Connections Questions

Chapters 1-11 TKAM

Questions Answers
What is Harper Lee
suggesting about the
influence of the past on
the events that take
place in the novel? Ch. 1
What figurative language
does Lee use to describe
Miss Caroline? Ch. 2
How do race, class, and
gender affect one’s
position in Maycomb
society? Ch. 2
Consider Atticus’s advice
to Scout:
“You never really
understand a person
until you consider things
from his point of
view…until you climb
into his skin and walk
around in it.”
How does Atticus’s
advice relate to
empathy? Ch. 3
What effect does the
discussions of gossip,
superstition, and
exaggeration have on
Scout? Ch. 4
How does Jem use
stereotypes about
gender to influence
Scout? Ch. 4
Why does Jem declare at
the end of the chapter, “I
thought I wanted to be a
lawyer but I ain’t so sure
now”? Ch. 5

Adapted from Teaching Mockingbird, Facing History and Ourselves

 Why is it so important to
Jem to risk his safety to
retrieve his pants from
the Radleys’ fence in the
middle of the night? Ch.
6
What prompts Scout to
draw this conclusion?
“It was then, I suppose,
that Jem and I first began
to part company.” Ch. 6
Why is Jem moody at the
beginning? Ch. 7
Figurative Language? “They were folded across the fence like they were expectin’ me.”
How does it contribute
to the mystery of the
Radley house? Ch. 7
What evidence is
provided that Jem and
Scout were “parting
company”? Ch. 7
What does the town’s *circle of responsibility
response to the fire at
Miss Maudie’s reveal
about Maycomb’s
universe of obligation*?
Ch. 8
What is Aunt Alexandra’s
vision for what is “lady-
like”? How does Scout
respond? Ch. 9
When discussing the
Tom Robinson case,
Atticus refers to
“Maycomb’s usual
disease.” What does he
mean? Ch. 9
How does Atticus explain
his reasons for defending
Tom Robinson? Ch. 9

Adapted from Teaching Mockingbird, Facing History and Ourselves

 What do we learn about
the way that Scout and
Jem feel about Atticus?
Ch. 10
Atticus instructs Scout
and Jem that “it’s a sin to
kill a mockingbird.”
What does this advice
mean? Ch. 10
Both the mockingbird
and the mad dog are
symbols. Who in this
story might the
mockingbird symbolize?
Dog symbolize?
Cite evidence. Ch. 10
In what way did Atticus
go against his raising?
Ch. 11
Why does Atticus think
Mrs. Dubose is a “great
lady”? Ch. 11
What lesson do you think
Atticus wants Jem to
learn by having him read
to Mrs. Dubose? Ch. 11
How does Atticus define
“real courage” and what
metaphor does he use to
describe it? Ch. 11
How does Atticus
respond to Scout
thoughts of Atticus being
wrong to represent Tom
Robinson because
everyone in Maycomb
thought so? Ch. 11

Adapted from Teaching Mockingbird, Facing History and Ourselves

 Connections Questions
Chapters 12-19 TKAM

Questions Answers
Describe how Jem (who
is now 12 years old) is
different. Ch. 12
Calpurnia takes the
children to her church.
What are some of the
differences when
compared to what the
children are used to?
Ch. 12
What also do they notice
about Calpurnia? Ch. 12
How do the members
react to the kids? Ch. 12
What does Scout learn
about Calpurnia that
may be a pivotal
moment for Scout? Ch.
12
What do we learn about
Tom Robinson? Ch. 12
What concerns does
Aunt Alexandra have
about the way Atticus is
raising his children? Ch.
13
How is Scout learning to
be more tactful? Ch. 13
What are “streaks”? Ch.
13
Do you think these
“streaks” are a form of
stereotyping? Ch. 13
How is the world of Jem
and Scout different from
the “World of
Maycomb”? Ch. 13

Adapted from Teaching Mockingbird, Facing History and Ourselves

 What is Scout leaning
about herself, her family,
and her community? Ch.
14
Why do Heck Tate, Link
Deas, and others come
to the Finch house? Ch.
15
What does Atticus say
about “truth” when
discussing why he is
defending Tom? Ch. 15
What are the intentions
of the men who go to
the jailhouse the night
before the Tom
Robinson trial? Ch. 15
Atticus is waiting there.
How are his ideas of
justice different from the
men? Ch. 15
What is “mob
mentality”? Ch. 15
Why does Scout’s
attempt to engage with
Mr. Cunningham in
conversation convince
Cunningham and the
other men to leave the
jailhouse? Ch. 15
What does Atticus mean
when he uses the phrase
“blind spots”? Ch. 16
What do we learn about
Dolphus Raymond in this
chapter? Ch. 16
Summarize Heck Tate’s
testimony. (prosecution
and defense) Ch. 17

