TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD UNIT
AND LESSON PLANS
ELEMENTS OF THE NOVEL
1. Definition of the novel: a lengthy fictitious prose narrative, portraying characters
and presenting an organized series of events and settings.
2. Conflict-the opposition of persons or forces upon which the action depends
A. Types of Conflict
1. man vs. man
2. man vs. nature
3. man vs. himself (internal conflict)
4. man vs. society (man vs. the group)
5. man vs. fate
6. man vs. the supernatural
7. man vs. the machine
3. Characterization-the creation of images of an imaginary person.
A. Types
1. protagonist
2. antagonist
3. major
4. minor
B. means of creating a character
1. by his actions
2. what he says
3. what he thinks
4. physical appearance
5. what others say and think
4. Setting-the location and the time the story takes place
5. Plot-a series of carefully devised and interrelated actions that progress through
conflicts to a climax and resolution.
A. Action-a series of real or imagined happenings
B. Climax-the moment of the story where the conflict comes to its greatest
point of intensity and is resolved in some manner
C. Resolution- (falling action-denouement)-the part of the story that follows
the climax
6. Theme-the central or dominating idea of a literary work
7. Point of View-the relation assumed between the author and the characters in the
novel
A. Types
1. 1st person narrative
2. omniscient- all knowing- god-like
Chapters 1-2
1.
SettingA. How do we know the time
period?
B. What do we know of the
South in the 1930’s?
C. What do we know about the
Great Depression ( what caused
it? What is the dust bowl? Get
pictures of the depression?
2.
Major and Minor Characters
A. Who is JemB.
Who is Scout (Jean Louise)-
1. What is the problem with
Scout being the narrator?
2. How is Scout different from
the usual Southern woman?
C.
Who is Atticus -
1. Why does he hate criminal
law?
2. What is the definition of
Irony?
D. Who is Dill-
1. What is the mystery
surrounding Dill?
2. Characterize Dill
a. Describe Dill’s physical
appearance
b. Describe Dill’s
personality
E.
Who is Calpurnia-
1. How is Calpurnia different
from other servants in this
time period
2. How hard is Calpurnia’s
hand
F. Boo Radley- read page 1333 years old
1. History
a. What problem did Boo
cause as a teen
b. What were the charges?
c. Why does Mr. Radley
promises to take care of
his sond. What did he do to his
father
2. What are some of the
rumors about him
a.
b.
c.
3. What is Jem’s physical
description of Boo
a.
b.
c.
3. Plot-Chapter 1
A. By the time we finish this
book what will we know about
Jem--1. Define flashback-
B. What is the first attempt to
make Boo come outsid
1. What type of conflict is it
Chapter 2
1. Scout’s first morning at school
(first grade)
1. What abilities does Scout
have that disturbs Miss
Caroline
2. What is the problem with
Walter Cunningham
A. What did Scout expect
from Miss Caroline when
Miss Caroline asked her to
stick out her hand
Chapters 3
1. What does Scout do to Walter
Cunningham and what type of
conflict is it?
A. What does Walter do that is
unusual during supper?
B. What does Calpurnia say to
Scout in the kitchen? This
shows what about Calpurnia?
2.
Miss Caroline vs. Burris Ewell
A. What is wrong with Burris
Ewell?
B.
Describe Burris Ewell
C. What is the history of the
Ewell children and public
school
D. How does Little Chuck
Little save the teacher and the
class?
3. What is the history of the
Ewells (give four)
4. Why does Scout want to quit
school?
5.
What deal do they make?
6. Atticus give Scout some
advice. What is this advice in
understanding someone? This is
the theme of the novel.
A. Give example of the theme
already present in the novel.
Cite 4 xamples
CHAPTER 4
1. What gifts does Scout find and
where?
A. What is Jem’s reaction
2. When Dill arrives, he says he
has a special talent. What is that
talent? arrival
3.Why does Jem allow Scout to go
in the tire first?
A.What happens to
the tire
B. What happens to
Scout?
C. Who gets the tire
from the Radley property
4. Give me four bits of info about the
play “Boo Radley”.
A. Who catches them
doing the play
5. Why Scout is glad they stopped
doing the play- the tire incident- ?
