To Kill a Mockingbird
Chapter 8-18 Comprehension Questions
Chapter 8
1.) Why does Scout quiz Atticus about his visit to the Radley house? How much does Atticus tell her?
2.) Why does Atticus save Miss Maudie’s oak rocking chair?
Atticus saves Miss Maudie's oak rocking chair because he is acknowledging that it's special.
3.) When Atticus asks Scout about the blanket around her shoulders, what does Jem realize?
Scout thinks that Boo gave her the blanket and Jem realizes that they actually had opportunity to meet him.
4.) Explain what Atticus means by telling Jem not to let his discovery “inspire” him to “further glory”? Is there any reason why Jem might not do as his father says?
By this, Atticus is telling Jem not to tell anyone and to leave Boo alone. Jem might listen to his dad because he realizes that Boo might just come out when he wants to come out, but he might not listen to him because he's curious.
2.) Why does Atticus save Miss Maudie’s oak rocking chair?
Atticus saves Miss Maudie's oak rocking chair because he is acknowledging that it's special.
3.) When Atticus asks Scout about the blanket around her shoulders, what does Jem realize?
Scout thinks that Boo gave her the blanket and Jem realizes that they actually had opportunity to meet him.
4.) Explain what Atticus means by telling Jem not to let his discovery “inspire” him to “further glory”? Is there any reason why Jem might not do as his father says?
By this, Atticus is telling Jem not to tell anyone and to leave Boo alone. Jem might listen to his dad because he realizes that Boo might just come out when he wants to come out, but he might not listen to him because he's curious.
Chapter 9
1.) How well does Atticus feel he should defend Tom Robinson? What are his reasons?
Tom is considered trustworthy and innocent, and he knows Calpurnia. Atticus is very objective and loses pride if he doesn't do the right thing which is to defend Tom.
2.) Scout and Jem have “mixed feelings” about Christmas. Explain. What are these feelings and why do they feel this way?
3.) Uncle Jack Finch tells Scout that she is growing out of her pants. What does this mean and why might he say it?
4.) When Francis talks to Scout he reveals an unpleasant feature of Aunt Alexandra. What is this?
Aunt Alexandra is always gossiping and always thinks she's right.
5.) Does Scout learn anything from overhearing Atticus’s conversation with Uncle Jack? What might this be?
Scout is figuring out who she wants to be. Atticus is accepting who she is and how she is acting and she knows that Atticus is always there for her, if not, Jem is there.
6.) Read the final sentence of Chapter 9. Explain in your own words what it means and why it might be important in the story.
Scout can learn from what Atticus was saying and years from then, she can understand what he was actually talking about.
Tom is considered trustworthy and innocent, and he knows Calpurnia. Atticus is very objective and loses pride if he doesn't do the right thing which is to defend Tom.
2.) Scout and Jem have “mixed feelings” about Christmas. Explain. What are these feelings and why do they feel this way?
3.) Uncle Jack Finch tells Scout that she is growing out of her pants. What does this mean and why might he say it?
4.) When Francis talks to Scout he reveals an unpleasant feature of Aunt Alexandra. What is this?
Aunt Alexandra is always gossiping and always thinks she's right.
5.) Does Scout learn anything from overhearing Atticus’s conversation with Uncle Jack? What might this be?
Scout is figuring out who she wants to be. Atticus is accepting who she is and how she is acting and she knows that Atticus is always there for her, if not, Jem is there.
6.) Read the final sentence of Chapter 9. Explain in your own words what it means and why it might be important in the story.
Scout can learn from what Atticus was saying and years from then, she can understand what he was actually talking about.
Chapter 10
1.) Scout says that “Atticus was feeble”. Do you think that this is her view as she tells the story or her view when she was younger? Why? Does she still think this after the events recorded in this chapter?
Scout was telling this from when she was younger because she was young and her dad was 50 and he didn't do what other dad's did; he was incapable of certain things.
2.) In this chapter Atticus tells his children that “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”. What reason does he give for saying this?
Atticus tells them that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they sing and don't bother anyone and don't do any harm.
3.) 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?
Heck might have almost said that Atticus is the best shot and Atticus cut him off because doesn't want Jem to hear it. He doesn't want to be known for it, he wants to be good person and doesn't want to be "better" than anyone else.
4.) 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? Explain.
Jem wants to keep it a secret because he is more mature and doesn't want to brag, but Scout wants to tell everyone.
Scout was telling this from when she was younger because she was young and her dad was 50 and he didn't do what other dad's did; he was incapable of certain things.
2.) In this chapter Atticus tells his children that “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”. What reason does he give for saying this?
Atticus tells them that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they sing and don't bother anyone and don't do any harm.
3.) 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?
Heck might have almost said that Atticus is the best shot and Atticus cut him off because doesn't want Jem to hear it. He doesn't want to be known for it, he wants to be good person and doesn't want to be "better" than anyone else.
4.) 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? Explain.
Jem wants to keep it a secret because he is more mature and doesn't want to brag, but Scout wants to tell everyone.
Chapter 11
1.) How does Atticus advise Jem to react to Mrs. Dubose’s taunts?
2.) What does Mrs. Dubose say about the children’s mother? How does Jem feel about this?
Mrs. Dubose says that Jem and Scout's parents are trash.
3.) What request does Mrs. Dubose make of Jem? Is this a fair punishment for his “crime”?
Mrs. Dubose makes Jem start reading to her everyday for a whole month.
4.) Explain in your own words what Atticus thinks of insults like “nigger-lover”. How far do you agree with him? Explain.
5.) Why, in Atticus’ view, was Mrs. Dubose “a great lady”?
Mrs. Dubose was a great lady to Atticus because she taught Scout and Jem to avoid people that taunt them or mistreat them.
6.) Atticus says that Mrs. Dubose is a model of real courage rather than “a man with a gun in his hand”. What was her courageous act? What does he mean? Do you think he is right?
Mrs. Dubose died without using painkillers and she always spoke what was on her mind. She suffered by staying alive. Atticus wants her to be Jem and Scout's role model because he doesn't want kids to brag or boast about him.
7.) Chapters ten and eleven are the last two chapters in the first part of the book. Explain why you think Harper Lee chooses to end the first part here.
Harper Lee most likely ended the first part where she did to create suspense or because of a time jump or turning point.
2.) What does Mrs. Dubose say about the children’s mother? How does Jem feel about this?
Mrs. Dubose says that Jem and Scout's parents are trash.
3.) What request does Mrs. Dubose make of Jem? Is this a fair punishment for his “crime”?
Mrs. Dubose makes Jem start reading to her everyday for a whole month.
4.) Explain in your own words what Atticus thinks of insults like “nigger-lover”. How far do you agree with him? Explain.
5.) Why, in Atticus’ view, was Mrs. Dubose “a great lady”?
Mrs. Dubose was a great lady to Atticus because she taught Scout and Jem to avoid people that taunt them or mistreat them.
6.) Atticus says that Mrs. Dubose is a model of real courage rather than “a man with a gun in his hand”. What was her courageous act? What does he mean? Do you think he is right?
Mrs. Dubose died without using painkillers and she always spoke what was on her mind. She suffered by staying alive. Atticus wants her to be Jem and Scout's role model because he doesn't want kids to brag or boast about him.
7.) Chapters ten and eleven are the last two chapters in the first part of the book. Explain why you think Harper Lee chooses to end the first part here.
Harper Lee most likely ended the first part where she did to create suspense or because of a time jump or turning point.