2. 2
Atticus Finch
Fatherof JemandScout, AtticusFinchsitsonthe AlabamaState Legislature andactsas Maycomb's
leadingattorney.The epitome of moral character,Atticusteacheshischildrenandhiscommunity
howto stand upfor one'sbeliefsinthe face of prejudiceandignorance bydefendingablackman,
Tom Robinson,wrongfullyaccusedof rapinga white woman.The voice of reasoninthe townof
Maycomb and inthe novel,Atticusdispelsthe wisdomandlogicthatisthe core of the novel.He isa
man that goesbeyondthe wordtolerance;toleranceismerelytoputupwithsomething.Atticus
looksat everyone andtriestounderstandwhotheyare and where theyare comingfrom and he
quietlyandsubtlypassesonwisdomtohischildrenabouttaboosubjectslike racism.
Havinglosthiswife whenScoutwastwoyears old,Atticusdevoteshimself tohischildrendespite
criticismfromfamilyandneighbours whothinkhischildrenlackdisciplineandproperguidance.
He islookedupto byhis familyandhisfriendswho"trusthimtodo right".AtticusFinchsetsa
standardof moralitythatno othercharacter inthe book comesclose tomatching.Atticusisa
studiousmanwhose behaviourisgovernedbyreason.Once he decidesthata givencourse of action
isright,he perseveresregardlessof threatsorcriticisms.ButAtticusisnota crusader.He doesnot
go lookingforcausestochampion.The Tom Robinsoncase wasnot one he volunteeredtohandle-
the judge assignedhimthe case because he feltAtticuswoulddohisbesttowin.Atticus'sdesire to
avoidconflictwhenpossible isanotherqualitythatthe authorobviouslywantsustoadmire.Atticus
standsas one of literature'sstrongestandmostpositive fatherfigures.
AlthoughAtticusseemsmellowandevenold-fashioned,manyof hisbeliefsare quite revolutionary.
He allowsCalpurniatotrulybe a memberof hisfamily.He givesherfull respectandfairtreatmentat
all times.WhenCal takeshischildrentoherchurch, he seemsunaffected.Itisall part of his
consistentcode of conduct.
At times,Atticusmayalmostseemacaricature of goodness.Neveronce doeshe falterorthinkill of
people.ButinHarperLee'scapable hands,Atticusseemsbelievable andtrue.
Activities
1. In Scout's account of her childhood,herfatherAtticusreignssupreme.
(a) How wouldyoucharacterise hisabilitiesasasingle parent?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. 4
4. In failingtoarrestBoo Radleyat the end,Sheriff Tate isbreakingthe law,asisAtticus,whoknows
the truth of Ewell'smurder.Doyou agree withsome criticsthatAtticus'actionsare "wrong"as well
as illegal?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. When Scoutcomplainsaboutherteacher,Atticustellsherthat"if youcan learna simple trick,
Scout,you'll getalonga lotbetterwithall kindsof folks.Youneverreallyunderstandapersonuntil
youconsiderthingsfromhispointof view…untilyouclimbintohisskinandwalkaroundinit"(p.
33).
(a) Where inthe novel doesAtticushimself demonstrate thiskindof empathy?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
(b) How doeshe regardthose whocriticize,ridicule,orthreatenhim?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
(c) How wouldthisabilitytoempathizewithothershelpsolvethe problemsthatarise fromracism
and prejudice?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Scout Finch
Before youmake upyour mindaboutScout,you shouldrememberthatthe voice we hearnarrating
the story isactuallythat of the grownupScout - JeanLouise Finch - lookingbackoneventsthat
5. 5
happenedyearsearlier.Some of the opinionsandideasexpressedinthe novel are reallythoseof
the olderJeanLouise.Youshouldjudge Scoutbyheractionsand quotedwordsinthe story,keeping
these separate fromthe opinionsof the narrator.
OriginallynamedJeanLouise Finch,Scoutisthe narrator.In the storyshe is lookingbackas an adult
to the two yearsof her life whenshe learnedaboutcourage andkindnessandthe importance of
doingwhatis right.She learnedfromherfatherandherneighboursthatdoingwhat isright isn't
alwaysrewarded,butit'sthe rightthingto do and thatprotectinginnocence isalarge part of that.