CHAPTER 5 AND 6
1.
Describe Miss Maudie
2. Miss Maudie gives a hint in
understanding Boo and why he
stays inside. Explain her theory.
(Give 2)
3. Why does Miss Maudie know
Boo is not dead?
4. What is the next plan to
communicate to them and how
does it fail?
5. Before school starts and Dill
leaves they try to see Boo one
more time. What is the plan?
A. Why before
school
B. Who is the
shadow the see?
C. What does Mr.
Radley do?
D. How do the
kids escape?
E. What happened
to Jem’s pants?
F. What does Dill
say happened to
Jem’s pants?
6. Why does Jem returns for his
pants
A. What type of
conflict does Jem
face?
7. What does Mr. Avery do that is
an example of “dry” southern
humor
A. What is the
implication of
what Mr. Avery
does?
B. Why does
Scout feel left out
of this discussion?
CHAPTERS 7-8
1.What is the significant difference
between Jem and Scout in these
chapters?
2.
3.
What is unusual when Jem
went back for his pants
A.
B.
C.
What other gifts has Jem found
in the tree
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
4. What does the reader conclude
about the gift giver?
A.
B.
C.
5. What do the kids write in the letter
A. What does Mr. Radley
do to the tree
1. What did he say
was wrong with the
tree?
2. What was the
real reason
B. Why does Jem cry and
not Scout and why
6. Define epiphanies?
A. What is Jem’s
epiphany about Boo and
what four incidents support
this?
B. Why does Scout not
have this epiphany?
7. What is a “coming of age” novel.
Define. Give and example other than
this novel.
8. What happens to Miss
Maudie’s house and what type of
conflict is it?
9. Where did the kids get the
blanket and how do you know?
10. What is Jem’s reaction to the
blanket incident? Scout’s?
11. Why does Scout not have an
epiphany about Boo?
CHAPTER 9-10
1.These two chapters show the growing
conflict between the Finch children and
the community
A. What does Cecil Jacobs
say? Scout’s reaction? Atticus’
advice?
2.Why Atticus is defending Tom
Robinson when he talks to Scout? (two
reasons)
A. Will he win? Why? What
type of conflict is this?
B. What does Atticus ask of
Scout?
3.What is Scout’s new phase?
4. What do the kids get asChristmas
gifts? What is the advice that Atticus
give the children about using these gifts?
5.The incident with Francis shows that
the conflict with Atticus defending Tom
Robinson is also within his family. What
does Francis say? How does Scout
respond? What does he say about
Atticus. What type of conflict is this?
6. Why does Scout ask Uncle Jack to
promise not to tell Atticus what Francis
had said?
A. Think theme7. .Jack and Atticus talk about the trial
A. What is Atticus’
hope of winning
the case?
B. What does
Atticus’ hope the
kids won’t catch
____________ and
what is he really
talking about?
C. Atticus wanted
Scout to hear-why?
CHAPTER 10
1. Harper Lee claims this chapter is the
pivotal chapter in the novel. Why?
2. Why is it a sin to kill a
mockingbird
3. What is the problem with the dog?
Who is asked to shoot the dog?
4. Define symbol.
A. The rabid dog is a symbol.
Take a guess what it is a
symbol. (Hint-you can
support your theory after
something Atticus said in
the previous chapter)
B. After what Atticus said
about mockingbirds, guess
what the mockingbird is a
symbol of
C. What does the name
Atticus mean? Why did
Harper Lee choose this
name.
D. Atticus shooting the dog is
a symbol of what? (guess)
E. The dog inching its way
toward the kids is symbolic
of what? (guess)
F. Atticus shooting the dogsymbol of
__________________
5. What is the irony of Atticus
shooting the dog?
CHAPTERS 11-12
1. What is the purpose of the Mrs.
Dubose story?
2. Describe Mrs. Dubose
A. What are her physical
features
B. What are the rumors about
her?
3. What does Mrs. Dubose say that
upsets Jem. Scout? What does Jem
do? What is his punishment?
4. What is unusual when they read to
Mrs. Dubose? (cite 2)
5. What is the mystery about Mrs.
Dubose?
