1. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

2. No, it is not a “how to” book

3. How is the South different than the rest of the country?
Language
Food
Customs
Religion
History
Climate
Race Relations

4. The Author Background info on Harper Lee: Born in 1926.
Raised in Monroeville, AL.
Her father was a lawyer.
His name was Francis Finch.

5. Lee and Capote Capote and Lee: Grew up with Truman Capote.
Based character Dill on Capote.
Capote dedicated his most famous book, In Cold Blood to Harper Lee.

6. The Author Lee Later in life: The novel won Pulitzer Prize in 1961
Awarded honorary degrees.
Only published essays following TKAM.
Currently splits her time between New York City and Monroeville.

7. Where did she get the idea?
Where did Harper Lee get the idea for her novel?
A case in Scottsboro, AL
2 white women accused an African American man of raping them.
Only received lawyer the day of the trial.

8. Scottsboro Case Cont… No physical evidence of a rape.
Medical testimony said no rape.
All white jury still convicted them.

9. Setting Setting: In Maycomb, AL In 1930s During the Great Depression
Novel is set during the time of complete segregation.

10. Class System Class System: Land class Educated class The townspeople
The farmers
The poor white trash
The African Americans

11. Southern Society African American Nannies: Took care of children
Cleaned
Cooked
Handled most of the discipline.

12. Southern Society Southern Ladies: look pretty,
Participate in ladies groups,
Supervise the running of the household.

13. Southern Society Small Towns: everyone knows you,
church is the center of the social scene,
not much entertainment,
everybody knows everybody’s business,
You are judged by your family.

14. Literary Terms
Sub Plot: A small plot within a novel/play that helps to support or build the main plot.
Main plot: The trial of Tom Robinson
Sub Plot: Mrs. Dubose, the fire, the kids and Boo, etc…

15. Main Characters Jean Louise “Scout” Finch: six years old, tomboy
Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch: 10 years old
Atticus Finch: Dad, widower, Lawyer
Dill: Friend who visit in the summer
Arthur “Boo” Radley: Scary guy who lives next door

16. Chapter 1 POV: First Person-Scout tells the story Main Characters:
Jem: Ten years old at the start of the novel
Scout: Six years old at the start of the novel
Atticus: Lawyer, widower, nearly fifty

17. Chapter 1 Main Characters cont…:
Calpurnia: The children’s nanny, African American, worked for the family for years
Dill: Staying w/ his Aunt Stephanie for the summer, single parent home

18. Chapter 1 Main characters cont… Boo Radley (according to Jem):
Seven feet tall
Eats raw squirrels and cats
Has fangs
Is a peeping Tom
Drools

19. Chapter 1 Boo Radley, the real story: Got in w/ the wrong crowd
Got arrested for being wild
Family would not send him to the reform school

20. Chapter 1 Boo’s story cont… Put in the courthouse basement
Almost died from the mildew
Went and was home-never seen again
Stabbed his father in the leg w/ scissors

21. Chapter 1 Dill gets the idea of trying to get Boo to come out
To prove his bravery, Jem runs up and slaps the house—not very mature!

22. CHAPTER 2 1st grade: filled with kids of all ages,
Town kids go straight through school.
Farming kids keep working at home and are never able to advance

23. Chapter 2 It is Scout’s and Miss Caroline’s first day of school
Miss Caroline’s Mistakes:
Was mad at Scout for being able to read and write.
Points out student w/ no lunch,
Pat with ruler
Sticks children in corner

24. Chapter 2 She Doesn’t understand her kids: most of them are farm kids
they just don’t get the cat story
the Cunningham's don’t take charity

25. Chapter 3 Scout takes her frustration out on Walter Cunningham
Jem invites him over for supper
Scout, again, gets in trouble because of her big mouth

26. Chapter 3 Miss Caroline does not understand Burris! The Ewells:
Mother is dead
Dad is a drunk
Kids are filthy
They live in the dump
The kids don’t go to school
The town looks the other way

27. Chapter 4 Who is leaving things in the knothole? Why?
Jem gets Scout back for making fun of him (mature?)
What does Scout hear in the house?
Playing Boo Radley in the front yard (mature?).