JeanLouise Finch,whose nicknameisScout,isonlyfive-and-a-half yearsoldwhenthe novel begins,
but she isalreadya complex andinterestingpersonality.Herhabitof speakinghermindinthe
presence of grownupsmakesScoutoftenseemolderthanheryears.Inrecallingherfirstdayinthe
firstgrade,Scout thinksof herself andherschoolmatesaslittleadults,whomusttake care of the
confusedfirst-yearteachers.Later,whenshe isunjustlypunishedforgettingintoafightwitha
cousin,Scouttakesit uponherself toexplaintoheruncle whyhismethodsof handlingchildrenare
wrong.Afterthese incidentswe are onlymildlysurprisedwhenScoutisable tofindthe rightwords
to turn awaya lynchmobthat has come to kill TomRobinson.
Scout isalsosomethingof anoutsider.A tomboy,she isstill notcompletelyacceptedbyherbrother
Jemand theirfriendDill.We neverhearof herhavingany close friendsherownage,eitherboysor
girls.Andincontrast to Jem,whoisconstantlydisappointedbythe shortcomingsof humannature,
Scout seemstotake bad newsinstride.
Activities
1. Howimportantisit to the novel thatthe narrator, Scout Finch,isa childat the time the eventsof
the story take place?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. Howis Scout able tomaintainherpositive outlookonlife afterthe terrible eventsshe witnesses
inMaycomb?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
6. 6
3. What are the conflictingmessagesScoutreceivesabout"beingalady"fromthe female
characters inthe novel?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Jem Finch
Scout's olderbrother,JemFinchchangesconsiderablyoverthe course of the novel.Atfirstyousee
himas Scout's playmate andequal.Once the childrenstartschool,however,Jembecomesmore
aware of the differenceinage betweenhimselfandhissister.He doesn'twantherto embarrasshim
infront of hisfifth-grade friends.Andlaterhe andDill developafriendshipfromwhichScoutis
partly excludedbecauseshe isagirl.In thispart of the storyyou see Jemasthe wiserolderbrother.
He isthe firstto figure outthat Boo Radleyhasbeentryingtocommunicate withthem, andhe does
hisbestto explainunfamiliarwordstoScout,eventhoughhe oftengetstheirmeaningswrong.
Jemisalso the more thoughtful andintrovertedof the Finchchildren.Unlike Scout,whoisafighter
by temperament,Jemseemsdeterminedtoobeyhisfather'srequesttoavoidfighting.He letshis
angerbuildinside,until one dayina fitof temperhe destroysMrs. Dubose'sgarden.Later,at the
time of the trial,Jem'soptimisticview of humannature becomesapparent.He isprobablythe only
personintownwhoreallybelievesthatjustice willbe done andTomRobinsonfoundinnocent.
Whenthisdoesnot happen,hisdisillusionmentissogreatthat fora time he can't stand eventotalk
aboutthe incident.
By the endof the storyJemis almostgrownup.Onthe surface,he seemsquickerthanScoutto put
the trial behind,butinwardly,he hasbeenmore disturbedthanScoutbythe eventsof the trial.It is
worthconsideringthatJem'sbrokenarmat the endof the story isa deliberate signthathe will be
woundedforeverbywhathe has observed.
Activities
1. JemFinchisone of the most importantandcomplex charactersinthe novel.
(a) How doeshisrelationshipwithScoutchange overthe course of the story?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
7. 7
(b) Who do youthinkresemblesAtticusthe most- Jemor Scout?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. Jemisin the processof understandingthe adultworldanditsattitudes.
(a) What doeshe learnfrom hisexperience withMrsDubose?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
(b) What doeshe learnaboutthe nature of Boo Radley?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
(c) Why was he so shockedbythe verdictreturnedbythe juryat the trial of Tom Robinson?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. AsJemgrows older,whydoeshe finditdifficulttodeal withthe hypocrisyandcrueltyof people?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
8. 8
4. Howis Jemshownto be Scout's protectorthroughoutthe novel?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
"Boo" Arthur Radley
Boo Radley(Arthur) isthe objectof fascinationforJem, Scout,andDill.He isa recluse whohas
remainedinthe house downthe streetfromthe Finchhouse foryears.Mythsand rumoursabout
Boo and hisfamilyabound.Accordingtotowngossip,Boostabbedhisfatherinthe legwhenhe was
a boy and hassince beenconfinedtohishouse.The childrenimagineBooasa ghoulishfigure who
eatscats andstalksaboutthe neighbourhoodunderthe coverof night.Infact,Boo standsas a figure
of innocence thatbefriendsandprotectsthe childreninhisownway.