6. How does an old lady become a
morphine addict?
7. What is the real reason the kids are
reading to Mrs. Dubose?
8. What is the gift she gives Jem and
what is the irony?
9.What is the purpose of the Mrs.
Dubose story? Name 2.
10. What did Atticus hope the kids
learned when reading to Mrs. Dubose?
CHAPTER 12
1.What is the purpose of Lee having the
children attend the black church? In
other words, what does the reader
discover about the black community?
Name 3.
2. Why is Aunt Alexandra staying with
Atticus (give 2)
3. Why does Harper Lee chose the name
Alexandra? Guess
CHAPTER 13-14
1. Why is Aunt Alexandra going to
live with Atticus?
A. What are her plans for
Scout
2. Aunt Alexandra believes people
have streaks. What are the streaks she
mentions and cite two examples from
the book.
3.
What does she believe about the
Finches? Why?
4. What does Alexandra demands
that Atticus impress upon the kids?
5. What type of prejudice does Aunt
Alex have? Define
1.Chapter 14 deals with tensions and
innocence
A. How does Scout
show her innocence
when discussing
rape with Atticus
B. Why do Jem and
Scout get into a
fight
C. Why does Dill
run away from
home1. What are his
problems with
his Mom and
new-step-dad
a.
b.
D. There are two
examples where the
children (Scout and
Dill) show their
innocence. What
are they?
E. Why does Lee
have this innocence
in this chapter?
F. According to
Dill, why has Boo has
not run away and what
does this show about
Dill?
CHAPTER 15-16
1. What is Dill’s plan to see Boo
Radley
2. Tom Robinson is moved to
Maycomb jail
A. If found guilty?
B. Jem fears what group will get
Tom
C. The mob incident
1. Type of conflict
2. Jem refuses to leave-why
3. Scout v the man who grabs
Jem—what is the conflict and
humor?
4. Scout talks to Mr.
Cunningham
a. What does she say about
Walter C.
b. What does she say about
entailments? What are
entailments? Define
5. The mob leaves—why
a. Mr Cunningham has done
what? Why does he get
everyone to leave?
6. Mr. Underwood had Atticus
covered. How?
a. What is the irony of Mr.
Underwood protecting Tom
and Atticus?
3. Scout cries on the way home—
what about Scout is starting to
change?
4. The argument between Atticus
and Aunt Alexandra. What do they
argue about?
5. The town arrives for the trial-the
carnival atmosphere
A. Mr Dolphus Raymond-history(cite 3 details about him and his
life)
B. According to Jem, what is the
problem of having “mixed
blood”?
6. The trial
A. Why did Atticus have to
defend Tom Robinson
B. Where do the children sit
C. How could where they are
sitting pose a potential problem
for Atticus?
D. Get pictures of segregation in
the south during the 1930’s. (Get
5)
Chapters 17, 18, 19, 20
THE TRIAL OF TOM ROBINSON
1. These chapters should be read
aloud in class as a courtroom
drama, having students read the
parts of the characters as they
testify in the courtroom
2. The characters include:
Atticus, Mr. Gilmer, Judge
Taylor, Bob Ewell, Mayella
Ewell, Tom Robinson, and Heck
Tate.
3. Evidence
A. Heck Tate—
B. Bob Ewell- characterize
the Ewells- p 172-173
1. symbolic collision between
Bob Ewell and Atticus.
C. MayellaD. Tom Robinson-
1. Mr. Gilmer—cross
examination
4.
Mr. Dophus Raymond—what
is the purpose of this character
A. why does Dill cry?
6. Atticus’ closing arguments-no
medical evidence
7. Jem’s reaction—believes they
won—the epiphany to come
CHAPTER 21-22
1. What does Cal tell Atticus in the
courtroom
A. About the kids
B. Atticus thinks
C. Kids are in the balcony- town
must suspect
D. Jem talks to Atticus—
E. Jem talks to Rev. Sykes—
we’ve won—Sykes—
2. The Verdict
A. How does Scout know the
verdict before the jury renders its
verdict?
B. To what incident does Scout
flashback to….
C. Jem’s new epiphany
3. After the trial
A. Blacks try to repay Atticus
----how?
