To Kill a Mockingbird

Chapters 1-4

READING CHECK

1. In what town and state do Scout and Jem live?

Answer: Maycomb, Alabama

2. What is the name of Jem and Scout’s father?

Answer: Atticus Finch

3. What is Jem and Scout’s father’s occupation?

Answer: Lawyer

4. What is the name of the Finch’s cook/housekeeper?

Answer: Calpurnia

5. What is the name of Miss Rachel’s nephew who comes to visit each summer?

Answer: Dill (full name: Charles Baker Harris)

6. What is Scout’s full name?

Answer: Jean Louise Finch

QUIZ

1. What happened to Jem and Scout’s mother?

A) She died giving birth to Scout.

B) She died of a sudden heart attack.

C) She and Atticus are divorced.

D) She died in a car accident.

2. What is curious about the Radley house?

A) it’s abandoned

B) it’s haunted

C) The Radley’s son died there.

D) The Radley’s son lives there, but he never comes out.

3. What pretend game do Scout, Jem, and Dill play all summer?

A) They pretend to be circus animals.

B) They pretend to be Miss Maudie, tending her garden.

C) They pretend to be lawyers at a trial.

D) They pretend to be Boo Radley and his parents.

Discussion Suggestion: Use the above question to discuss the Radleys’ reputation. How does Atticus’s view of the Radley family seem to differ from the majority of the town’s, and why doesn’t he approve of the children’s pretend game?

4. Put Scout, Jem, and Dill in order of age, from oldest to youngest.

5. When Miss Caroline tries to lend Walter Cunningham a quarter to buy lunch, what does Scout explain about the Cunninghams’ reputation?

QUIZ ANSWERS

1. B. Scout’s mother died from a sudden heart attack; a condition that ran in her family. Jem was 6 years old, and Scout was 2 years old at the time.

2. D. When Arthur Radley got in trouble with the law at age 15, his father shut him in the house, and he has never been seen since, except for one incident in which he reportedly stabbed his father with a pair of scissors.

3. D. Dill is captivated by the story of Boo stabbing his father with a pair of scissors, and the children spend the summer acting out this scene and other imagined scenarios based on neighborhood gossip about the Radleys.

4. Jem, Dill, Scout

5. They don’t have much money, and they won’t accept money that they can’t pay back.

Chapters 5-8

READING CHECK

1. What does Jem use to try and deposit a letter on the Radley house window without entering the yard?

Answer: a fishing pole

2. What gets stuck on the fence when Jem, Dill, and Scout are running away from the Radley house after looking in the window?

Answer: Jem’s pants

3. What kind of unusual precipitation do they have in Maycomb?

Answer: snow

4. What happens to Miss Maudie’s house?

Answer: It catches on fire and burns down.

QUIZ

1. What surprises Jem when he goes to the Radley fence to retrieve his pants?

A) The pants are folded and mended.

B) The pants are gone.

C) Mr. Nathan Radley is waiting for him.

D) The pants have money in the pocket.

2. Which of the following do Jem and Scout find in the knot-hole of the tree?

A) ribbon

B) a magnifying glass

C) a pocket watch

D) lollipops

3. What happens to the knot-hole in the tree?

A) It gets larger.

B) It catches on fire.

C) It remains empty.

D) It gets filled in with cement.

Discussion Suggestion: When no one retrieves the twine in the knot-hole, Jem and Scout conclude that the items they find are meant for them. What other evidence supports their conclusion? Why does Jem cry after the knot-hole is filled in?

4. How does Jem build a snowman where there isn’t much snow on the ground?

5. Who places a blanket on Scout’s shoulders the night of the fire?

QUIZ ANSWERS

1. The pants are folded neatly across the fence, and the rip in the pants has been sewn up in an amateur fashion.

2. Other “gifts” in the knot-hole include chewing gum, twine, carved soap (that resembles Jem and Scout), a spelling contest medal, and pennies.

3. Nathan Radley fills the knot-hole with cement. When Jem asks about it, he claims that the tree is dying, and the cement will help the tree. However, Atticus states that the tree looks healthy.

4. Jem uses dirt to form the snowman, then he covers the dirt with a layer of snow, which he collects from the backyard, front yard, and Miss Maudie’s yard.

5. Boo Radley

Chapters 9-12

READING CHECK

1. Atticus is defending a Black man, and it stirs up controversy in the town. What is the man’s name?

Answer: Tom Robinson

2. What do Scout and Jem receive for Christmas?

Answer: air rifles; Jem also gets a chemistry set

3. What is the name of the family property where Scout, Jem, and Atticus go for Christmas?

Answer: Finch’s landing.

4. Scout obeys Atticus and doesn’t fight people who taunt her because of Atticus’s case, with one exception. Which family member does she get into a fight with?

