TKAM Comprehension Questions 2012-2013 Tolle 1 Name Period Date Chapter 1 1. Who were the following people and what did they do? - Andrew Jackson - The Creeks - Simon Finch 2. Why did Simon Finch Come to America? 3. What happened to Jem & Scout s mother? 4. Describe Maycomb. (Both the town and the people.) 5. What is the legend of Boo Radley? 6. Who was hiding in the collard patch? What was his story? 7. Explain the turtle metaphor. 1
TKAM Comprehension Questions 2012-2013 Tolle 2 Chapter 2 1. What happened at Scout s first day of school? 2. Describe Miss Caroline. 3. Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing. Who says this? Why? 4. Who are the Cunninghams? Explain their way of life. Give specific examples. Chapter 3 1. What invitation does Jem extend, to Scout s surprise? 2. What does Walter do that shocks Scout? 3. How does Calpurnia respond to Scout s actions? 4. Why does Miss Caroline cry? 5. Describe Burris Ewell. 2
TKAM Comprehension Questions 2012-2013 Tolle 3 Chapter 3 cont. 6. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. Who says this? Why? 7. Atticus says, Sometimes it s better to bend the law a little in special cases. What s he talking about? Why should laws sometimes be bent? Why must Scout obey the laws as written? Chapter 4 1. What did Scout and Jem find in the hole in the tree? 2. What do the kids decide to do with all these gifts? 3. What s a Hot Steam? 4. How did the kids play Boo Radley? 5. What happened with the tire? 6. Scout reveals that, when she rolled in the yard, Someone inside the house was laughing. Who? Why? 3
TKAM Comprehension Questions 2012-2013 Tolle 4 Chapter 8 1. How did Mr. Avery explain the weather change? Chapter 8 cont. 2. What was the funniest part of the nighttime drama? 3. What is the time of Scout s screaming freak-out? 4. Where d Scout get her blanket? When? 5. What was Miss Maudie s attitude concerning her loss? 6. Jem & Scout borrow Miss Maudie s snow to make a caricature of whom? What is Atticus reaction? 7. What will Miss Stephanie NOT get as a result of her hospitality? 8. Soft taffeta-like sounds and muffled scurrying sounds filled me with helpless dread. -- What happened? 9. What do you think Miss Maudie was referring to as Jem & Scout s job to do? Why was she laughing? 4
TKAM Comprehension Questions 2012-2013 Tolle 5 Chapters 9-11 1. Why did Cecil and Scout almost get in a fight? 2. What s so funny about the way the house at Finch s Landing is built? 3. What is the trial about? Why is there controversy in the town? Why does Atticus say he has to defend Tom? 4. This time we aren t fighting the Yankees, we re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they re still our friends and this is still our house. 5. What predictions could you make after reading this quote? 6. What new bad habit has Scout acquired? What does Jack have to say about that? 7. Who is Francis, and what does he tell Scout about the way the family perceives Atticus? What does he say about Dill? 8. When Atticus is talking to Jack he realizes that Scout is listening. What does he say? Why? 9. What does Atticus say Uncle Jack should have told Scout when she asked what a whore-lady was? Why? 5
TKAM Comprehension Questions 2012-2013 Tolle 6 10. Why do Scout & Jem think Atticus is old and boring? 11. What happens that changes their minds? Why does Jem want Scout to keep their father s talent a secret? 12. What does Mrs. Dubose do to provoke Jem, and how does he retaliate? What is his punishment? What do you think the kids learn from Mrs. Dubose? Why does Atticus think she s courageous? Chapter 12 1. How was Scout s summer different from the two before? 2. Where does Atticus go? Where do the kids stay? 3. Who is Miss Lula? 4. What happened when the kids went to church? 5. How does Calpurnia s language change when she s at church? How does she explain this? 6
TKAM Comprehension Questions 2012-2013 Tolle 7 Chapter 14 1. What makes Aunt Alexandra furious? 2. Why do Jem and Scout get in a fight? 3. Who was the snake under the bed? What was his deal? His condition? 4. How does Atticus respond to the new arrival? 5. Why did Dill run away? Why does he think Boo hasn t run away? 6. What did Dill want Scout to get with him? Where did he want them to get it? Chapter 16 1. Describe downtown Maycomb on the first day of the trial. What s going on? 2. Who is Mr. Dolphus Raymond? What s his story? 3. How does Jem explain to Scout what a mixed child is? 7
TKAM Comprehension Questions 2012-2013 Tolle 8 4. Describe the physical appearance of the courthouse, according to the text. Chapter 17 1. Where do Jem and Scout end up sitting? Why is that interesting? 2. Explain Judge Taylor s demeanor. What are his interesting habits? 3. In Chapter 17 we get a detailed description on the Ewell s living arrangements and lifestyle choices. What is their story? 4. Something happens on the stand that clearly displays Bob Ewell s lack of education. What is it? Chapter 18 1. Describe Mayella s appearance, demeanor, and level of confidence on the stand. 2. Mayella testifies, He does tollable, cept when What information does she unintentionally reveal? 3. Why does Mayella think Atticus is making fun of her, and what does this show the reader? 4. What specific things do we learn from Mayella about her family s living conditions? 8
TKAM Comprehension Questions 2012-2013 Tolle 9 5. What revelation about Tom casts doubt on large amounts of testimony? How did it happen to him? 6. After Atticus keeps firing questions at Mayella with no response, she explodes. What does she say in her final rant? Chapter 19 1. How often does Tom claim he s been to the Ewell residence, and for what purposes? 2. While Tom is testifying, Scout begins to sympathize with Mayella. Why? To whom does she compare her? 3. What is Tom s version of the story? 4. Where were Mayella s siblings when the incident occurred? Why? 5. In what way does Scout compare Tom Robinson to Atticus? Why? 6. Who is Mr. Link Deas, what s his outburst, and what s the outcome? 7. Why does Dill cry and have to leave? 9
TKAM Comprehension Questions 2012-2013 Tolle 10 8. What mistake did Tom make on the stand? Why was it a mistake Chapter 20 1. After Dill gets upset in the courtroom and goes outside Mr. Dolphus Raymond approaches him. What does Dolphus reveal to Dill and Scout? How does he explain his actions? 2. Why does Dolphus think Dill is crying? 3. What does Atticus say in his closing remarks? 4. What evil assumptions does Atticus accuse Maycomb of having? 5. Does Atticus believe his defense was effective? How do you know? Chapter 21 1. Why was Calpurnia mad at Jem for taking Scout to the trial? 2. What was the verdict? What was Atticus reaction? 3. How did the members of the balcony show their respect for Mr. Finch? 10
TKAM Comprehension Questions 2012-2013 Tolle 11 Chapter 22 1. What was Jem s response to the verdict? How did the black community show appreciation towards the Finches? What was Atticus response? 2. Hush, Stephanie. Miss Maudie s diction was deadly. Why did Miss Maudie put her in her place? 3. Explain the Caterpillar in the cocoon metaphor. 4. What does Dill want to be when he grows up? Why? 5. What happened at the post office? (very end of the chapter) Chapter 23 1. What does Aunt Alexandra have to say regarding Scout wanting to invite Walter Cunningham over? 2. Atticus notices that Jem is upset and asks why. When he responds it s about Mr. Ewell, Atticus explains that he understands why Mr. Ewell feels the way he does. Why? 3. What is Jem s opinion on Capital Punishment? To the children s surprise, who is not allowed to sit on a jury in Alabama? 4. How does Jem classify the people of Maycomb County? Who hates whom? What is Scout s response to Jem s classifications? And how does Boo Radley s name come up? 11