The theoriesthatvariouspeople inthe neighbourhoodputforthtoexplainBootell youmore about
the theorizersthanaboutBoo himself.MissCrawford,wholovesgossip,spreadsthe tale thatBoo
Radleyroams the neighbourhoodatnightpeepingintopeople'swindows- especiallyhers.Scoutand
Jem,earlyonin the story,imagine Booas oversix feettall andhorrendouslyugly,amonsterwho
stranglescatswithhisbare handsand theneatsthem.MissMaudie,an optimisticwomanwho
believesinenjoyingnature andthe goodthingsinlife,issure thatBoo isthe victimof hisfather's
overstrictandgloomymoral code.
Oddlyenough,evenasyoulearnthatBoo actuallyisthe killerof BobEwell,he seemslessfrightening
nowthan he didbefore.Face to face withthe neighbourhoodhermitforthe firsttime,Scoutsees
that he is reallyashy,pale,harmlessman- amiddle-agedchild.
Activities
How doScout, Jem,andDill characterize BooRadleyatthe beginningof the book?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
9. 9
Why are Jem andScout and Dill sofascinatedbyhim?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
What hintsare there thatBoo isnot a monster?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Examine whatBoodoesfor Scoutand Jeminthe novel.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
10. 10
In whatway doesBoo'spast historyof violence foreshadowhismethodof protectingJem andScout
fromBob Ewell?Doesthisrepetitionof aggressionmake himmore orlessof a sympathetic
character?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
"You neverreallyunderstandapersonuntil youconsiderthingsfromhispointof view - till youclimb
inside of hisskinandwalkaroundinit". Analyse whatScoutandJemeventuallycome tounderstand
aboutBoo personally,andaboutthe general issue of prejudice,asaresultof theirexperiences.
Considerthe change inthe children'sattitude toBoo,andwhatthis change inattitude means.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Why isBoo Radley,aman whois hiddenawayfornearlythe entire novel,suchanimportantfigure
inTo Kill a Mockingbird?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
11. 11
In whatwaysis itboth ironicandappropriate thatthe manJemand Scout mostfearis the one who
savesthem?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Good and Evil
Like manyotherclassicbooks To Kill a Mockingbird isan explorationof the moral nature of human
beings:whetherpeopleare essentiallygoodoressentiallyevil.The novelapproachesthisquestion
by dramatizingScoutandJem'stransitionfroma perspectiveof childhoodinnocence,inwhichthey
assume thatpeople are goodbecause theyhave neverseenevil,toamore adultperspective,in
whichtheyhave confrontedevil andmustincorporate itintotheirunderstandingof the world.Asa
resultof thisportrayal of the transitionfrominnocence toexperience,one of the book'simportant
sub-themesinvolvesthe threatthathatred,prejudice,andignorance pose tothe innocent:people
such as Tom RobinsonandBooRadleyare not preparedforthe evil thattheyencounter,andasa
result,theyare destroyed.EvenJemisvictimizedtoanextentbyhisdiscoveryof the evil of racism
duringand afterthe trial.Where Scoutis able tomaintainherbasicfaithin humannature despite
Tom's conviction,Jem'sfaithinjustice andinhumanityisbadlydamaged,andhe retreatsintoa
state of disillusionment.
The moral NorthStar of To Kill a Mockingbird isAtticusFinch,whoisvirtuallyuniqueinthe novel in
that he has experiencedandunderstoodevil withoutlosinghisfaithinthe humancapacityfor
goodness.Atticusunderstandsthat,ratherthanbeingsimplycreaturesof goodorcreaturesof evil,
mostpeople have bothgoodand bad qualities.The importantthingistoappreciate the good
qualitiesandunderstandthe badqualitiesbytreatingotherswithsympathyandtryingtosee life
fromtheirperspective.He triestoteachthisultimate moral lessontoJemandScout to show them
that itis possible tolive withconsciencewithoutlosinghope orbecomingcynical.Inthisway,
Atticusisable to admire Mrs. Dubose'scourage evenwhiledeploringherracism.Scout'sprogressas
a character in the novel isdefinedbyhergradual developmenttowardunderstandingAtticus's
lessons,adevelopmentthatculminatesinthe final chapterswhenScoutisatlast able tosee Boo
Radleyasa humanbeing.Hernewfoundabilitytoview the worldfromhisperspective ensuresthat
Scout will notbecome jadedasshe losesherinnocence.
