Part One
Chapters 9-11 Why are these chapters important?
A. Harper Lee introduces us to Tom Robinson and we learn more about the black community.
B. The message that it is important to hear two sides of an argument, not to make assumptions
and to fight for one’s beliefs, is reinforced.
C. We get to know Aunt Alexandra, and Scout is made to think about her femininity for the first
time: “I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches” (chp 9).
D. The mockingbird motif is referred to.
E. The children learn an important lesson about courage.
F. We learn more about Atticus and the stereotype of the “Southern gentleman”.
G. The children discover that adults sometimes have to do things they do not want to do.
Questions
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Chapter 9
How well does Atticus feel he should defend Tom Robinson? Is it usual for (white) lawyers to do
their best for black clients in Alabama at this time?
Scout and Jem have “mixed feelings” about Christmas? What are these feelings and why?
Uncle Jack Finch tells Scout that she is growing out of her pants. What does this mean and why
might he say it?
When Francis talks to Scout he reveals an unpleasant feature of Aunt Alexandra. What is this?
Does Scout learn anything from overhearing Atticus's conversation with Uncle Jack? What might
this be?
Read the final sentence of this chapter. Explain in your own words what it means and why it
might be important in the story.
Chapter 10
7. Scout says that “Atticus was feeble”. Do you think that this is her view as she tells the story or
her view when she was younger? Does she still think this after the events recorded in this
chapter?
8. In this chapter Atticus tells his children that “it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”. What reason does
he give for saying this?
9. Why does Heck Tate not want to shoot Tim Johnson?
10. Near the end of this chapter Atticus cuts off Heck Tate as he is speaking to Jem. What might
Heck have been about to say, and why would Atticus want to stop him from saying it?
11. Jem and Scout have different views about telling people at school how well Atticus can shoot.
Explain this difference. Which view is closer to your own?
Chapter 11
How does Atticus advise Jem to react to Mrs. Dubose's taunts?
What does Mrs. Dubose say about the children's mother? How does Jem feel about this?
What request does Mrs. Dubose make of Jem? Is this a fair punishment for his “crime”?
Explain in your own words what Atticus thinks of insults like “nigger-lover”. How far do you
agree with him?
16. Why, in Atticus's view, was Mrs. Dubose “a great lady”?
17. Atticus says that Mrs. Dubose is a model of real courage rather than “a man with a gun in his
hand”. What does he mean? Do you think he is right?
18. Chapters ten and eleven are the last two chapters in the first part of the book. Explain why
Harper Lee chooses to end the first part here.
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Important Notes
(In your own words, write the definition for each bolded word)
Tom Robinson and the Black Community
Atticus tells Scout that he has taken on a “peculiar case”. Calpurnia knows the family of the defendant
well, and has said that “they’re clean-living folks” (chp 9). Atticus respects Calpurnia and, as we have
been encouraged to respect both characters, this directs positive feelings towards Tom Robinson, who,
up to now, we have been told little about.
Atticus’s comment, “why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a [black
person] comes up, is something I don’t pretend to understand” (chp 9), tells us first-hand how he feels
about the trial.
In chapter 10, Zeebo, the local rubbish collector, comes to collect the mad dog. We will learn in chapter
12 that he is one of the few black people who can read. This tells us a lot about the position of black
people in this society and their job opportunities, or lack of them.
Note: Mrs. Dubose’s racism is ironic, as she was very dependent on her black servant Jessie.
Atticus and the ‘Southern Gentleman’ Stereotype
Initially, Jem and Scout believe their father is not “macho” enough. They describle him as “feeble”,
saying “he never went hunting, he did not play poker or fish or drink or smoke. He sat in the living-room
and read”. To them, his work in an office meant he “didn’t do anything” (chp 10).
Harper Lee is breaking down / challenging the stereotype of the Southern gentleman (key theme:
prejudice). When Atticus shoots the mad dog in chapter 10, his children’s appreciation of him increases.
It is a crucial time to have gained the children’s respect –just before the trial.
We need to consider the symbolism and irony of the mad dog incident. Atticus is protecting the
community from something dangerous. Is he later able to protect something innocent from the
madness of the community? With the dog called Tim Johnson, a name not dissimilar to Tom Robinson,
we realise that Harper Lee wants us to draw some parallels between the incident and the trial.
Also in chapter 10 we learn that Atticus has a problem with his left eye. This links him to Tom, who has a
weakened left arm, and is perhaps one of the reasons Atticus is able to work out later that Tom was
unlikely to have been the man who hurt Mayella Ewell.
Fighting for your Beliefs
Structurally, through these last chapters of Part One the author gives us important background details
for Part Two, with several incidents preparing the reader for the trial scenes to come. The author is
using the technique of foreshadowing in these scenes.
Scout becomes angry with Uncle Jack for punishing her before hearing her side of the story. Later on we
will feel a similar sympathy for Tom Robinson when his side of the story is not believed.
Atticus knows he has little chance of winning the case as African-Americans do not have the same rights
or position in this society as whites; it is just a “black man’s word against the Ewells’”. But he explains
that he has to do what is right: “do you think I could face my children otherwise?” (chp 9).
The theme of courage is explored widely in these chapters. In Chapter 11 Atticus speaks of real courage
as “when you know you’re licked before you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what”. His
comments relate to both Mrs Dubose and himself at the forthcoming trial.