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—
B. What do we know of the
South in the 1930’s?
C. What do we know about the
Great Depression?
2.
Major and Minor Characters
A. JemB.
Scout (Jean Louise)-
1. What is the problem with
Scout being the narrator?
2. How is Scout different from
the usual Southern woman?
C.
Atticus -
1. Why does he hate criminal
law?
2. Irony-what happens is
contrary to our expectations
D. Dill-
1. What is the mystery
surrounding Dill?
2. Characterize Dill
a. physical appearance
b.
E.
Calpurnia-
1. How is Calpurnia different
from other servants in this
time period
2. hand
F. Boo Radley- read page 1333 years old
1. History
a. problem as a teen
b. goes before the judgewhat were the charges?
c. Mr. Radley promises to
take care of his son- the
Southern word of honorrather than send him to
reform school
d. Stabbing his father
2. Rumors about him
a.
b.
c.
3. Physical description
a.
b.
c.
4. Family
a.
b.
c.
3. Plot-Chapter 1
A. the entire story will examine
the events--1. Flashback-recalling events
of the past
B. The attempt to make Boo
come outside
1. bet
a. internal conflict-
Chapter 2
1. Scout’s first morning at school
(first grade)
A. Conflicts with Miss
Caroline
1.
2.
3. the Walter Cunningham
incident
a.
b.
c. What did Scout expect
from Miss Caroline when
Miss Caroline asked her to
stick out her hand
d. discuss discipline in
schools
Chapters 3
1. Scout fights Walter
Cunningham -type of conflict
2.
Jem invites Walter to supper
A. What does Walter do that is
unusual during supper?
B. Why does Walter pour syrup
over all of his food and how
does Scout respond to this?
C.
D. What does Calpurnia say to
Scout in the kitchen? This
shows what about Calpurnia?
3.
Miss Caroline vs. Burris Ewell
A. What is wrong with Burris
Ewell?
B. Description of Burris Ewell?
Pg 31- stress characterization
C. The history of the Ewell
children and public school
D. Little Chuck Little saves the
teacher and the class, how?
4.
The history of the Ewells
A. father hunts
B. none have done
C. lived like
D. Mr. Ewell spends his
welfare checks on
E. Silly to keep them in school
5. Why does Scout want to quit
school?
6. What deal do they make?
7. Theme:
A. Examples
1. the Ewells
2. Miss Caroline
3. Walter Cunningham
4. Dill
5. Boo Radley
CHAPTER 4
1.
The Gift
A.
B.
C.
D.
wherewhatJem’s reaction
Other gift
2.
Dill’s arrival
A. tall tales
B. about his new
father
C. new talent- can
smell death on a
person
D. discussion of Hot
Steams
3.
The tire incident
A. Jem’s revenge
B. What happens to
the tire
C. What happens to
Scout?
D. Who gets the tire
from the Radley
property
4.
The play- “Boo Radley”
—note how children
entertained themselves in those
days- better or worse?
A. Read pgs 43-44
B. Scout’s reaction to
doing the play
C. Jem’s theory of
where Boo is?
Stuffed in the
chimney
D. Atticus catches
them doing the play
5. Why Scout is glad they stopped
doing the play- the tire incident- ?
CHAPTER 5 AND 6
1.
Characterize Miss Maudie
A. Hated
B. Love of
C. on why Boo
Radley stays inside
1.
2. the Bible in
one hand is worse
than a whiskey
bottle in another—
What does this
mean?
3. What
happens behind
closed door…
what secrets…?
What does this
mean?
4. On why Boo
is not dead…
2. Plans to see or communicate to
Boo Radley
A. The note
1. Ask him
2. Atticus
catches them
3.
Jem admits
B. Peep in the
window
1. Why before
school
2. The
shadow-who is
it?
3. Mr. Radley
and the shotgun
4. How the
kids escape
5. Jem in
his….
3.
6. Dill
playing...
Jem returns for his pants
A. WhyB. Jem’s fear
C. Type of
conflictD. Discuss fear
4. Example of “dry” southern
humor
A. Mr. Avery
B. Scout feeling
left out of this
discussion
CHAPTERS 7-8
1.What is the significant difference
between Jem and Scout in these
chapters?
2.
3.
Jem and the pants
A.
B.
C.
Other gifts in the tree
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
4. What does the reader conclude?
A.
B.
C.
5.
The letter
A. contents of the letter
B. What does Mr. Radley
do to the tree
1. what he said
2. what was the
real reason
C. Jem cries-why/ why
not Scout
6. Little Epiphanies-def.---Character Associated with
“coming of age” novels
1. Jem’s epiphany about
Boo
A. Why (what
incidents)
1.
2.
3.
4.
7.
