Chapter 8-11
1. What does Atticus criticize Jem for?
2. Why does Atticus wake the children in the middle of the night?
3. What is Miss Maudies reaction to the loss of her house?
4. According to Atticus, Boo Radley placed the blanket on Scouts shoulders. Recall the crimes the townspeople have attributed to Boo. How do you explain the disparity between Boos act of kindness toward Scout and the stories of the townspeople?
5. Why does Scout forget what Atticus told her about fighting?
6. What does Atticus tell Scout to do when she hears ugly talk at school?
7. What comparison does Scout use to describe her relationship with her Aunt Alexandra?
8. Why does Scout fight Francis?
9. What does Atticus tell Jack he hopes Jem and Scout will do instead of listening to the town?
10. Atticus tells Scout to try fighting with her head for a change instead of using her fists. Comment on this advice both with regard to Scout, yourself and others. Why in your opinion, do people resort to physical violence to settle disagreements?
11. Atticus tells Jack he hopes his children get through Tom Robinsons trial without bitterness and without catching Maycombs disease. What is Atticus referring to? What is Maycombs disease?
12. Explain why Scott is upset over Atticus being so old.
13. Atticus tells the children theyre not to kill mockingbirds because doing so is a sin. How does Miss. Maudie explain Atticus reasoning to Scout?
14. What explanation does Miss Maudie offer for Ol One-Shot (Atticus) putting his gun down thirty years ago?
15. In this chapter (10) , it is explained that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they dont do anything harmful; they simply sing their hearts out. Comment on this idea. Although it is expressed simply, is there more to this statement than simply the idea that harmless creatures shouldnt be killed? How do you think the statement might apply to the novel thus far? Discuss.
16. What does Jem do to Mrs. Duboses camellia bushes? Explain why he does this.
17. How does Atticus explain the term ******-lover to Scout?
18. What change had occurred in Mrs. Dubose by the last week Scout and Jem went to her home?
19. How does Atticus explain courage to Jem?
20. Scout says that she considered her father the bravest man alive for visiting Mrs. Dubose and speaking kindly to her. Atticus later tells the children, after her death, that Mrs. Dubose was the bravest person he ever knew. Comment on the two views of bravery presented here. What is your definition of the term?

Preferably, I’d like a book that has a balance between the actual size of the book and the depth of its contents.