Kelso High School English Department

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

Chapters Two / Three – Learning Intentions Plot Summary / Key Incidents Characterisation – Scout Characterisation - Atticus Theme - Growing Up Theme - Innocence Theme - Tolerance Theme - Social Class

Chapters Two / Three – Plot Summary September 1933 Dill leaves Maycomb. Scout starts school. Description of the Cunninghams. Description of the Ewells.

Characterisation - Scout Scout loves books and reading. She is intelligent and wants to learn. This is why she reads and asks so many questions. Her intelligence is further conveyed by the fact she is upset when Miss Caroline says she is not to read with Atticus anymore. Homework Task – Quotation needed.

Characterisation - Scout Scout is hot-headed and settles arguments by the only way she knows – using her fists. Homework Task - Quotation needed

Characterisation - Atticus Sees the good in everyone and behaves with empathy. This allows him to understand people and make allowances, even for families like the Ewells. He advises Scout to do the same – to imagine herself in someone else’s body and “walk around in it”. Homework Task – quotation needed.

Theme – Growing Up From Miss Caroline in Chapters 2 & 3, Scout learns that many ‘educated’ adults are much less wise and far more prejudiced than Atticus. Task – In your own words, explain why this is the case.

Theme - Innocence Scout is innocent about the ways of the world. She does not mean to be rude to Miss Caroline when she is explaining that Walter can’t accept lunch money because his family, the Cunninghams, are poor but proud people. Homework Task – Quotation needed She also tries to join in the conversation Atticus and Walter have. She asks if the Cunninghams paid the doctor “a bushel of potatoes” for helping with Walter’s younger brother. She is surprised when Atticus shakes his head at her.

Theme - Innocence She also does not mean to be rude when she sees Walter pouring syrup all over his meat and vegetables. Atticus shakes his head and she is told off by Calpurnia. Homework Task - Quotation

Theme - Tolerance One of the greatest lessons that Atticus and Calpurnia try to teach both Jem and Scout is tolerance of other people’s behaviour. This is why Scout is scolded by Calpurnia when Walter Cunningham comes to dinner.

Theme - Tolerance The need to look at circumstances from the other person’s point of view is one of the main themes of the novel. It is the CHIEF LESSON Atticus teaches his children. This message relates to many events in the novel, but is first conveyed when Atticus speaks to Scout about her experiences at school with Miss Caroline and tries to get her to see the day from Miss Caroline’s point of view. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”.

Theme – Social Class Walter’s poverty introduces the theme of social class. Atticus is at the top of the Social pyramid. Beneath him are the Cunninghams. The Ewells are below the Cunninghams on the social ladder – “the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations” Even the worst white families are seen to have more social status than the best black families.

Chapters Two / Three – Success Criteria Plot Summary / Key Incidents Characterisation – Scout Characterisation - Atticus Theme - Growing Up Theme - Innocence Theme - Tolerance Theme – Social Class

Chapters Two / Three Analysis The End!!