To Kill a Mockingbird
Chapter 1-7 Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
1.) What do you learn about Maycomb, Atticus Finch and his family? Maycomb is a small town in Alabama. A lot of people know each other. It is a farming community. The town views African Americans as bad people, the white people are disrespectful to them. Atticus is the one and only town lawyer. Mom died of a heart attack.
2.) What do you learn about Dill’s character? Dill is a small 7 year old kid. He is able to read and write, unlike other kids, and he is obnoxious.
3.) What, briefly, has happened to Arthur “Boo” Radley? Boo Radley was mixed with bad people. He dot thrown into the basement and locked down there for 15 years. Boo stabbed his dad with scissors, Boo is not normal. His dad is dead and his brother moved in from Florida to take care of him. He always stays inside.
4.) Why does the Radley place fascinate Scout, Jem and Dill? The Radley place is old, the kids are curious about it. The windows are boarded up, no one comes and no one leaves. A creepy man lives in the basement.
5.) What do you notice about the narrative voice and viewpoint of the novel? Scout is telling the story. Reflecting on her childhood, Scout is retelling the story.
Chapter 2
1.) What do you think of Miss Caroline Fisher? List qualities that make her good or not good at her job. Miss Caroline is sometimes nice and most of the time mean. She hits Scout with a ruler, yells at 1st graders, pulls on Scout's collar, sends students home for being dirty, and yells at Scout for being able to read and write. On the good side Miss Caroline tries to be generous, she gave money to a kid to get food, smells like peppermint, and she's young and pretty.
Chapter 3
1.) Who is Calpurnia? Calpurnia is their maid and a mother figure, she cooks and cleans for them. She is part of their family, even though she is black. Calpurnia is "mom."
2.) What is Walter Cunningham like? What does his behavior during lunch suggest about his home life? Walter Cunningham is poor. His family won't take handouts, they are proud of being country folks, Walter is fine with being dirty and not wearing shoes. He goes to Scout and Jem's house for lunch.
3.) How does Atticus treat Walter? What does this show about Atticus’ character? What does it show about Walter? Atticus treats Walter with respect, he treats everyone like a normal human being. Atticus respects everyone for who they are, he is tolerant. Walter doesn't care what other people think of him.
4.) Contrast the difference in the way Jem and Scout treat Walter. What does this show about the difference between Jem and Scout at this point in the novel? Scout stands up for Walter, Jem is older than both of them. Scout is the youngest of both of them.
5.) Atticus says that you never really understand a person “until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. What does this mean? Is it an easy thing for Scout to learn? Why or why not? You have to walk 1000 miles in someone else's shoes to know what they do. Little kids don't remember easily, the ere self-centered.
6.) What do you learn in this chapter about the Ewells? The Ewell family is poor, they are country folks and they don't follow the rules. Bob Ewell spends all his money on liquor.
Chapter 4
1.) What does Scout think of current fashions in education? She listens to Jem and learns her dad at home. She gets information from magazines. Thinks school is a waste of time, Scout isn't being challenged.
2.) What characteristics of children are revealed through the Boo Radley game? The children are acting the was the Radley's do, they mock adults, most kids play like adults when they play. They don't understand that what they are doing is offensive,children are always curious.
3.) Why doesn’t Scout enjoy the games as much as the boys do? Scout knows that it's wrong, she feels strange and awkward. Scout is terrified of getting caught.
4.) What might be the cause of the laughter from inside the house? Radley laughs at everything and he is crazy. Maybe Scout is imagining the laughter. Maybe Boo is watching them play.
Chapter 5
1.) Describe Miss Maudie Atkinson. What do the children think of her? They are friends, she bakes the best cakes in Maycomb. They trust her, she's nice. She is a widow, her husband past away. She is also a Baptist, Miss Maudie gives Scout information about Boo Radley. Miss Maudie is a role model to Scout, maternal figure, she reinforces manners.
2.) What purpose do you think Miss Maudie’s character plays in the novel? She plays the mother figure and the role model.
