chapter analysis of to kill a mockingbird

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Chapter 1

Question What, briefly, has happened to Arthur “Boo” Radley?

ResponseIn his teens, Arthur Radley became acquainted with the Cunninghams and formed ‘the nearest thing to a gang even seen in Maycomb’. The gang of boys was finally arrested having driven an old car through the town square and locked Maycomb’s beadle in the courthouse. Whilst the other boys were sent to an industrial school for punishment, Mr. Radley kept his son at home on the grounds that he could keep his son out of trouble that way. After 15-years, “Boo” had allegedly stabbed his father with a pair of scissors and was locked in the courthouse basement, away from the negroes in prison. He was eventually brought back to the Radley house and after Mr. Radley died, his older brother Nathan arrived to watch over Boo.Question Why does the Radley place fascinate Scout, Jem and Dill?

ResponseThe Radley place was described by the narrator (Scout) as ‘inhabited by an unknown entity, the mere description of whom it was enough to make [them] behave’. Furthermore, there were rumours about Arthur “Boo” Radley, a boy hidden inside his home by his father after being brought to court, saying how he was six-feet tall, had yellow-teeth and ate raw animals. Hence, Dill developed an insatiable curiosity about Boo and dared Jem to touch the house. After 3 days, Jem succumbed to the dare and touched the house. When they later saw that ‘an inside shutter [had] moved’, all three friends began to develop their curiosity with the Radley place.

Question What do you notice about the narrative voice and viewpoint in the novel?

ResponseThe story is narrated from the viewpoint of Scout, one of the main characters. The first chapter serves mostly to illustrate the background of Scout and Maycomb County. The chapter starts from the end of the story, when Jem broke his arm after their scuffle with Bob Ewell, before Scout proceeds to recount the circumstances surrounding the accident starting from her fifth birthday. As a result, the narrative voice constantly changes

between her older voice, looking back at her childhood, and Scouts younger voice, describing events as they happen. This give the reader two perspectives from which he can choose to interpret the situation from.


Chapter 2

Question Why is Scout so looking forward to starting school?

ResponseScout spent winter observing from the tree house the games the schoolchildren played. She also hid in Jem’s jacket while he was playing blind-man’s buff with the schoolchildren, ‘sharing their misfortunes and minor victories’. As such, Scout longed for an opportunity to join them in their game. This opportunity came when school started and she had classmate whom she could play the games with.

Question Why does Jem not want anything to do with Scout at school? Is his behavior typical of an older child?

ResponseJem was concerned that Scout may approach him and embarrass him in the process as she may inadvertently reveal an embarrassing part of Jem’s life to his friends. His behaviour is typical of an older child.

Question What do you think of Miss Caroline Fisher as a teacher? Can you find qualities that make her good or not so good at her job?

ResponseI feel that Ms. Fisher is inexperienced as a teacher, only relying on proven systems taught to her in college to teach the students. Perhaps because of fear, she is unwilling to compromise on the system. For example, she was upset when she learnt that Scout had started reading before the rest of the

class and in a bid to standardize the class, forbids her from reading, ‘[trying] to undo the damage’.


Chapter 3

Question Who is Calpurnia? What is her place in the Finch household?

ResponseCalpurnia is the Finch’s black cook. She serves as a motherly figure to the children, especially in the absence of their mother who had died. She cooks, disciplines and generally takes care of ‘her kids’. For example, she reprimanded Scout for remarking on Walter Cunningham’s table manners during lunch. She was also the person who taught Scout to write prior to her entry into school.

Question What is Walter Cunningham like? What does his behavior during lunch suggest about his home life?

ResponseWhilst Walter Cunningham is not necessarily impolite and rude, as shown by his conversation with Atticus, he is quite uncouth, greedily pouring syrup on his food and noisily replacing the ladle, before gobbling down on his food. This suggests that the Cunninghams are impoverished, and greedily eat food when it is available

Question What do you learn in this chapter about the Ewells?

ResponseThe Ewells are vulgar, as shown when Burris Ewell rudely answered the teacher when asked about his attendance. He is also short-tempered and

attempted to resort to violence when Ms Fisher tried to discipline him. We can also see that the Ewells are unclean as Burris was found with lice in his hair in class.


Chapter 4

Question What superstitions do the children have in connection with the Radley house?

ResponseWhen Jem found out that Scout had picked up a wad of chewing gum from a tree in the Radley lot, he forced her to spit the gum out, claiming that she’ll get killed if she even touched the tree in question. This superstition is in line with many of the Maycomb County residents’ beliefs concerning the Radley Place and Boo Radley.

Question Why do the children make Boo’s story into a game?

ResponseAlthough it is not explicitly stated in the novel why Jem came up with the idea to make Boo Radley’s story into the game, the reader can infer that he was bored with the games that the trio had been playing prior to this. Firstly, when Scout suggested that they roll in the tire earlier in the chapter, Jem sighed, as he was too old and too large to fit in the tire. Hence, he was relegated to the task of pushing the tire, while the other children enjoyed their ride in the tire. Jem could have chosen to reenact Boo Radley’s story as it was a game where all three children could get involved and no one would get left behind.

Question What do they do in this game? Do you think the game is an accurate version of what happens in the Radley house?

ResponseIn their game, the children acted out the roles of the Radley family going about their daily business. Scout was to act out Mrs. Radley, Jem played Boo and Dill played Mr. Radley. The children’s role-play is not an accurate depiction of the goings-on in the Radley house as their plot or storylines are based upon superstition and rumors spread around Maycomb. For example, Boo Radley in the play occasionally ‘went under the front steps and shrieked and howled from time to time’.


Chapter 5

Question What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo? How does this compare with what Scout already believes?

ResponseWhen Scout asked her on whether she thinks Boo Radley is still alive, she replied that he is probably alive, as she hadn’t ‘seen him carried out yet’. In addition, Miss Maudie also gave an explanation as to where the rumours surrounding Boo Radley originated, saying that they are ‘three-fourths coloured folk and one-fourth Stephanie Crawford’, highlighting the fact that Miss Stephanie Crawford is the neighbourhood gossip. Furthermore, she elaborated further, proving to Scout that many of the rumours were probably wrong. Compared with the circulated rumour, Miss Maudie’s account is substantiated with evidence and portrays Boo Radley in a more favourable light.Question Scout claims that “Dill could tell the biggest ones” (lies) that she ever heard. Why might Dill have told such lies?

