to kill a mockingbird
Chapters 1-7 cOmpreHension Questions
Chapter 1
1.) What do you learn about Maycomb, Atticus Finch and his family?
1.) Maycomb, Alabama is a small town. People there do a lot of farming to make money. Many people block others which means that they're inferior and disrespectful. Atticus is well-known in Maycomb. He has 2 children (Scout and Jem.) Their mom died a while back. They have a maid named Calpurnia, for short "Cal." Calpurnia is sort of like a meternal figure. Cal is African American.
2.) What do you learn about Dill’s character?
2.) Dill is tiny, acts immature, and can read a write. He is a very abnoxious child. He only visits for Summer.
3.) What, briefly, has happened to Arthur “Boo” Radley?
3.) Boo Radkey has been the talk ok Maycomb because of all the rumors that might and might not be true. They say that he got thrown into the basement when he was 15 yrs. old because he stabbed his dad with scizzors. Most people think that he is crazy.
4.) Why does the Radley place fascinate Scout, Jem and Dill?
4.) Boo's house fascinates people because it's very different from other houses. It is very creepy, the windows are all boarded up, and no one goes in and comes out.
5.) What do you notice about the narrative voice and viewpoint of the novel?
5.) Scout tells the story. She isn't telling it from her life now, she is talking about her child-hood. The first thing that happened was that Jem broke his arm.
Chapter 2
1.) What do you think of Miss Caroline Fisher? List qualities that make her good or not good at her job.
1.) Miss Caroline Zfisher is a HORRIBLE teacher. Some good things about her is that she is generous, smells like peppermint, pretty, and young. The other side of her is bad, she yells a lot, whips with rulers, and pulls Scout by her colar. She is very rude because she sent Burris Ewell to go home for being dirty. She also yells at Scout for knowing how to read and write. She is disrespectful towards her dad because she thinks that Scout's dad doesn't know how to teach.
Chapter 3
1.) Who is Calpurnia?
1.) Cal is the maternal figure. She cooks for the kids, she cleans, and she is the one that keeps everything in order and makes sure that the kids are respectful and safe.
2.) What is Walter Cunningham like? What does his behavior during lunch suggest about his home life?
2.) Walter is very poor and whenever someone offers him money, he declines the offer. He has a lot of pride.
3.) How does Atticus treat Walter? What does this show about Atticus’ character? What does it show about Walter?
3.) Atticus treats Walter in a respectful way. He treats him as a real human and defends him and makes sure that no one makes fun of the things that he does (syrup in food.) Atticus is very tolerant and respects everyone. Walter just does what he wants to do.
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?
4.) Jem is the one that defends Walter. He is very respectful/considerate and generous because he invites him for lunch. Scout just beats him up because she thought that he got her in trouble for standing up for him. The difference is that Jem is much more mature and at a stage where he can be trusted more.
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?
5.) It means that you can't judge someone until you see the world through their eyes. Scout is not an easy person because she doesn't understand much. She basically thinks that everyone is the same and that everyone thinks similar.
6.) What do you learn in this chapter about the Ewells?
6.) The Ewells are poor because the dad spends the money on liquor. They are country folks and they don't follow the law. Bob Ewell is the father and Burris Ewell is the son. They only go to school on the first day. They are also disrespectful.
Chapter 4
1.) What does Scout think of current fashions in education?
1.) Scout doesn't feel like she's learning. The Dewey Decimal System is in a library and it TAKES FOREVER! She learns at home. Dad, Cal, and Jem all teach her. She thinks that what her teacher does is a waste of time because they're not even learning, they're just coloring.
2.) What characteristics of children are revealed through the Boo Radley game?
2.) The Boo Radley game is a game that the children play. They are very aware about the things that happened. They remember everything and they hear things. They mimic and mock the adults and pretend to be older. They don't really know if what they're doing is right or wrong, so they kind of just ignore it.
3.) Why doesn’t Scout enjoy the games as much as the boys do?
3.) Scout doesn't like the game because she feel a little guilty for redoing the things that were happening about Boo Radley that could just be a mean and hateful rumor. She feels that someone could find out which means that she is scared. They make her play the mom and she doesn't like to be called a girl. She thinks that Boo might be watching them play the game.
4.) What might be the cause of the laughter from inside the house?
4.) Maybe Boo knows what's happening outside of the house. Maybe Boo is insane and just laughs for no reason. Boo could be watching everything and could be laughing at the fact that Scout fell into the tire.
Chapter 5
1.) Describe Miss Maudie Atkinson. What do the children think of her?
