on the ‘victim’. On the other hand, it reflects badly
on the person who used the word in question, showing instead how poorly
that person behaves. Although Atticus’ behaviour and attitude is
commendable, he believes in it so much that he often fails to note and be
wary of life-endangering threats, like the ones made by Bob Ewell to Atticus
after the court case in the later part of the novel.

Question
Chapters 10 and 11 are the last 2 chapters in the first part of the book.
Explain why Lee chooses to end the first part there.

Response
The switch from Part 1 to Part 2 in the book marks a change in Jem and
Scout. For starters, they are not at all worried about Boo Radley and the
Radley Place, following events such as the gifts he gave to the children
through a knothole in a tree to Miss Maudie’s house fire, where he placed a
blanket around Scout’s shoulders. By the last chapter of part 1, ‘tormenting
Boo Radley became passé’, and Jem and Dill had stopped the reenactment of
Boo Radley’s life and their efforts to get Boo Radley to come out. In addition,
Scout and Jem were about to witness yet more racial discrimination, both
against the blacks and the Finches for defending Tom Robinson, as the court
hearing drew closer.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 12
Question
Comment on Jem and Scout’s visit to First Purchase church.

Response
As Calpurnia and the Finch children made their way into the church, they
come across Lula, a black woman, who confronts Calpurnia upon discovering
that she had brought white children into the black church. She holds the
belief that if white people can be racist towards blacks, then blacks have the
equal right to be racist towards whites. As the church session began, Jem and
Scout discovered how First Purchase church does away with hymnbooks,
instead employing Zeebo to lead the congregation by ‘lining’. Later, when
Reverend Skyes called for everyone to donate a dime for Helen Robinson, the
Finches were surprised by the Reverend’s insistence at collecting $10 to
benefit Helen.
Question
What does Scout learn from Calpurnia’s account of Zeebo’s education?

Response
Calpurnia stated that although ‘there wasn’t even a school when [Zeebo] was
a boy’, she forced him to learn, highlighting the fact that Calpurnia imposes a
high emphasis on education on her children.

Question
Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household, and among
her neighbours in church.

Response
As mentioned earlier, Calpurnia serves as the mother figure to Jem and Scout
in the absence of their late mother. Hence, she is required to speak formally
at home lest the Finch children begin to pick up some of the black
vocabulary. On the other hand, she speaks informally when confronted by
Lula in the black church. Calpurnia’s friends might not understand her if she
spoke as she does in the Finches home and gain the impression that she is
becoming more and more foreign and white and ending up like in Dolphus
Raymond’s children’s case, where they are neither accepted by the blacks or
the whites. To ‘blend in’ with both parties, she has to adapt her language at
home and at work.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 13
Question
Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay with Atticus and his family? What is
she like?

Response
Although she revealed that she came to Maycomb as she decided with
Atticus that it would ‘be best for you to have some feminine influence’, she
had another motive in mind, to get rid of Calpurnia as she was not a good
mother figure in her eyes. At first, she finds Scout a vile, un-ladylike girl,
putting special effort in an attempt to correct her bad ways. Because of this,
Scout finds Aunt Alexandra very demanding as compared to Atticus’
parenting style, which she is used to, and chooses not to respect Aunt
Alexandra.
Question
How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Maycomb social life?

Response
After gaining repute among the Maycomb Missionary Society Ladies for her
refreshments, she joined and eventually became the secretary of the
Missionary Society.

Question
Comment on Aunt Alexandra’s ideas about breeding and family. Why does
Atticus tell them to forget it? Who do you think is right?

Response
Aunt Alexandra was known to attribute many quirks of the Maycomb County
residents to heredity. This leads her to believe that Scout ought to be more
ladylike and appreciative of her family name. Later, Scout did not recognize
her Cousin Lily, let alone realize that she was her cousin. This was met by
Aunt Alexandra with mild disapproval, who immediately suggested to Atticus
that she talk to the children about ‘the family and what it meant to Maycomb
County over the years, so that [they] might be moved to behave accordingly’
and that they ‘were the product of several generations’ gentle breeding’.
Later, when Atticus saw for himself the effect this had on his children, he
changed his mind, telling the children to forget everything.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 14
Question
Why does Alexandra think Atticus should dismiss Calpurnia? How does Atticus
respond to the suggestion?

