To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 1-8 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Describe Maycomb, Alabama.

Hot, sidewalks and courthouse not well kept, dirt roads, old town.

Describe Calpurnia.

She was skinny, had big hands, older, bad eyesight, firm, and acts as a mother-figure, housekeeper, and nanny.

What is Dill's claim to fame?

He's seen 20 picture shows.

Why was Arthur Radley in trouble with the law?

He resisted arrest, locked Mr. Conner in the courthouse's outhouse, and stole an old car and ran it into the courthouse. Signup and view all the answers

How did Arthur escape going to industrial school?

His dad promised the judge that Arthur would not cause any trouble. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Mrs. Radley run into the street screaming that Arthur was killing them all?

Boo stabbed the scissors into Mr. Radley's leg as Mr. Radley passed Boo. Signup and view all the answers

Where was Arthur locked up?

The courthouse basement. Signup and view all the answers

Why doesn't Boo come out of the house after his father dies?

His brother returns and keeps him in. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Scout in trouble with the teacher on her first day of school?

Knowing how to write in cursive, knowing how to read, and speaking up for Walter. Signup and view all the answers

What does Atticus mean when he says that professional people are poor because farmers are poor?

The farmers can't pay in money, so they pay with food, firewood, and other things they can grow or make. Signup and view all the answers

How does Scout get in trouble at dinner?

She says that Walter drowned his dinner with syrup. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Miss Caroline send Burris Ewell home?

He had a bug in his hair. Signup and view all the answers

How does Burris respond to being sent home?

He liked being sent home because the Ewells don't go to school more than 1 day. Signup and view all the answers

Why doesn't Scout want to go to school?

She wants to read and write. Signup and view all the answers

What does Atticus suggest is the way to get along with people?

To think of their point of view. Think of what they would do. Signup and view all the answers

Will Atticus continue to read to Scout? Explain.

Yes, because Scout and Atticus made a bargain. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Ewells.

They live like animals and whatever they want to do they can. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Scout receive a majority of her education?

Time magazine, and reading everything she could lay her hands on at the house. Signup and view all the answers

What does Scout find in the tree at the Radley house?

2 pieces of chewing gum. Signup and view all the answers

What do Jem and Scout find in the hiding place?

2 Indian head pennies. Signup and view all the answers

What is hot steam?

Someone's spirit that can't get to heaven and just wallows around on lonesome roads. Signup and view all the answers

How does Scout end up at the front steps of the Radley house?

She was rolling in a tire and rolled over the gate. Signup and view all the answers

What does Scout think she hears as she crawls out of the tire?

Someone inside the house laughing. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Miss Maudie.

Hated her house, spent time outdoors, worked in her flower beds. Signup and view all the answers

What does Miss Maudie mean when she says 'sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whiskey bottle in the hand of oh your father'?

There are just some kind of men who are so busy worrying about the next world they never learned to live in this one. Signup and view all the answers

Why do Dill and Jem go for a walk at night?

To see Boo Radley better in the house. Signup and view all the answers

What does Jem say that makes Scout decide to join them?

He calls her a girl. Signup and view all the answers

Whose shadow do Dill and Jem see when Jem is on the porch of the house?

Nathan Radley. Signup and view all the answers

What does Dill say happened to Jem's pants? What really happened to them?

Dill says he won them in a strip poker game. The pants got hooked on the Radley's back fence. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Jem feel he has to go back for his pants?

So he doesn't get caught and get whipped. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when Jem goes back for his pants?

His pants are folded and sewn up. Signup and view all the answers

What does Atticus mean when he tells Scout 'to delete the adjectives and she'd have the facts' about Jem's strange behavior?

To cut out the descriptive words and pay attention to the main facts. Signup and view all the answers

What is the biggest prize Scout and Jem find in the tree's knot-hole?

A pocket watch and knife. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Mr. Radley put cement in the knot-hole?

He says it's dying. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Scout scream and tell Atticus the world is ending?

Because it was snowing, and Scout had never seen snow before. Signup and view all the answers

What do Jem and Scout use to make a snowman? Who does the snowman look like?

Snow, dirt, and wood. Mr. Avery. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Atticus think Jem and Scout disobeyed him when he told them to stay in front of the Radley house?

Scout had a blanket over her shoulders and it wasn't theirs. Signup and view all the answers

What is Miss Maudie's reaction to her destroyed house?

She's happy and looking on the brighter side of things. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Setting Description

Maycomb, Alabama is characterized by its heat, poorly maintained sidewalks, and dirt roads; it reflects an old town atmosphere.

Character Profiles

Calpurnia, the Finch family's African American cook, is described as skinny, with large hands and poor eyesight; she plays a maternal role in the household.
Dill, a young boy who claims fame for having seen 20 picture shows, becomes a key character in Scout and Jem's adventures.

Arthur Radley (Boo)

Arthur Radley encountered legal trouble for resisting arrest and an incident involving Mr. Conner, where he locked him in an outhouse and stole a car.
He avoided industrial school due to a promise from his father to the judge, indicating familial ties influencing legal outcomes.
Boo's isolation intensified after his father’s death, with his brother Nathan keeping him inside.

School Experiences

Scout struggles on her first day of school due to her advanced literacy, actively defending her classmate Walter, which garners disapproval from her teacher, Miss Caroline.
Atticus enlightens Scout on social interactions, stressing the importance of empathy by understanding others' perspectives.

Ewell Family

The Ewells live in destitution, disregarding societal norms; Burris Ewell’s school attendance reflects their poor lifestyle, as he only attends once a year due to family circumstances.

Learning Outside School

Scout's education primarily comes from reading various materials, including Time magazine, rather than traditional schooling.

Mysterious Encounters

Scout discovers chewing gum in the Radley house's tree, indicating the children's intrigue with Boo Radley.
Other treasures found include Indian head pennies, indicating Boo's attempts at friendship.
The term "hot steam" refers to a supernatural belief about roaming spirits.

Exploration Adventures

Scout's venture to the Radley house starts when she tumbles from a tire, leading her to believe she hears laughter inside.
Jem and Dill’s nighttime adventures are motivated by their desire to see Boo Radley.

Mystery of Jem's Pants

Jem's pants get caught while fleeing the Radley house; he later retrieves them, finding them folded and repaired, suggesting an unseen presence.

Significant Objects

The discovery of a pocket watch and a knife in the tree's knot-hole serves as milestones in the children's growing relationship with Boo Radley.
Mr. Radley fills the knot-hole with cement, falsely claiming the tree is dying, symbolizing the severance of the children's connection to Boo.

Novel Events and Reactions

Scout’s first experience with snow leads her to believe the world is ending, reflecting her innocence and naivety.
A snowman crafted from snow and dirt comically resembles Mr. Avery, highlighting the children's playful creativity.
Miss Maudie's optimistic reaction to her house burning down showcases her resilience and positive outlook amidst adversity.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the first eight chapters of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' with this set of flashcards. From character descriptions to setting insights, these questions will help reinforce your understanding of this classic novel's early events and themes.