28. Chapter 5 Miss Maudie: Treats the kids with respect Loves her garden
Widow
Rents a room to Mr. Avery
Lives across the street from the Finches

29. Chapter 5
Scout is having problems with her fiancé. How does she try to solve them? (mature?)
Miss Maudie explains a bit more about the Radley’s
Atticus catches the kids playing “Boo Radley”
Jem’s response was very mature!

30. Chapter 6 What do the kids wait to see Mr. Avery do?
The kids decide to look in Boo’s window
Mr. Nathan fires a gun at the kids
Jem gets stuck in the fence
Dill is able to think on his feet
Jem goes back at night to get his pants

31. Chapter 7 More things found in the tree
The kids decide to write a thank you note
What happened the night Jem went back to get his pants?
Mr. Nathan fills up the knothole
Why is Jem so upset?

32. Chapter 8 It snows! Jem builds a snowman. What does show about Jem?
What is an absolute morphodite?

33. Chapter 8 Miss Maudie’s house catches fire
What does Atticus think to save?
Scout gets a blanket from who?
Why doesn’t Jem want to return it?
How does this show maturity?

34. Chapter 9 Why is the town so mad at Atticus?
Scout is told to stop fighting and she has some success
Uncle Jack comes for Christmas
Scout is still trying to get out of going to school (mature?)
What is the rule about the air rifles?

35. Chapter 9 Aunt Alexandra: Atticus’ older sister
Believes Scout should behave like a “proper lady”
Not a “kid“ person
She is a cold person

36. Chapter 9 Uncle Jimmy: Married to Aunt Alexandra
“Buys cotton” (does nothing)
Has spoken to Scout once in her whole life

37. Chapter 9
Francis:
Aunt Alexandra’s grandson
Prissy
Tattletale
Mean

38. Chapter 9 Francis calls Atticus a hateful name
Scout responds by calling Francis a whorelady and beating him up
Uncle Jack sides with Francis until he hears the whole story.

39. Chapter 9
Uncle Jack and Atticus have a talk at the end of the chapter:
Why does Atticus want Scout to hear the whole thing?
What is in store for the kids?

40. Chapter 10 The kids think Atticus is just too old There is a mad dog
What do the kids learn about Atticus?
Why doesn’t Jem want tell everyone?
How does this show maturity?

41. Chapter 11 Mrs. Dubose: Really old Really mean
Supposedly has a confederate pistol in her lap
Hates Atticus for defending Tom Robinson

42. Chapter 11 Jem Snaps. What does he do?
How does he have to make amends?
Atticus tells Jem that Mrs. Dubose teaches an important lesson: The meaning of courage.

43. Chapter 11
“I wanted you to see something about her-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.”

44. Chapter 11
“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. Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety eight pounds of her” (Lee 112)

45. Chapter 12 Calpurnia’s Church: Scout learns:
Calpurnia has another life,
Most African Americans in Maycomb can’t read.

46. Chapter 12 Church is strong and caring,
No white people will hire Helen Robinson,
Atticus is well respected w/in the African American community

47. Chapter 13 Aunt Alexandra’s definition of a proper Lady and Gentleman:
Dress nicely
Come from a land owning family,
Hire people to work your land,
Own land on the river
Have good manners,
It’s about how you look not who you are

48. Chapter 13 What do you think Atticus’ definition would be?
Why does Atticus tell Scout that it is not time to worry yet?

49. Chapter 14 How has Jem separated himself from the younger kids?
What is under Scout’s bed?
Why doesn’t Boo run away?

50. Chapter 14 Atticus as a parent: Gives his children attention.
Makes them feel needed and important.

51. Chapter 15
Mob Scene:
Violent tradition of lynching African Amer. Without a trial.
Who is in the mob?
Why does a mob operate differently from individuals?
How does Scout stop them?

52. Chapter 15 Is Jem mature in this chapter? Goes to protect his father
Refuses to leave when told to
Why does Atticus muss Jem’s hair at the end of the chapter?