Response
When Aunt Alexandra overheard Scout’s conversation with Atticus, she
discovered that Calpurnia had brought Scout to a black church. She found
this unsatisfactory, in line with her belief that Calpurnia was not serving as an
appropriate mother figure to the Finch children in the absence of their late
mother simply because of her assumptions about blacks in general. She
believes that regardless of the service Calpurnia had provided to the Finch
family for the many years, she cannot stay near the Finch children, for fear of
passing down her ‘bad ways’. Atticus, on the other hand, tried to explain how
Calpurnia was different from ‘most coloured nurses’, reiterating that the
family wouldn’t have done without her.
Question
Why is Scout pleased when Jem fights her back? Why is she less pleased
when he tells Atticus about Dill?

Response
Scout broke into a fight with Jem as she did not like it when Jem told her that
he would personally spank her if she antagonized Aunt Alexandra further.
Later, Jem begins to fight back, which pleases Scout as she ‘knew he was
fighting, he was fighting [Scout] back’, and that they ‘were still equals’. Later
in the chapter, when Scout and Jem discovered Dill, who had escaped from
his cruel parents in Meridian, Jem immediately suggests that they inform
Atticus of Dill’s presence. Despite Scout’s protests, Jem went forward to
inform Atticus, and according to Scout, ‘broke the remaining code of [their]
childhood’.

Question
What do we learn from Dill’s account of him running away?

Response
From Dill’s account of running away, we learn that is very meticulous, paying
attention to walk ‘off the highway in the scrub bushes lest the authorities see
him’. In addition, he also shows great concern for Scout, having considered
‘emerging and helping [Scout] beat Jem, as Jem had grown far taller’. He also
does not show much care for his new parents’ welfare, grinning when Jem
asked him if his parents knew that he was in Maycomb, adding that ‘they’re
still searching all the picture shows in Meridian’.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 15
Question
What is the “nightmare” that now descends upon the children?

Response
The “nightmare” that now descends on the children is Tom Robinson’s court
case and all the complications leading from it as a result of Atticus being Mr.
Robinson’s lawyer. One of the first incidents arises at the beginning of
Chapter 15, where most of the Maycomb County men, including friends of
Atticus such as Heck Tate, Dr. Reynolds and Mr. Avery, came to Atticus’s
doorstep to bring up their concern of a lynch mob attacking Tom Robinson.

Question
What was (and is) the Ku Klux Klan? What do you think of Atticus’s comment
about it?

Response
The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is an American organization dedicated to preserving
the interests of white Americans. They believe in white supremacy and their
violent acts against African-Americans in America. Atticus does not think
highly of them, believing that there wasn’t even a significant KKK in
Maycomb County, adding that ‘they couldn’t find anyone to scare’ and that
the ‘Ku Klux Klan is gone, it’ll never come back’.

Question
How does Jem react when Atticus tells him to go home?

Response
When Atticus first told him to bring Scout and Dill home, he defiantly
declined. Later, after Jem persisted, one of the men in the lynch mob grabbed
Jem’s collar and tried to bring him home himself. Scout reacted, kicking him
in the groin area. After Jem continued to hold out, Atticus

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 16
Question
What “subtle change” does Scout notice in her father?

Response
Scout notices that Atticus talks in a slightly more stern, almost irritated tone
when Aunt Alexandra raises the topic of African-Americans, or blacks at the
table. When Aunt Alexandra commented that Atticus should not be talking
about blacks in front of Calpurnia, he defended her, saying that ‘anything fit
to say at the table’s fit to say in front of Calpurnia’, adding that Calpurnia
means a lot to the family and that they depend on her a lot. Later, when Aunt
Alexandra tried to explain further, Atticus put down his knife, perhaps a sign
of slight annoyance, before calmly explaining to Aunt Alexandra.

Question
What sort of person is Dolphus Raymond?

