Chapters 9-11
Discussion Questions
*Don’t forget to reference specific textual evidence to support your
answers.
1. Why does Atticus feel that he should be defending Tom Robinson? Be
specific.
Atticus believes that if he didn’t defend Robinson then he couldn’t
hold his head up in town, represent the county in the legislature,
and couldn’t tell Jem or Scout how to behave (100-101), which
means that he knows it would be wrong NOT to defend Robinson.
Ultimately, he is defending Robinson because it is the right thing to
do.
2. What is revealed by the conflict that Scout has with Cousin Francis at
Finch’s Landing? Be specific (Hint—What do we learn about how others
feel about Atticus defending Tom Robinson? How does Scout react to
things? etc.)
The reader learns that Aunt Alexandra is not happy that her brother
is defending Tom Robinson because she’s afraid it will ruin the
family’s reputation (110). This reveals that she is more concerned
with appearance that doing the right thing. Furthermore, the reader
understands that Aunt Alexandra disapproves of the way that
Atticus is raising Scout (108). The reader also learns that Scout has
a hard time keeping her anger in check when it comes to people
attacking her father (112). She can be described as “hot headed.”
Finally, the reader learns that Dill gets passed around between
family members (109-110).
3. Based on the events of chapter 9, describe Aunt Alexandra. (Hint—What
is her relationship like with her grandson, Scout, and her brother?)
Aunt Alexandra doesn’t have a loving relationship with her niece,
Scout. She doesn’t approve of the way that Scout conducts herself
and believes her to be unlady-like (103, 108). Scout compares her to
Mount Everest explaining that she is “cold and there” (103).
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With Atticus, Aunt Alexandra tries to tell him how to raise his
children as though he doesn’t know how to be a good father (108).
The reader learns that she tells her grandson, Francis, too much
information. Francis often states, “Grandma says…” and then makes
a derogatory or mean comment (109, 110, 112).
4. Read the final sentence of chapter 9. Explain, in your own words, what it
means and why it might be important to the novel.
Atticus knew that Scout was eavesdropping, so he made sure that
she knew he didn’t want them to become bitter or listen to ignorant
people. He is acknowledging that things are going to get hard and he
wants them to keep their heads about them.
5. In chapter 10, Atticus tells the children that it is a sin to kill a
mockingbird. What reason does he give for saying this?
*MISS MAUDIE actually clarifies why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.
She explains, “Mockingbird don’t do one thing but make music for
us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in
corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us”
(119). By this she explains that mockingbirds are innocent.
Something to consider—Who or what might the mockingbird be in
this novel?
6. Based on the events of chapter 11, why, in Atticus’ view, was Mrs.
Dubose a great lady?
Atticus views Mrs. Dubose in a
different light than the children.
The children see her as harsh and
cruel because of her actions
toward them, but Atticus knows
that she is trying to kick her
morphine addiction. He knows
that she wanted to die clean even
though her final months would
have been easier with the
medicine. Atticus believes that
She offers Jem the flower
as a peace treaty for the
way that she treated him
(148).
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Mrs. Dubose is truly courageous.
He states, “I wanted you to see
what real courage is, instead of
getting the idea that courage is a
man with a gun in his hand. It’s
when you know you’re licked
before you being but you begin
anyway and you see it through no
matter what. You rarely win, but
sometimes you do” (149).
7. Identify a significant line from this collection of chapters. Write the line
down and explain why it is significant.
ANSWERS WILL VARY…
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