To Kill a Mockingbird
Guided Reading Question Ch. 13-31
Name_________________________________
Period_______ Date_____________________
Answer all questions on notebook paper and keep it in your binder. Label each set of questions with chapters and
number your responses. Do not lose your work!
Chapter 13
1. Not once in the entire book has anyone directly told Calpurnia what to do. How does Aunt Alexandra change this in
the first line of this chapter? What does this say about Aunt Alexandra’s character?
2. Scout describes the day passing “in the gentle gloom that descends when relatives appear.” What does Harper Lee do
to prove that Scout and Aunt Alexandra do not have a very exciting relationship with one another?
3. Top of 129: Radley spotting! Who is it and what happens?
2. Describe the character of Sinkfield and how he had an influence on the creation of the town of Maycomb.
4. In what ways does Aunt Alexandra influence life in the Finch household?
5. You have met many characters so far in this book. Pick any one character, major or minor, and write a full paragraph
describing how that character is either similar to or different from (not both) someone that you know in real life. Do not
write about physical appearances – describe their attributes; what makes them tick.
Chapter 14:
1. Hello, Dill! Describe in detail Dill's adventures since last summer.
2. What is the tone of the conversation between Dill and Scout at the end of chapter 14? Provide three quotes from the
book to support your reasoning.
Chapter 15:
1. In the beginning of the chapter, some people appear at the Finch front door, and Atticus goes out into the yard to
speak with them. Although Scout can only hear part of what they are saying, what seems to be going on? Why are they
bothering Atticus at his home in the evening?
2. Who is Mr. Underwood?
3. In more than five sentences, describe the encounter that Atticus and the kids have with the strangers outside of the
jail.
4. In the past paragraph of the chapter, Scout thinks that Atticus is going to yell at Jem for his activities that night, but
the yelling never happens. Why is this, and why do you think that Atticus wasn’t mad?
Chapter 16:
1. Scout talks about a change in Atticus' tone when he speaks to Aunt Alexandra. What does this mean? How is this a
change from earlier chapters?
2. The foot-washers are bothering Miss Maudie again. Explain these two quotes from the Bible and how they apply in
the situation on page 159. Remember that the wagon driver is looking at Miss Maudie’s flowers as they go by on their
way to town.
Wagon driver: “He that cometh in vanity departeth in darkness!”
Miss Maudie: “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance!”
3. Top of page 160: Who is William Jennings Bryan? Look it up if you don’t remember!
4. The Jitney Jungle is a grocery store. Where is Miss Stephanie probably going? How do you know this?
5. Write three sentences about Dolphus Raymond.
6. Pretend that you are sitting with Scout inside the courtroom. Illustrate a bird eye view, or blueprint, of the inside of
the room where the trial is taking place. Label the different parts, where people sit or stand, and the names of the
characters. Do this on a separate sheet of paper and plan to turn it in.
Chapter 17:
1. After meeting Burris Ewell in the third chapter of the book, we finally get to meet his father, who lives with the rest of
the family next to the Maycomb dump. Draw a picture of the Ewell property and label six different parts of it. Do this on
a separate sheet of paper and plan to turn it in.
2. Write down a quote that helps to prove that once you turn off the highway from the southern end of town, you find
the dump, the Ewells, and then the African American Quarters.
3. The details of the court case are beginning to take shape. Make a list of 12 facts that you know about what happened
on the Ewell property on the night of November 21st, according to the testimony that you have read.
Chapter 18
1. After an emotional period of time on the witness stand, Mayella finishes telling her side of the story. Using everything
that you know about the book so far create a T chart: reasons Tom Robinson is innocent and reasons Tom Robinson is
guilty. Each side should contain only direct quotes from any part of the book – four quotes per side. Include the page #
where you found the quote.
Chapter 19:
1. The story of Tom and Mayella is unfolding quickly. No matter which side of the case you are currently supporting, it
can easily be said that the events that took place in the courtroom are very emotional – and it is far from over. Pick any
character, major or minor, that has been in the courtroom today and write a journal entry about what you’ve seen as if
you are that character. Consider the bias that this person may or may not have, their education, their emotions. Write at
least three paragraphs with five sentences each. Be prepared to share this and turn it in.
