English 100

To Kill a Mockingbird Reading Aids Chapters 6 – 11

1.   What was the cause of Jem’s moodiness following the night the children sneaked up to the back of the Radley house?

2.   Name other objects the children found in the oak tree knothole.

3.   Why was Jem bothered by the cementing-up of the oak tree knothole? Who did the cementing?

4.   What was particularly funny about the snowman the children made?

5.   What is a “caricature”?

6.   What was so notable about the blanket Scout found wrapped around her one night?

7.   What does Atticus say is the reason he is defending a black man?

8.   How did Scout feel about his decision?

9.   Put Atticus’s words into your own: “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience”.

10. Explain how the author uses irony in this passage, found on page 85: “Francis had requested a pair of knee-pants, a red leather booksack, five shirts, and an untied bow-tie”.

11. How did Scout get into trouble on Christmas Day at Aunt Alexandra’s house?

12. How did Scout’s uncle deal with the troubles Scout had that day? What had he done wrong?

13. Jem and Scout express some disappointment in their father’s lack of athletic prowess. Describe the events of the day their minds were changed to a deep respect about his abilities.

14. What reasons did Atticus have for not telling the children about his abilities as a marksman?

15. According to Atticus, it is a “sin” to kill a mockingbird. Why? In general terms, what exactly is a sin?

16. What does Jem do to Mrs. Dubose’s garden one day? What drove him to such extreme measures?

17. How was he “punished”?

18. What did he (and we) learn about Mrs. Dubose?

Identify or explain the following (make two points about each):

a.   Mr. Avery

b.   Eula May

c.   Nathan Radley

d.   Cecil Jacobs

e.   Francis Hancock

f.   Rose Aylmer

g.   Finch’s Landing

h.   Harry Johnson

i.   Tim Johnson

j.   Heck Tate;

k.   One-Shot Finch

l.   Zeebo