To Kill A Mockingbird Study Guide Friday, April-15-11

Chapter One:
1. The function of relating the Finch family history at the outset of the novel is to establish a history of the area as well as the background and importance of Atticus' standing in the community.

2. The techniques that are used to establish a feeling of mystery in the first chapter are that the narrator is looking back on events, rather than living through them, which leads to foreshadowing. Also, the fact that Dill is introduced so early in the novel also foreshadows that through the story, the plot will be enhanced by his character, and that he does, in fact have a role in the novel, which creates a mystery. The other mysteries that are created is how Boo Radleys partial story is told, and how the narrator does not actually know the story, which creates a mystery for herself.

3. The manner of narration fluctuates between the childs point of view, from the past, and the now grownwomans point of view, in the present. The childs voice describes the central plot, which allows the reader to make connections and understand events in a way that the young girl, back in the past, cannot.

4. The attitudes that seem prevalent as a result of elements of setting

5. Dills family situation is different, opposed to the Finches because Dill comes from a family with both parents living in the house, however they do not seem to spend much time or attention on their son. On the other hand, Atticus is constantly watching his children and takes his parenting seriously, especially because his children have been left without a mother.

Chapter Two:
6. The teacher, Miss Caroline, says to Scout that she needs to stop learning at home., because her "father does not know how to teach." (p.22). Scout is ahead in school and in read, as well, and the teacher views this as wrong. The teacher introduces a new way of teaching, by waving cards at the students with short words on them, such as the and cat. Scout gets bored with this, and begins to write a letter, which the teacher stops her from doing. She also is angry at Scout for writing because "you don't learn to write until you're in the third grade(p.23). The satire is in how this young, new teacher thinks her ways are so wonderful and how school is the only place for kids to learn. Obviously, her methods are pretty remedial for someone like Scout and she is not only challenging Scout, but she is stopping her from learning more. School is now a place where Scout is told to stop learning.

7. Scout explains Walter Cunninghams situation to Miss. Caroline because their teacher is an outsider, who does not understand the present conditions and customs of their country and its people. Scout tries to explain how Walter may be poor, but he's not a beggar and refuses to take the quarter from Miss Caroline because he knows that he will never be able to pay it back.

Chapter Three: 8. JEM SCOUT

9. Burris Ewell is a child who is much ungroomed, and uncleanl. Most other student's don't go near him due to his filthiness. Other kid's also go to school other than just the first day. This description is used so you can get a feel for the Ewell family tradition of nasty, which will foreshadow the future.

10. Atticus tells Scout that if she wants to get along with other people, she must be able to see through the eyes of that person, in other words; she must imagine living the life of people who don't see things the same way she does.

Chapter Four:
11. The two shiny Indian-head pennies were the final gifts the children received in the knothole from their mysterious benefactor. The pennies seemed to trigger more of a response from Jem than Scout; to Jem, they were magical tokens of good fortune, and probably the most valuable items the children had yet received. Perhaps it was this magical belief that led Jem to decide to try and find the owners at school in case the coins were left in the tree only temporarily. After all, it would be bad luck to steal such powerful items from their rightful owner.

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Chapter Five:
13. Miss Maudie's character is a type of foil to some of the craziness that takes place in the novel. She is the voice of reason and in many ways, expresses the opinions of the author.