Midterm Exam TKAM

Question 1

1. What is the setting of the story? Be specific as to time (year), place (city and state) and locale

Answer 1

Maycomb, Alabama during the early 1930s (great depression)

Question 2

2. How would you describe “most people” in Maycomb?

Answer 2

Poor + Racist

Question 3

3. What is Atticus’ background? What does he do for a living? Who are his siblings? Why is he so well known and respected in the town?

Question 4

4. What is the first line (paragraph) in the story and why is it significant?

Answer 4

“When he was nearly thirteen my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.” This indicates the last event of the book. The story ends where it started.

Question 5

5. Who is Dill Harris?

Answer 5

Scout and Jem’s best friend. Stays in Maycomb during the summer break. Comes from Mississippi to stay with aunt Rachel. Lives next door.

Question 6

6. Identify the following people: Calpurnia, Stephanie Crawford, Maudie Adams, Walter Cunningham, Sr., the Ewell family, Miss Caroline, Heck Tate, and Mrs. Dubose.

Question 7

7. Who is Boo Radley?

Answer 7

Arthur Radley

Question 8

8. How does Boo “communicate” with Scout, Jem, and Dill? Be specific

Answer 8

Gifts on a hole in his oak tree. Dill’s pants. Laughing at tire.

Question 9

9. What “game” does Atticus catch the kids playing?

Answer 9

The Boo Radley Game

Question 10

10. Why does Atticus tell Scout and Jem that “it is a sin to kill a mockingbird”? What does this metaphor represent?

Question 11

11. How does Jem lose his pants?

Answer 11

Got stuck on Radley fence.

Question 12

12. The night that Miss Maudie’s house burns down, what does (and how) Boo give to Scout?

Answer 12

Boo puts a blanket on their shoulder.

Question 13

13. Why does Atticus make Jem read to Mrs. Dubose every day for a month?

Question 14

14. Why does Atticus call Mrs. Dubose “the bravest person I’ve ever known”?

Question 15

15. What phrase does Atticus teach Scout about learning not to judge people?

Question 16

16. Why do the “boys of Old Sarum” go to the courthouse late at night?

Question 17

17. Why is Atticus asked to defend Tom Robinson?

Question 18

18. When Scout asks Atticus if he thinks he can win the trial, he says “no” What reason does he give for still trying to help him?

Question 19

19. Jem says that “mixed” (biracial) children “don’t belong anywhere.” What does he mean?

Question 20

20. What crime is Tom Robinson accused of doing?

Question 21

21. What important piece of evidence does Atticus get Bob Ewell to divulge?

Question 22

22. Why does Mayella Ewell think Atticus is making fun of her?

Question 23

23. What important piece of evidence does Atticus reveal about Tom Robinson that “proves” he is innocent?

Question 24

24.What question does Atticus ask Bob Ewell and Mayella several times? Why does he keep asking it?

Question 25

25. Why does Calpurnia show up at the end of the trial?

Question 26

26. What do the black people in the courthouse do as a sign of respect toward Atticus?

Question 27

27.During his final argument, Atticus says there is one human institution which makes us all equal. What is that institution?

Question 28

28. What happens to Tom Robinson after the trial?

Question 29

29. Who attacks Jem and Scout while they are walking home from a school presentation? Who “saves” Scout and Jem from their attacker?

Question 30

30. What “story” does Heck Tate create to explain what happened to Scout and Jem?