Guide Questions

Guide Questions

To Kill a Mockingbird

Day 1 - Chapters 1 and 2:

If you were a babysitter, which of the three kids would you most want to sit for? Why? Which would you least like to sit for? Why?

When does the story take place? How do you know?

How is life in Maycomb at that time different than life where you live in your community today?

Day 2 - Chapters 3 and 4:

Find an instance of "classism" (in Chapter 3).

Find an example of sexism (in Chapter 4).

Day 3 - Chapters 5 and 6:

What do foot-washing Baptists believe? Do they remind you of any characters in any other book we read this year? If so, how?

Find at least one example of the theme of illusion versus reality in these chapters.

Day 4 - Chapters 7 and 8:

Find examples of the theme of seeing something from someone else's perspective.

See if you can find another "ism." What would you call it?

Day 5 - Chapters 9 and 10:

Find three instances of racism in Chapter 9.

Find two examples of the following sequence: accusation - trial - verdict - appeal.

What does Atticus mean when he refers to "Maycomb's usual disease"?

How does the theme of "illusion versus reality" relate to Atticus in Chapter 10?

What idea/concept/theme does the title of the book pertain to?

Day 6 - Chapter 11:

What is Attitcus's idea of courage?

Day 7 - Chapters 12 and 13:

There is a bit of a twist on the theme of racism in Chapter 12. Explain.

How is sexism evident in the church and its teachings?

Which character in Chapter 13 might be considered a "classist"? Why?

Day 8 - Chapters 14 and 15:

In Chapter 15, how does the theme of seeing something from someone else's perspective come into play?

Day 9 - Chapters 16 and 17:

How and when is someone's death foreshadowed? Whose death might it be?

What is Atticus's strategy when questioning Bob Ewell? What is he trying to show?

Day 10 - Chapters 18 and 19:

What is Atticus's strategy when questioning Mayella? Why does he use this approach? Is it successful?

Find a quote that shows both the theme of racism and the theme of seeing a situation from another point of view. Whose quote is it?

Day 11 - Chapters 20 - 22:

How did Scout know that the jury had found Tom Robinson guilty before it announced the verdict?

There are a number of things Jem and Scout had never seen Atticus do before he gave his closing argument. What did he do that shocked them?

What does Dill want to be when he grows up? Why?

Day 12 - Chapters 23 and 24:

In Chapter 23 find an example of each of the following: racism, sexism, and classism.

What do you think is the most important page in Chapter 24? Why?

Day 13 - Chapters 25, 26, and 27:

Who draws a connection between Tom and the title of the novel? Explain the connection.

In Chapter 26 Harper Lee introduces another form of prejudice. What is this type of prejudice normally called?

Why does Scout consider her teacher a hypocrite?

What unusual event occurs on Halloween?

Day 14 - Chapters 28, 29, 30, and 31:

What happens to Scout and Jem on their way home from the play at school?

In Chapter 30 who is referred to as a "mockingbird?" Explain why this reference is made.

What did Atticus think happened in Bob Ewell's death?

What is Heck Tate's official explanation of what happened?

What really happened?

A Single Shard

Chapter 1:

What moral/ethical dilemma is Tree Ear faced with early in the chapter? What does he decide to do?

What are your first impressions of Tree Ear? What kind of person is he?

What are your first impressions of Crane Man? Why did you form these impressions?

Can you identify two themes that are introduced in this first chapter?

"Inherit the Wind"

Day 1 - Act One, Scene One:

In the beginning of the play, which child represents the evolutionist side? Which one symbolizes the fundamentalist/creationist side of the controversy?

Where does Rachel stand in terms of this dispute? Why does she seem to feel internal conflict?

In what way does Brady show that he has a huge ego?

Why are the townspeople afraid of Drummond? What information (exposition) do the authors provide about Drummond that would trigger such a fearful reaction?

Day 2 - Act One, Scene Two:

What happened in the Endicott Publishing case? Why do the authors include this information? (Relate to theme, foreshadowing, character developing.)

What is a "clock-stopper"? Why does Drummond use that term? To whom is he referring?

What theme does "Barnum and Bailey" refer to?

What is Rachel being forced to do that she doesn't want to do?

Day 3 - Act Two, Scene One & Act Two, Scene Two (through page 80)

What does the prayer meeting show about Reverend Brown, Rachel, and Brady? Why do the authors include this scene in the play?

What does Drummond believe is on trial in the court proceedings?

Who was Tommy Stebbins? What happened to him? Why is this event mentioned during the trial?

Day 4 - Rest of Act Two, Scene Two:

What do Drummond and the judge argue about when the defense begins its case? Which side do you think is right? Why?

Drummond comes up with an alternative to his original plan. What is it?

What do Lawrence and Lee say is the "turning point"? Why is it the turning point?

Why do some of the spectators seem to shift sides by the end of the scene?

Day 5: Act Three:

Which side do you think won the trial? Why?

Why does Hornbeck want to use the quote from Proverbs when writing Brady's epitaph?

Analyze the final stage directions. What message(s) are Lawrence and Lee trying to convey in this conclusion to the play?

"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" by James Thurber

1. At what point in the story did you realize what was really happening?

2. How would you describe Walter Mitty's personality and character in his fantasies? How would you describe him in his "real" life?

3. How would you describe Mrs. Mitty?

4. What is the main conflict in this story?

5. Would you consider this story a comedy? tragedy? tragicomedy? Explain.

6. Walter Mitty has become one of the best known characters in American literature. Why has he become so famous?

Lord of the Flies

Days 1 & 2 - Chapter 1:

What are your first impressions of Ralph, Piggy, and Jack? Do any of these characters remind you of anybody that you know?

How do you think you would react if you suddenly found yourself on an uninhabited tropical island with no adults, only other kids?

Day 3 - Chapter 2:

Why does Ralph want rules? Why does Jack want rules?

What does the "Beastie" represent?

What happened after the boys lit the fire? Explain the possible significance of this occurrence.

Day 4 - Chapter 3:

Early in the chapter Jack and Ralph have different priorities. What are they?

In the second half of the chapter Ralph and Jack again have different priorities. What are they?

Where does Simon go? Why do you think he goes there?

Day 5 - Chapter 4:

In what ways does the level of violence increase during the chapter?

In terms of two critical symbols something significant happens? What occurs on the literal level (plot), and what is the symbolic significance?

Day 6 - Chapter 5:

Identify what you consider to be the three most important pages in this chapter and be ready to explain why you selected each one.

Day 7 - Chapter 6:

The strange figure on top of the hill relates to two different concepts/images. What are they?

Day 8 - Chapter 7:

How does Ralph change in this chapter? Explain the significance of these changes.

What does the game the boys play reveal about them? What might this "game" foreshadow?

Day 9 - Chapter 8:

Make a written, chronological list of the chapter scene by scene.

List the important characters involved in each scene.

Day 10 - Chapter 9:

How does Golding foreshadow the event that happens later in the chapter earlier in the chapter? Identify specific sentences or lines that foreshadow what occurs later.

Day 11 - Chapter 10:

See if you can figure out why I consider this to be the most important chapter in the book. (Hint: Focus on Piggy and Ralph)

Day 12 - Chapter 11:

What is the symbolic meaning of the second last scene of the chapter?

Where/when was this critical event foreshadowed earlier in the book?

Day 13 - Chapter 12:

What is Golding's message at the end of the book?

Would you consider the novel a comedy, a tragedy, or a tragicomedy? Why?