ToKillaMockingbird

StudyQuestionsforChapters1618

Chapter16

1.

WhatsubtlechangedoesScoutnoticeinherfather?

Scoutnoticesthat herfatherisbeginningto talk withAunt Alexandrain amore diggingway,

insteadofshowingfullandblatantdisagreementwithher.(
Lee157)
2.

WhatsortofpersonisDolphusRaymond?

Dolphus Raymondis anextremealcoholic who ridesa horse. He attendedthecourthouse

with apaper bag,where hesippeda Cocacolabottle filled withalcohol to notannoy the
ladies.Dolphusismarriedtoacoloredwoman, andprefesparsthecolored peopleoverthe
whites.Hesatwithhiswifesraceatthecourthouse.(
Lee158161)
3.

HowdoesReverendSykeshelpthechildrenseeandhearthetrial?Isherighttodo?

Reverend Sykes helped the childrensee andhear the trial by allowing the kids up tothe
balcony. The kids would have hadto stand up if hedidn'tcome. Sykesmay not know it,
but this could position Atticus ina badwayif people realizehischildrenaresittingwith
thecolored.TheymaythinkthatAtticusfurthersupportstheoppositerace.
(Lee164)
4.

CommentonJudgeTaylor'sattitudetohisjob.Doeshetakethetrialseriouslyornot?

JudgeTaylorsattitudetohisjobseemscasualandlaidback,however,themanwas
educatedthoroughlyinlawandmadesuretokeepcontrolandorderoverallthe
caseshesupervised.Hehasonlybeencaughtonceatastandstillforasinglecase.
(Lee165)

Chapter17

1.

What are the main points in Heck Tate's evidence? What does Atticus show in his
crossexamination
ofSheriffTate?

Main points inHeckTates evidencearethathewascalled byBobEwellwhentherape

hadhappened, andhe wentovertotheareabycar.Hefoundthegirlinthefrontroom,
beat. He asked if she was alright and she said yes, accusing Tom Robinson of the
crime. Atticus, however,asks some validquestionstocountertheevidencebyasking
if they had calledadoctortoanalyzetheinjuriesofthevictim.Ifshehadbeenraped,a
medicalexaminer wouldhavebeen ableto identifyit.Hethenrealized, withHeck,hat
thegirlsright eyehad been injured.The entireneckof the girlhadalsobeeninjured,
likeanentirehandwrappedaroundit.(
Lee168)
2.

WhatdowelearnindirectlyofthehomelifeoftheEwellfamilyinthischapter?

We learn indirectly that the home was basically a dump, where a Negro hadonce lived.
The place was a cabin lined with makeshift walling and Windows. They literally lived
behind the towngarbagedump. The Ewellsscavengedfor food andother valuableitems
in the dump every day. The yard of the cottage was filled with miscellaneous items
includingold,brokencars.
(Lee170171)
3.

WhatdoyoulearnfromBobEwell'sevidence?

Welearnthat Bob Ewell hadbeencoming fromahuntingtripinthewoodswhenhecame

back tohear Mayellas screams. He tried torush over,butranintothefence.Whenhegot

up, he could see the black man raping his daughter. He had seen the crime being
committed.
(Lee172173)
4.

WhydoesAtticusaskBobEwelltowriteouthisname?Whatdoesthejuryseewhenhedoesthis?
AtticusasksBobEwelltowritehisnametoproveapointandshowthejudgesclear
evidenceofTomsinnocence.WhenBobwrote,thejurysawthathewaslefthanded.
Thisshowedevidencethathemayhavebeathisowndaughter.
(Lee177)

Chapter18

1.

IsMayellalikeherfatherordifferentfromhim?Inwhatways?

Mayella is different from his father in some ways, one beingherhygiene. Whileherfather
doesn't think of taking a bath in his life, she tries withthebest effort tostayclean. She
also shows more reasoning and knowledge. Mayella's also had a more stealthy,
lessvisual way of showingconfidence.This differed greatlyfromBobsconfidence.(Lee
181)
2.

WhatmightbethereasonforMayella'scryinginthecourt?

Areason forMayella'scryingincourtcould bebecause she wanted totake advantageof

the case. She used her emotions and feelings as an excuse so that the judge and jury
would feel sympathy towards her and side with her on the case.Itwas used as a clever
waytohelpwinthecase.
(Lee180)
3.

HowdoesMayellareacttoAtticus'spoliteness?Issheusedtopeoplebeingpolite?

Mayella's responds to Atticuss politeness by justifying the man was sassing her and
mockingher. Sherespondslikeshehasnever fullyreceivedtheattitudethatAtticuswas
giving her, and she can'texcept the factthat someonecould beso nice toher withoutit
soundingfake.
(Lee181182)
4.

How well does Mr. Gilmerprove Tom's guiltin the eyesof the reader (you)and in theeyes ofthe
jury?Canyousuggestwhythesemightbedifferent?

Mr.GilmerseemstohaveprovenTomsguiltinanineffectiveandweakway.Notonly
werethewitnessesfortheprosecutionuntruthfulandnotgenuine,eventhevictimherself
couldn'tsupplycoldhardfactsabouttheentirerape.Atticusseemedtostunandproveall
witnesseswrong,usingcleverandcoldevidencethatmaysuggestinnocence.I,however,
cansaythatthejuryintheroommayhaveadifferentthoughtintheirheadduetoracism.
Biasedjuries,suchaswiththejuryintheScottsboroTrials,we'reallwhiteandoften
thinkingagainstthecoloredpeople.Thejurywouldbestuckatthecurrentmomentdueto
Atticussstrongevidence.
(Lee184189)