To Kill a Mockingbird

Question 1

When does The Civil Rights Movement begin in Alabama?

Answer 1

1954

Question 2

When was TKAM published?

Answer 2

1960

Question 3

What date is TKAM set?

Answer 3

1933-5

Question 4

What is the town TKAM is set in?

Answer 4

Maycomb

Question 5

What problems are in Maycomb?

Answer 5

• economic depression
• racial segregation
• prejudice against African-Americans

Question 6

Who is the narrator in the story?

Answer 6

Scout

Question 7

What type of narration is TKAM?

Answer 7

First person narrative

Question 8

What is Scout’s real name?

Answer 8

Jean Louise Finch

Question 9

In Ch1, how old are Jem and Scout?

Answer 9

Jem is almost ten and Scout is nearly six

Question 10

Where is Dill originally from?

Answer 10

Mississippi

Question 11

How is Maycomb described on p11?

Answer 11

“old” and “tired” but also with hope (it was a time of “vague optimism”)

Question 12

Why is TKAM a bildungsroman?

Answer 12

It deals with the main character growing up

Question 13

In Ch1, what were the rumours about Boo Radley?

Answer 13

• “peeped in windows”
• “stealthy crimes were his work”
• “A Negro would not pass the Radley Place at night”
• “Boo drove the scissors into his parent’s leg”

Question 14

How does Ch1 introduce the racial background?

Answer 14

• history of black slaves in Alabama
• Simon Finch (ancestor) bought 3 slaves

Question 15

What do you learn in Ch1 about their parents?

Answer 15

Atticus’ wife died when Scout was two and Atticus played the role of both parents- “he played with us, read to us, and treated us with courteous detachment”

Question 16

Who is Calpurnia?

Answer 16

The African-American housekeeper

Question 17

In Ch1, how is Atticus shown as being different?

Answer 17

• leaving Finch’s Landing
• breaking family tradition by setting himself up as a lawyer
• treats African-Americans with respect

Question 18

In Ch2, what does Scout start for the first time?

Answer 18

School

Question 19

Who is their teacher and where is she from?

Answer 19

Miss Caroline Fisher from North Alabama, Winston County

Question 20

What does the story Miss Caroline read to them suggest about her?

Answer 20

She has is a naive outsider who has no understanding of the children and their backgrounds. They know that the story is not true and they cannot relate to it. “Wriggling like a bucketful of catawba worms”

Question 21

Why does Miss Caroline not like the fact that Scout can read?

Answer 21

“Try to undo the damage” suggests that she wants to teach the children her way and it surprised her that anybody could read

Question 22

How does Walter Cunningham’s introduction in Ch2 show his background?

Answer 22

• “he had hookworms” and “barefoot in barn-yards and hog wallows” shows that he must come from a farming family (affected by Depression)
• “clean shirt and neatly mended overalls” shows how although he is from a poor family, they respect and care about education

Question 23

Why does Walter Cunningham not accept money?

Answer 23

“Miss Caroline, he’s a Cunningham” and “The Cunninghams never took anything they can’t pay back” shows that although they are poor, they have a sense of pride

Question 24

What is mentioned about the Depression in Ch2?

Answer 24

“The Cunninghams are country folks, farmers, and the crash hit them the hardest”

Question 25

What did Scout do to Walter in Ch3 and what did Jem do after?

Answer 25

Scout starts a fight with Walter and Jem offers Walter to eat lunch at their home.

Question 26

What does Scout say during their lunch with Walter and what did Calpurnia do?

Answer 26

“He’s gone and drowned his dinner in syrup”

Calpurnia scolds Scout and teaches her a lesson about manners - that it is important to be tolerant of other people’s ways and speech even though they may be different from your own.

Question 27

How is Burris Ewell first introduced in Ch3?

Answer 27

• Miss Caroline feared the “cootie” in Burris’ hair
• “filthiest human I had ever seen”

Question 28

What do you learn about the Ewells in Ch3?

Answer 28

“Whole school’s full of ‘em. They come first day every year and then leave.”

Question 29

What do you learn about Burris’ personality from Ch3?

Answer 29

• “You try and make me, missus” shows how rude he is
• “Ain’t no snot-nosed slut” and the fact that he made her cry shows how he has no manners and comes from a bad family

Question 30

What does Atticus teach Scout in Ch3?

Answer 30

“You never really understand a person… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (p35)

Question 31

How does Scout and Atticus describe the Ewells in Ch3?

Answer 31

• “Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations”
• “They were people, but they lived like animals”
• “Man spendshis relief checks on green whisky”