Response
Dolphus Raymond is a wealthy but disliked white man in Maycomb County.
Even though he ‘owns all one side of the riverbank [and is] from a real old
family’, traits valued by Maycomb County residents, he is still disliked by
them due to his marriage with a black woman. He is often seen drinking what
is presumed to be whiskey out of a paper bag. Jem explains that Mr.
Raymond was due to be wed with one of the Spencer ladies when the bride
committed suicide. Mr. Raymond allegedly never got over her death and
resorted to drinking, before marrying a black woman.

Question
How does Reverend Skyes help the children see and hear the trial?

Response
When Jem, Scout and Dill could not find any seats in the courthouse,
Reverend Skyes first tried to find seats for them, before welcoming them to
the ‘coloured balcony’ in the second story, where blacks usually sit during
hearings, isolated from the whites below. There, four blacks gave up their
seats to Reverend Skyes, Jem, Scout and Dill, in a sign of respect.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 17
Question
What are the main points in Heck Tate’s evidence? What does Atticus show in
his cross-examination of Sheriff Tate?

Response
Through Heck Tate’s testimonial, Atticus revealed that Mayella Ewell was
‘bunged up on [the right side] of her face’, hinting that the person attacking
her hit mainly with his left hand. In addition, Mayella had ‘definite finger
marks [all around] her gullet’. As Atticus would later prove, Tom Robinson
had lost his left arm muscles in a cotton gin accident, and hence would be
unable to punch with his crippled left. He also proved that Bob Ewell was left-
handed.

Question
What do we learn indirectly of the home life of the Ewell family in this
chapter?

Response
Atticus revealed through his cross-examination of Bob Ewell that he had not
bothered to call for a doctor to attend to his daughter’s wounds as he had
already seen what had happened. We learn through Bob Ewell testimony that
he shows little or no care for his children, having ‘never called a doctor to any
of his [children] in his life’, citing that it would’ve cost him 5 dollars. This was
shown when Atticus questioned Ewell’s not calling a doctor when he found
that his daughter had been raped, to which he answered that he had never
thought of it, showing to the jury his attitude towards his children.

Question
Why does Atticus ask Bob Ewell to write out his own name? What does the
jury see when he does this?

Response
By asking Bob Ewell to write his own name, Atticus led Ewell to inadvertently
reveal to the jury that he was left-handed. This proves that Bob Ewell was the
man who beat up his daughter Mayella Ewell as her wounds and bruises
indicate that a left-handed man beat her up, whereas Tom Robinson’s left
arm was crippled as a result of a cotton gin accident that tore out all of the
muscles in that particular arm, proving that Tom would have been incapable
of beating up Mayella Ewell. Furthermore, if Tom had used his left hand, he
wouldn’t be able to wrap his entire hand around Mayella Ewell’s neck with his
crippled left arm and cause the marks that Heck Tate had testified.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 18
Question
What might be the reason for Mayella’s crying in the court?

Response
After Mayella’s repeated attempts at evading Mr. Gilmer’s questions by
returning vague answers, Judge Taylor asked her in a somewhat irritated tone
to ‘just tell [them] what happened’, questioning whether she could do that. It
was upon hearing this that Mayella burst into tears. Eventually, she revealed
that she cried as she was afraid of lawyers like Atticus. The reader can tell
from the way she attempts to avoid answering any questions that she is
feeling nervous of encountering a similar situation as her father, where
Atticus asked him many revealing questions, such as the one regarding Mr.
Ewell’s education and literacy.

Question
How does Mayella react to Atticus’ politeness? Is she used to people being
polite?

Response
In comparison to Mr. Gilmer, Atticus addressed Mayella Ewell as Miss Mayella
Ewell, leading her to believe that Atticus was trying to be rude to her, saying
that she ‘won’t answer a word [Atticus] said as long as [he kept] on mocking
[her]’. As Scout commented later that Mayella easily ‘took offense to routine
courtesy’, wondering if ‘anybody had ever called her “ma’am” or “Miss
Mayella” in her life’. Atticus later reveals through his cross-examination of
Mayella that her father is uncaring, leaving everybody to fend for himself and
was also most likely impolite to his children.

Question
How well does Mr. Gilmer prove Tom’s guilt in the eyes of the reader (you)
and in the eyes of the jury? Can you suggest why these may be different?