Adapted from Teaching Mockingbird, Facing History and Ourselves

 What does the
descriptions about Bob
Ewell suggest about him?
Summarize Bob Ewell’s
testimony. (prosecution
and defense) Ch. 17

Summarize Mayella’s
testimony. (prosecution
and defense) Ch. 18

Atticus offers an
alternative account of
the events (Nov. 21)—
Summarize it. Ch. 18
Summarize Tom
Robinson’s testimony.
(prosecution and
defense) Ch. 19

What are some example

of characters having
“empathy” in this
chapter? Ch. 19

Do you think Tom’s

testimony helps or hurts
his chances with the
jury? Ch. 19

Do you think Tom will be

acquitted? Ch. 19

Adapted from Teaching Mockingbird, Facing History and Ourselves

 Connections Questions
Chapters 20-end TKAM

Questions Answers
What secret does
Dolphus Raymond reveal
to the children outside
the courtroom? Ch. 20
What is the double “This case is as simple as black and white.”
meaning of Atticus’s
quote from his speech?
Ch. 20
What distinction does
Atticus make in his
speech about written
and unwritten laws of
Maycomb? Ch. 20
How do stereotypes
threaten justice in
Maycomb? Ch. 20
What role does Atticus
believe the courts play in
upholding the ideals of
American society? Ch.
20
Summarize and analyze
Scout’s description of
the courthouse as the
townsfolk await the
verdict? Ch. 21
How does Harper Lee
reveal the verdict? Ch.
21
At the end of the trial,
why does Rev. Sykes tell
Scout to “stand up”? Ch.
21
How does Miss Maudie
define progress in
overcoming segregation
and discrimination in
Maycomb? Ch. 22

Adapted from Teaching Mockingbird, Facing History and Ourselves

 What does Atticus think
causes juries to unjustly
convict innocent black
men? Ch. 23
How does Jem respond to
the news that one of the
jurors was a
Cunningham, and that he
had initially moved to
acquit Tom? Ch. 23
How has the
way that Jem and Scout
understand the differences
between people changed
from the beginning of the
novel? Ch. 23
After hearing about Tom
Robinson’s death, for what
does Alexandra
criticize the town? How
does Miss Maudie answer
her frustration? Ch. 24
In Chapter 10, Atticus tells 1.
Scout and Jem that “it’s a
sin to kill a mockingbird.” 2.
Find three examples of that
advice being echoed with
3.
similar imagery in this
chapter. Ch. 25

How does the town of

Maycomb respond to news
of Tom’s death? Who
do they blame? Ch. 25

How are Scout’s fantasies

about meeting Boo Radley
different now than
they were earlier in the
novel? Ch. 26

Adapted from Teaching Mockingbird, Facing History and Ourselves

 How do you explain why
the townspeople continue
to support Atticus and his
children while at the same
time seeming to approve of
the guilty verdict? What
does it suggest about the
way the people in
Maycomb think about
justice? Ch. 26
What do Atticus’s beliefs
about the possible threat
that Bob Ewell poses
to him suggest about
Atticus’s outlook on the
world? Ch. 27
Why did Bob Ewell attack
Scout and Jem? How were
they left so
vulnerable to being
attacked? Ch. 28
Who is the stranger that
rescued Jem? What is
Scout’s first impression
of him? Ch. 28
How does Atticus view
human nature? Does he
think people are
fundamentally good or
fundamentally bad? Ch. 29
Is following the law always
the right thing to do? How
would Atticus answer the
question? How would Heck
Tate? Ch. 30
Who, according to Scout, is
the mockingbird in this
chapter? Who else does
the mockingbird symbolize
in this novel? Ch. 30
How does Scout feel when
she reflects on her
relationship with Boo
Radley? How would she
define the responsibilities
of being a neighbor? Ch.31

Adapted from Teaching Mockingbird, Facing History and Ourselves

Adapted from Teaching Mockingbird, Facing History and Ourselves