To Kill a Mockingbird
Chapter 19-31 Comprehension Questions
Chapter 19
1.) What made Tom visit the Ewell’s house in the first place?
Tom walked past the Ewell's house everyday to get home.
2.) Why does Scout think that Mayella Ewell was “the loneliest person in the world”?
Scout thinks the Mayella Ewell was the "the loneliest person in the world" because no one helps her, she has no friends, and has no one to talk to. She doesn't talk to her siblings and is socially excluded from society. She has no maternal figure and her dad doesn't care about her.
3.) Describe Mayella’s relationship with her father.
Mayella and her father are not at close with each other and her father has no concern for her whatsoever. He didn't bring her to the hospital after her incident but instead, called the police to get Tom in trouble.
4.) How does Mr. Gilmer’s treatment of Tom contrast with Atticus’ treatment of Mayella in the previous chapter?
Atticus is polite to Mayella and she thinks he's making fun of her and mocking her because she's not used to people being nice to her.
5.) What social mistake does Tom make in his testimony?
Tom says he feels sorry for Mayella which in everyone else's perspective means that he thinks he's better than white people and anyone who is in a higher class.
Tom walked past the Ewell's house everyday to get home.
2.) Why does Scout think that Mayella Ewell was “the loneliest person in the world”?
Scout thinks the Mayella Ewell was the "the loneliest person in the world" because no one helps her, she has no friends, and has no one to talk to. She doesn't talk to her siblings and is socially excluded from society. She has no maternal figure and her dad doesn't care about her.
3.) Describe Mayella’s relationship with her father.
Mayella and her father are not at close with each other and her father has no concern for her whatsoever. He didn't bring her to the hospital after her incident but instead, called the police to get Tom in trouble.
4.) How does Mr. Gilmer’s treatment of Tom contrast with Atticus’ treatment of Mayella in the previous chapter?
Atticus is polite to Mayella and she thinks he's making fun of her and mocking her because she's not used to people being nice to her.
5.) What social mistake does Tom make in his testimony?
Tom says he feels sorry for Mayella which in everyone else's perspective means that he thinks he's better than white people and anyone who is in a higher class.
Chapter 20
1.) Scout says that “Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man”. Is she right?
Scout is wrong because Dolphus only pretends to drink, prefers to hang out with colored people, and is married to a colored woman. He pretends to drink so that people think that's why he hangs out with the people of color.
2.) In most states in America people who drink alcohol in public places are required to hide their bottle in a paper bag. Why does Dolphus-Raymond hide Coca-Cola in a bag?
Dolphus hides his Coca-Cola in a bag so that people don't bother him about what he does and it gives people a reason to understand his behavior because they think he's always drunk.
3.) What, according to Atticus, is the thing that Mayella has done wrong?
Mayella tempted a black person which she is not supposed to do because she is white.
4.) Explain, in your own words, Atticus’ views on people’s being equal.
People are not born equal because everyone is different, but in the court of law we are equal no matter what, race, sex, or age.
Scout is wrong because Dolphus only pretends to drink, prefers to hang out with colored people, and is married to a colored woman. He pretends to drink so that people think that's why he hangs out with the people of color.
2.) In most states in America people who drink alcohol in public places are required to hide their bottle in a paper bag. Why does Dolphus-Raymond hide Coca-Cola in a bag?
Dolphus hides his Coca-Cola in a bag so that people don't bother him about what he does and it gives people a reason to understand his behavior because they think he's always drunk.
3.) What, according to Atticus, is the thing that Mayella has done wrong?
Mayella tempted a black person which she is not supposed to do because she is white.
4.) Explain, in your own words, Atticus’ views on people’s being equal.
People are not born equal because everyone is different, but in the court of law we are equal no matter what, race, sex, or age.
Chapter 21
1.) What does Jem expect the verdict to be? Does Atticus think the same? Why?
Jem expects Tom to be innocent, but Atticus is unsure so he holds back because he doesn't want to be disappointed.
2.) What is unusual about how long it takes the jury to reach a verdict? Is the verdict predictable or not?
The jury usually takes five minutes but in this case, it takes a few hours. The verdict Is not predictable because Atticus had better evidence.
3.) What does Reverend Sykes instruction to Scout to “stand up” show about his people’s attitude towards Atticus?
This shows that they respect Atticus because he did a good job defending Tom.
Jem expects Tom to be innocent, but Atticus is unsure so he holds back because he doesn't want to be disappointed.
2.) What is unusual about how long it takes the jury to reach a verdict? Is the verdict predictable or not?
The jury usually takes five minutes but in this case, it takes a few hours. The verdict Is not predictable because Atticus had better evidence.
3.) What does Reverend Sykes instruction to Scout to “stand up” show about his people’s attitude towards Atticus?
This shows that they respect Atticus because he did a good job defending Tom.
Chapter 22
1.) Although Atticus did not want his children in court, he defends Jem’s rights to know what has happened. Explain, in your own words, Atticus’s reasons for this.
Atticus wants to be good role model and knows that Jem is growing up, so he wants to give him a dose of reality so that he is prepared to deal with the real world when he gets older.
2.) Miss Maudie tells Jem that “things are never as bad as they seem”. What reasons does she give for this view?
Miss Maudie's reasons are because Atticus lost and Jem doesn't know why it happened.
Atticus wants to be good role model and knows that Jem is growing up, so he wants to give him a dose of reality so that he is prepared to deal with the real world when he gets older.
2.) Miss Maudie tells Jem that “things are never as bad as they seem”. What reasons does she give for this view?
Miss Maudie's reasons are because Atticus lost and Jem doesn't know why it happened.
Chapter 23
1.) What explanation does Atticus give for Bob Ewell’s personal attack and threat?
Atticus says that he destroyed Bob's last shred of credibility.
2.) What is “circumstantial evidence”? What had it got to do with Tom’s conviction?"
3.) What reason does Atticus give about why the jury took so long to convict Tom?
Atticus wanted to drop all charges on Tom.
4.) Why does Aunt Alexandra accept that the Cunninghams may be good but are not “our kind of folks”?
Aunt Alexandra accepted that the Cunninghams may be good but are not her kind of folks because they are not at the top of the social pyramid, they are beneath her.
5.) 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 theory? How likely is it to be true?
Jem thinks that Boo hasn't left his house in years because he doesn't want to leave because he lives in a cruel town and there are a lot of rumors about him.
Atticus says that he destroyed Bob's last shred of credibility.
2.) What is “circumstantial evidence”? What had it got to do with Tom’s conviction?"
3.) What reason does Atticus give about why the jury took so long to convict Tom?
Atticus wanted to drop all charges on Tom.
4.) Why does Aunt Alexandra accept that the Cunninghams may be good but are not “our kind of folks”?
Aunt Alexandra accepted that the Cunninghams may be good but are not her kind of folks because they are not at the top of the social pyramid, they are beneath her.
5.) 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 theory? How likely is it to be true?
Jem thinks that Boo hasn't left his house in years because he doesn't want to leave because he lives in a cruel town and there are a lot of rumors about him.