ResponseDill could have had several motives for lying to Jem and Scout. When Dill first arrived in Maycomb and met Jem and Scout, he told the pair that he could read and if they had ‘anything [that] need reading, he could do it’. This shows that Dill may have had certain assumptions about Maycomb residents, in this case, one where they are supposedly illiterate. When he later discovers that the Finches are literate and live in a comfortable home with a loving parent, he compares that to his own family, where his parents neglect him. Perhaps in embarrassment, he concocted these stories to boast to Jem and Scout.

Question

What reasons does Atticus give for the children not to play the Boo Radley game? Do you think he is right? Why?

ResponseUpon discovering the children’s game, Atticus commented that ‘what [Boo Radley] did was his own business’. In addition, he explained that ‘what [Boo Radley] did might seem peculiar to [the children], but it did not seem peculiar to [himself].’ Personally, I feel that Atticus has explained very well to the children on why they should stop playing the Boo Radley game. He uses examples to show that some people do not like to be disturbed, asking the children how they would feel if he had ‘barged in on [the children] without knocking’. Although Atticus tried his best to teach the children to stop playing, the children still continue enacting the supposed life of Boo Radley, fueled in part by Miss Stephanie Crawford’s rumours.


Chapter 6

Question Why does Scout disapprove of Jem and Dill’s plan of looking in at one of the Radley windows?

ResponseScout does not say why exactly she disapproves of Jem and Dill’s plan to look inside one of the Radley’s windows. However, it could be because she was disappointed that both of them had not kept Atticus’ promise of refraining from bothering the Radley family. In addition, perhaps she found their idea of walking into the Radley estate, what would have been considered reckless in the earlier chapters, as sheer madness, wondering why both of them do not find it frightening anymore.

Question What does Mr. Nathan Radley know about the intruders in his garden? Why does Miss Stephanie Crawford refer to a ‘negro’ over whose head Mr. Nathan has fired?

ResponseMr. Nathan Radley said that he ‘scared [the intruder] pale’ by shooting his shotgun in the air, adding that if ‘anyone sees a white negro around, that’s the one’. Although the sentence can be taken in the literal form, the phrase ‘white negro’ implies that Mr. Radley may have known that it was the Finch children who intruded onto his property. As it would be further revealed in the later chapters of the novel, many of the Maycomb County town people

apply their general stereotypes of blacks to every single black in Maycomb. As such, Mrs. Crawford refers to the intruder as ‘a negro’, perhaps believing that all blacks are deceitful and cunning, and that only a black man or woman would dare to intrude on a white man’s property.Question Why does Dill’s explanation of Jem’s state of dress almost land him in trouble?

ResponseWhen Atticus questioned Jem’s state of dress, Dill immediately came up with an excuse, saying that he had won Jem pant’s from him in an earlier game of strip poker. Although the rest of the townspeople were satisfied with his story, Miss Rachel was outraged when she found out that the children were playing gambling by her fish pool, before Jem elaborated further, explaining that they were only playing with matches instead of cards. The children would have been severely punished by Miss Rachel had Atticus not given them the chance to explain.


Chapter 7

Question When Jem tells Scout about getting his trousers back, he tells her of something strange. What is this?

ResponseThe previous night, Jem had gotten his trousers tangled in the fence by the schoolyard. However, when Jem returned the following day to retrieve his lost trousers, he discovered that they had been folded neatly across the fence. In addition, Jem noticed that his pants had been sewed up crookedly, ‘not like a lady sewed them’. Because of this, Jem believes that whoever sewed the pants knew that he was coming back for them later. However, most of the townspeople believed Dills story that Jem had lost his pants in a game of strip poker, hence Jem believed that the person who sewed up his pants must have known of the actual events happening that night.Question Does Jem still fear the gifts in the tree? Give reasons for your answer.

ResponseEarly in the chapter, when Jem and Scout find a ball of grey twine in the

knothole, Scout suggests that they should not take the items, as the knothole may be another child’s hiding place. Although Jem did not believe Scout at first, he eventually wised up, beginning to believe that the knothole bore no relation to the Radley Place and was unaffected by the superstitions surrounding it. Later, Jem and Scout’s findings reinforce their opinions as they discover miniature soap dolls depicting the duo. They soon believe that the person leaving the gifts behind must be someone close to them. When the next gift arrives, Jem forgets about his fears and readily pulls out the item.Question When the children plan to send a letter to the person who leaves the gifts, they are prevented, How does this happen? Who does it, and why might he do so?

ResponseAs Jem was about to put the letter he wrote into the knothole, he noticed that the knothole had been filled up with cement, preventing them from sending their note to the mysterious person. Later that day, when the children are on their way home, they pass by Mr. Nathan Radley, and questioned him about the cementing of the hole. Although he said that he plugged the tree as it was sick, he must have had foreknowledge of the objects placed in the hole for the children. As Mr. Nathan Radley was tasked with taking care of Boo Radley after his brother had passed away, he would try to keep Boo isolated from the rest of Maycomb and prevent him from communicating with outsiders.


Chapter 8

Question What is the ‘near libel’ that Jem puts in the front yard? How do Miss Maudie and Atticus react to it?

ResponseWhen the children find out that it was snowing outside, Jem decides to build a snowman using some snow from Miss Maudie’s front yard. As Jem built his snowman, he commented how Mr. Avery, one of the locals, resembles a snowman’s figure, and was inspired to make the snowman resemble Mr. Avery. When Atticus discovered the snowman, he was initially proud of his children’s handiwork. However, upon realizing that the snowman was meant to resemble Mr. Avery, he chuckled, mildly warning the children to change the appearance of the snowman. Miss Maudie acted less amicably and was engaged with Atticus in an argument on her front yard about the snowman.Question Why does Atticus save Miss Maudie’s oak chair?

ResponseAs the other men of Maycomb County began moving furniture out of Miss Maudie’s burning house, Atticus decided to save Miss Maudie’s oak rocking chair first, a piece of furniture described by Scout as the one she valued most. Atticus did this perhaps in anticipation that Miss Maudie would not react well to the fire and that the presence of her treasured oak rocking chair might comfort her. As Atticus had known Miss Maudie since he was a child, he would probably have known Miss Maudie inside out, and saved her rocking chair with the foreknowledge that it was the item that she valued most.