Response
Compared to Atticus, Mr. Gilmer’s cross-examination was a lot more succinct,
focusing instead on reiterating the series of events that happened that night
instead of attempting to rebuke Atticus’ points, confident that the jury was
prejudiced enough to sentence Tom Robinson. Although Mr. Gilmer’s cross-
examination might not have changed the mindset of the jury given that they
are likely to have believed in Tom’s guilt, it reinforces their perception. In
contrast, given that the reader can already see from Atticus’ previous cross-
examination of Bob Ewell that Tom is innocent, Mr. Gilmer’s cross-
examination is unlikely to have proven anything about Tom’s guilt in the eyes
of the reader.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 19
Question
What made Tom visit the Ewell’s house in the first place?
Response
During Atticus’ cross-examination, Tom stated that he helped Mayella Ewell
as she was the one who asked him to help him and felt obliged to comply. He
noted that ‘every time [he] passed by [the Ewell’s house], [Mayella] would
have a little something for him to do’. As Atticus proceeded with his cross
examination, Tom revealed yet more about his relationship with Mayella
Ewell, disclosing that he refused payment from Ms. Ewell as he ‘was glad to
[help her around the house]’. However, Mr. Gilmer manages to misconstrue
Tom’s words, forcing him to reveal to the jury that he felt sorry for Mayella,
shocking the jury and the white men and women in the audience. This
ultimately was Tom Robinson’s shortfall.
Question
Why does Scout think that Mayella Ewell was ‘the loneliest person in the
world’?

Response
Atticus revealed through his questioning of Mayella Ewell that she had no
friends, and did not even know the meaning of a ‘friend’. In addition, she left
school early and had to take care of the rest of the Ewell children being the
oldest. Through this, she is isolated from her peers and is therefore very
lonely. Scout elaborated, saying that Mayella was like a mixed child as ‘white
people wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she lived among pigs’,
while ‘Negroes wouldn’t have anything to do with her as she was white’.

Question
How does Dill react to this part of the trial? Why is this, in your opinion?

Response
Being a child, Dill reacted to Mr. Gilmer’s hostile treatment towards Tom
Robinson during his cross-examination with tears. Like Scout, he probably did
not understand why Mr. Gilmer treated Tom in that harsh manner, as he
disclosed to Scout during their conversation outside the courthouse. Whilst
Atticus was polite and courteous towards both the plaintiffs and the
defendants, going as far as to address Mayella Ewell as ‘Miss Mayella Ewell’
and ‘Ma’am’, Mr. Gilmer repeatedly admonishes Tom, believing him to be a
liar and a violent person based on his assumptions of blacks. In addition, he
frequently addresses Tom as ‘boy’, showing no basic respect towards Tom.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 20
Question
Scout says that ‘Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man’. Is she right?

Response
Scout’s view of Mr. Dolphus Raymond being an evil man was based on the
assumptions and taboo surrounding men like Dolphus Raymond, not doubt
passed down from the adults in Maycomb society. She describes him as a
‘sinful man who had mixed children and didn’t care who knew it’, not
understanding why Mr. Raymond would ‘deliberately perpetrate fraud on
himself’. However, upon listing to Mr. Raymond, Scout begins to understand
Mr. Raymond’s plight, overturning many of the wrong preconceptions she
had about men like him prior to meeting him.

Question
What, according to Atticus, is the thing that Mayella has done wrong?

Response
According to Atticus, ‘[Mayella Ewell has] committed no crime, she has
merely broken a rigid and time-honoured code of [Maycomb] society’, that is
to seduce a black man. Instead, what Atticus said she had done wrong was
that she had foreknowledge of the consequences of attempting to kiss a
black man, yet decided to continue and break that very code, before realizing
her mistake. In an effort to hide the shame and embarrassment that will arise
from this action, she pushed the blame to an innocent black man. Instead of
accepting her responsibility, she risked the life of an innocent man, who now
has to bear the burden of Mayella’s mistake.
Question
Explain, in your own words, Atticus’ views on people being equal.