12. 12
Activities
Harper Lee doesnotignore the existence of evil insociety,butdoesshe suggestthathumanbeings
are bornwitha desire todo the right thing?Inyour answergive specificexamplestosupportyour
viewpoint.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Do youthink To Kill a Mockingbird isultimatelyapessimisticnovel ordoesLee leave the readerwith
cause for hope.Inyour answergive specificexamplestosupportyourviewpoint.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Inhumanity
Much of To Kill a Mockingbird isconcernedwithwhatthe poetRobertBurnscalled,"man's
inhumanitytoman"and whatMr. DolphusRaymondcalls,"the simplehellpeople giveother
people."We witnessBobEwell'sinhumanitytowardshisdaughter;the inhumanityshownbythe
Radleystowardstheirson;the inhumanityshownbywhite people towardsBlacks.Onanotherlevel
we see howartificial barriersbetweenpeople are createdbyvague conceptionslike "breeding"and
"background"and"our kindof folks".The childrenfindall thisdifficulttounderstand.Jemhasa
theorythat,"there'sfourkindsof folksin,the world"(Chapter23),but Scoutthinksthere isjustone
kindof folks.Butif there is,asks Jem,whycan't, theygetalongwitheachother?"If they're all alike,
whydo theygo outof theirwayto despise Ieachother?"Understandingadultsandtheirworldis
difficult.Scoutisoftenconfusedandrebellious;Dillisatfirstdisillusionedandthencynical;Jemfinds
it a sad businessandatone pointhe thinkshe understandswhyBooRadleynevercomesoutof the
house "it'sbecause he wantsto stayinside".
14. 14
2. In the followingtable show five characterswhoare harmedinsome wayand describe their
responses.
Characters How they are harmed Response
Boo Radley
Tom Robinson
15. 15
Prejudice andBigotry
A dominanttheme inthe novel isthe crueltythatpeople inflictuponothersbythe holdingof
preformedideas,'the simple hell peoplegive otherpeople',asDolphus Raymondputsit.Itisnot just
the matter of the deepracial prejudice whichispresentinMaycombbut the intolerant,narrow,rigid
codesof behaviourthatmosttownspeople wishtoimpose onothers.Thisbigotryismade all the
more menacingbybeingdepictedas'normal'behaviourbymanycharactersinthe book.Againstthe
backgroundof thissmall townsuch people asBooRadley,DolphusRaymondand,tosome extent,
Maudie Atkinson,are persecutedbecause theydonotconform.TomRobinsonisfoundguilty,inthe
face of verystrongsuspicionthathisaccusersare lying,because he wentagainstthe accepted
positionof aNegroand daredto feel sorryfora white person.
The bigotryof some fundamentalistreligioussectsistouchedoninthe introductionof the foot
washingBaptistswhocriticize MissMaudie Atkinson.HerconversationwithScoutonthissubject
leadsScoutto thinkaboutwhat isimpliedbyagoodand a reasonable life.
Scout alsopondersoverthe lipservice paidtothe ideal of democracy('equal rightsforall,special
privilegesfornone') whencontrastedwiththe realitiesof intolerance andprejudice:forexample,
the horror expressedbyMissGatesat Hitler'spersecutionof the Jewsandherownintolerance of
Blacks.Thisis one of many instancesinthe novel of the contrastbetweenreason(representedby
the character of Atticus) andprejudice,whichisbornof ignorance andfear.
At differentpointsinthe storywe findmanycharacterswhoare misunderstoodthroughignorance
and fear;oftenthishasbeenthe resultof gossip.Subsequently,these charactersare notwhatthey
trulyseemtobe.Most wouldwrite off BooRadleyasa reclusive madman,MissDubose asa mean
spiritedoldwoman,andDolphousRaymondasasocial deviant.These people are reviledbymost,
but these are notfair judgments.Once we getbeyondthe gossipsurroundingthese people,we geta
clearviewof some verystronghumanbeings.The majorproblemwithgossip,Lee issaying,isthat
people rarelystoptocheckwhetherthey've gottheirfactsright.Theyoftenpassonfalse,
misleadingandpotentiallyhurtful informationthatcanharm a person'sreputationandcharacter.
