To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 26-28 Test #4 Review

Even though the people of Maycomb criticized Atticus when he defended Tom, they know in their heart and minds that he is the best person to represent their county.

As she thinks back on the events of the summer Tom Robinson was killed, Scout muses, "There was one off thing, though, that I never understood: in spite of Atticus's shortcomings as a parent, people were content to re-elect him to the state legislature that year, as usual, without opposition"(279). Why is the fact that Atticus was re-elected without opposition significant?

"(Aunt Alexandra) stopped short in the middle of her sentence. She closed her mouth, then opened it to say something, but no words came. "'s matter, Aunty?" I asked. "Oh nothing, nothing," she said, "somebody just walked over my grave" (134). "Thus began our longest journey together" (135)

Example of foreshadowing in the last two pages of this chapter.

Miss Gates says that the U.S. is a democracy and Germany is a dictatorship. This is ironic because she says that Germany is wrong for persecuting Jewish people, while completely ignoring the persecution of blacks in her own community.

Summarize the lesson that Miss Gates teaches about democracy and prejudice. What is ironic about this lesson?

Jem "Thought (he) heard something," and he hears "it when we're walkin' along, but when we stop I don't hear it" (138) (Our company shuffled and dragged his feet, as if wearing heavy shoes. Whoever it was wore thick cotton pants; what I thought were trees rustling was the soft swish of cotton on cotton, wheek, wheek, with every step" (139). "He was running, running toward us with no child's steps" (139). "'Run, Scout! Run! Run!'" Jem screamed (139).

What causes Jem to become concerned as he and Scout are walking home in the dark?

Atticus tells them that he knew that Jem was in the Radley's yard when Nathan Radley shot at someone in his collard patch. Atticus warns Scout, "'You know Mr. Nathan shoots at every shadow he sees, even shadows that leave size-four bare footprints. You were lucky not to be killed'" (129).

What comment does Atticus make that lets Scout know that her father was aware of everything they did to try to communicate with Boo Radley?

Scout is maturing and developing her sense of empathy. She "sometimes felt a twinge of remorse, when passing by the old place, at ever having taken part in what must have been sheer torment to Arthur Radley—what reasonable recluse wants children peeping through his shutters, delivering greetings on the end of a fishing-pole, wandering in his collards at night" (128)?

What do Scout's feelings when passing the Radley place suggest about her character's growth?

They are attached by Bob Ewell. Scout thinks that Jem is dead because she sees someone carrying him to the house. They are viciously attacked.

What happens to Jem and Scout? Why does Scout keep asking if Jem is dead? What does her question suggest about the seriousness of the attack?

A 30-minute description of the exploits of "fearless Colonel Maycomb, for whom the county was named" (137) Due to " Mrs. Merriweather's drone and the bass drum's boom and (Scout) was soon fast asleep." She is embarrassed because she missed her "Po-ork" cue, appeared during the grand finale, and Mrs. Merriweather told her that she ruined the pageant.

What is the Halloween Pageant about? Why does Scout miss her cue? Why does she insist on hiding backstage until the audience leaves?

Atticus says "It might be because he knows in his heart that very few people in Maycomb really believed his and Mayella's yarns. He thought he'd be a hero, but all he got for his pain was... was, okay, we'll convict this Negro but get back to your dump." He adds, "I proved him a liar but John [Judge Taylor] made him look like a fool. All the time Ewell was on the stand I couldn't dare look at John [Judge Taylor] and keep a straight face. John [Judge Taylor] looked at him as if he were a three-legged chicken or a square egg. Don't tell me judges don't try to prejudice juries."

What reason does Atticus say Bob Ewell has for holding a grudge against people connected to the trial?

Aunt Alexandra says, "I know how that kind are about paying off grudges, but I don't understand why he should harbor one—he had his way in court, didn't he?"

What signs suggest that Bob Ewell could be dangerous?

Bob Ewell acquired and lost his job at the WPA (Works Progress Administration), the largest program in America that employed thousands of people to carry out public works projects. There was a break-in a Judge Taylor's home. Link Deas defended Helen Robinson against Bob Ewell so that she did not have to walk a mile out of her way to avoid harassment on her way to work (131)

What three things "out of the ordinary" happened the October after Tom Robinson's trial? How do you think these three things might be related?

"'Bob Ewell's lyin' on the ground under that tree down yonder with a kitchen knife stuck up under his ribs. He's dead, Mr. Finch'" (141).

Whom does Heck Tate find dead?

"Parents thought things went too far last year, when the peace of Miss Tutti and Miss Frutti (their names were Sarah and Frances Barber) was shattered" and hid all of their furniture into their cellar; the women are both deaf and "nobody but the Radleys locked up at night." For the Halloween program, "the high-school auditorium would be open, there would be a pageant for the grown-ups; apple-bobbing, taffy-pulling, pinning the tail on the donkey for the children. There would also be a prize of twenty-five cents for the best Halloween costume, created by the wearer" (134). Scout will be a ham in the pageant.

Why did the parents of Maycomb decide it was necessary to organize a Halloween program for the children? What will the new Halloween program be like? What role will Scout be playing in the pageant?

Jem gets angry at Scout because he does not want to talk about the case ever again. Atticus explains, "Jem was trying hard to forget something, but what he was really doing was storing it away for a while, until enough time passed. Then he would be able to think about it and sort things out. When he was able to think about it, Jem would be himself again" (131).

Why does Jem get angry when Scout asks him about the trial? What does Atticus say to explain why Jem is acting the way he is?

Atticus said as tactfully as he could that he just didn't think he could stand a pageant tonight, he was all in. He had been in Montgomery for a week and had come home late that afternoon. Aunt Alexandra said she just had to get to bed early, she'd been decorating the stage all afternoon and was worn out.

Why don't Atticus and Aunt Alexandra attend the Halloween program with Scout and Jem?