Response
Atticus believes that the phrase, ‘all men are created equal’, is overused and
clichéd, and used to the extent that educators blindly repeat the above
phrase, proclaiming that those lagging behind would suffer a sense of
inferiority. He also believes that in reality, not everybody is equal, citing
numerous examples where differences between people are plainly seen.
However, Atticus holds the belief that the court is the place where all men,
regardless of their natural differences, are treated equally. His belief is the
crucial point in his summary of the case to the jury, wherein he encourages
the men to put aside their assumption held about blacks, and free Tom
Robinson.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 21
Question
What does Jem expect the verdict to be? Does Atticus think the same?

Response
Jem, who believes that Maycomb society is pure and devoid of any evil or
prejudice, believes that the jury would see through the plaintiff’s
circumstantial evidence and free Tom Robinson. Atticus, on the other hand,
having seen previous court cases where black men were convicted based on
the many assumptions made by white men about the blacks, believes that
the jury would still unanimously convict Tom Robinson. He even believes that
the jury would have reached their verdict before Jem, Scout and Dill come
back from their supper.

Question
What is unusual about how long it takes the jury to reach a verdict? Is the
verdict predictable or not?

Response
Compared to previous cases involving a black man being convicted, the jury
presiding over Tom Robinson’s court case did not easily convicted. Instead,
they took the whole time from just before supper till about 11 o’clock to
deliberate over the evidence and what Atticus had said about the jury being
the one place where ‘all men are created equal’. As a result, most of the men
and women among the audience found it difficult to predict the jury’s verdict.
Even Jem, who initially believed that the jury would unanimously decide to
set Tom Robinson free, only answered that ‘there are things that [Scout] just
[doesn’t] understand’ when Scout asked him why the jury took so long.
Question
As Scout waits for the verdict, she thinks of earlier events. What are these
and how do they remind us of the novel’s central themes?

Response

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 22
Question
Although Atticus did not want his children in court, he defends Jem right to
know what has happened. Explain, in your own words, Atticus’s reasons for
this.

Response
Instead of blaming the children for coming to observe Tom Robinson’s trial,
Atticus blames himself, saying that since he wanted to defend Tom Robinson
in this case, the children would just have to learn to cope with the
consequences. He also adds that the Tom Robinson trial was just as
important to Maycomb County as missionary teas, referring to Aunt
Alexandra’s missionary teas, hence Jem had a valid reason for attending the
court case.

Question
Why does Dill say that he will be a clown when he grows up? Do you think he
will keep his ambition for long?

Response

Question
Why does Bob Ewell feel so angry with Atticus? Do you think his threat is a
real one?

Response
Although he won the court case against Tom Robinson in the end, he was
publically humiliated by Atticus, as the audience in the court realized that
Mayella Ewell had actually kissed a black man contrary to her testimonial.
This act ruined the ‘last shred of credibility, if he had any to begin with’. By
spitting in Atticus’ face, he indirectly issued a threat to Atticus’, on top of
verbally threatening Atticus. This shows that Bob Ewell really meant it when
he said that he would get Atticus even if it took him the rest of his life.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 23
Question
What do you think of Atticus’s reaction to Bob Ewell’s challenge? Should he
have ignored Bob, retaliated, or done something else?

Response
Instead of acting against Bob Ewell, Atticus simply wished that ‘Bob Ewell
wouldn’t chew tobbaco.

Question
What does Atticus tell Scout about why the jury took so long to convict Tom?

Response
Atticus reasoned that one of the men on the jury was related to the
Cunningham family, and ‘in the beginning was rarin’ for an outright acquittal’.

Question
At the end of this chapter, Jem forms a new theory about why Boo Radley has
never left his house in years. What is this? How likely is it to be true, in your
opinion?

Response
At the end of the chapter, Jem wonders why the blacks and whites cannot get
along with each other, before coming to the conclusion that Boo Radley
remained shut up in the house because he did not want to be related with the
Maycomb society.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 24
Question
Compare the reactions of Miss Maudie and the other ladies when Scout says
she is wearing her “britches” under her dress.

Response
When Scout mistakenly gave an embarrassing answer to Miss Maudie’s
question, the other ladies laughed, believing it to be a joke, embarrassing
Scout as her ‘cheeks grew hot’. However, Miss Maudie looked sternly at
Scout instead, understanding her predicament. This shows how close Miss
Maudie and Scout were in comparison to the other ladies in the Missionary
circle.

