Discussion Chapters 9-14 To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee p. 74-126

Chapter Nine p. 74-89

“…the beginning of a rather thin time for Jem and me.”

1. Who is Tom Robinson?

2. What gift does Uncle Jack give the children?
3. What new habit has Scout picked up that bothers Uncle Jack?

4. What does cousin Francis tell Scout about Dill’s homelife?

5. Why does Scout fight her cousins after the Christmas dinner at Finch’s landing?

6. What is “Maycomb’s usual disease”?

Chapter Ten p. 89-99

“Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

1. In Scout’s eyes, what is Atticus’s chief fault?

2. What reason does Uncle Jack give for Atticus’s unwillingness to teach the kids to shoot?

3. What crisis shows the children a surprising skill their father possesses?

4. Who is Heck Tate?

5. What is Atticus’s old nickname?

Chapter Eleven p. 99-112

“I wanted you to see what courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.”

1. What makes the children hate and fear Mrs. Dubose?

2. What two comments specifically infuriate Jem to the point that he can’t control his temper?

3. What does Jem do to get revenge?

4. What is his punishment?

5. What did Mrs. Dubose vow to do before she died?

Chapter Twelve p. 115-126

“It’s not necessary to tell all you know. It’s not ladylike—in the second place, folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do.”

1. Why doesn’t Dill plan to come to Maycomb this summer?

2. What is the purpose of this Sunday’s collection at First Purchase African Methodist Episcopal Church?

3. Why are Jem & Scout so welcome in this church?

4. Why can’t Helen Robinson get work?

5. What do the children notice about Calpurnia’s behavior in her church community?

Chapter Thirteen p. 127-134

“For no reason I felt myself beginning to cry, but I could not stop. This was not my father.”

1. Why has Aunt Alexandra come?

2. Why does Aunt Alexandra get angry with Atticus?

3. What does Atticus tell the children about being Finches?

Chapter Fourteen p. 135-144

“From rape to riot to runaways.”

1. When Aunt Alexandra finds out that Jem & Scout have attended Cal’s church, what does she want Atticus to do about it?

2. “The [Jem] rose and broke the remaining code of our childhood.” What new violation causes Scout to make this comment? What earlier breach of the childhood code can you remember?

3. What solution does Atticus offer to the problem of Dill’s presence?