1.) Miss Maudie: trustworthy (nice and let people play in her yard, bakes the best cakes, nice, and friendly. People don't see her as an adult, but as a friend. She hates her house. She is a widow because she had a husband and he passed away. She's a baptist. Jack Finch kept asking her to marry him, but she would always say "no."
2.) What purpose do you think Miss Maudie’s character plays in the novel?
2.) She says to call Boo Radley by his real name, Arthur. She reinforces manners to make sure that wrong things become right. When Atticus is gone and Calpurnia is busy, she makes sure that the kids are okay (almost like a nanny).
3.) What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo? (provide a quote) How does this compare with what Scout already believes?
3.) Confirms that Boo's real name is Arthur and is alive. There are many rumors about him and she blames the rumors on 75% colored and 25% on Miss Crawford (Arthur being stuffed in a chimney and him eating cats.)
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?
4.) Atticus feels that it's improper and rude to always intrude on his time. He tells the kids to just leave him alone and to let him be. Atticus is right.
Chapter 6
1.) Why does Scout disapprove of Jem and Dill’s plan of looking in one of the Radley’s windows?
1.) Scout doesn't want to break rules. She is afraid of getting killed, Boo Radley (in general), seeing things, and hearing things they might not want to hear.
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?
2.) Nathan Radley thought that a Negro trespassed, so he shot the Negro. Stephanie thinks that only black people would steal their things.
3.) Why does Dill’s explanation of dress almost land him in trouble?
3.) Dill says that they were playing strip-poker
Jem says that they played with matches
Chapter 7
1.) When Jem tells Scout about getting his trousers back, he tells her of something strange. What is this?
1.) The two strange things were: someone took the pants off the fence and folded it. There is someone that is always sending them things.
2.) Can you find any evidence that Jem is beginning to understand more than Scout about Boo Radley?
2.) Jem doubts Boo Radley. They might think that Boo is the one that keeps sending them letters. He waits on the porch and puts things together (hints.) Nathan Radley says that the tree is dying and Atticus says that it's healthy. Then Nathan Radley starts to clog up the hole with cement once the kids were getting presents under the tree.
3.) Does Jem still fear the gifts in the tree? Give reasons for your answer.
3.) Jem is not afraid of the strange gifts. The gifts are twine and soap.
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?
4.) Nathan Radley knew that Boo was sending the kids letters and that the kids and Boo were communicating, so he filled the hole with cement because he wants Boo to stay inside and to keep both the kids and Boo safe.
1.) What do you learn about Maycomb, Atticus Finch and his family?
1.) Maycomb, Alabama is a small town. People there do a lot of farming to make money. Many people block others which means that they're inferior and disrespectful. Atticus is well-known in Maycomb. He has 2 children (Scout and Jem.) Their mom died a while back. They have a maid named Calpurnia, for short "Cal." Calpurnia is sort of like a meternal figure. Cal is African American.
2.) What do you learn about Dill’s character?
2.) Dill is tiny, acts immature, and can read a write. He is a very abnoxious child. He only visits for Summer.
3.) What, briefly, has happened to Arthur “Boo” Radley?
3.) Boo Radkey has been the talk ok Maycomb because of all the rumors that might and might not be true. They say that he got thrown into the basement when he was 15 yrs. old because he stabbed his dad with scizzors. Most people think that he is crazy.
4.) Why does the Radley place fascinate Scout, Jem and Dill?
4.) Boo's house fascinates people because it's very different from other houses. It is very creepy, the windows are all boarded up, and no one goes in and comes out.
5.) What do you notice about the narrative voice and viewpoint of the novel?
5.) Scout tells the story. She isn't telling it from her life now, she is talking about her child-hood. The first thing that happened was that Jem broke his arm.
Chapter 2
1.) What do you think of Miss Caroline Fisher? List qualities that make her good or not good at her job.
1.) Miss Caroline Zfisher is a HORRIBLE teacher. Some good things about her is that she is generous, smells like peppermint, pretty, and young. The other side of her is bad, she yells a lot, whips with rulers, and pulls Scout by her colar. She is very rude because she sent Burris Ewell to go home for being dirty. She also yells at Scout for knowing how to read and write. She is disrespectful towards her dad because she thinks that Scout's dad doesn't know how to teach.
Chapter 3
1.) Who is Calpurnia?
1.) Cal is the maternal figure. She cooks for the kids, she cleans, and she is the one that keeps everything in order and makes sure that the kids are respectful and safe.
2.) What is Walter Cunningham like? What does his behavior during lunch suggest about his home life?
2.) Walter is very poor and whenever someone offers him money, he declines the offer. He has a lot of pride.
3.) How does Atticus treat Walter? What does this show about Atticus’ character? What does it show about Walter?