Question When Atticus asks Scout about the blanket around her shoulders, what does Jem realize?

ResponseWhen Atticus questioned about the blanket around Scout’s shoulder, Jem initially believed that Mr. Nathan Radley was the man who put the blanket around Scout’s shoulder. He then began pouring out all the secrets he had kept from Atticus about their experience with the knothole and their encounter with what they presumed to be Boo Radley in an effort to convince him not to send the blanket back to the Radleys. However, when Atticus later suggests to the children that Boo Radley, Jem realizes that Boo was not as they had imagined, although he later enacted Boo putting the blanket on Scout based on his superstitions, believing that Boo had crept up to her in the manner the townspeople would perceive.


Chapter 9

Question Scout and Jem have ‘mixed feelings about Christmas’. What are these feelings and why?

ResponseWhilst Scout enjoyed Uncle Jack presence in Maycomb during Christmas Eve, she treated the stay at Finch’s Landing on Christmas with disdain, lamenting that ‘no amount of sighing could induce Atticus to let [them] spend Christmas day at home’. Scout liked Uncle Jack, partly because he was ‘one of the few men of science who never terrified [her]’ and partly because he

often brought presents for Jem and herself. In contrast, Scout detested the yearly visit to Finch’s Landing as she had to spend the holiday with Francis Hancock, her cousin, who ‘enjoyed everything [she] disapproved of and disliked [her] ingenuous diversions’.

Question When Francis talks to Scout, he reveals an unpleasant feature of Aunt Alexandra. What is this?

ResponseWhen Scout questioned on why Francis called Atticus a nigger lover, Francis reveals an earlier conversation with his grandmother, Aunt Alexandra, where she said that ‘it’s bad enough that [Atticus] lets [Scout] run wild, but now he’s turned a nigger-lover, [the Finches will] never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb again’ and that he is ruining the family name. The above conversation shows that Aunt Alexandra strongly objects to Atticus defending a black man in court. Although it is not clear if Aunt Alexandra explicitly used the racist term ‘nigger-lover’ in her conversation or if Francis picked up the phrase from somewhere else, the reader can see from the rest of the conversation that Aunt Alexandra displays a mild form of racism.Question Does Scout learn anything from overhearing Atticus’ conversation with Uncle Jack? What might it be?

ResponseThe first part of Uncle Jacks and Atticus’ conversation involves the argument between Scout and Francis at Finch’s Landing and Atticus’ advice on parenthood, that is, to tell children the truth and avoid evading the question as Uncle Jack had done with Scout earlier on, because ‘[children] can spot an evasion faster than adults’. Through this, Scout doesn’t learn much apart from the fact that Uncle Jack kept his word. The later parts of the conversation concern Atticus’ fears of his children not being able to cope with the controversy surrounding the court case and if they succumb to the rampant racism in Maycomb County.


Chapter 10

Question In this chapter, Atticus tells his children that ‘it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’. What reason does he give for this?

Response

According to Scout, Atticus knew that the children would go and try to shoot birds with their new air rifles, and that they could ‘shoot all the blue jays [they wanted], but to remember that it was a sin to kill a mockingbird’. When Scout consulted Miss Maudie for an explanation, Miss Maudie agreed with Atticus, reminding Scout that ‘mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy’. The ‘mockingbird’ carries on through the rest of the novel, and is one of the most discussed themes. Perhaps one of the most prominent characters embodying the mockingbird theme is Boo Radley, an innocent man plagued by rumours and superstitions spread by Maycomb County residents, with Miss Stephanie Crawford in particular.Question Why does Heck Tate not want to shoot Tim Johnson?

ResponseWhen Heck Tate and Atticus arrived, Tim Johnson had reached the side street in front of the Radley Place. After a few minutes of hesitation, Heck Tate passed the rifle to Atticus, explaining that Tim Johnson’s close proximity to the Radley Place requires a good shooter lest someone gets injured. Heck Tate was a friend of Atticus’ and knew that he was sharp shooter in his younger days, therefore he thrust his rifle into Atticus’ hands, with the belief that Atticus would not miss Tim Johnson.

Question Near the end of the 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.

ResponseThe Finch children express a certain disbelief when Heck Tate passed Atticus his rifle. After Zeebo removed Tim Johnson, Heck Tate notices Jem’s apprehension when he asked Atticus about his shooting skills and tries to explain to the children when Atticus cuts him off. His true motives are later revealed when Miss Maudie talks to Jem and Scout later in the chapter. She explains that ‘people in their right minds never take pride in their talents. Later in the story when Mrs. Dubose dies, Atticus reveals that ‘he wanted [Jem] to see what real courage was, instead of getting the idea that courage was a man holding a gun’, referencing the events in this chapter.


Chapter 11

Question How does Atticus advise Jem to react to Mrs. Dubose’s taunts?

ResponseUpon hearing that Jem was furious at Mrs. Dubose for frequently admonishing them, Atticus reminded Jem that Mrs. Dubose was old and ill, advising him to ‘hold [his] head high and be a gentleman’, adding that ‘it’s [his] job not to let her make [him] mad’. However, later in the chapter, when Jem and Scout pass by Mrs. Dubose’s house, Mrs. Dubose made a snide remark, proclaiming that Atticus was ‘no better than the niggers and trash he works for’. This provoked Jem so much so that he went up to Mrs. Dubose’s front yard and destroyed all her camellias, ‘forgetting everything Atticus had said, forgetting that [Mrs. Dubose] packed a pistol under her shawl, forgetting that if she missed, Jessie probably wouldn’t’.Question Explain in your own words what Atticus thinks of insults like ‘nigger-lover’. How far do you agree with him?

ResponseTo Atticus, words such as ‘nigger-lover’ are meaningless and are only used unlearned and ill-mannered people. He also adds that name-calling does not necessarily reflect badly on the ‘victim’. On the other hand, it reflects badly on the person who used the word in question, showing instead how poorly that person behaves. Although Atticus’ behaviour and attitude is commendable, he believes in it so much that he often fails to note and be wary of life-endangering threats, like the ones made by Bob Ewell to Atticus after the court case in the later part of the novel.

Question Chapters 10 and 11 are the last 2 chapters in the first part of the book. Explain why Lee chooses to end the first part there.

