To Kill a Mockingbird -----Discussion Questions, Study notes of Voice

Download To Kill a Mockingbird -----Discussion Questions and more Study notes Voice in PDF only on Docsity! To Kill a Mockingbird -----Discussion Questions Chapter 1 What do you learn in this chapter about Maycomb, Atticus Finch and his family? What do you learn about Dill's character? What do you notice about the narrative voice and viewpoint in the novel? Chapter 2 Why is Scout so looking forward to starting school? Why does Jem not want anything to do with Scout at school? Is his behavior typical of an older child? What do you think of Miss Caroline Fisher as a teacher? Can you find qualities that would make her good or not so good at her job? Chapter 3 What is Walter Cunningham like? What does his behaviour during lunch suggest about his home life? What do you think of the way Atticus treats Walter? Does Scout learn anything from Walter's visit? What do you think this is? 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? (In the last chapter of the novel, Scout repeats this, but she changes “skin” to “shoes” - this is probably not a mistake: Harper Lee suggests that Scout cannot clearly recall exactly what Atticus said and when, but the reader can check this!) Chapter 4 Why do the children make Boo's story into a game? What do they do in this game? Do you think the game is an accurate version of what happens in the Radleys' home? What might be the cause of the laughter from inside the house? Chapter 5 Describe Miss Maudie Atkinson? How typical is she of Maycomb's women? What do the children think of her? What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo? How does this compare with what Scout already believes? Scout claims that “Dill could tell the biggest ones ” (lies) she ever heard. Why might Dill have told such lies? What reasons does Atticus give for the children not to play the Boo Radley game? Do you think he is right? Why? Chapter 6 Why does Scout disapprove of Jem's and Dill's plan of looking in at one of the Radleys' windows? What does Mr. Nathan Radley know about the intruders in his garden? Chapters 7-9 Can you find any evidence that Jem is beginning to understand more than Scout about Boo Radley? What do you think this is? Does Jem still fear the gifts in the tree? Give reasons for your answer Why does Scout quiz Atticus about his visit to the Radley house? How much does Atticus tell her? How well does Atticus feel he should defend Tom Robinson? Is it usual for (white) lawyers to do their best for black clients in Alabama at this time? Read the final sentence of this chapter. Explain in your own words what it means and why it might be important in the story. Chapters 10-12 Scout says that “Atticus was feeble”. Do you think that this is her view as she tells the story or her view when she was younger? Does she still think this after the events recorded in this chapter? Jem and Scout have different views about telling people at school how well Atticus can shoot. Explain this difference. Which view is closer to your own? Atticus says that Mrs. Dubose is a model of real courage rather than “a man with a gun in his hand”. What does he mean? Do you think he is right? Chapters ten and eleven are the last two chapters in the first part of the book. Explain why Harper Lee chooses to end the first part here. Comment on Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase church. Ch 13-15 Read the first two things Alexandra says when she comes to the Finch house. Are these typical of her or not? Alexandra thinks Scout is “dull” (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right? Are all adults good at knowing how clever young people are? Why does Alexandra think Atticus should dismiss Calpurnia? How does Atticus respond to the suggestion? What do we learn from Dill's account of his running away? Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Maycomb's social life? How does Jem react when Atticus tells him to go home, and why? What persuades the lynching-party to give up their attempt on Tom's life? Comment on the way Scout affects events without realizing it at the time.