Inherit the Wind
Study Guide
Act 1
1. What does Howard call Melinda and her whole family?
2. Why did Rachael go to the courthouse?
3. Why was Bert Cates in jail?
4. What did Darwin’s Origin say?
5. Why did Rev. Brown want the sign put up?
6. Who is E.K. Hornbeck?
7. What kind of a man does E.K. Hornbeck appear to be?
8. Who is Matthew Harrison Brady?
9. How does Brady want the Mayor and Reverend to look for the picture?
10. How does Mrs. Brady treat Mr. Brady?
11. Who is the Baltimore Herald sending to Hillsboro (besides E.K. Hornbeck?)
12. What does Drummond accomplish on the first day of the trial?
13. What explanation does Drummond give Bert as to why people look at him “worse than a
murderer”?
14. What warning does Bert give Rachael?
Act 2
1. What does Rev. Brown pray for when Rachael asks him not to damn Bert?
2. What is Brady’s reaction to Brown’s damnation of his own daughter? Why?
3. What does Drummond try to establish when questioning Howard?
4. For what reason is Bert on trial, according to Drummond? Is he right?
5. What did Rev. Brown say about Tommy Stebbins?
6. Why did Bert leave the church?
7. What “humorous” remark had Bert made about the Heavenly Father?
8. What problem did Drummond have with his expert witnesses?
9. As a last resort, who does Drummond call to the witness stand? Why?
10. What does Drummond gain by questioning the belief in the literal translation of the Bible?
11. Why did Drummond want Brady to admit that the first day could have been 25 hours long?
12. Who is the Prophet from Nebraska?
13. What does Brady do at the end of his testimony?
Act 3
1. Identity Golden Dancer. What is it symbolic of?
2. What was the jury’s verdict?
3. What was Bert’s sentence?
4. What happened to Brady?
5. Did Bert win or lose? Why?
6. Who paid bail for Bert?
7. What decision has Rachael made?
8. To what does Rachael compare ideas? Is the comparison a good one? Why?
9. Drummond says Brady had the same right as Cates. What right is that?
10. How will Cates’ case be appealed?
CHARACTER COMPARISONS:
PLAY NAMES VS. HISTORICAL NAMES
CHARACTER
HISTORICAL NAME
NAME
WHO IS HE/SHE????
Bertram Cates
Rachel Brown
Rev. Jeremiah Brown
E.K. Hornbeck
Matthew Harrison
Brady
Henry Drummond
Key Characters
Bertram Cates – The schoolteacher on trial for teaching evolution in biology class. (The John Scopes character).
Rachel Brown – Cates’ girlfriend and fellow teacher. Also the daughter of Rev. Brown.
Rev. Jeremiah Brown – Popular Christian authority of the town who preaches fundamental values.
E.K. Hornbeck – The cynical journalist reporting for the Baltimore Herald. (The
H.L. Mencken character.)
Matthew Harrison Brady – A three time presidential candidate and well-known speaker and champion of the people. He comes to
Hillsboro to serve as prosecuting attorney in the trial. (The William Jennings Bryan character.)
Henry Drummond – A leading attorney, considered to be a faithless trickster by the people of Hillsboro. He serves as defense
attorney. (The Clarence Darrow character.)