B. Miss Stephanie Crawford
1.Wants to know what
2. Bob Ewell to Atticus
C. Miss Maudie—we are so
unoften called on to be
Christians, …………
D.Who else helped-name 3
6. Dill’s allusion to Aunt Rachel’s
what?
7. Atticus plans for Tom
8. What does Bob Ewell do to
Atticus
CHAPTER 23-24
1. Atticus puts himself in Bob
Ewell’s shoes
A. destroyed his
_______________
_
B. may prevent
Mayella
_______________
____
C. predicts the
_______________
of the 60’s
D. Atticus
discussed
circumstantial
evidence
E. Women not
permitted to be on
the jury
F. Verdict took a
couple of hours—
that’s change
2. Irony- a Cunningham
___________________________
_
A. Aunt Alex on the
Cunninghamsthey’re trash,
poorly educated,
hair
3. Jem and Scout discuss kinds
of folks
A. Jem thinks there
are 4 kinds:
B. Scout thinks
there are just folks
C. On why Boo
stays inside_______________
___
Chapter 24
1. The missionary tea
2.Scout in a dress-real uncomfortableAunt Alex trying to make Scout a
_________
3.The discussion on the Murunas
A. Mrs. Merriweather-what was she
talking about
B. What Mrs. Merriweather is…….
and define…….
C. Tom Robinson dead-how does he
die?
CHAPTER 25
1. On Tom’s death—(Jem and Dill go
with Atticus to tell Helen Robinson of
Tom’s death)
1. murder
2. Kids reaction
3. Mr. Underwood—
compares Tom’s death to
____________
4. Town’s reaction-_________________
5. Bob Ewell’s reaction—
______________________
_____
a. who are the
remaining two?
6. Scout realizes Tom was
dead ….when?
7. “in the secret court of
men’s hearts…
CHAPTER 26
1. Change in Scout regarding Boo
Radley
A. gifts in the tree
B. her fantasy to see Boo on her
porch
2.
Current Events class
A. Cecil Jacobs—report on
B. Miss Gates—teaches the
difference between
C. Scout sees her as a
________—said
_______________
D. Jem’s reaction about the
trial—why
E. Irony—teaches
_____________________
F.
CHAPTER 27
1. Hints that Bob Ewell has not
forgotten the trial and his vow of
revenge
A. Judge Taylor
__________________________
B. Helen Robinson
__________________________
1. Link Deas threatens the
“_________________”
C. Halloween in Maycomb
1. Why a pageant
2. Miss Tutti and Frutti episode
3. Scout dressed as a _________4. Aunt Alex—shivers as if
someone stepped on her grave(example of ____________)
5. thus began our longest journey
CHAPTER 28
1. Why is the setting ideal for Boo
Radley to appear
A. What night? Boo is scary
B. Mockingbird singing in the
Radley tree
C. Cecil Jacobs scares them
D. The Party
1. ________________
2. ________________
E. The pageant
1. Scout ________________
2. The walk home
A. hear noises-thinks it’s
__________________
B. The fight
C. Jem’s arm
D. How Scout’s life is saved________________
E. Why Scout is a poor
witness-(three reasons)
F. Bob Ewell is dead with
_______________________
CHAPTERS 29-30-31
What saved Scout’s life
Describe Boo- pg 273
a. Why go on the porch?
3. Confusion as to how Bob Ewell
died
a. Atticus thinks who did it and
why does he think this way?
b. Heck Tate says what and why
does he say it?c. Truth—Boo killed Bob Ewell
in order to save the kids
d. Scout—Mr Tate is right- like
sorta like ___________________
4. Scout walks Boo home-never
__________________
a. read the part about “neighbors
bring food with death…” pg 281
5. Irony—ending_____________
6. THEMES
1.
2.
a. Tom Robinson-prejudice
b. Mayella-lonliness
c. Boo-good but shy
d. Ewell-drunk and illiterate
7. Tie the Gray Ghost novel to the
ending8. “And Atticus he was nice and he
never did anything; he was good”—
double meaning
9. “Most people are Scout when you
finally see them”—rephrasing of the
theme