ActivitiesTasks
1. How is prejudice andbigotryinculcatedinMaycombsociety?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
16. 16
2. Who are the obvioussymbolsof tolerance andbigotryinthe novel andhow are theyportrayedin
the novel?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. Which characters are referredtoas "white trash"and whatdoesthisexpressionmean?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. Considerthose characterswhoare the subjectof gossipandas a resultare not trulywhothey
seemtobe.What is the 'truth' that we,like the children,eventuallylearnaboutthem?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
6. How doesthe use of the FirstPurchase by the African-Americansandthe whitesreflectgroup
attitudes?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
17. 17
7. The followingisanexcerptfromthe UnitedNationsdeclarationof the Yearof Tolerance (1995):
"It isessential tounderstandthatwhileall are equal indignity,all are differentintermsof their
talents,convictionsandbeliefs,andthese differencesare afactor of enrichmentforeveryindividual
and forcivilisationasawhole." Write ashortreflectiononyourthoughtsandopinionsonreading
thisstatement.Linkyourresponse toeventsandattitudesinthe novel.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Racism
In To Kill a Mockingbird HarperLee touchesonmanysocial questions.Foremostamongthese isthe
problemof racisminthe southernstatesof Americainthe mid1930s. The focusfor thisisthe
charge broughtbyBob Ewell againstTomRobinsonandthe way inwhichthe anti African-American
feelinginMaycombisthe cause of animositytowardsAtticusandhisfamilybecause of hisdefence
of Tom.It is manifestedinthe Cunninghams'attempttolynchTomand Mr Gilmer'scontemptuous
cross examinationinthe courtroom.Itisalso evidentinAuntAlexandra'sdisapprovalof Calpurnia
and inthe hypocritical attitudesof MissGatesand the ladiesof the MissionaryCircle.
The "rigidand time honouredcode"of societywasthat,while,white peoplecouldemployandeven
exploitAfrican-Americans,therecouldbe nopersonal relationshipbetweenAfrican-Americansand
whitesandnorecognitionthatAfrican-Americanshadthe same reactionsandfeelingsaswhite
people.Further,therewasanevil assumption"thatall Blackslie,thatall Blacksare basicallyimmoral
beings".Theycertainlydidnothave the benefitof the supposedimpartialityof the law.The
ReverendSykessays,"Iain'teverseenanyjurydecide infavourof a colouredmanovera white
man".Atticusdoesnot understand,"whyreasonable people gostarkravingmad whenanything
involvingaNegrocomesup"andhe callsthisemotional attitude, "Maycomb'susual disease".Mr
DolphusRaymondtalksabout,"the hell white people give colouredfolks,withoutevenstoppingto
18. 18
thinkthat they're people too."Atticusfearsthat,"one of these dayswe're goingtopay the bill for
it".
ActivitiesTasks
1. Whichcharacters inthe novel are the symbolsof white racial prejudice?How dothese characters
cope withbeingvictimsof the racial prejudice of the whites?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. The townof Maycomb as a whole isthe symbol of groupracial prejudice.How isthisillustratedin
the novel?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. Not everyone inMaycombisprejudicedtowardsAfrican-Americans.Whoisn't?Dotheyhave
differentreasonsfortheirtolerance?Whatare they?What evidence dowe have of this?Which
characters inthe story are notracist?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
19. 19
4. Tom Robinsonmakesahuge mistake when,duringthe prosecutor'scross-examination,he says
that he "feltrightsorry"for Mayella.Whywouldthe whitesinthe courtroomfindthisstatementso
disturbing?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. Couldyou defendthe townof Maycombfor itsattitude towardsAfrican-Americans?Give your
reasons.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
6. Who isresponsibleforTomRobinson'sdeath?Whatanswersdovariouscharactersin the novel
give tothis question?Whatanswerdoyouthinkbestrepresentsthe author'spointof view?What
do youthink?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
The novel issetin the 1930s butwas writteninthe late 1950s. The dialogue ismarkedbyfrequent
use of the word"nigger".Thisisa convenientwaytoindicate tothe readerthe racist attitudesof
variouscharacters.Whenshe wishestorefertoAfrican-Americans,HarperLee usesthe term
"coloured".Itisnot onlyracistwhiteswhosayuse the term "nigger",however - atFirst Purchase
church, CalpurniaaddressesLulaas"nigger".
20. 20
Since the novel waspublished,attitudeshave changedaboutwhatisacceptable tospeakandwrite.
In the trial of O.J.Simpson,the word"nigger"wasconsideredtoooffensive torepeatincourt,and
was describedasthe "N-word".
