A Brief Summary of To Kill a Mockingbird
The book to kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee centers around Scout Finch, his brother, and his widowed father, Atticus. The Finch's live in the town of Maycomb, which in 1930 was experiencing a great depression. The story begins when during the summer, the siblings befriend a boy named Dill. Dill eventually becomes fascinated by the spooky house on their street; named as the Radley Place. The story took a spooky turn when the kids found gifts on a tree around the Radley place's wall. Another area which the story comprises is that Atticus, a famous lawyer, decided to defend a black man, Tom Robinson. Tom was accused of raping a white woman, which was a greater threat in the racist town of Atticus. Tom won the case, and the real culprit was put behind bars. This decision led to the Finch's being disowned by the town. However, Boo Radley who was the reason behind the spookiness of Radley Place, defended the children who were in danger from the town's mob. Three years in the life of Scout Finch.
Seeing Another's Point of View
In chapter 3, Atticus tells Scout that you never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view. Briefly discuss how this idea is dramatized in Chapter 3 with regards to the interactions portrayed or described in this chapter listed below.
Chapter 4
What is the significance of Scout chewing the gum that she finds, even though even she considers the possibility that if she eats it, she might die? Is that an act of courage?
Chapter 5
How does Miss Maudie describe Arthur Radley's understanding of religion, and how does it differ from what Atticus has taught Scout about religion?
Making Inferences
How do you think the story would be different up to this point if Jem was not pressuring Scout not to be "girly?"
Chapter 9
In the context of the upcoming trial, what is the significance of Scout wanting the opportunity to tell Uncle Jack her side of what happened between her and Francis?
Truth and Perspective
Atticus believes that you should answer children’s questions truthfully. The author also spends a lot of time pointing out how much an individual’s perspective affects how they perceive reality around them.
Fine Folks
What do you think the author wants readers to take away about what makes "fine folks", i.e., good people? Use examples from the novel to support your answer.
Loneliness
How does the novel explore the theme of loneliness? What are the consequences of loneliness in the life of an individual? What are the consequences of loneliness to society at large?
Fear
In Chapter 24, Atticus says that men don’t like to "declare themselves," i.e., take a side. He cites fear of losing someone’s business as a possible reason that might influence how someone behaves on a jury. Discuss the role that fear plays in the novel.
Was Justice Done?
Did Tom Robinson get a fair trial? Does a fair trail have to mean that the innocent go free and the guilty are punished?
Love
Harper Lee said of her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, "it's a love story, plain and simple." What do you think she meant by this statement? Do you agree?
Making a Movie
Imagine you are going to direct a film adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird. Think about how you would translate the movie to film. What would you change and why? To what extent would you remain faithful to the original story and why?
The Novel vs. the Film
Did the imagery in the film differ from how you imagined the story while reading the novel? How?
Metaphors
Discuss the following metaphors as used in To Kill a Mockingbird. Use specific examples and quotes.
