Discussion Questions for Chapter Twenty-Eight of To Kill a Mockingbird
Remembering back to the very first chapter: what do we know is going to happen to Jem
when he’s about thirteen years old, sometime before the end of this book?
He’s going to get his arm broken.
On their way to the auditorium, what does Jem do for Scout she considers gallant? (254)
He carries her ham costume for her.
Why is Jem accompanying Scout? (254)
Atticus would never let Scout walk (even that short of a distance) alone. He’s there to
protect her.
What do Jem and Scout now laugh about? (254)
Their old childhood fears: haints, Hot Steams, incantations, secret signs … all their old
superstitions and their fear of Boo.
Who leaps out at Jem and Scout to scare them as they’re walking to the high school
auditorium? (255)
Cecil Jacobs.
What does Cecil Jacobs suggest he and Scout ought to do, and why does Jem think it’s a
good idea? (256)
Cecil suggests that she put her costume behind the stage like he did so they can go and
enjoy the Halloween fair (the House of Horrors, etc.). Jem supports the idea because then
he can go and be with people his own age and not be seen with ‘little kids.’
How does Scout’s performance in the play end up going? (258)
She falls asleep back stage and doesn’t emerge on cue, when Mrs. Merriweather says,
“Pork!” Instead, Scout goes out on stage a little while after, at the end of the play.
How does Judge Taylor react to Scout’s belated entrance? (258)
He laughs so hard that he goes out behind the auditorium and slaps his knees and his wife
has to bring him a glass of water and one of his pills.
How did Mrs. Merriweather react to Scout’s performance? (258)
She told Scout she had ruined her pageant.
Why does Scout make Jem wait until everyone has gone before she’ll leave? (259)
She’s too embarrassed to face them.
Why does Scout keep her ham costume on instead of changing out of it? (259)
She’s still embarrassed about having messed up her entrance, so she’s hiding her
mortification under her costume.
What has Scout forgotten inside the auditorium? (259)
Her shoes.
Why don’t they go back to get them? (259)
As Scout realizes she has forgotten her shoes, the auditorium lights go off, so it’s closed.
Jem and Scout hear noises. Who does Scout assume is following them? (260)
She assumes it’s Cecil Jacobs again.
How could whoever is following them manage to follow them in the dark, as Jem
explains? (260)
The ‘fat streaks’ on the ham costume are done with shiny paint. They’re kind of glowing
in the dark, making it easier to follow them.
What do Jem and Scout do to try to make ‘Cecil’ jump out and reveal himself? (261)
Scout yells “Cecil Jacobs is a big wet he-en!” and then Jem yells, “He-y!”
When at that point Cecil does not jump out at them, Jem starts to become nervous and
asks Scout if she can change back into her regular clothes. Why does Scout wear the
costume on their walk back instead of changing into her dress that Jem has with him?
(261)
She says she can’t change into her dress in the dark.
What happens then? (261-262)
A man runs after them, Jem tells Scout to run, they do, the man catches up with them and
attacks them. Jem tries to help Scout get away but the man turns on him and breaks his
arm. Then another man attacks that man.
What is the dull crunching sound that Scout hears, immediately followed by Jem
screaming? (262)
That’s Jem’s arm breaking.
Who has attacked them?
Bob Ewell.
Who attacked Bob Ewell and defended the children, after Jem tried and got his arm
broken?
Boo Radley.
What does their savior do with Jem? (263)
He carries him back to their house.
What question does Scout keep asking of Aunt Alexandra and Dr. Reynolds? (263-264)
If Jem is dead.
Aunt Alexandra helps Scout to get out of her crushed ham costume. What does Aunt
Alexandra bring Scout to change into and why is this significant? (264)
Aunt Alexandra brings Scout her overalls, of which she had always disapproved. Now it
seems her crusade to get Scout to be more feminine is not as important and has been set
aside for the moment, and she brings Scout the clothes that will make her feel most
comfortable. Aunt Alexandra is thinking of Scout’s needs, not her own. She’s accepting
Scout for who she is.
What do we find out from Sheriff Heck Tate at the end of the chapter? (266)
Bob Ewell is lying under a tree with a kitchen knife in his ribs. He’s dead.