Discussion Questions for TKAM chaps. 10 and 11

[Robin Nourie]

Hello all - I want to try this out.  Please join our group and then post your discussion question here.  Here's an example of a discussion question:

Atticus tells Scout that the reason he is taking the Tom Robinson case is because "every lawyer gets at least one cse in his lifetime that affects him personally.  This one is mine."  What does he mean by this?  How does this case affect him "personally"?

[JP]

10: Why do you think the title is to kill a mockingbird?

11: Why does Atticus believe that Mrs. Dubose is the bravest person he has ever met?

12: Do you think that Tom really raped Mr. Ewell's girl?

13: Why is Atticus letting Aunt Alexandrea tear apart the family?

14: Why did Atticus not tell Aunt Rachel or send Dill home?

[Robin Nourie]

Great questions - the one I find most intriguing is your #11 about Mrs. Dubose.  We'll definitely need to talk about her!

[Lila Sternberg-Sher]

Chapter 10: Why, if Atticus has many talents, doesn't he put them to good use?

Chapter 11: Why does Scout go voluntarily with Jem to Mrs. Dubose?

[Lila Sternberg-Sher]

Chapter 12:

Why does Scout ask to visit Calpurnia outside of her work?

 

Chapter 13:

On the last page of  this chapter (pg. 179) what is Atticus trying to say/do? Why does he decide not to say/do it?

[Sophie Smith]

10: Why does Atticus never mention his talent with guns to Jem and Scout? 

11: Why would Atticus make Jem read to Mrs, Dubose if she hadn't?

12: Explain Jem and Scout's confusion with they way First Purchase is run.

13: What does Aunt Alexandra think it means to be a Finch and what does she want Jem and Scout to do?

[Lila Sternberg-Sher]

Chapter 14: What makes Jem feel the need to tell Atticus about Dill?

Chapter 15: What is so special about Atticus's "do you really think so?" question?

Chapter 15: What prompts Mr. Cunningham to tell all of the men harrassing Atticus to leave?

[JP]

15: Did Scout realize that she had made Mr. Cunningham feel guilty and leave?

[M Buckmire]

10: Why wouldn't Atticus be proud of having the deadliest shot in Maycomb?

11: What was the reason why Mrs Dubose acted nasty and mean to Jem and Scout but not to Atticus?

12: Do you think Jem's mood swings were because of past happenings or just because he was growing up?

13: What do you think Scout and Jem were feeling when they were told not to be themselves, but to be "Finches"?

14: Why would Jem tell Atticus that Dill ran away when Dill wanted it to be a secret?

15: What do you think of Jem's actions at the end of chapter 15? Brave or imprudent?

[Robin Nourie]

I'm putting Jeremy's questions here:

10. Why was Atticus seemingly ashamed of his talent?

11. Why would Mrs. Dubose be mean to Jem and Scout?

12. What does Calpurnia talking differently to different groups of people in different ways represent?

13. What are some signs that Scout is maturing?  What are some signs that she is not maturing?

14. What does Dill's hunger represent?

15. What were Atticus' feelings about Scout, Jem, and Dill being at his meeting, and why did he feel this way?

[mstan...@gfsnet.org]

1.) Why did Atticus hide the fact that he could shoot so well from his children?

2.) What do you think the significance/similarity between Atticus taking on Tom Robinson's case and his comment about it being a sin to kill a mockingbird?

3.) How are Lula and Mrs. Dubose similar?

4.) What was the difference (better or worse) between Calpurnia's church and the church Scout and Jew normally attended?

5.) What was the Reverand's strategy for raising money at Cal's church? What did it show about his character?

6.) In what ways has Atticus changed since the arrival of Aunt Alexandra?

7.) What did Dill mean when he said he "can't help them [his parents] any"?

8.) How did Scout manage to make the men at the jail clear out?

[Sophie Smith]

14: How was Dill's original story different from the truth? Why did he not tell the whole truth at first? 

15: What is "Atticus's Dangerous Question?" 

[Lila Sternberg-Sher]

Chapter 16: Why doesn't Atticus tell Aunt Alexandria to get out of his house when she's annoying him so much?

Chapter 17: Why is Atticus asking Mr. Ewell what hand he writes with?

[Boone]

WARNING: Contents may vary. Comprehensive skills lack in depth and understanding human behavior:

10: On page 130 Miss Maudie speaks of guns being an "unfair advantage over most living things" does this relate to the unfair advantage white people have over black people??? Does this somehow 'symbolize' the reason Atticus is willing to defend Tom Robinson??? What does this show about Atticus' s values???

