To Kill a Mockingbird - Study Questions

1Chapter 17-18

1.     What happened to Mayella on the night of November 21^st?

2.     Where has Mayella sustained most of her injuries? What does it imply?

3.     What is evidence is absent?

4.     What does Bob Ewell say happened to Mayella?

5.     What does Atticus ask the jury to take notice about Bob Ewell?

6.     Where did the Black people and children sit in the courtroom?

7.     Why does miss Maudie refuse to attend the trial?

8.     What did Mayella say in her testimony?

9.     Why would one feel sorry for Mayella?

10.  Why is her testimony not believable?

11.  Why does Mayella start crying?

12.  Which is the only witness Atticus calls to the stand?

Chapter 20-23

1.     Why does Dolphus Raymond pretend to be drunk?

2.     What are Atticus’s closing remarks?

3.     Why does Caluprina come to the courtroom?

4.     What is the verdict?

5.     How does Jem and Miss Maudie react to the verdict?

6.     What is new at the Ewell family?

7.     How does Atticus respond to the threat?

8.     What two options are available for Tom Robison ?

9.     How does the jury system work in Alabama?

10.  Why was the jury out so long?

11.  Why is Scout furious with aunt Alexandra?

12.  What does Jem reveal to Scout?

Chapter 25

1.   Why does Jem ask Scout not to mash the roly-poly bug?
2.   How does Helen Robinson react to Tom’s death?
3.   How does the town react to Tom’s death?
4.   What does Tom’s editorial say about Tom’s death?
5.   What is Ewell overhead saying regarding Tom’s death?

Chapter 26

1.   How do the children feel about Boo Radley after the trial? Why?
2.   What is the topic of Miss Gates’ lecture for Grade 3 students?
3.   Why does Scout think Miss Gates’ is hypocritical?

Chapter 27

1.     Why does Bob Ewell lose his job with the WPA? Whom does he blame?

2.     Who is prowling around Judge Taylor’s house?

3.     Who offers Helen a job and why?

4.     Why doesn’t Helen want to take the main road?

5.     What does Aunt Alexandra suspect about Bob Ewell?

6.     Where and why does the town sponsor a Halloween party and play?

7.     What happened last Halloween?

8.     What is the school play?

9.     What costume does Scout wear for the play?

Chapter 28-31

1.     Who jumps up and frightens Jem and Scout on the way to school?

2.     Describe the haunted house.

3.     Why does the audience burst out laughing during the play?

4.     Why are Jem and Scout the last people to leave the school?

5.     Who is pursuing Jem and Scout on the way home? Whom do they think it is?

6.     Who attacks Jem? Who comes to Jem’s rescue?

7.     Which two individuals are called for further rescue and help?

8.     Why is Scout so worried?

9.     Who is really dead?

10.  How does the costume protect Scout?

11.  Describe Boo Radley.

12.  Why does Atticus insist Jem killed Bob Ewell?

13.  What does it mean by “Let the dead bury the dead.”

14.   Who really killed Bob Ewell?

15.  Describe the newfound friendship between Scout and Boo Radley.