Question
Explain briefly how Tom was killed. What is Atticus’s explanation for Tom’s
attempted escape? Do you agree with Atticus?

Response
Tom Robinson was shot while trying to escape during the prison exercise
period.

Question
How, in this chapter do we see Aunt Alexandra in a new light? How does Miss
Maudie support her?

Response
When Mrs. Merriweather made a snide remark about Atticus’s defending of a
black man, Miss Maudie defended Atticus out of anger, silencing the ladies of
the missionary circle. Later, Aunt Alexandra was seen ‘giving Miss Maudie a
look of pure gratitude’, expression her thankfulness of Miss Maudie for saving
her embarrassment. This is despite both women never really being close.
Through the events of the missionary circle, the author reveals yet another
perspective of Aunt Alexandra not previously encountered, that where she is
restrained and refuses to voice her opinion against the other ladies in the
missionary circle.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 25
Question
How does Maycomb react to news of Tom’s death?

Response
When news first spread, the Maycomb County residents initially showed some
interest in Tom Robinson’s death. However, after a few days, the initial shock
had died down, as Maycomb eventually realized that ‘Tom’s death was
typical’ in the sense that all ‘[nigger’s] cut and run’ with ‘no plan [or] thought
for the future’. This comparison also shows the reader that many deaths just
like Tom Robinson’s have occurred before, caused by the prejudice against
innocent blacks.

Question
Comment on the idea that Tom’s death was “typical”.

Response
The author uses the word typical to indirectly illustrate to the reader the fact
that so many other innocent blacks have died, just like Tom Robinson, due to
racial prejudice, that the white folk of Maycomb County have become almost
indifferent to the welfare of the blacks, with the death of one being merely a
statistic.

Question
Why did Jem not want Scout to tell Atticus about Bob Ewell’s comment? Was
this a wise thing to ask her to do?

Response

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 26
Question
In her lesson on Hitler, Miss Gates says that “we (American people) don’t
believe in persecuting anyone “. What seems odd to the reader about this
claim?

Response
Perhaps in an effort to highlight the difference between Hitler and America
and to garner negative feelings towards Hitler, Miss Gates uses the example
of racism when a student posed a question to her, stating that America is a
democracy in the sense that Americans are not prejudiced against anyone,
whereas the reader can find it ironic as racism has been demonstrated by
Maycomb County residents in many past events in the novel, specifically that
of the whites towards the blacks.

Question
Why is Scout puzzled by Miss Gates’ disapproval of Hitler?

Response
Scout was puzzled at Miss Gates’ reaction towards Hitler, ‘[getting] real red in
the face about it]”, in contrast with her behaviour outside the courthouse
after Tom Robinson’s court case, where she said that ‘[it was] time somebody
taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above
themselves, an' the next thing they think they can do is marry us’, referring
to the blacks in particular. This contradicts her earlier statement about
America being a democracy and not having any prejudice against any
particular group of people.

Question
Why does Scout’s question upset Jem? Is there a simple answer, or any
answer to that question?

Response
Jem has a very high expectation of people around him, believing them to be
unprejudiced against anyone. However, after the jury of Tom Robinson’s
court case declared him to be guilty, even though it was obvious that Bob
and Mayella Ewell were lying, Jem saw a new perspective of Maycomb
County, that of prejudice against the blacks. As he was still young, he was
unwilling to change his viewpoint and found it hard to accept reality, hence
his refusal to talk about anything related to the court case.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 27
Question
What three things does Bob Ewell do that alarms Aunt Alexandra?

Response
Firstly, when Bob Ewell lost his job at the WPA in a matter of days, he openly
blamed Atticus of stealing his job, worrying the welfare lady so that she
personally informed Atticus of this. Secondly, Bob Ewell attempted to break
into Judge Taylor’s house during churchtime. Although it is not directly
implied that Bob Ewell was the person, Aunt Alexandra later reveals that it
was Ewell who broke into Judge Taylor’s house. Lastly, Bob Ewell had been
harassing Helen Robinson, the wife of Tom Robinson ever since she started
her new job with Mr. Link Deas. Although Mr. Ewell eventually stopped, Aunt
Alexandra highlighted that he had a grudge against all people related to the
court case and that Atticus might be next.
Question
Why, according to Atticus, does Bob Ewell bear a grudge? Which people does
Ewell see as his enemies, and why?

