TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
VOCABULARY
1. Review the following vocabulary words and look for them as you read the story.
2. Select 25 of the words on this list and write each of the words in a sentence that shows its
meaning. Underline the vocabulary word in each sentence. Below are two examples.
a. During the Civil War, Alabama was one of the states that seceded from the Union.
b. Atticus is a quiet, likeable man and most people find him to be amiable.
acquiescence (n.): agreement without protest
affliction (n.): in this case, a condition
ambled: (vb.): to walk at a slow, leisurely pace.
amiable (adj.): friendly
attributes (n.): characteristics; qualities of a person or thing
auspicious (adj.): favorable
benign (adj.): kind and gentle
brevity (n.): shortness
congenital (adj.): a congenital condition is one that is in existence at birth.
connived (vb.): secretly cooperated or agreed to
contemptuous (adj.): To be contemptuous is to have the feeling that someone or something is
beneath you; that it or they are worthless.
decreed (vb): A decree is an official order.
devoid (adj.): completely without
diminutive (adj.): smaller than ordinary
erratic (adj.): irregular.
evasion (n.): To evade is to avoid doing or answering something directly.
façade (n.): the front of a building; the part facing the street (pronounced: "fah - sawed")
formidable (adj.): impressive
garish (adj.) showy, very bright or gaudy
impertinence (n.): disrespect
impudent (adj.): To be impudent is to be shamelessly bold, as if you don't care what anyone thinks
about you.
indecision (n.): When you're indecisive, you can't decide what to do.
indigenous (adj.): belonging to a particular region or country
indignant (adj.): angry
innate (adj.): Something that is innate is a natural part of something else.
irascible (adj.): angry
malevolent (adj.): evil
malignant (adj.): dangerous; evil
melancholy (adj.): sad and gloomy
mortify (vb.) humiliate; embarrass
onslaught (n.): a violent attack
pauper (n.): an extremely poor person
perpetrated (vb.): committed
piety (n): devotion to religious duties and practices
placidly (adv.): calmly; quietly
procured (vb): got
prowess (n.): superior ability or skill
reconnaissance (n.): examination
rudiments (n.): principles; elements; subjects to be learned
seceded (vb.): To secede is to break away.
subdued (vb.): Someone who has been subdued has been soothed or softened and made less intense.
succinct (adj.): clear and brief
sullen (adj.): in this case, gloomy and threatening
tentatively (adv.): To be tentative is to be hesitant or unsure.
tirade (n.): a long angry speech
tranquil (adj.): calm
tranquility (n.): peacefulness; serenity
unsullied (adj.): something that is unsullied has been basically untouched or unused.
vehement (adj.): full of emotion and strong feeling
veneer (n.): attractive outer surface
venerable (adj.): impressive on account of age or historic associations
veranda (n): a portico or porch with a roof
vigil (n.): a watch. Jem is waiting and watching for Mr. Nathan to appear.
MAIN CHARACTERS
Answer each of the questions about some of the main characters from the novel.
Jean Louise Finch (Scout) -Scout is the main protagonist of the novel. The story takes place during
her years of growing up and maturing.
1. How old is Scout at the beginning of the story?
2. Why does she refuse to ‘act like a lady’?
3. What is her relationship with her father?
4. How does she do in school?
5. How does Scout change throughout the novel?
Jeremy Finch (Jem) - Jem is Scout's older brother. He is 10 as the story begins, and 13 at its end.
1. In what ways is he similar to his father Atticus?
2. How does Jem change throughout the novel?
Atticus Finch - Atticus is the town's most respected lawyer. He is not wealthy, but he is well off in
the community and kind towards everyone.
1. Why does Atticus take the job of defending Tom Robinson?
2. Why do people in the town turn against Atticus?
3. Atticus tells his children that they cannot judge people until they "climb into their skin and walk
around in it". What does he mean by this?
Arthur (Boo) Radley- Boo Radley is a recluse who lives near to the Finches.
1. Why is everyone afraid of Boo?
Calpurnia - Calpurnia is the black maid and cook of the Finch household.
1. Why is Calpurnia so important to Scout?
Tom Robinson - Tom is the black man who was accused of rape by Mayella Ewell. He is a young
man who works around the town doing labor.
1. Why do you think Tom was accused of the crime of rape?
GENERAL THEMES
Answer the questions about each of these general themes from the novel.
The title of To Kill a Mockingbird is very symbolic. In this story "mockingbird" represents the idea
of innocence. Thus, to kill a mockingbird is to destroy innocence. Throughout the book, a number
of characters (Jem, Tom Robinson, Dill, Boo Radley) can be identified as mockingbirds—innocents
who have been injured or destroyed through contact with evil. This connection between the novel's
title and its main theme appears several times in the novel: after Tom Robinson is shot, Mr.
Underwood compares his death to "the senseless slaughter of songbirds," and at the end of the book
Scout thinks that hurting Boo Radley would be like "shootin' a mockingbird." Most important, Miss
Maudie explains to Jem: "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but ... sing their hearts out for us. That's
why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."
1. Jem and Scout’s last name is Finch (another type of small bird.) Describe how the children’s
innocence is injured by their contact with racism and bigotry.
In the Southern United States, before the 1960s, blacks were segregated from whites. Not only did
blacks live in different areas than whites, but by law they were not permitted to go to the same
schools, sit in the same part of the courthouse, eat in the same restaurants, use the same public rest
rooms or drink at the same water fountains. These laws were unconstitutional and have now been
changed.
1. Describe at least two examples of segregation that occur in the book.
The Great Depression was very hard on people all over the United States. Companies failed and
people lost their jobs. Farms at that time suffered from drought and many farmers lost their land or
could not produce enough to make money. People lost their money and their sense of self worth.
1. Give at least two examples from the book of the effect of the Great Depression.