The snow storm
A. School --B. Scout’s reaction
C. Snowman of
8. The fire at Miss Maudie’s
house
A. The old fire truck
B. ConflictC. The blanket
1. “ All of
Maycomb was
out tonight
2. Jem’s
reaction
3. Scout’s
reaction
1. Scout has no
epiphany-why
9. Miss Maudie’s response to the
fire
CHAPTER 9-10
1.
The growing conflict
between the Finch children and the
community
B. Cecil Jacobs
C. Scout’s reaction
D. Atticus’ response
2.Why Atticus is defending Tom
Robinson
A
B.Win? No ( conflictFighting friends- people
saying Atticus should not
defend Tom Robinson
B. Asks Scout to fight
with her head
3.Scout’s phase
A.Christmas giftsB.Christmas at Aunt
Alexandra (growing
conflict with the Finch
family)
C.Francis on Dill
D.On Atticus
E. The fight- type of
conflict
F. Scout’s punishment4.Scout tells Uncle Jack about what
Francis said
A.Makes him promise not
to tell Atticus
B.Why- theme5.Jack and Atticus talk about the trial
A. Chance of an
appeal
B. Hope the kids
won’t catch
_______________
__
C. Atticus wanted
Scout to hear-why?
CHAPTER 10
1. Harper Lee claims this chapter is the
pivotal chapter in the novel. Why?
2. Mockingbird as symbol
A. Mockingbirds never do any
harm, sing all day
B. Connect who are
mockingbirds in the novel:
3. The rabid dog incident
A. Rabid dog- symbol
B. Attticus (name means
_______) confronts the dogsymbol of
C. Children- dog
D. Atticus shooting the dogsymbol of
__________________
4. Irony-
A. Kids embarrassed toward
Atticus-too old, no talents
B. IronyC. Note Atticus’ humility
toward his talent
D. Note mockingbirds being
silent
CHAPTERS 11-12
1. What is the purpose of the Mrs.
Dubose story?
2. Characterize Mrs. Dubose
A. Physical features
B.Rumors:
3. The Mrs. Dubose incident
Jem’s birthday money
A. the encounter with Mrs.
Dubose—her commments
1. On Scout’s
appearance
2. On Atticus
3. Jem’s reaction4. The return home
from town
1. Jem
2. Chose not to
greet Atticus
from his return
from work that
day (dry
Southern humor)
B.The punishment
1.Kids must read to her
everyday
2.Mystery regarding
reading
A.
B.
4. The mystery about Mrs. Dubose5. How does an old lady become a
morphine addict
A.The gift for Jem
1.A flower
2.The irony of giving
him a flower_______________
5.The purpose of the Mrs. Dubose story
a. Learn
b. Knew you are
licked BUT…..
c.
d.
4. Irony
A.
B.
CHAPTER 12
I. Two purposes for this chapter
A. shows the living conditions of the
blacks
1.
2.
3.
4.
B. Aunt Alexandra decides to stay
with Atticus and the kids
1. Symbolism of the
name--
CHAPTER 13-14
1. Why is Aunt Alexandra going
to live with Atticus
A. on Scout
B. the trial
2. Characterize Aunt Alexandra
A. points out the town’s
shortcomings
a. streaks
b. Finches
4. Alexandra demands that Atticus
impress upon the kids that they are
not “run of the mill” folks
A. note Atticus’
B. Attiucs-forget it
5. What type of prejudice does Aunt
Alex haveA. discuss
6. Chapter 14 deals with tensions
and innocence
A. Scout discusses
rapeB. Aunt Alex
wants Cal fired
why
C. Jem and Scout
get into a fight-why
D. Dill runs away
from home1. note the tall
tale
2. problems
with his Mom
and step-dad
a.
b.
c. buying
toys,
d.
E. Innocence
1. On what the
parents did in
their bedroom2.
On babiesinnocence
a. Dillb. ScoutG. Dill on why Boo
Radley has not run
away-
CHAPTER 15-16
1. 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—conflict—humor
4. Scout talks to Mr.
Cunningham
a. on Walter C.
b. on entailments
5. The mob leaves—why
a. Mr Cunningham has done
what?
6. Mr. Underwood had Atticus
covered
a. irony- Mr Underwood
3. Scout cries on the way home—
shows what about Scout
4. The argument between Atticus
and Aunt Alexandra
5. The town arrives for the trial-the
carnival atmosphere
A. Mr Dolphus Raymond-historyB. Jem on mixed blood
6. The trial
A. Atticus had to defend Tom
Robinson
B. Where children sit
C. Could pose a potential
problem for Atticus
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?
5. Atticus’ closing arguments-no
medical evidence
6. 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
7. Dill’s allusion to Aunt Rachel’s
what?
8. Atticus plans for Tom
9. 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