Response
Although Bob Ewell won the court case, Atticus said that he knew that most
people in Maycomb County could see through his story. As such, he felt
humiliated and had the impulse to get back at the persons responsible,
chiefly Judge Taylor and Atticus. Bob Ewell already began harassing Helen
Robinson, the wife of Tom Robinson, and eventually tried to break into Judge
Taylor’s house unsuccessfully. Although he was too cowardly to attack Atticus
himself, he had no qualms about attacking Atticus’s children, as he would do
later in the novel.

Question
What was the purpose of the Halloween pageant? What practical joke had
persuaded the grown ups to have an organized event?

Response
The purpose of the Halloween pageant was to ensure that no child would
carry out a Halloween trick that could go out of control. Their decision was
influenced by a practical joke played on Miss Tutti and Miss Frutti Barber,
where some boys broke into their house and hid every single piece of
furniture in their cellar. Following a lengthy investigation by Heck Tate, it was
later revealed that the furniture was actually in the Barber cellar, causing
much inconvenience among the Maycomb residents.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 28
Question
Comment on the way this chapter reminds the reader of earlier events in the
novel.

Response
The author brings the earlier events that the Finch children have experienced
in the earlier parts of the novel to the attention of the reader through Jem
and Scout’s conversation as they make their way to the school auditorium. As
they walk, Jem teased Scout when she asked why she couldn’t go to school
herself, pointing out their childhood curiosity for superstitions like haints and
hot steam. The purpose of this is to show how the Finch children have
matured, as they look back later in life and comment how childish they were.
Likewise, when the pair passed by Radley Place, Scout recalls their ‘many
fights and furtive crap games’.

Question
Scout decides to keep her costume while walking home. How does this affect
her understanding of what happens on the way?

Response
As Scout was still wearing her costume on the way home, she could hardly
see out of the costume. This was shown in the encounter with an adult male
asking if they would like a ride home after the concert. As Scout could only
hear in the costume, she only heard Jem declining his offer, but could not
actually see who the male was. This also affects her understanding of the Bob
Ewell’s attack. When she heard a man getting up to hit Bob Ewell, unable to
see, she assumed that it was Jem, whereas it was later revealed that Jem had
broke his arm. It is more probable that Boo Radley was the man who got up
to defend the children, however Scout wouldn’t have assumed so.
Question
Why had Atticus not brought a chair for the man in the corner? Who might
this stranger be?

Response
Atticus was perhaps caught up in the chaos that ensued when Jem and Scout
were brought safely back to his house following Bob Ewell’s attack. It is also
later revealed that he had not expected Bob Ewell to harass his family
anymore, following his threats. Furthermore, Aunt Alexandra had shaded
Jem’s reading light with a towel and the room was dim. This would have
made it much harder for the already anxious Atticus to realize that there was
a man in the corner. As Scout pointed out that the stranger was ‘probably
more comfortable were he is’, we can safely assume that the stranger is none
other than Boo Radley, who is not accustomed to bright lights.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 29
Question
What explanation does Atticus give for Bob Ewell’s attack?

Response
When Heck Tate pointed out the cut mark in Scout’s costume where Bob
Ewell tried to stab the children, Atticus was in shock, commenting that any
person would have to be ‘out of [their] minds’ to kill children, refusing to
believe that a man would have thoughts of harming innocent children.

Question
What does Heck Tate give us as the reason for Bob Ewell’s attack?

Response
When Atticus commented that Bob Ewell must have been mad and crazy to
think of killing children, Heck Tate offered another explanation, saying that
Mr. Ewell could have been drunk enough to plot his attack. He also
highlighted the fact Bob Ewell tried to break into Judge Taylor’s house and
repeatedly harassed Helen Robinson out of humiliation after the court case,
hence he could possibly do much worse to Atticus and the Finch children.

Question
Do you think the sheriff’s explanation or Atticus’s is the more likely to be
true?