ResponseThe switch from Part 1 to Part 2 in the book marks a change in Jem and Scout. For starters, they are not at all worried about Boo Radley and the Radley Place, following events such as the gifts he gave to the children through a knothole in a tree to Miss Maudie’s house fire, where he placed a blanket around Scout’s shoulders. By the last chapter of part 1, ‘tormenting Boo Radley became passé’, and Jem and Dill had stopped the reenactment of Boo Radley’s life and their efforts to get Boo Radley to come out. In addition, Scout and Jem were about to witness yet more racial discrimination, both against the blacks and the Finches for defending Tom Robinson, as the court hearing drew closer.


Chapter 12

Question Comment on Jem and Scout’s visit to First Purchase church.

ResponseAs Calpurnia and the Finch children made their way into the church, they come across Lula, a black woman, who confronts Calpurnia upon discovering that she had brought white children into the black church. She holds the belief that if white people can be racist towards blacks, then blacks have the equal right to be racist towards whites. As the church session began, Jem and Scout discovered how First Purchase church does away with hymnbooks, instead employing Zeebo to lead the congregation by ‘lining’. Later, when Reverend Skyes called for everyone to donate a dime for Helen Robinson, the Finches were surprised by the Reverend’s insistence at collecting $10 to benefit Helen. Question What does Scout learn from Calpurnia’s account of Zeebo’s education?

ResponseCalpurnia stated that although ‘there wasn’t even a school when [Zeebo] was a boy’, she forced him to learn, highlighting the fact that Calpurnia imposes a high emphasis on education on her children.

Question Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household, and among her neighbours in church.

ResponseAs mentioned earlier, Calpurnia serves as the mother figure to Jem and Scout in the absence of their late mother. Hence, she is required to speak formally at home lest the Finch children begin to pick up some of the black vocabulary. On the other hand, she speaks informally when confronted by Lula in the black church. Calpurnia’s friends might not understand her if she spoke as she does in the Finches home and gain the impression that she is becoming more and more foreign and white and ending up like in Dolphus Raymond’s children’s case, where they are neither accepted by the blacks or the whites. To ‘blend in’ with both parties, she has to adapt her language at home and at work.


Chapter 13

Question Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay with Atticus and his family? What is she like?

ResponseAlthough she revealed that she came to Maycomb as she decided with Atticus that it would ‘be best for you to have some feminine influence’, she had another motive in mind, to get rid of Calpurnia as she was not a good mother figure in her eyes. At first, she finds Scout a vile, un-ladylike girl, putting special effort in an attempt to correct her bad ways. Because of this, Scout finds Aunt Alexandra very demanding as compared to Atticus’ parenting style, which she is used to, and chooses not to respect Aunt Alexandra.

Question How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Maycomb social life?

ResponseAfter gaining repute among the Maycomb Missionary Society Ladies for her refreshments, she joined and eventually became the secretary of the Missionary Society.

Question Comment on Aunt Alexandra’s ideas about breeding and family. Why does Atticus tell them to forget it? Who do you think is right?

ResponseAunt Alexandra was known to attribute many quirks of the Maycomb County residents to heredity. This leads her to believe that Scout ought to be more ladylike and appreciative of her family name. Later, Scout did not recognize her Cousin Lily, let alone realize that she was her cousin. This was met by Aunt Alexandra with mild disapproval, who immediately suggested to Atticus that she talk to the children about ‘the family and what it meant to Maycomb County over the years, so that [they] might be moved to behave accordingly’ and that they ‘were the product of several generations’ gentle breeding’.

Later, when Atticus saw for himself the effect this had on his children, he changed his mind, telling the children to forget everything.


Chapter 14

Question Why does Alexandra think Atticus should dismiss Calpurnia? How does Atticus respond to the suggestion?

ResponseWhen Aunt Alexandra overheard Scout’s conversation with Atticus, she discovered that Calpurnia had brought Scout to a black church. She found this unsatisfactory, in line with her belief that Calpurnia was not serving as an appropriate mother figure to the Finch children in the absence of their late mother simply because of her assumptions about blacks in general. She believes that regardless of the service Calpurnia had provided to the Finch family for the many years, she cannot stay near the Finch children, for fear of passing down her ‘bad ways’. Atticus, on the other hand, tried to explain how Calpurnia was different from ‘most coloured nurses’, reiterating that the family wouldn’t have done without her.Question Why is Scout pleased when Jem fights her back? Why is she less pleased when he tells Atticus about Dill?

ResponseScout broke into a fight with Jem as she did not like it when Jem told her that he would personally spank her if she antagonized Aunt Alexandra further. Later, Jem begins to fight back, which pleases Scout as she ‘knew he was fighting, he was fighting [Scout] back’, and that they ‘were still equals’. Later in the chapter, when Scout and Jem discovered Dill, who had escaped from his cruel parents in Meridian, Jem immediately suggests that they inform Atticus of Dill’s presence. Despite Scout’s protests, Jem went forward to inform Atticus, and according to Scout, ‘broke the remaining code of [their] childhood’.

Question What do we learn from Dill’s account of him running away?

ResponseFrom Dill’s account of running away, we learn that is very meticulous, paying attention to walk ‘off the highway in the scrub bushes lest the authorities see him’. In addition, he also shows great concern for Scout, having considered ‘emerging and helping [Scout] beat Jem, as Jem had grown far taller’. He also

does not show much care for his new parents’ welfare, grinning when Jem asked him if his parents knew that he was in Maycomb, adding that ‘they’re still searching all the picture shows in Meridian’.


Chapter 15

Question What is the “nightmare” that now descends upon the children?

ResponseThe “nightmare” that now descends on the children is Tom Robinson’s court case and all the complications leading from it as a result of Atticus being Mr. Robinson’s lawyer. One of the first incidents arises at the beginning of Chapter 15, where most of the Maycomb County men, including friends of Atticus such as Heck Tate, Dr. Reynolds and Mr. Avery, came to Atticus’s doorstep to bring up their concern of a lynch mob attacking Tom Robinson.

Question What was (and is) the Ku Klux Klan? What do you think of Atticus’s comment about it?

ResponseThe Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is an American organization dedicated to preserving the interests of white Americans. They believe in white supremacy and their violent acts against African-Americans in America. Atticus does not think highly of them, believing that there wasn’t even a significant KKK in Maycomb County, adding that ‘they couldn’t find anyone to scare’ and that the ‘Ku Klux Klan is gone, it’ll never come back’.

Question How does Jem react when Atticus tells him to go home?