[Boone]

11: What's the point of Mrs. Dubose in this story if she's dies at the end of the chapter anyway?

[M Buckmire]

16: If Atticus was really forced to defend Tom Robinson, why wouldn't he tell Jem and Scout?

17: Why would Atticus ask if Mayella needed a doctor? How does it help his case for Tom Robinson?

[JP]

16: If Atticus doesn't care about the Finch legacy and doesn't aggree with the Aunt, why doesn't he kick her out?

17: Why did Atticus waste his time on such a worthless trick? 

[Boone]

14: How the heck did Dill get into their house?

15: Why does Mr. Cunningham leave the jailhouse? Why did Atticus lie and tell his kids that there were no gangs in Maycomb?

[Boone]

12: Did going to church with Calpurnia help Scout and Jem see more than her "single story?"

13: Why do I find Aunt Alexandra so obnoxious? Why would Atticus let her take care of parenting his children?

[Jeremy Berman]

16. Would Atticus have defended Tom Robinson if he did not have to?

17. What was the importance of whether or not a doctor was summoned to help Mayella?

[Sophie Smith]

16: What is different about Mr. Dolphus Raymond?

17: What was Atticus trying to prove by making Mr. Ewell write his name?

[livi pinover]

16: Why would Atticus refrain from speaking to Jem and Scout about his case?

17: What was the purpose of having Mr. Ewell write his name

[Robin Nourie]

Excellent question - let's talk about this!

[Moriya Dichter]

16. I think that Atticus keeps his sister in his house because he feels as though he had a duty to be a kind brother to her. Atticus is a very kind and respectful person, and to kick his own sister out would be going against his morals. Just like her idea would be going against his morals. He will not be told what to do, but he will not punish the person that does so, especially if they are his sister.

[A. Leonard P. Rittler]

Here are my questions: Chapter 10: Why didn't Atticus tell Jem and Scout about his talent? 11: Why did Scout accompany Jem to Mrs. Dubose's house everyday? 12: Why did Mr. Ewell accuse Tom Robinson of raping his daughter? 13: Why is Aunt Alexandra so contemptuous when Cousin Joshua is mentioned? 14: Are Dill's parents really better off without him? 15: Why did the men leave after Scout began talking to Mr. Cunningham? 16: What was the sign that everyone abided by at the courthouse? 17: Is there anything that we can take from Mr. Ewell running and tripping over his own fence about his character?

[Marley Napier-Smith]

10 (Just a little late :) Sorry) Is the contrast between Atticus's ability to shoot and his consistent refrain from practicing the ability a metaphor for a larger idea? Do you think Scout grasps the concept of Atticus's decision? Why or why not?

[Marley Napier-Smith]

11: Why does Atticus's calm nature annoy Scout and Jem so much some times? How does this reflect on one of Atticus's most prominent flaws?

[Marley Napier-Smith]

12: Why do you think Scout is so disturbed by the bitter mood spells of Jem and the idea that he is growing up? How do you think Atticus should have dealt with this?

[Marley Napier-Smith]

13: Do you think Calpurnia resents her friends from church and their remarks about Scout, Jem, and Atticus? Do you think she sees truth in the remarks occasionally?

[Marley Napier-Smith]

14: Do you think Aunt Alexandra completely disrespects Atticus as a parent? Do you think she sees his reasoning in letting the kids tell their sides of the story? Why or why not?

[Marley Napier-Smith]

(Page 192): " 'Why do you reckon Boo Radley's never run off?'
Dill sighed a long sigh and turned away from me.
'Maybe he doesn't have anywhere to run off to...' "
Foreshadowing. Does Dill's remark of slight empathy originate in his family/abandonment issues?

[Marley Napier-Smith]

15: How would you describe Mr. Cunningham's emotions before and after Scout's remarks to him? Why?

[Marley Napier-Smith]

15: Do  you think that Scout's mention of Mr. Cunningham's son makes him soften up in the face of remembering to do the best for his family?

[Marley Napier-Smith]

16: Why does Atticus keep Aunt Alexandra around the kids so much if she is a relatively bad influence? How can this quality of Atticus's be a bad and good characteristic?

[Marley Napier-Smith]

17: How do you think Bob Ewells decision to force his daughter to testify against Tom Ewell related to their social status?