Response
It appears that Heck Tate’s explanation is more likely to be true. Bob Ewell
has demonstrated his capabilities of harming people countless times when he
swore revenge against most of the people related to the court case out of
humiliation. For example, he attempted to break into Judge Taylor’s home,
later choosing to harass Helen Robinson, Tom Robinson’s wife. Furthermore,
when Tom Robinson was revealed to have died, he was heard muttering,
“one down, two to go”. Although he was too cowardly to attack Atticus, he
decided to go after Atticus’s children, which led to the events that night.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 30
Question
Who does Atticus think caused Bob Ewell’s death?

Response
Atticus thought that Jem had inadvertently stabbed Bob Ewell whilst trying to
get him off Scout. He based this assumption on Scout’s account of the events
that took place. After Jem broke his arm, Bob Ewell attempted to kill Scout.
Following that, Scout felt someone yank Bob Ewell off her and naturally
assumed that person to be Jem, since she thought that no one else was
around. She probably also did not expect that the person who saved her was
Boo Radley as she had hardly seen him and did not think much of him,
almost forgetting him ever since she stopped the role-plays of the Radley
family with Jem and Dill.

Question
Why does Heck Tate insist that Bob Ewell’s death was self-inflicted? In what
way was this partly true?

Response
Heck Tate is a good friend of Atticus’s and perhaps might be inclined to do
him a favour, especially since it was Atticus who helped him shoot Tim
Johnson, the mad dog, earlier in the novel. However, Scouts account of the
events that happened that night was based on what she perceived had
happened. As she was stuck in her costume, she could only hear what had
happened and assumed that the man who got up to hit Bob Ewell was Jem,
whereas it was later revealed that Jem had broke his arm. Furthermore,
whilst Atticus and Heck Tate were arguing amongst themselves, Scout
acknowledged that she thought that Jem had yanked Bob Ewell off herself.
Question
How does the writer handle, at the end of the story, of Boo Radley?

Response
The author speaks of Boo Radley as a shy, almost nocturnal creature, being
slightly afraid of bright places and seldom talking, preferring instead to
express his feelings through facial expressions. The other characters also
treat him as such. When Atticus met Heck Tate in his house, he invited all of
them outside to the front porch, where the light was less intense than in the
living room. Scout also eventually realizes Boo’s preference for dark places,
leading him to the chair furthest from Atticus and Heck Tate, in a deep
shadow.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Chapter 31
Question
How do the events of the final chapters explain the first sentence in the
whole novel?

Response
The first sentence in the whole novel introduces the reader to the final events
in the novel, where Jem broke his arm after Bob Ewell’s assault on the Finch
children. Scout, the narrator, later goes on to describe her discussion with
Jem as to when the events leading to Jem’s accident actually started. Through
this, the author illustrates the difference between Jem and Scout’s
understanding of their surroundings, where Scout has a simpler
understanding than Jem, believing that the accident only started with the
Ewells whereas Jem can see much further back, claiming that the events
leading to the accident started when Dill arrived in Maycomb County.
Question
How does Scout make sense of an earlier remark of Atticus’s as she stands
on the Radley porch?

Response
When Scout could not get along with her first grade teacher, Miss Fisher,
Atticus told her that ‘you never really understand a person until you consider
things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in
it’. Although Scout later saw from Miss Fisher’s point of view, with help from
Atticus, she wasn’t able to understand Boo Radley’s ways until the end of the
novel, as she, Jem and Dill frequently made fun of him in their ‘reenactments‘
of the Radley family history. It was only when she stood on the Radley porch
when she saw all the events from the start of the novel as Boo Radley himself
would have seen.

Question
At the end of the novel, Atticus reads to Scout. Comment on his choice of
story. Does it have any connection with themes earlier in the novel and in its
ending?

Response
At the end of the novel, Atticus reads to Scout a story called The Grey Ghost,
where some characters assumed that Stoner’s Boy had messed up their
clubhouse and chased him although they did not know what he was like. In
the end, ‘when they finally saw him, [how] he hadn’t done any of those
things, [they found that] he was real nice’. In a sense, Boo Radley is similar to
Stoner’s Boy, since he was plagued by superstitions made by the
townspeople about him and was discovered to be nice and gentle by the end
of the novel.

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