ResponseWhen Atticus first told him to bring Scout and Dill home, he defiantly declined. Later, after Jem persisted, one of the men in the lynch mob

grabbed Jem’s collar and tried to bring him home himself. Scout reacted, kicking him in the groin area. After Jem continued to hold out, Atticus


Chapter 16

Question What “subtle change” does Scout notice in her father?

ResponseScout notices that Atticus talks in a slightly more stern, almost irritated tone when Aunt Alexandra raises the topic of African-Americans, or blacks at the table. When Aunt Alexandra commented that Atticus should not be talking about blacks in front of Calpurnia, he defended her, saying that ‘anything fit to say at the table’s fit to say in front of Calpurnia’, adding that Calpurnia means a lot to the family and that they depend on her a lot. Later, when Aunt Alexandra tried to explain further, Atticus put down his knife, perhaps a sign of slight annoyance, before calmly explaining to Aunt Alexandra.

Question What sort of person is Dolphus Raymond?

ResponseDolphus Raymond is a wealthy but disliked white man in Maycomb County. Even though he ‘owns all one side of the riverbank [and is] from a real old family’, traits valued by Maycomb County residents, he is still disliked by them due to his marriage with a black woman. He is often seen drinking what is presumed to be whiskey out of a paper bag. Jem explains that Mr. Raymond was due to be wed with one of the Spencer ladies when the bride committed suicide. Mr. Raymond allegedly never got over her death and resorted to drinking, before marrying a black woman.

Question How does Reverend Skyes help the children see and hear the trial?

ResponseWhen Jem, Scout and Dill could not find any seats in the courthouse, Reverend Skyes first tried to find seats for them, before welcoming them to

the ‘coloured balcony’ in the second story, where blacks usually sit during hearings, isolated from the whites below. There, four blacks gave up their seats to Reverend Skyes, Jem, Scout and Dill, in a sign of respect.


Chapter 17

Question What are the main points in Heck Tate’s evidence? What does Atticus show in his cross-examination of Sheriff Tate?

ResponseThrough Heck Tate’s testimonial, Atticus revealed that Mayella Ewell was ‘bunged up on [the right side] of her face’, hinting that the person attacking her hit mainly with his left hand. In addition, Mayella had ‘definite finger marks [all around] her gullet’. As Atticus would later prove, Tom Robinson had lost his left arm muscles in a cotton gin accident, and hence would be unable to punch with his crippled left. He also proved that Bob Ewell was left-handed.

Question What do we learn indirectly of the home life of the Ewell family in this chapter?

ResponseAtticus revealed through his cross-examination of Bob Ewell that he had not bothered to call for a doctor to attend to his daughter’s wounds as he had already seen what had happened. We learn through Bob Ewell testimony that he shows little or no care for his children, having ‘never called a doctor to any of his [children] in his life’, citing that it would’ve cost him 5 dollars. This was shown when Atticus questioned Ewell’s not calling a doctor when he found that his daughter had been raped, to which he answered that he had never thought of it, showing to the jury his attitude towards his children.

Question Why does Atticus ask Bob Ewell to write out his own name? What does the jury see when he does this?

ResponseBy asking Bob Ewell to write his own name, Atticus led Ewell to inadvertently reveal to the jury that he was left-handed. This proves that Bob Ewell was the man who beat up his daughter Mayella Ewell as her wounds and bruises indicate that a left-handed man beat her up, whereas Tom Robinson’s left arm was crippled as a result of a cotton gin accident that tore out all of the muscles in that particular arm, proving that Tom would have been incapable of beating up Mayella Ewell. Furthermore, if Tom had used his left hand, he wouldn’t be able to wrap his entire hand around Mayella Ewell’s neck with his crippled left arm and cause the marks that Heck Tate had testified.


Chapter 18

Question What might be the reason for Mayella’s crying in the court?

ResponseAfter Mayella’s repeated attempts at evading Mr. Gilmer’s questions by returning vague answers, Judge Taylor asked her in a somewhat irritated tone to ‘just tell [them] what happened’, questioning whether she could do that. It was upon hearing this that Mayella burst into tears. Eventually, she revealed that she cried as she was afraid of lawyers like Atticus. The reader can tell from the way she attempts to avoid answering any questions that she is feeling nervous of encountering a similar situation as her father, where Atticus asked him many revealing questions, such as the one regarding Mr. Ewell’s education and literacy.

Question How does Mayella react to Atticus’ politeness? Is she used to people being polite?

ResponseIn comparison to Mr. Gilmer, Atticus addressed Mayella Ewell as Miss Mayella Ewell, leading her to believe that Atticus was trying to be rude to her, saying that she ‘won’t answer a word [Atticus] said as long as [he kept] on mocking [her]’. As Scout commented later that Mayella easily ‘took offense to routine courtesy’, wondering if ‘anybody had ever called her “ma’am” or “Miss Mayella” in her life’. Atticus later reveals through his cross-examination of Mayella that her father is uncaring, leaving everybody to fend for himself and was also most likely impolite to his children.

Question

How well does Mr. Gilmer prove Tom’s guilt in the eyes of the reader (you) and in the eyes of the jury? Can you suggest why these may be different?

ResponseCompared to Atticus, Mr. Gilmer’s cross-examination was a lot more succinct, focusing instead on reiterating the series of events that happened that night instead of attempting to rebuke Atticus’ points, confident that the jury was prejudiced enough to sentence Tom Robinson. Although Mr. Gilmer’s cross-examination might not have changed the mindset of the jury given that they are likely to have believed in Tom’s guilt, it reinforces their perception. In contrast, given that the reader can already see from Atticus’ previous cross-examination of Bob Ewell that Tom is innocent, Mr. Gilmer’s cross-examination is unlikely to have proven anything about Tom’s guilt in the eyes of the reader.


Chapter 19

Question What made Tom visit the Ewell’s house in the first place?

ResponseDuring Atticus’ cross-examination, Tom stated that he helped Mayella Ewell as she was the one who asked him to help him and felt obliged to comply. He noted that ‘every time [he] passed by [the Ewell’s house], [Mayella] would have a little something for him to do’. As Atticus proceeded with his cross examination, Tom revealed yet more about his relationship with Mayella Ewell, disclosing that he refused payment from Ms. Ewell as he ‘was glad to [help her around the house]’. However, Mr. Gilmer manages to misconstrue Tom’s words, forcing him to reveal to the jury that he felt sorry for Mayella, shocking the jury and the white men and women in the audience. This ultimately was Tom Robinson’s shortfall.Question Why does Scout think that Mayella Ewell was ‘the loneliest person in the world’?