53. Chapter 16
Maycomb county values conformity: be like everyone else, follow the social norms.
Dolphus Raymond
His white fiancé killed herself
Lives with African Americans

54. Chapter 16 Drinks out of a paper sack Has “mixed children” Is wealthy
Why does Jem think the Raymond kids are sad?
Where do the Jem, Scout and Dill sit to watch the trial?
What does this tell us about them and Atticus?

55. Chapter 17 Important Testimony from Heck Tate (the sheriff)
No doctor was called
Mayella was beaten on the right side of her face
She had hand marks all the way around her neck
There were no other witnesses besides Mayella, her father and Tom

56. Chapter 17 Bob’s Testimony: He starts by insulting his dead wife.
He refers to his daughter as a farm animal.
He is disrespectful to the judge and to Atticus

57. Chapter 17
Who plants the flowers at the Ewell House? Who does this remind you of?
Why did Atticus have Bob sign his name?
Why does Bob get so mad?

58. Chapter 18 Mayella’s testimony: Tom raped her. Asked Tom to fix door
Tom beat her with both hands
Dad said Tom ran out door
Claims Tom has been over 1 or 2 times

59. Chapter 18 What Atticus shows us about Mayella
She doesn’t even know what a friend is
She doesn’t even understand how a child could love her parent
Her father beats her
No one has ever addressed and “Miss”

60. Chapter 18 Mayella Cont… Only two of the family members can read
Mayella refuses to change her story
Why does she yell at the end?

61. Chapter 19 What we know about Tom: He is a family man
He is a religious man
His left hand does not work
He had helped Mayella before

62. Chapter 19 Tom’s testimony: Mayella kissed him
Tom said nothing was wrong with the door
Tom can only use his right hand
Said he jumped out the window
Says he helps Mayella often

63. Chapter 19 Tom’s story cont…
The kids went to get ice cream-Mayella saved the money
Mayella wanted to kiss a man because what her father does to her doesn’t count
Who do you believe?
Why would Mayella lie?

64. Chapter 20 Why does Dill become so upset?
Dolphus Raymond offers him a drink
Dolphus really drinks Coca Cola, not alcohol.
Why does Dolphus pretend?

65. Chapter 20 What mistake does Tom make?
Atticus’ final statement forces the town to look at itself
Calpurnia comes to court

66. Chapter 21 The kids are in trouble Why does Atticus let them go back?
Jem believes Atticus will win
The jury finds Tom guilty
Why do all the African Americans Stand when Atticus passes?

67. Journal 2/25/15
What does Atticus mean when he says, it “seems that only children weep”?

68. Chapter 22 Jem is crushed by the verdict
He learns that life isn’t fair
How does the African American Community thank Atticus?
What did Bob Ewell do to Atticus?

69. Ch 22 Questions
What does Miss Maudie mean when she says, “…we’re making a step—it’s just a babystep, but it’s a step”? What evidence does she use to explain her optimism?
As the children watch the neighbors gossip, Dill makes a declaration about what he will be when he grows up. What does he say, and what are his reasons?

70. Chapter 23 How does Atticus respond to Bob Ewell’s action?
Miss Maudie tries to comfort Jem—he gets a piece of the big cake
Jem tries to understand why the jury did what it did.

71. Journal 2/26/14
If somebody were to spit in your face, how would you react and why?

72. Chapter 23 Who was the holdout on the jury?
Why can’t Scout invite Walter Cunningham over?
Why does Jem think Boo stays inside?

73. CH 23 How does Jem describe the social hierarchy in Maycomb?
What does Atticus mean when he says, “…it’s all adding up and one of these days we’re going to pay the bill for it”? To what is he referring?

74. Journal 2/27/15
Why do you believe Scout prefers the company of men as opposed to that of women?

75. Chapter 24 Aunt Alexandra has a missionary tea:
Mrs. Merriweather makes rude comments about Atticus
Miss Maudie puts her in her place
Scout joins the party

76. Chapter 24
It is ironic that the woman want to help Africans in Africa but are so cruel to African Americans in their own town.
Tom Robinson is dead—shot 17 times

77. Chapter 24 Atticus asks Cal to go with him to tell Helen
Scout gains new respect for Aunt Alexandra

78. Chapter 24
Mrs. Merriweather says, “If we just let them know we forgive’ em, that we’ve forgotten it, then this whole thing’ll blow over.” Who and what is she talking about? What is ironic about her statement?
Why do you think Tom ran for the fence? Why did he keep running even when the guards warned that they would shoot?