3.) What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo? (provide a quote) How does this compare with what Scout already believes? She tells them that his reall name is Arthur, confirms that he is alive. Miss Maudie doesn't believe in the rumors about him. Gives her perspective of Arthur.
4.) What reasons does Atticus give for the children not to play the Boo Radley game? Do you think he is right? Why or why not? Atticus tells them to stop tormenting Boo. He also tells them that Mr. Radley can do what he wants and that it's his business. Atticus tells them to mind their own business and to stay away from the house until they were invited.
Chapter 6
1.) Why does Scout disapprove of Jem and Dill’s plan of looking in one of the Radley’s windows? Scout doesn't want to break the rules, she is afraid of Boo Radley. They might get caught and have bad things done to them.
2.) What does Mr. Nathan know about the intruders in his garden? Why does Miss Stephanie refer to a “negro” over whose head Mr. Nathan has fired? He thinks it's a black man that intrudes his yard. He shot a gun in the air to scare them away. To them, only black people steal things.
3.) Why does Dill’s explanation of dress almost land him in trouble? Dill siad that they were playing "strip poker." Betting on each other. Both lie for each other because neither of them want to get in trouble.
Chapter 7
1.) When Jem tells Scout about getting his trousers back, he tells her of something strange. What is this? Jem finds the pants folded over the fence. They were sewn together but not neatly.
2.) Can you find any evidence that Jem is beginning to understand more than Scout about Boo Radley? Jem stands on the porch. He found soap figures in the tree. He thinks that Boo is sending them all of the things. Boo is trying to communicate with them. Boo is playing with them.
3.) Does Jem still fear the gifts in the tree? Give reasons for your answer. Jem doesn't fear the gifts because he takes them. The gifts might be clues. They want to use the twine to fish.
4.) When the children plan to send a letter to the person who leaves the gifts, they are prevented. How does this happen? Why does it, and why might he do so? Nathan blocks the hole because he is protecting Jem and Scout from Boo. Also he is protecting Boo from the town gossip.
1.) What do you learn about Maycomb, Atticus Finch and his family? Maycomb is a small town in Alabama. A lot of people know each other. It is a farming community. The town views African Americans as bad people, the white people are disrespectful to them. Atticus is the one and only town lawyer. Mom died of a heart attack.
2.) What do you learn about Dill’s character? Dill is a small 7 year old kid. He is able to read and write, unlike other kids, and he is obnoxious.
3.) What, briefly, has happened to Arthur “Boo” Radley? Boo Radley was mixed with bad people. He dot thrown into the basement and locked down there for 15 years. Boo stabbed his dad with scissors, Boo is not normal. His dad is dead and his brother moved in from Florida to take care of him. He always stays inside.
4.) Why does the Radley place fascinate Scout, Jem and Dill? The Radley place is old, the kids are curious about it. The windows are boarded up, no one comes and no one leaves. A creepy man lives in the basement.
5.) What do you notice about the narrative voice and viewpoint of the novel? Scout is telling the story. Reflecting on her childhood, Scout is retelling the story.
Chapter 2
1.) What do you think of Miss Caroline Fisher? List qualities that make her good or not good at her job. Miss Caroline is sometimes nice and most of the time mean. She hits Scout with a ruler, yells at 1st graders, pulls on Scout's collar, sends students home for being dirty, and yells at Scout for being able to read and write. On the good side Miss Caroline tries to be generous, she gave money to a kid to get food, smells like peppermint, and she's young and pretty.
Chapter 3
1.) Who is Calpurnia? Calpurnia is their maid and a mother figure, she cooks and cleans for them. She is part of their family, even though she is black. Calpurnia is "mom."
2.) What is Walter Cunningham like? What does his behavior during lunch suggest about his home life? Walter Cunningham is poor. His family won't take handouts, they are proud of being country folks, Walter is fine with being dirty and not wearing shoes. He goes to Scout and Jem's house for lunch.