ResponseAtticus revealed through his questioning of Mayella Ewell that she had no friends, and did not even know the meaning of a ‘friend’. In addition, she left school early and had to take care of the rest of the Ewell children being the oldest. Through this, she is isolated from her peers and is therefore very lonely. Scout elaborated, saying that Mayella was like a mixed child as ‘white people wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she lived among pigs’,

while ‘Negroes wouldn’t have anything to do with her as she was white’.

Question How does Dill react to this part of the trial? Why is this, in your opinion?

ResponseBeing a child, Dill reacted to Mr. Gilmer’s hostile treatment towards Tom Robinson during his cross-examination with tears. Like Scout, he probably did not understand why Mr. Gilmer treated Tom in that harsh manner, as he disclosed to Scout during their conversation outside the courthouse. Whilst Atticus was polite and courteous towards both the plaintiffs and the defendants, going as far as to address Mayella Ewell as ‘Miss Mayella Ewell’ and ‘Ma’am’, Mr. Gilmer repeatedly admonishes Tom, believing him to be a liar and a violent person based on his assumptions of blacks. In addition, he frequently addresses Tom as ‘boy’, showing no basic respect towards Tom.


Chapter 20

Question Scout says that ‘Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man’. Is she right?

ResponseScout’s view of Mr. Dolphus Raymond being an evil man was based on the assumptions and taboo surrounding men like Dolphus Raymond, not doubt passed down from the adults in Maycomb society. She describes him as a ‘sinful man who had mixed children and didn’t care who knew it’, not understanding why Mr. Raymond would ‘deliberately perpetrate fraud on himself’. However, upon listing to Mr. Raymond, Scout begins to understand Mr. Raymond’s plight, overturning many of the wrong preconceptions she had about men like him prior to meeting him.

Question What, according to Atticus, is the thing that Mayella has done wrong?

ResponseAccording to Atticus, ‘[Mayella Ewell has] committed no crime, she has merely broken a rigid and time-honoured code of [Maycomb] society’, that is to seduce a black man. Instead, what Atticus said she had done wrong was that she had foreknowledge of the consequences of attempting to kiss a black man, yet decided to continue and break that very code, before

realizing her mistake. In an effort to hide the shame and embarrassment that will arise from this action, she pushed the blame to an innocent black man. Instead of accepting her responsibility, she risked the life of an innocent man, who now has to bear the burden of Mayella’s mistake.Question Explain, in your own words, Atticus’ views on people being equal.

ResponseAtticus believes that the phrase, ‘all men are created equal’, is overused and clichéd, and used to the extent that educators blindly repeat the above phrase, proclaiming that those lagging behind would suffer a sense of inferiority. He also believes that in reality, not everybody is equal, citing numerous examples where differences between people are plainly seen. However, Atticus holds the belief that the court is the place where all men, regardless of their natural differences, are treated equally. His belief is the crucial point in his summary of the case to the jury, wherein he encourages the men to put aside their assumption held about blacks, and free Tom Robinson.


Chapter 21

Question What does Jem expect the verdict to be? Does Atticus think the same?

ResponseJem, who believes that Maycomb society is pure and devoid of any evil or prejudice, believes that the jury would see through the plaintiff’s circumstantial evidence and free Tom Robinson. Atticus, on the other hand, having seen previous court cases where black men were convicted based on the many assumptions made by white men about the blacks, believes that the jury would still unanimously convict Tom Robinson. He even believes that the jury would have reached their verdict before Jem, Scout and Dill come back from their supper.

Question What is unusual about how long it takes the jury to reach a verdict? Is the verdict predictable or not?

ResponseCompared to previous cases involving a black man being convicted, the jury presiding over Tom Robinson’s court case did not easily convicted. Instead,

they took the whole time from just before supper till about 11 o’clock to deliberate over the evidence and what Atticus had said about the jury being the one place where ‘all men are created equal’. As a result, most of the men and women among the audience found it difficult to predict the jury’s verdict. Even Jem, who initially believed that the jury would unanimously decide to set Tom Robinson free, only answered that ‘there are things that [Scout] just [doesn’t] understand’ when Scout asked him why the jury took so long.Question As Scout waits for the verdict, she thinks of earlier events. What are these and how do they remind us of the novel’s central themes?

Response


Chapter 22

Question Although Atticus did not want his children in court, he defends Jem right to know what has happened. Explain, in your own words, Atticus’s reasons for this.

ResponseInstead of blaming the children for coming to observe Tom Robinson’s trial, Atticus blames himself, saying that since he wanted to defend Tom Robinson in this case, the children would just have to learn to cope with the consequences. He also adds that the Tom Robinson trial was just as important to Maycomb County as missionary teas, referring to Aunt Alexandra’s missionary teas, hence Jem had a valid reason for attending the court case.

Question Why does Dill say that he will be a clown when he grows up? Do you think he will keep his ambition for long?

Response

Question Why does Bob Ewell feel so angry with Atticus? Do you think his threat is a real one?

ResponseAlthough he won the court case against Tom Robinson in the end, he was publically humiliated by Atticus, as the audience in the court realized that Mayella Ewell had actually kissed a black man contrary to her testimonial. This act ruined the ‘last shred of credibility, if he had any to begin with’. By spitting in Atticus’ face, he indirectly issued a threat to Atticus’, on top of verbally threatening Atticus. This shows that Bob Ewell really meant it when he said that he would get Atticus even if it took him the rest of his life.


Chapter 23

Question What do you think of Atticus’s reaction to Bob Ewell’s challenge? Should he have ignored Bob, retaliated, or done something else?

ResponseInstead of acting against Bob Ewell, Atticus simply wished that ‘Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobbaco.

Question What does Atticus tell Scout about why the jury took so long to convict Tom?

ResponseAtticus reasoned that one of the men on the jury was related to the Cunningham family, and ‘in the beginning was rarin’ for an outright acquittal’.

Question At the end of this chapter, Jem forms a new theory about why Boo Radley has never left his house in years. What is this? How likely is it to be true, in your opinion?

