To Kill A Mockingbird CHAPTER 1: Connection Questions Ms. Mulligan

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TKAM CHAPTER 1: Connection Questions Ms. Mulligan

1. In the second paragraph of the novel, Scout says that the events leading up to Jem’s broken arm started with the Ewells (another family in Maycomb), but Jem “said it started long before that.” How does Jem’s comment relate to the family history Scout provides over the next couple of pages? What is Harper Lee suggesting about the influence of the past on the events that take place in the novel?

2. Read aloud Scout’s description of Maycomb in the first chapter, beginning with “Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it.” What words does Harper Lee, with Scout as the narrator, use to paint a picture of Maycomb? If Maycomb were a person, how would you describe its personality?

3. What kind of figurative language does Harper Lee use in the following description? Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o’clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum. What does this description suggest about the role of women in Maycomb?

4. Harper Lee does not directly tell the reader what years the novel takes place during. What are some clues that she provides to help the reader determine the time period?

5. What facts are revealed about the history of the Radleys in this chapter? What gossip and legend about the Radleys is revealed? How do you know the difference between the facts and the gossip?