To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter Questions
INSTRUCTIONS: As we read Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, respond to each of the following questions on your own piece of paper. Be sure to
answer in complete sentences.
Part One
38. Explain the following statement: “He really intends to defend Tom
Chapter 1
Robinson.”
1. Describe the setting of the novel.
Chapter 17
2. Why does the Radley Place fascinate Scout, Dill, and Jem?
39. What does Atticus ask Mr. Tate?
Chapter 2
40. Where do the Ewells live?
3. Why does Scout end up in trouble on her first day of school?
41. Why does Atticus want Mr. Ewell to write his name?
Chapter 3
Chapter 18
4. What does Scout say to Walter Cunningham that gets her into
42. Why does Mayella think Atticus is making fun of her?
trouble?
43. What, according to Mayella, does she want Tom Robinson to
5. Why do the Ewells have special privileges?
chop?
6. What compromise does Atticus make with Scout?
Chapter 19
Chapter 4
44. How does Tom Robinson place his hand on the Bible?
7. What does Scout reveal at the end of the chapter?
45. What happened to his arm?
8. Who was inside of the house?
46. Why does Tom Robinson visit the Ewell place?
Chapter 5
Chapter 20
9. What reasons does Atticus give when he tells the children to leave
47. Why does Dolphus Raymond pretend to be drinking liquor?
Boo alone and stop playing the Boo Radley game?
48. Why does Jem feel confident that Atticus will win?
Chapter 6
Chapter 21
10. What explanation does Jem give for his missing pants?
49. As they wait for the verdict, Scout thinks of what earlier events?
Chapter 7
50. What does Reverend Sykes say about court?
11. What does Jem confess to Scout?
Chapter 22
12. List the items found in the tree knothole.
51. Who sends food over to the Finches? Why?
13. Why does Mr. Radley fill the hole with cement?
52. What does Atticus mean when he says, “only children weep”?
Chapter 8
Chapter 23
14. How does the weather change?
53. What is Bob Ewell’s threat?
15. How do Jem and Scout spend the day?
54. Where is Tom Robinson?
16. What happens to Miss Maudie’s house?
55. What “bill” will have to be paid “one of these days”?
17. What does Jem tell Atticus?
Chapter 24
18. Who put the blanket on Scout? How do you know?
56. Describe the conversation at the Missionary Society meeting.
Chapter 9
57. What event happens at the end of the chapter?
19. What does Atticus tell Scout about his reasons for defending
58. How do Miss Maudie, Aunt Alexandra, and Scout handle the
Tom?
news?
20. Describe what happens at Finch’s Landing.
Chapter 25
21. What do Jem and Scout get for Christmas?
59. Explain the following statement: “Tom was tried in the secret
Chapter 10
courts of men’s hearts.”
22. Why does Scout think Atticus is feeble?
Chapter 26
23. Who does Scout try to shoot?
60. Describe the irony of Miss Gates’s statement, “We (American
24. Why is it a sin to kill a mockingbird?
People) don’t believe in persecuting anyone.”
Chapter 11
61. Why does Jem get upset with Scout?
25. Why does Jem destroy Mrs. Dubose’s flowers?
Chapter 27
26. When Atticus states that Mrs. Dubose is a model of real courage,
62. What has Bob Ewell started doing?
what does he mean?
63. Describe the costume that Scout will wear for the pageant. What
Part Two
is it made of?
Chapter 12
Chapter 28
27. Describe Scout and Jem’s experience at Calpurnia’s church.
64. Describe the mood at the beginning of the chapter.
28. What does Scout notice about Calpurnia?
65. How does Scout’s costume save her life?
Chapter 13
Chapter 29
29. Why does Aunt Alexandra come to visit?
66. How did Boo know Jem and Scout were in trouble?
30. How does Aunt Alexandra explain human behavior?
67. How does Scout describe Boo?
Chapter 14
Chapter 30
31. Why does Aunt Alexandra want to dismiss Calpurnia?
68. Why is Atticus so worried throughout the chapter?
32. How does Atticus explain rape to Scout?
69. Who stabbed Bob Ewell?
33. Why does Dill run away from home?
70. What does Scout compare Boo’s potential exposure to?
Chapter 15
Chapter 31
34. What is the mood in Maycomb before the trial?
71. What terms does Scout use to describe Boo Radley now?
35. Why is Jem worried?
72. What is Atticus’s final statement about people?
36. How does Scout stop the mob?
73. Where does Atticus spend the night? What does this tell us about
Chapter 16
him?
37. Who is Dolphus Raymond?