Pulitzer

Do you believe that Harper Lee deserved to win a Pulitzer Prize?

Good

In the last few lines of To Kill A Mockingbird Scout says, "he was real nice..." and Atticus replies, "most people are Scout, when you finally see them." Do you agree that most people in this novel are nice once you see them? how is Atticus able to see the good side of people despite all that he has experienced? Can you?

Killing the Mockingbird

At the end of the book, Scout says that telling people Boo Radley committed the murder would have been "sort of like shootin' a mockingbird." What does that mean? Do you agree that Boo is like a mockingbird?

Favorite character

Who is your favorite character and why?

Kinds of folks

At one point Jem describes four kinds of 'folks' in Maycomb County: "our kind of folks don't like the Cunninghams, the Cunninghams don't like the Ewells, and the Ewells hate and despise the colored folks". What does To Kill A Mockingbird teach us about how people cope with issues of race and class? Do you classify people in your world as different "folks"? Do you see those sort of distinctions today?

Changes

How does the trial and everything surrounding it change the town? Change Jem and Scout? Did it change you?

Racism

Discuss race issues in this book. Why does Calpurnia speak differently around other black people? Why does Mr. Raymond pretend he is drunk to help people cope with his mixed marriage?

Single parent

How do you think Atticus managed his role as a single parent?

Aunt Alexandra

What do you think of Aunt Alexandra? Did your opinion of her change during the book? Can you understand why she was concerned with Atticus' parenting?

Mrunas'

Do you think the missionary society was walking in the Mrunas' shoes? What do these ladies show you about life in the town? Can you walk in their shoes and understand where they are coming from?

Others Shoes

Atticus tells the children several times that they need to walk in someone else's shoes before judging the person. Describe times when Atticus, Scout, or Jem walk in someone else's shoes. How does this change how they view the situations? What rold does this advice play in sympathy and compassion?

Boo

How does Jem and Scout's views of Boo Radley change during the book? Why does Jem cry when the hole in the tree is filled with cement?