79. Journal 3/2/2015 Ch. 25
In your honest opinion, did Tom Robinson die a hero or did he die in vain? Explain your answer.

80. Chapter 25 Why doesn’t Jem let Scout kill the roly poly?
How does Dill describe Helen when she learned of Tom’s death?
What is Bob Ewell’s reaction?

81. Chapter 25
As Scout is about to kill a roly-poly bug. What stops her from doing it? What theme does the incident express?
To what did Mr. Underwood’s editorial compare Tom’s death? What is the significance of his comparison?

82. Chapter 25
What remark did Mr. Ewell make upon hearing of Tom’s death? What is the significance
of the remark?
What recurring motif is present in chapter 25?

83. Journal March 3, 2015
How will Jem’s childhood experiences impact his growth as an individual?

84. Chapter 26 Scout feels remorse for how they treated Boo (mature)
Why is it it ironic that Mrs. Gates hates Hitler for how he treats the Jew?

85. Chapter 26
What is Jem so upset about?
What is Jem trying to forget?

86. Chapter 26
Why does Jem react violently when Scout talks about what she overheard at the courthouse?
Scout says that the Radley place had ceased to terrify her. Why?

87. Chapter 27 It’s Halloween
Because of the incident with Miss Tutti and Miss Frutti, there will be a pageant!
Mrs. Merriweather is in charge (yuk!)

88. Chapter 27 What happened at Judge Taylor’s house?
What does that say about Bob Ewell?
What did Bob say about the loss of his job?
What does Bob do to Helen Robinson?

89. Chapter 27 What part does Scout play? How was her costume constructed?
Who is taking her to the pageant?
Why does Lee end the chapter the way she does?

90. Chapter 27
Scout states that three unusual things had happened in Maycomb by the middle ofOctober. Briefly summarize these three incidents.
Identify at least two instances of foreshadowing in the final four paragraphs of the chapter.

91. Journal March 5, 2015
How have Scout’s feelings about Boo Radley changed since the beginning of the novel?

92. Chapter 28 Jem and Scout take a short cut to get to school
Cecil Jacobs scares them
Poor Scout misses her cue during the pageant

93. Chapter 28 They wait until everyone is gone to leave.
Scout is still wearing her costume
They are attacked
Who attacked them?
Who saved them?
What is Jem’s injury?

94. Chapter 29 How was Bob killed? Who do we meet for the first time?
What saved Scout’s life?

95. Chapter 28 and 29
How does Scout feel about Jem in this chapter? What does she say about him after he sympathizes with her about Mrs. Merriweather’s cruel remark?
How did Scout’s costume probably save her life?
According to Heck Tate, why did Bob Ewell go after Scout and Jem instead of Atticus?

96. Chapter 30
Scout treats Boo like a proper lady should treat a visitor in her home
What does Atticus believe?
Why does Heck Tate say Bob fell on his knife?

97. Chapter 30
Why would it be like killing a mockingbird to tell the town what happened?

98. Chapter 31 What does Scout do when it is time for Boo to go home?
What is her mature realization?
How is the lesson of The Grey Ghost connected to the theme of the novel?
Why is the last image of the novel so powerful?

99. Final Questions
What lesson of Atticus’s comes to Scout’s mind as she reminisces on the Radley porch? What is the significance of her realization?
What is Atticus’s final statement about people? What theme does this statement highlight?

100. Major Symbols Symbols:
Tom Robinson is the mockingbird. All he does is help others and create “beautiful music”
Then he was killed which makes it a sin.
The roly-poly = mockingbird also.

101. Symbols cont… Symbols Cont’d:
Boo represents the mockingbird. He has done no wrong and saves the kids from Bob Ewell.

102. Symbols The Journey: Growing up
The journey Scout and Jem took to school that night
The journey from innocence to experience

103. Themes
Themes:
In Harper Lee’s novel TKAM, she illustrates it is a sin to destroy those who seek only to do good in the world
… it is a painful and difficult process growing up in this world.
…we live in a world which is often unjust.