Answer: Francis

5. What is the name of the Finch’s grumpy neighbor who sits on her porch and yells insults at Jem and Scout?

Answer: Mrs. Dubose

6. When Jem and Scout attend church with Calpurnia, who is the offering collected for?

Answer: Tom Robinson’s wife, Helen

7. How does the congregation at Calpurnia’s church sing without hymnals?

Answer: “Lining,” a person reads a line, and the congregation sings it

QUIZ

1. Aunt Alexandra lectures Atticus because Scout constantly wears:

A) Dresses

B) Shorts

C) Sandals

D) Overalls

2. How old is Atticus?

A) Nearly 50

B) In his 30s

C) Nearly 60

D) Nearly 70

3. Scout is disappointed that her father doesn’t seem to posses the talents other fathers have (hunting, fishing, playing football etc.) What hidden talent does she find out that he has the day the mad dog comes down the street?

4. What is Jem’s punishment for cutting off the tops of Mrs. Dubose’s camellia bushes?

5. When Mrs. Dubose passes away, what do Jem and Scout learn about her from Atticus?

QUIZ ANSWERS

1. D. Scout is characterized as a tomboy, and Aunt Alexandra wants her to be more ladylike, starting with the way she dresses.

2. A. Atticus’s age is somewhat surprising for how young his children are. His age keeps him from engaging in physical games with Scout and Jem, and they find it somewhat disappointing that he doesn’t have the same talents as other fathers.

3. Atticus is the best shot in the county. He hasn’t told Scout and Jem about this talent, nor has he fired a gun for 30 years. According to Miss Maudie, “People in their right minds never take pride in their talents” (98).

4. Jem has to read to Mrs. Dubose for two hours every day, except Sundays, for a month.

5. She was addicted to morphine. The reading sessions were a distraction for her as she broke herself of her addiction.

Chapters 13-16

READING CHECK

1. What family member comes to stay with Scout and Jem “for a while” (127)?

Answer: Aunt Alexandra

2. Who is hiding under the bed in Scout’s room?

Answer: Dill

3. On the day of the trial, where do Scout, Jem, and Dill find seats?

Answer: upstairs in the balcony with the Black community

Discussion Suggestion: Why must the Black people sit in the balcony seats of the courthouse? Why is it significant that Jem and Scout sit with the Black people rather than the white people?

4. What is the name of the judge who presides over the trial?

Answer: Judge Taylor

QUIZ

1. How does Scout’s relationship with Jem change as they grow older?

A) Jem shares more secrets with Scout.

B) Jem wants to be left alone more.

C) Jem plays with Scout more often.

D) Jem and Scout walk home from school together.

2. When Jem, Dill, and Scout sneak out at night and go into town, where do they find Atticus sitting?

A) in front of the jail

B) in front of the post office

C) in the middle of the town square

D) in his office

3. Scout recognizes one of the men in the group that confronts her father and tries to make conversation with him. What is his name?

A) Heck Tate

B) Mr. Underwood

C) Bob Ewell

D) Mr. Cunningham

Discussion Suggestion: Scout diffuses the tension of the confrontation without necessarily intending to. Why did her words to Mr. Cunningham have such a powerful effect on him?

4. What reason does Jem give for saying that a mixed child is sad?

QUIZ ANSWERS

1. B. Scout comments several times on how she and Jem don’t play together as much anymore, and that Jem often prefers to spend time alone.

2. A. Atticus knows the men of the town are likely to stir up trouble now that Tom Robinson has been moved to the Maycomb jail the night before the trial. He stands guard on Tom’s behalf.

3. D. Scout recognizes Mr. Cunningham and does what she’s been taught to do when she sees someone she knows. She’s friendly and tries to make conversation about something he is interested in: his son, Walter, and his entailment.

4. Jem says that a mixed child doesn’t belong anywhere. Neither white people nor Black people accept them. 

Chapters 17-20

READING CHECK

1. What is Heck Tate’s occupation?

Answer: sheriff

2. Is Mr. Ewell left- or right-handed? Why is this significant?

Answer: left-handed; Mayella’s right eye was beaten, an injury likely caused by a left-handed attacker.

3. What is the name of Mr. Ewell’s daughter?

Answer: Mayella Ewell

4. How old is she?

Answer: 19

5. What is unusual about Tom Robinson’s left arm?

Answer: it’s crippled

QUIZ

1. According to Tom Robinson’s testimony, on November 21, what did Mayella Ewell try to do to him?

A) hug and kiss him

B) hit him

C) convince him to do more work

D) pay him for his work

2. Why does Dill start crying during Mr. Gilmer’s cross-examination of Tom?        

A) He’s sick.

B) He misses his mom.

C) Scout said she wouldn’t marry him.

D) He doesn’t like the way Mr. Gilmer treats Tom.