ResponseAt the end of the chapter, Jem wonders why the blacks and whites cannot get along with each other, before coming to the conclusion that Boo Radley remained shut up in the house because he did not want to be related with the Maycomb society.


Chapter 24

Question Compare the reactions of Miss Maudie and the other ladies when Scout says she is wearing her “britches” under her dress.

ResponseWhen Scout mistakenly gave an embarrassing answer to Miss Maudie’s question, the other ladies laughed, believing it to be a joke, embarrassing Scout as her ‘cheeks grew hot’. However, Miss Maudie looked sternly at Scout instead, understanding her predicament. This shows how close Miss Maudie and Scout were in comparison to the other ladies in the Missionary circle.

Question Explain briefly how Tom was killed. What is Atticus’s explanation for Tom’s

attempted escape? Do you agree with Atticus?

ResponseTom Robinson was shot while trying to escape during the prison exercise period.

Question How, in this chapter do we see Aunt Alexandra in a new light? How does Miss Maudie support her?

ResponseWhen Mrs. Merriweather made a snide remark about Atticus’s defending of a black man, Miss Maudie defended Atticus out of anger, silencing the ladies of the missionary circle. Later, Aunt Alexandra was seen ‘giving Miss Maudie a look of pure gratitude’, expression her thankfulness of Miss Maudie for saving her embarrassment. This is despite both women never really being close. Through the events of the missionary circle, the author reveals yet another perspective of Aunt Alexandra not previously encountered, that where she is restrained and refuses to voice her opinion against the other ladies in the missionary circle.


Chapter 25

Question How does Maycomb react to news of Tom’s death?

ResponseWhen news first spread, the Maycomb County residents initially showed some interest in Tom Robinson’s death. However, after a few days, the initial shock had died down, as Maycomb eventually realized that ‘Tom’s death was typical’ in the sense that all ‘[nigger’s] cut and run’ with ‘no plan [or] thought for the future’. This comparison also shows the reader that many deaths just like Tom Robinson’s have occurred before, caused by the prejudice against innocent blacks.

Question Comment on the idea that Tom’s death was “typical”.

ResponseThe author uses the word typical to indirectly illustrate to the reader the fact that so many other innocent blacks have died, just like Tom Robinson, due to racial prejudice, that the white folk of Maycomb County have become almost indifferent to the welfare of the blacks, with the death of one being merely a statistic.

Question Why did Jem not want Scout to tell Atticus about Bob Ewell’s comment? Was this a wise thing to ask her to do?

Response


Chapter 26

Question In her lesson on Hitler, Miss Gates says that “we (American people) don’t believe in persecuting anyone “. What seems odd to the reader about this claim?

ResponsePerhaps in an effort to highlight the difference between Hitler and America and to garner negative feelings towards Hitler, Miss Gates uses the example of racism when a student posed a question to her, stating that America is a democracy in the sense that Americans are not prejudiced against anyone, whereas the reader can find it ironic as racism has been demonstrated by Maycomb County residents in many past events in the novel, specifically that of the whites towards the blacks.

Question Why is Scout puzzled by Miss Gates’ disapproval of Hitler?

ResponseScout was puzzled at Miss Gates’ reaction towards Hitler, ‘[getting] real red in the face about it]”, in contrast with her behaviour outside the courthouse after Tom Robinson’s court case, where she said that ‘[it was] time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above themselves, an' the next thing they think they can do is marry us’, referring to the blacks in particular. This contradicts her earlier statement about America being a democracy and not having any prejudice against any particular group of people.

Question Why does Scout’s question upset Jem? Is there a simple answer, or any answer to that question?

ResponseJem has a very high expectation of people around him, believing them to be unprejudiced against anyone. However, after the jury of Tom Robinson’s court case declared him to be guilty, even though it was obvious that Bob and Mayella Ewell were lying, Jem saw a new perspective of Maycomb County, that of prejudice against the blacks. As he was still young, he was unwilling to change his viewpoint and found it hard to accept reality, hence his refusal to talk about anything related to the court case.


Chapter 27

Question What three things does Bob Ewell do that alarms Aunt Alexandra?

ResponseFirstly, when Bob Ewell lost his job at the WPA in a matter of days, he openly blamed Atticus of stealing his job, worrying the welfare lady so that she personally informed Atticus of this. Secondly, Bob Ewell attempted to break into Judge Taylor’s house during churchtime. Although it is not directly implied that Bob Ewell was the person, Aunt Alexandra later reveals that it

was Ewell who broke into Judge Taylor’s house. Lastly, Bob Ewell had been harassing Helen Robinson, the wife of Tom Robinson ever since she started her new job with Mr. Link Deas. Although Mr. Ewell eventually stopped, Aunt Alexandra highlighted that he had a grudge against all people related to the court case and that Atticus might be next.Question Why, according to Atticus, does Bob Ewell bear a grudge? Which people does Ewell see as his enemies, and why?

ResponseAlthough Bob Ewell won the court case, Atticus said that he knew that most people in Maycomb County could see through his story. As such, he felt humiliated and had the impulse to get back at the persons responsible, chiefly Judge Taylor and Atticus. Bob Ewell already began harassing Helen Robinson, the wife of Tom Robinson, and eventually tried to break into Judge Taylor’s house unsuccessfully. Although he was too cowardly to attack Atticus himself, he had no qualms about attacking Atticus’s children, as he would do later in the novel.

Question What was the purpose of the Halloween pageant? What practical joke had persuaded the grown ups to have an organized event?

ResponseThe purpose of the Halloween pageant was to ensure that no child would carry out a Halloween trick that could go out of control. Their decision was influenced by a practical joke played on Miss Tutti and Miss Frutti Barber, where some boys broke into their house and hid every single piece of furniture in their cellar. Following a lengthy investigation by Heck Tate, it was later revealed that the furniture was actually in the Barber cellar, causing much inconvenience among the Maycomb residents.


Chapter 28

Question Comment on the way this chapter reminds the reader of earlier events in the novel.

ResponseThe author brings the earlier events that the Finch children have

experienced in the earlier parts of the novel to the attention of the reader through Jem and Scout’s conversation as they make their way to the school auditorium. As they walk, Jem teased Scout when she asked why she couldn’t go to school herself, pointing out their childhood curiosity for superstitions like haints and hot steam. The purpose of this is to show how the Finch children have matured, as they look back later in life and comment how childish they were. Likewise, when the pair passed by Radley Place, Scout recalls their ‘many fights and furtive crap games’.