Chapters 20 and 21:
1. Dolphus Raymond had serious creeper potential as a character in the book, but has turned out to be a pretty
interesting guy. Write about him. Why put him in the book? Why give Dill (and the reader) a break from the action of
Mr. Gilmer’s cross-examination at this point? What misconceptions does the town have about Dolphus and why is he
okay with it?
2. The closing arguments presented by Atticus on page 205 are among the best words ever put together in literature.
Consider that this book was published in 1960, and here we are 50 years later as a country. With which modern issues
do the words of Atticus still ring true? How are his words still timeless, after all this time?
3. The children were missing for a few moments, but luckily found. When they are discovered, the reader gets another
mental break with a few of Calpurnia’s “rusty threats” she rattles off as she is dragging the kids home for dinner. Write
two of them down.
4. On the middle of page 210, what is Scout referencing when she talks about the cold February morning? What emotion
links both of these events together for Scout?
5. The last line of chapter 21 carries with it a tremendous amount of meaning. What does it show or prove?
Chapters 22 and 23:
1. It is finally Tuesday in the book. Name some of the things that Calpurnia found at the back steps when she arrived at
the Finch house this morning. Explain where these things came from.
2. Interesting information about Miss Rachel on page 214. What does Dill seem to reveal about his Aunt?
3. Miss Maudie (notice that her house has been rebuilt) offers comfort to the kids the morning following the trial. If you
were Jem and Scout, what are some of the things that she said or did that would help to ease your mind? Discuss at
least three.
4. What did Miss Stephanie say that Bob Ewell said and did to Atticus at the post office corner?
5. Discuss the conversation that Atticus has with the kids about the outcome of the trial. Do you agree with what is said?
Use specific information from the book in your answer.
6. On page 224, what “other time” is Scout talking about that Aunt Alexandra put her foot down? Why is Scout so upset
by what Aunt Alexandra says?
7. On page 226 Jem talks about the "four kinds of folks." What are they, and do you agree with this general statement?
8. So far we've heard that Boo Radley doesn't run away because "maybe he hasn't got anywhere to run to." We also just
heard Jem say that maybe he doesn't come out "because he wants to stay inside." Are either of these accurate? What
do you think?
Chapters 24-26
1. Why does Miss Maudie become angry with Mrs. Merriweather? What was going through your mind at the end of
chapter 24?
2. A few chapters ago, Miss Maudie explains to the kids that there are a lot of people in town who supported Atticus
throughout the trial, both before and after. Why can Mr. Underwood be added to this list now, too?
3. Thoroughly explain the title of the book in at least five sentences.
4. Chapter 26 brings Scout back to the classroom with a new teacher and some familiar faces (Oh, hey Little Chuck
Little!) Although Miss Gates’ current events lesson doesn’t seem to go very well, it does make Scout think – quite a bit,
actually. What was it that bothered Scout so much about the lesson in school that day? What quality do the ladies of
Aunt Alexandra’s missionary circle share with Miss Gates?
Chapter 27:
1. Scout says that things were settling down, but three noteworthy things happened in Maycomb recently. Describe
them in detail.
2. Huh? What? Write about Misses Tutti and Frutti Barber and how they are, in part, responsible for Maycomb having a
very organized Halloween celebration this year.
3. Look out, Hollywood. Describe Scout’s role in the Halloween pageant at the high school.
Chapters 28, 29, and 30:
1. In one paragraph, thoughtfully summarize these chapters.
2. The book moves quickly at this point and often leaves a reader with many questions. Select any six characters from
the book and write down a question that you would like to ask that person.
3. Even though the book has not yet ended, consider this: how would what you read today (or in the past several days)
be different if Tom Robinson was found to be innocent during his trial? Use at least three sentences.
Chapter 31
1. On page 279, Scout stands on Mr. Arthur’s porch and peers back towards her house. Describe some of the things that
she “sees” from Boo’s point of view.
2. From where did the Finch family get The Gray Ghost? What is it about and how does this connect with what you’ve
spent the last month reading about?
3. Dill has missed out on one of the most eventful nights that ever happened in Maycomb. Pretend you are Jem or Scout
and write a two paragraph letter to Dill telling him about the events of Halloween.