English 100

To Kill a Mockingbird Reading Questions Chapters 19 – 24

1.   What do we learn happened to Tom’s arm when he was a child? How did this incident affect its ability to function?

2.   What caused Dill to begin crying in the courtroom?

3.   What was in Dolphus Raymond’s paper bag? What reason did Dolphus Raymond give the children for pretending to be a drunk?

4.   What did the people in the balcony do as Atticus leaves the courtroom? Why did they?

5.   What was Jem’s physical reaction to the guilty verdict? Why was he troubled by the verdict?

6.   What did the Finches find on their doorstep the day following the trial, and from whom had these items come?

7.   After the trial, Miss Maudie bakes three cakes. Describe them. For whom were these cakes? Why did she bake them?

8.   What violent act does Bob Ewell perform on Atticus one day? What does Atticus say most people believe about Ewell following the trial?

9.   How did Tom Robinson die? Why did Atticus not promise Tom he’d be eventually found innocent of the crime?

10. What was the topic of the meeting at the Finches one day? What tragic news interrupts Scout’s experience at the meeting?

11. Explain Miss Maudie’s line to Miss Merriweather: “His food doesn’t stick going down, does it?” Who is the “he” being referred to? What effect did the line have on Ms. Merriweather?

12. What observation about female society in the South does Scout make at the end of the chapter? What had she learned?

13. For what had Aunty thanked Maudie after the incident mentioned in question 11?

Give two points to explain or define the following:

a.   Judge Taylor

b.   Mr. Braxton Underwood

c.   Calpurnia’s note

d.   Enfield Prison farm

e.   “trash”

f.   Mrs. Grace Merriweather

g.   the missionary circle

h.   J. Grimes Everett

i.   seventeen bullets