3.) Atticus treats Walter in a respectful way. He treats him as a real human and defends him and makes sure that no one makes fun of the things that he does (syrup in food.) Atticus is very tolerant and respects everyone. Walter just does what he wants to do.
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?
4.) Jem is the one that defends Walter. He is very respectful/considerate and generous because he invites him for lunch. Scout just beats him up because she thought that he got her in trouble for standing up for him. The difference is that Jem is much more mature and at a stage where he can be trusted more.
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?
5.) It means that you can't judge someone until you see the world through their eyes. Scout is not an easy person because she doesn't understand much. She basically thinks that everyone is the same and that everyone thinks similar.
6.) What do you learn in this chapter about the Ewells?
6.) The Ewells are poor because the dad spends the money on liquor. They are country folks and they don't follow the law. Bob Ewell is the father and Burris Ewell is the son. They only go to school on the first day. They are also disrespectful.
Chapter 4
1.) What does Scout think of current fashions in education?
1.) Scout doesn't feel like she's learning. The Dewey Decimal System is in a library and it TAKES FOREVER! She learns at home. Dad, Cal, and Jem all teach her. She thinks that what her teacher does is a waste of time because they're not even learning, they're just coloring.
2.) What characteristics of children are revealed through the Boo Radley game?
2.) The Boo Radley game is a game that the children play. They are very aware about the things that happened. They remember everything and they hear things. They mimic and mock the adults and pretend to be older. They don't really know if what they're doing is right or wrong, so they kind of just ignore it.
3.) Why doesn’t Scout enjoy the games as much as the boys do?
3.) Scout doesn't like the game because she feel a little guilty for redoing the things that were happening about Boo Radley that could just be a mean and hateful rumor. She feels that someone could find out which means that she is scared. They make her play the mom and she doesn't like to be called a girl. She thinks that Boo might be watching them play the game.
4.) What might be the cause of the laughter from inside the house?
4.) Maybe Boo knows what's happening outside of the house. Maybe Boo is insane and just laughs for no reason. Boo could be watching everything and could be laughing at the fact that Scout fell into the tire.
Chapter 5
1.) Describe Miss Maudie Atkinson. What do the children think of her?
1.) Miss Maudie: trustworthy (nice and let people play in her yard, bakes the best cakes, nice, and friendly. People don't see her as an adult, but as a friend. She hates her house. She is a widow because she had a husband and he passed away. She's a baptist. Jack Finch kept asking her to marry him, but she would always say "no."
2.) What purpose do you think Miss Maudie’s character plays in the novel?
2.) She says to call Boo Radley by his real name, Arthur. She reinforces manners to make sure that wrong things become right. When Atticus is gone and Calpurnia is busy, she makes sure that the kids are okay (almost like a nanny).
3.) What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo? (provide a quote) How does this compare with what Scout already believes?
3.) Confirms that Boo's real name is Arthur and is alive. There are many rumors about him and she blames the rumors on 75% colored and 25% on Miss Crawford (Arthur being stuffed in a chimney and him eating cats.)
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?
4.) Atticus feels that it's improper and rude to always intrude on his time. He tells the kids to just leave him alone and to let him be. Atticus is right.
Chapter 6
1.) Why does Scout disapprove of Jem and Dill’s plan of looking in one of the Radley’s windows?
1.) Scout doesn't want to break rules. She is afraid of getting killed, Boo Radley (in general), seeing things, and hearing things they might not want to hear.
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?
2.) Nathan Radley thought that a Negro trespassed, so he shot the Negro. Stephanie thinks that only black people would steal their things.
3.) Why does Dill’s explanation of dress almost land him in trouble?
3.) Dill says that they were playing strip-poker
Jem says that they played with matches
Chapter 7
1.) When Jem tells Scout about getting his trousers back, he tells her of something strange. What is this?
1.) The two strange things were: someone took the pants off the fence and folded it. There is someone that is always sending them things.
2.) Can you find any evidence that Jem is beginning to understand more than Scout about Boo Radley?
2.) Jem doubts Boo Radley. They might think that Boo is the one that keeps sending them letters. He waits on the porch and puts things together (hints.) Nathan Radley says that the tree is dying and Atticus says that it's healthy. Then Nathan Radley starts to clog up the hole with cement once the kids were getting presents under the tree.
3.) Does Jem still fear the gifts in the tree? Give reasons for your answer.
3.) Jem is not afraid of the strange gifts. The gifts are twine and soap.
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?
4.) Nathan Radley knew that Boo was sending the kids letters and that the kids and Boo were communicating, so he filled the hole with cement because he wants Boo to stay inside and to keep both the kids and Boo safe.