Assignment: Eng10: To Kill A Mockingbird Discuss 8-11 Date:Mon, Apr 30, 2007
Chapter 8
* Why does Scout quiz Atticus about his visit to the Radley house? How much does Atticus tell her?
* What is the near libelӔ which Jem puts in the front yard? How do Miss Maudie and Atticus react to it?
* Why does Atticus save Miss Maudie’s oak rocking chair?
* When Atticus asks Scout about the blanket around her shoulders, what does Jem realize?
* Explain what Atticus means by telling Jem not to let his discovery inspire Ӕ him to further gloryӔ? Is there any reason why Jem might now do as his father says?Chapter 9
* How well does Atticus feel he should defend Tom Robinson? Is it usual for (white) lawyers to do their best for black clients in Alabama at this time?
* Scout and Jem have mixed feelingsӔ about Christmas? What are these feelings and why?
* Uncle Jack Finch tells Scout that she is growing out of her pants. What does this mean and why might he say it?
* When Francis talks to Scout he reveals an unpleasant feature of Aunt Alexandra. What is this?
* Does Scout learn anything from overhearing Atticus’s conversation with Uncle Jack? What might this be?
* Read the final sentence of this chapter. Explain in your own words what it means and why it might be important in the story.Chapter 10
* Scout says that Atticus was feebleӔ. Do you think that this is her view as she tells the story or her view when she was younger? Does she still think this after the events recorded in this chapter?
* In this chapter Atticus tells his children that it’s a sin to kill a mockingbirdӔ. What reason does he give for saying this?
* Why does Heck Tate not want to shoot Tim Johnson?
* Near the end of this 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?
* Jem and Scout have different views about telling people at school how well Atticus can shoot. Explain this difference. Which view is closer to your own?Chapter 11
* How does Atticus advise Jem to react to Mrs. Dubose’s taunts?
* What does Mrs. Dubose say about the children’s mother? How does Jem feel about this?
* What request does Mrs. Dubose make of Jem? Is this a fair punishment for his crimeӔ?
* Explain in your own words what Atticus thinks of insults like nigger-loverӔ. How far do you agree with him?
* Why, in Atticus’s view, was Mrs. Dubose a great ladyӔ?
* Atticus says that Mrs. Dubose is a model of real courage rather than a man with a gun in his handӔ. What does he mean? Do you think he is right?
* Chapters ten and eleven are the last two chapters in the first part of the book. Explain why Harper Lee chooses to end the first part here.11