3.) How does Atticus treat Walter? What does this show about Atticus’ character? What does it show about Walter? Atticus treats Walter with respect, he treats everyone like a normal human being. Atticus respects everyone for who they are, he is tolerant. Walter doesn't care what other people think of him.
4.) Contrast the difference in the way Jem and Scout treat Walter. What does this show about the difference between Jem and Scout at this point in the novel? Scout stands up for Walter, Jem is older than both of them. Scout is the youngest of both of them.
5.) Atticus says that you never really understand a person “until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. What does this mean? Is it an easy thing for Scout to learn? Why or why not? You have to walk 1000 miles in someone else's shoes to know what they do. Little kids don't remember easily, the ere self-centered.
6.) What do you learn in this chapter about the Ewells? The Ewell family is poor, they are country folks and they don't follow the rules. Bob Ewell spends all his money on liquor.
Chapter 4
1.) What does Scout think of current fashions in education? She listens to Jem and learns her dad at home. She gets information from magazines. Thinks school is a waste of time, Scout isn't being challenged.
2.) What characteristics of children are revealed through the Boo Radley game? The children are acting the was the Radley's do, they mock adults, most kids play like adults when they play. They don't understand that what they are doing is offensive,children are always curious.
3.) Why doesn’t Scout enjoy the games as much as the boys do? Scout knows that it's wrong, she feels strange and awkward. Scout is terrified of getting caught.
4.) What might be the cause of the laughter from inside the house? Radley laughs at everything and he is crazy. Maybe Scout is imagining the laughter. Maybe Boo is watching them play.
Chapter 5
1.) Describe Miss Maudie Atkinson. What do the children think of her? They are friends, she bakes the best cakes in Maycomb. They trust her, she's nice. She is a widow, her husband past away. She is also a Baptist, Miss Maudie gives Scout information about Boo Radley. Miss Maudie is a role model to Scout, maternal figure, she reinforces manners.
2.) What purpose do you think Miss Maudie’s character plays in the novel? She plays the mother figure and the role model.
3.) What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo? (provide a quote) How does this compare with what Scout already believes? She tells them that his reall name is Arthur, confirms that he is alive. Miss Maudie doesn't believe in the rumors about him. Gives her perspective of Arthur.
4.) What reasons does Atticus give for the children not to play the Boo Radley game? Do you think he is right? Why or why not? Atticus tells them to stop tormenting Boo. He also tells them that Mr. Radley can do what he wants and that it's his business. Atticus tells them to mind their own business and to stay away from the house until they were invited.
Chapter 6
1.) Why does Scout disapprove of Jem and Dill’s plan of looking in one of the Radley’s windows? Scout doesn't want to break the rules, she is afraid of Boo Radley. They might get caught and have bad things done to them.
2.) What does Mr. Nathan know about the intruders in his garden? Why does Miss Stephanie refer to a “negro” over whose head Mr. Nathan has fired? He thinks it's a black man that intrudes his yard. He shot a gun in the air to scare them away. To them, only black people steal things.
3.) Why does Dill’s explanation of dress almost land him in trouble? Dill siad that they were playing "strip poker." Betting on each other. Both lie for each other because neither of them want to get in trouble.
Chapter 7
1.) When Jem tells Scout about getting his trousers back, he tells her of something strange. What is this? Jem finds the pants folded over the fence. They were sewn together but not neatly.
2.) Can you find any evidence that Jem is beginning to understand more than Scout about Boo Radley? Jem stands on the porch. He found soap figures in the tree. He thinks that Boo is sending them all of the things. Boo is trying to communicate with them. Boo is playing with them.
3.) Does Jem still fear the gifts in the tree? Give reasons for your answer. Jem doesn't fear the gifts because he takes them. The gifts might be clues. They want to use the twine to fish.
4.) When the children plan to send a letter to the person who leaves the gifts, they are prevented. How does this happen? Why does it, and why might he do so? Nathan blocks the hole because he is protecting Jem and Scout from Boo. Also he is protecting Boo from the town gossip.