3. What does Dill taste when he takes a drink from Mr. Dolphus Raymond’s paper bag covered bottle?

A) whiskey

B) bourbon

C) coca-cola

D) milk

4. Why does Mr. Dolphus Raymond pretend to be drunk when he comes to town?

QUIZ ANSWERS

1. A. Mayella was the one who initiated contact with Tom. All Tom could do was resist her advances and run.

2. D. Dill recognizes the condescension with which Mr. Gilmer questions Tom, and it bothers him deeply.

3. C. Mr. Raymond only pretends to be drinking whiskey, but in reality, he’s just drinking a Coke.

4. Mr. Raymond pretends to be drunk to give the townspeople an excuse for his choice to live with Black people.

Chapters 21-24

READING CHECK

1. What is the jury’s verdict in Tom Robinson’s case?

Answer: guilty

2. Does Scout feel more at home around women (like Aunt Alexandra and the missionary circle ladies) or around men (like Atticus, Jem, and Heck Tate)?

Answer: men

3. What sad news must Atticus deliver to Tom’s wife, Helen?

Answer: Tom is dead.

QUIZ

1. What gifts does Calpurnia find on the back steps when she comes to the Finch’s house the day after the trial?

A) food of all kinds

B) bags of clothing

C) a stuffed animal

D) all of the above

2. What does Bob Ewell do to Atticus after stopping him on the post office corner?

A) punches him

B) spits on him and threatens him

C) holds him at gunpoint

D) all of the above

3. Aunt Alexandra won’t allow Scout to invite Walter Cunningham over. Why not?

A) She sees Walter as trash.

B) She’s afraid of Walter.

C) She doesn’t like having guests.

D) She’s too busy.

QUIZ ANSWERS

1. A. The Black community showers Atticus with gifts as a way to say thank you for his representation of Tom.

2. B. Bob Ewell tells Atticus, “he’d get him if it took the rest of his life” (217) after spitting in Atticus’s face.

3. A. Aunt Alexandra takes great pride in the Finch family ancestry, and she sees other families as too low-class to associate with.

Chapters 25-28

READING CHECK

1. What part does Scout play in the school pageant?

Answer: ham

2. What holiday is the pageant on?

Answer: Halloween

3. Who accompanies Scout to the pageant?

Answer: Jem

QUIZ

1. What topic does Cecil Jacobs choose for his current event at school?

A) The Great Depression

B) the Tom Robinson trial

C) Hitler’s persecution of the Jews

D) the upcoming school pageant

Discussion Suggestion: Scout’s teacher, Miss Gates, makes a distinction between Germany and America, saying, “Over here we don’t believe in persecuting anybody” (245). How are her comments ironic?

2. Why is Scout embarrassed after the pageant?

A) She forgot her lines.

B) Her costume fell off.

C) She came onstage at the wrong time.

D) She fell off the stage.

3. On their way home from the pageant, who do Scout and Jem think is following them at first?

A) Atticus

B) Bob Ewell

C) Dill

D) Cecil Jacobs

4. Who actually attacked Jem and Scout?

5. What happened to Mr. Ewell?

QUIZ ANSWERS

1. C. Cecil reports on Hitler’s persecution of the Jews, and Miss Gates uses it as an opportunity to emphasize the sinfulness of Hitler’s prejudice against the Jews and to contrast a dictatorship with a democracy.

2. C. Scout fell asleep backstage and missed her cue.

3. D. Cecil scared them earlier in the evening, and he’s been known to repeat the same joke multiple times.

4. Mr. Ewell

5. He dies, having been stabbed with a kitchen knife.

Chapters 29-31

READING CHECK

1. Who were the two people following Jem and Scout?

Answer: Bob Ewell and Arthur (Boo) Radley

2. What injury does Jem have?

Answer: a broken arm (and a bump on his head)

3. Who does Atticus first believe is responsible for Mr. Ewell’s death?

Answer: Jem

QUIZ

1. Who is Scout surprised to recognize standing in the corner of Jem’s room?

A)   Walter Cunningham

B)   Dr. Reynolds

C)    Heck Tate

D)   Boo Radley

2. How does Heck Tate assert that Mr. Ewell died?

A)   Jem killed him.

B)   Scout killed him.

C)    Mr. Ewell had a heart attack.

D)   Mr. Ewell tripped and fell on his knife.

3. What do Atticus and Sheriff Tate disagree about?

4. Who actually stabbed Mr. Ewell?

QUIZ ANSWERS

1. D. Although Scout doesn’t know who he is at first, once she takes in his white skin and gray eyes, she realizes it’s her neighbor, Boo Radley.

2. D. Heck Tate claims that it was too dark to see anything, and that Bob Ewell must have tripped over a tree root and fallen on his knife.

3. Atticus believes Jem killed Mr. Ewell in self-defense, and he won’t allow Sherriff Tate to cover up the truth by suggesting that Mr. Ewell killed himself.

4. Boo Radley stabbed Mr. Ewell while defending Jem and Scout.