To Kill a MockingbirdChapters 1-3

Setting Information:Place

Small town in the south

Maycomb, Alabama

TimeGreat Depression- 1930’s

Poverty is extensive; few jobs, little $

Segregation- caused a lot of tension

Characters Narrator: Scout (Jean Louise

Finch)• Jem Finch – Scout’s brother• Atticus Finch- Scout and Jem’s

father• Alexandra Finch – Jem & Scout’s aunt• Jack Finch – Jem and Scout’s uncle• Calpurnia- Finch family cook; takes

care of Jem and ScoutBoo RadleyAurther Radley- Boo’s fatherNathan Radley- Boo’s brotherMiss Caroline Fisher- Scout’s teacherWalter CunninghamMr. Cunningham

Chapter 1

Intoduction of Scout as the narrator

Introduction of Calpurnia, Dill,and the Boo Radley legend

Chapter 2

Scout’s first day of school- September

Miss Caroline and Scout argue about Scout’s ability to read

Miss Caroline humiliates Walter Cunningham

Chapter 3

Walter comes to dinner

Miss Caroline meets Burris Ewell

Atticus talks to Scout about Miss Caroline

Group Review of Chapters 1-3Go back to chapters 1-3 and jot down notes

about what’s important that readers learn about…

1. Dill2. Boo Radley legend3. Walter Cunningham – incident at school/

Finch house4. Burris Ewell5. Atticus

Chapter 1Dill•Real name is Charles Baker Harris•From Meridian, Mississippi, but spends his summers with his aunt, the Finches next door neighbor, Miss Rachel•Page 7- Tiny for his age, cowlick on his forehead, and snow white hair

Boo Radley LegendPg. 11- According to the legend, Boo Radley

stabbed his father in the leg with a pair of scissors. After the incident, his father locks him up in his house for 15 years.

Mr. Radley dies – Nathan Radley comes in to take care off Boo and the lock-up continues

Atticus tries to teach Jem and Scout to mind their own business & leave Boo alone

Chapter 2

Walter Cunningham – extremely poor

Miss Caroline wanted to lend Walter money for lunch

Walter refused to take the money because he couldn’t pay her back

Miss Caroline scolds Scout for sticking up for Walter

Chapter 3•As the chapter opens, Scout is beating up Walter in the schoolyard

•Jem stops her and invites Walter over for dinner

•Scout embarresses Walter by asking him why he’s pouring molasses all over his food

•Calpurnia calls Scout into the kitchen and lectures her on hospitality- She tell Scout that Walter is a guest in their home and he can do as he pleases without being judged (this scene shows Scout’s innocence)

Burris Ewellp. 26- comes to school with “cooties” in his

hair – Miss Caroline tries to send him home

Burris is rude and disrespectful to Miss Caroline – tells her he is never coming back

Another student explains that the Ewell’s always come on the first day and never return (truancy)

AtticusInvites Scout to read with him after dinnerScout tells her father that Miss Caroline scolded her for being able to readAtticus tells Scout to try and see things from Miss Caroline’s perspective- Miss Fisher is trying to do her best in a new town

Atticus – fiercely non-racist –Believes in the law and the idea that civil liberties must always be respected

Write down any questions you have about chapters 1-3 in your notebook!