Q. How isthe term "nigger"isusedbyvariouscharactersin the novel?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Justice /Law and Order
Harper Lee portraysthe legal systemrealistically.She showsthatisnotalwaysfairandit isnot
alwaysjust.Itis throughAtticusthat we learnthatthe legal systemisonlyasjustas the community
it serves.
Activities
1. Skimandscan throughthe novel tofind anystatementsthatAtticusmakesaboutlaw andjustice.
Write out eachquote and recordthe page numberandsome detailsaboutthe situationinwhich
Atticusmakeseachof these statements.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. In failingtoarrestBooRadleyat the end,Sheriff Tate isbreakingthe law,asisAtticus,whoknows
the truth of Ewell'smurder.Doyou agree withsome criticsthatAtticus'actionsare "wrong"as well
as illegal?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
21. 21
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Relatedtothe theme of innocence andexperience isthe novel'ssuggestionthatinnocentchildren
can oftensee large moral issuesmore dearlythanadults.Scout,JemandDill neverwaverintheir
horror at the injustice done toTomRobinson.The adultsinthe story,however,see all the
complexitiesof the situationtothe pointof beingblindedtothe central issue of andwrong.
HowevermuchScoutmay grow throughherexperiences,one hopesthatshe will neverlose her
childlikeundertakingof justice.HarperLee emphasisesthatjustice isaconceptnotalwaysinherent
inthe machineryof legal process.Torecognize the difference betweenjustice andinjustice doesnot
take any special degree of wisdomorsophistication.The novel supportsthe beliefthatjustice iseasy
to recognise anddefine.
Activities
1. What examplesof justice andinjustice are depictedinthe novel?Foreachexamplegive an
explanationof yourchoice.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. WhydoesMr. Underwoodcome tothe aidof AtticusindefendingTomRobinsonfromthe mob?
ContrastMr. Underwood'sbehaviourwiththe decisionof HeckTate to file afalse police report
aboutBob Ewell'sdeath.Howdothe twomen'sideasaboutjustice differ?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
22. 22
3. What if Tom Robinsonwasan Indigenous-Australianmanand the eventsof To Kill aMockingbird
occurredin Australia?Explainwhatyouthinkwouldhappenandthe outcome of TomRobinson's
case consideringthe change insetting.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. Atticusalsoinsiststothe jurythat "there isone wayin thiscountryin whichall menare created
equal-thereisone humaninstitutionthatmakesapauperthe equal of a Rockefeller,the stupidman
the equal of an Einstein,andthe ignorantmanthe equal of any college president.Thatinstitution,
gentlemen,isacourt" [p.234].
(a) Doesthe jury'sguiltyverdictinvalidateAtticus'sclaims?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
(b) Are the courts today"the greatlevellers,"makingusall equal,asAtticusbelieves,ordowealth
and race playan inordinate role inthe wayjustice isdistributedinAustralia?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Symbols
Certainobjectstake onsymbolicvalue inToKill A Mockingbird.Thatis,an objectisusedby the
author as apart of the settingornarrative,yetthatobject pointstoor representssomethingoutside
itself.Of course,acentral symbol isthe mockingbird,describedbyMissMaudie as a creature that
shouldneverbe killedbecauseitisharmlessandevenprovidessongforthe enjoymentof others.
Both BooRadley and TomRobinsonare basicallyblamelessindividualswhoare atthe mercyof
society,yetsocietyiscruel toBoo,and ultimatelyTomismurdered.The symbolof the mockingbird
alsopointsto Scout,bothas an innocentchildandas the grown-upnarrator, who"singsa song" in
tellingthe story.
23. 23
Activities
Symbolismofobjects
Explainthe waysinwhichthe followingfunctionassymbolsinToKill A Mockingbird:
(a) the mad dog
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
(b) the treehouse
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
(c) the gun
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
(d) the cementedhole inthe tree
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Symbolismofnames
Atticus'sname isa reference tothe district(Attica) of ancientGreece inwhichAthenswaslocated.
As an ancientcivilisation,Athenswasrenownedforitswisdom, rationalapproachtolife,andits
belief injustice.Insome waysAtticus'rational approachtolife issimilartothatof ancient
philosophers.Youmightlookupthe viewsof the Stoics; theirphilosophyhasacertainresemblance
to Atticus'type of southerngentleman.
(a) Throughoutthe novel,there are manyexampleswhere Atticusillustratesthe qualitiesorvalues
of wisdom,rational approachtolife,andbeliefinjustice.FindatleastONEexample foreach
(remembertoinclude page references.)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
