To kill a mockingbird Flashcards
About trying to understand people
“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.”
Atticus Finch Ch.3
About something in one mans hand can be dangerous but in another’s not.
“You are too young to understand it … but sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whiskey bottle in the hand of–oh, of your father”
Miss Maudie Atkinson Ch.5
Atticus on why he defended Tom
“For a number of reasons,’ I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.”
Atticus Ch. 9
Atticus giving Jack advice on children
“When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness’ sake.” Atticus Finch Ch.9
about perseverence
‘Simply because we were licked a hundred times before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.’
Atticus, Ch. 9
Frances ranting bout atticus
“Grandma says it’s bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he’s turned out a nigger-lover we’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb again. He’s ruining the family, that’s what he’s doing.”
Francis, Ch. 9
dont hurt the innocent
“Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
Atticus Finch Ch.10
About Atticus being brave
“It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.” Scout Ch.11
do what you think is right
“The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” Atticus Finch Ch.11
whats courage
‘I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.’
Atticus, Ch. 11
atticus on humanity
‘That proves something – that a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because they’re still human.’ (Atticus, ch. 16)
Maudie about atticus everywhere
‘He’s the same on the court-room as he is on public streets.’ (Miss Maudie’s phrase, ch 19)
Bob threatening atticus
‘This morning Mr Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post-office corner, spat in his face, and told him he’d get him if it took the rest of his life.’ Miss Crawford reported- p239
different types of people
‘There’s four kinds of folks in the world. There’s the ordinary kind like us and the neighbours, there’s the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes.’ (Jem trying to work out the different sections of society, ch. 23)
tom being typical
‘To Maycomb Tom’s death was typical. Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger’s mentality to have no plan.’ (Scout narrating about the effect of Tom’s death on Maycomb - p265, ch.25)
likening toms death
‘He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children.’ (Mr Underwood’s opinion, ch.25)
about atticus’ chances
‘In the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no chance. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth.’
Scout talking about Atticus’ chances in winning the court case – ch. 26
about the attack at end
‘We were nearly to the road when I felt Jem’s hand leave me, felt him jerk backwards to the ground. More scuffling and there came a dull screaching sound and Jem screamed. I ran in the direction of Jem’s scream and sank into a flabby male stomach. Its owner said ‘Uff!’ and tried to catch my arms, but they were tightly pinioned. His stomach was soft but his arms were like steel. He slowly squeezed the breath out of me.’
Scout describing being attacked - p 289
Heck singing let it go
‘There’s a black boy dead for no reason, and the man responsible for it’s dead. Let the dead bury the dead this time Mr Finch. Let the dead bury the dead’
This is Heck Tate telling Atticus not to take any action but to let it go – p304
scout finally understands understanding someone
‘Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.’
(narrator, ch.31)
Describing maycomb
“Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town” narrator Ch.1
maudie on atticus’ hard job
‘I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them.’
Ms Maudie to Jem and Scout describing their father as a good man - p237
Home no matter what
‘But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home.’
Atticus, Ch. 9
Scout sayingher father couldnt beat around the bush
‘I know now what he was trying to do, but Atticus was only a man. It takes a woman to do that kind of work.’ (narrator, ch.13).
atticus on hoping things dont get bitter
“I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb’s usual disease. Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up is something I don’t pretend to understand.”
Atticus, Ch. 9