Question Scout decides to keep her costume while walking home. How does this affect her understanding of what happens on the way?

ResponseAs Scout was still wearing her costume on the way home, she could hardly see out of the costume. This was shown in the encounter with an adult male asking if they would like a ride home after the concert. As Scout could only hear in the costume, she only heard Jem declining his offer, but could not actually see who the male was. This also affects her understanding of the Bob Ewell’s attack. When she heard a man getting up to hit Bob Ewell, unable to see, she assumed that it was Jem, whereas it was later revealed that Jem had broke his arm. It is more probable that Boo Radley was the man who got up to defend the children, however Scout wouldn’t have assumed so.Question Why had Atticus not brought a chair for the man in the corner? Who might this stranger be?

ResponseAtticus was perhaps caught up in the chaos that ensued when Jem and Scout were brought safely back to his house following Bob Ewell’s attack. It is also later revealed that he had not expected Bob Ewell to harass his family anymore, following his threats. Furthermore, Aunt Alexandra had shaded Jem’s reading light with a towel and the room was dim. This would have made it much harder for the already anxious Atticus to realize that there was a man in the corner. As Scout pointed out that the stranger was ‘probably more comfortable were he is’, we can safely assume that the stranger is none other than Boo Radley, who is not accustomed to bright lights.


Chapter 29

Question What explanation does Atticus give for Bob Ewell’s attack?

ResponseWhen Heck Tate pointed out the cut mark in Scout’s costume where Bob Ewell tried to stab the children, Atticus was in shock, commenting that any person would have to be ‘out of [their] minds’ to kill children, refusing to believe that a man would have thoughts of harming innocent children.

Question What does Heck Tate give us as the reason for Bob Ewell’s attack?

ResponseWhen Atticus commented that Bob Ewell must have been mad and crazy to think of killing children, Heck Tate offered another explanation, saying that Mr. Ewell could have been drunk enough to plot his attack. He also highlighted the fact Bob Ewell tried to break into Judge Taylor’s house and repeatedly harassed Helen Robinson out of humiliation after the court case,hence he could possibly do much worse to Atticus and the Finch children.

Question Do you think the sheriff’s explanation or Atticus’s is the more likely to be true?

ResponseIt appears that Heck Tate’s explanation is more likely to be true. Bob Ewell has demonstrated his capabilities of harming people countless times when he swore revenge against most of the people related to the court case out of humiliation. For example, he attempted to break into Judge Taylor’s home, later choosing to harass Helen Robinson, Tom Robinson’s wife. Furthermore, when Tom Robinson was revealed to have died, he was heard muttering, “one down, two to go”. Although he was too cowardly to attack Atticus, he decided to go after Atticus’s children, which led to the events that night.


Chapter 30

Question

Who does Atticus think caused Bob Ewell’s death?

ResponseAtticus thought that Jem had inadvertently stabbed Bob Ewell whilst trying to get him off Scout. He based this assumption on Scout’s account of the events that took place. After Jem broke his arm, Bob Ewell attempted to kill Scout. Following that, Scout felt someone yank Bob Ewell off her and naturally assumed that person to be Jem, since she thought that no one else was around. She probably also did not expect that the person who saved her was Boo Radley as she had hardly seen him and did not think much of him, almost forgetting him ever since she stopped the role-plays of the Radley family with Jem and Dill.

Question Why does Heck Tate insist that Bob Ewell’s death was self-inflicted? In what way was this partly true?

ResponseHeck Tate is a good friend of Atticus’s and perhaps might be inclined to do him a favour, especially since it was Atticus who helped him shoot Tim Johnson, the mad dog, earlier in the novel. However, Scouts account of the events that happened that night was based on what she perceived had happened. As she was stuck in her costume, she could only hear what had happened and assumed that the man who got up to hit Bob Ewell was Jem, whereas it was later revealed that Jem had broke his arm. Furthermore, whilst Atticus and Heck Tate were arguing amongst themselves, Scout acknowledged that she thought that Jem had yanked Bob Ewell off herself.Question How does the writer handle, at the end of the story, of Boo Radley?

ResponseThe author speaks of Boo Radley as a shy, almost nocturnal creature, being slightly afraid of bright places and seldom talking, preferring instead to express his feelings through facial expressions. The other characters also treat him as such. When Atticus met Heck Tate in his house, he invited all of them outside to the front porch, where the light was less intense than in the living room. Scout also eventually realizes Boo’s preference for dark places, leading him to the chair furthest from Atticus and Heck Tate, in a deep shadow.


Chapter 31

Question How do the events of the final chapters explain the first sentence in the whole novel?

ResponseThe first sentence in the whole novel introduces the reader to the final events in the novel, where Jem broke his arm after Bob Ewell’s assault on the Finch children. Scout, the narrator, later goes on to describe her discussion with Jem as to when the events leading to Jem’s accident actually started. Through this, the author illustrates the difference between Jem and Scout’s understanding of their surroundings, where Scout has a simpler understanding than Jem, believing that the accident only started with the Ewells whereas Jem can see much further back, claiming that the events leading to the accident started when Dill arrived in Maycomb County.Question How does Scout make sense of an earlier remark of Atticus’s as she stands on the Radley porch?

ResponseWhen Scout could not get along with her first grade teacher, Miss Fisher, Atticus told her that ‘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’. Although Scout later saw from Miss Fisher’s point of view, with help from Atticus, she wasn’t able to understand Boo Radley’s ways until the end of the novel, as she, Jem and Dill frequently made fun of him in their ‘reenactments‘ of the Radley family history. It was only when she stood on the Radley porch when she saw all the events from the start of the novel as Boo Radley himself would have seen.

Question At the end of the novel, Atticus reads to Scout. Comment on his choice of story. Does it have any connection with themes earlier in the novel and in its ending?

ResponseAt the end of the novel, Atticus reads to Scout a story called The Grey Ghost, where some characters assumed that Stoner’s Boy had messed up their clubhouse and chased him although they did not know what he was like. In the end, ‘when they finally saw him, [how] he hadn’t done any of those things, [they found that] he was real nice’. In a sense, Boo Radley is similar to Stoner’s Boy, since he was plagued by superstitions made by the townspeople about him and was discovered to be nice and gentle by the end of the novel.

chapter analysis of to kill a mockingbird

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