Describe Miss Maudie Atkinson. Why does Scout like her so much?
- Miss Maudie lets Scout play in her yard, and she lets her eat the scuppernogs she has
Miss Maudie says that Mr. Radley had been a “foot-washing Baptist.” What does she mean by this statement? What do foot-washing Baptists believe, according to her?
- someone that believes any pleasure is a sin
- they believe you should stay inside and read the Bible
Like her son, Mrs. Radley is rarely seen outside. How might Mr. Radley’s religious views explain this fact?
- women are considered sin by definition
What causes Scout to question “pulpit Gospel”? How does her questioning relate to Miss Maudie?
- a foot washing baptist told her that she and her flowers were going to hell, and that she should stay inside and read the Bible
- Scout doesn’t understand because she thinks Miss Maudie is the nicest person
As Scout and Miss Maudie talk about religion, Scout explains how Atticus defines God; what does she say?
- “Atticus says God’s loving folks like you love yourself-“
When Miss Maudie says, “but sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whiskey bottle in the hand of–oh, your father.” Whta person is she criticizing, and what is the point of her criticism?
- Mr. Radley
- Mr. Radley’s view of wrong and right are “rigid”
The children view Boo Radley as a strange and frightening figure. How do Miss Maudie and Atticus view him? What do they say about him?
- just doesn’t get out of the house
How do Jem and Dill plan to send a note to Boo Radley? What does the note say? According to Dill, what is their reason for sending the note?
- They put the note on the end of a fishing pole
- so they could talk with Boo and take him for ice cream
Describe what Jem, Scout, and Dill do in the Radley yard at the beginning of the chapter. What do they see that makes them run away?
- they go to peek through the back window
- a man’s (Boo’s) shadow
What happens to Jem’s pants? What excuse does Dill make up to explain the situation?
- they get caught up in the schoolyard gate
- Dill said they were playing strip poker
Scout is unable to sleep because she is so scared. How does she describe her sleepless night? Identify an example of personification in her description.
- “the chinaberra trees were malignant, hovering, alive.”
- every sound she hears is “Boo Radley”
Why is is important to Jem to get his pants before morning, even though the mission is dangerous?
- so Mr. Nathan won’t find out it was them who was in his yard
Jem has decided that what he, Scout, and Dill did was wrong. What might account for Jem’s change of heart? How does Scout feel about it?
- Jem realizes that Boo was telling them to leave because Mr. Nathan would come later on
Jem has been acting odd ever since he went to retrieve his pants from the Radley’s fence. What surprised him that night, and why is he frightened by it?
- his pants were untangled and sewn back together
- it’s like somebody (Boo) was expecting him to come back
In this chapter, Scout and Jem find several more items in the knot-hole of the tree. Briefly list the things that they find. Which item do they consider their “biggest prize”?
- ball of gray twine, pack of gum, soap carvings of a boy and a girl wearing a dress, tarnished medal
- BIG PRIZE: pocket watch with chain, and and aluminium knife
Previously, the children had assumed that the knot-hole was someone’s hiding place. What evidence now suggests that the items in the tree are meant specifically for Scout and Jem?
- because they find the soap carvings of themselves
Who do you suppose is responsible for the gifts in the knot-hole? Why do you think the person is leaving these gifts?
- Boo Radley
- To show them that he is friendly??
When Jem and Scout return to the tree with the idea of placing init a thank you note for the anonymous gift giver, they find the knot-hole plugged up with cement. Who plugged the knot-hole, and why?
- Mr. Nathan
- because “the tree was dying”
- to cut off Boo from outside communication
How does Jem find out the explanation for filling the knot hole is false? Do you think this is the real reason?
- Atticus points out to them that their are leaves growing from it
- Nathan wanted to cut off Boo from outside communication
When Jem finally comes in, Scout notices he has been crying. Why do you think he was crying?
- Mr. Nathan cut off communication with him and Boo; walled off Boo from the outside world
At the beginning of the chapter, Scout mentions that old Mrs. Radley died but her death ‘“caused hardly a ripple” in the neighborhood. Why was this the case?
- not many people knew her
What dramatic event causes Atticus to wake up the children at one o’clock in the morning?
- Miss Maudie’s house caught fire
Why does Atticus make the children leave the house and stand in front of the Radly house?
- because he wants them to stay out of the wind (embers blowing?)
As Jem and Scout drink hot chocolate with their father after the fire, Scout notices Atticus looking at her with curiosity and sternness. What does he see? How does Scout react?
- Scout had a blanket around her
- she was bewildered because she wasn’t aware it was around her
