TKAM Study Guide 20 31

Name ______________________________________ To Kill a Mockingbird Study Guide Chapters 20 – 31 Chapter 20 (pages 267 – 275) 1. Who do Dill and Scout meet outside? What do they learn about him? Why does he go through such trouble to pretend?

2. How does Atticus explain that the case is not about Tom, but actually about Mayella and society?

3. How does Atticus claim that we are not all created equal?

4. Ideally, in what realm is every citizen of the US truly equal?

Chapter 21 (pages 276 – 283) 1. Why does Cal come to the courthouse?

2. Other than the fact that they didn’t know where the children were, why do you think Cal and Aunt
Alexandra were so upset the children were watching the trial?

3. About how long does it take for the jury to come up with a verdict?

4. How does Scout know the verdict before it is announced?

Chapter 22 (pages 284 – 290) 1. What’s Jem’s reaction to the verdict?

2. How does the black community show its appreciation for what Atticus did?

3. Why does Miss Maudie believe that appointing Atticus was no accident?

4. What did Bob Ewell do and say to Atticus?

Chapter 23 (pages 291 – 304) 1. Why does Atticus defend Bob Ewell’s actions to Jem? What is Atticus’ hope?

2. Why was Tom given the death sentence?

3. Why did Atticus put a Cunningham on the jury?

4. Why does Aunt Alexandra object to Scout inviting Walter Cunningham to the house?

5. According to Jem, who are the “four kinds of folks” in Maycomb? Explain how this theory works and why the Finches are at the top.

Chapter 24 (pages 305 – 318) 1. Briefly describe the women of Maycomb.

2. To whom might Miss Merriweather be referring when she says that there are some “good but misguided people in this town?”

3. What does Miss Maudie mean when she says, “his food doesn’t stick going down, does it?”

4. What news does Atticus bring to Alexandra and Cal? Explain what happened.

5. What does Miss Maudie mean when she says that the town is “paying the highest tribute” to
Atticus?

Chapter 25 (pages 319 – 323) 1. How did Tom’s wife react to the news of Tom’s death, according to Dill?

Chapter 26 (pages 324 – 331) 1. What is Cecil’s current event about?

2. What is ironic about the discussion concerning Hitler’s persecution of the Jews in Scout’s class?

3. How does Jem react when Scout tells him about overhearing Miss Gates at the courthouse? Why do you think he reacts this way?

Chapter 27 (pages 332 – 340) 1. What happened to Mr. Ewell that October?

2. What happens to Judge Taylor?

3. How does Mr. Link Deas help Helen Robinson?

4. What is Scout’s Halloween costume this year?

Chapter 28 (pages 341 – 357) 1. Who jumps out and scares Jem and scout?

2. How does Scout “ruin” Miss Merriweather’s pageant?

3. Why are Jem and Scout the last ones to leave the party?

4. Why does Scout want to go back to school?

5. What saves Scout from being badly injured during the attack?

6. What happens to Bob Ewell?

Chapter 29 (pages 358 – 363) 1. Why aren’t Atticus or Alexandra able to hear the children outside?

2. What does Scout hear after Jem tries dragging Scout to safety?

3. Describe Boo Radley.

4. How do you think Scout recognizes Boo Radley even though she’s never really seen him before?

Chapter 30 (pages 363 – 370) 1. Who does Atticus think killed Bob Ewell?

2. How does Heck Tate say Ewell was killed?

3. Why does Atticus argue with Tate about how Ewell was killed?

4. From where does Tate say he got the switchblade? Why do you think he has the switchblade?

5. What does Atticus finally realize?

6. To whom is Tate referring when he says, “…taking the man that has done you and this town a great service an’ draggin’ him with his shy ways into the limelight—to me that’s a sin”?

Chapter 31 (pages 371 – 376)

1. Why does Boo want Scout to take him home?

2. What is significant about Scout looking at the world from the Radley porch?

3. Why do you think the author ended the book with the line, “Most people are [nice], Scout, when you finally see them.” To whom is Atticus referring? What does he mean when he says, “…when you finally see them”?