1. To Kill a Mockingbird
Revising Themes

2. A B C D E F G H I

3. The Secondary Characters
Characteristics of the Secondary Characters:
The secondary characters aren’t developed in the same way as the primary characters are. For each secondary character, write down at least 2 words to describe them:
Dill
Miss Maudie
Aunt Alexandra
Dolphus Raymond
Mrs Dubose
Lula
Miss Caroline
Miss Rachel
Key Chapters
Themes:
Growing up/education:
Miss Caroline is Scout’s teacher who becomes frustrated that Scout can already read. Through Miss Caroline Atticus encourages Scout to have empathy.
Injustice/justice:
Gender:
Prejudice and Social Inequality:
Outsiders/Mockingbirds:
Family/Parents
Dill
Miss M
Aunt A
Dolphus
Ms Dubose
Lula
Miss Caroline
Miss Rachel
The Secondary Characters

4. What is the significance of families in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’
The novel presents us with several families – some more successful and happier than others.
Harper Lee offers us different models of family life to make comparisons and conclusions.
We are encouraged to look at parenting styles and explore factors which influence families.
As the novel is told from Scout’s POV, the Finch family is the only one we can enter therefore all others are compared to the Finches.
Key Chapters involving family life
Chapter Event
Key Families
The Finches:
The Ewells
The Radleys
Dill’s family
The Robinson Family
The Cunninghams
What is the significance of families in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

5. What is the significance of families in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’
The novel presents us with several families – some more successful and happier than others.
Harper Lee offers us different models of family life to make comparisons and conclusions.
We are encouraged to look at parenting styles and explore factors which influence families.
As the novel is told from Scout’s POV, the Finch family is the only one we can enter therefore all others are compared to the Finches.
Key Chapters involving family life
Chapter Event
Key Families
The Finches:
Ideal family despite not having a mother. Family raised on values - respect, truth, justice, tolerance and education.
Atticus is presented as a loving and intelligent father – he talks to his children, teaches them and listens to what they say.
The Ewells
Another family with no mother but this family is failing- the father is a drunk, the children are neglected and abused. In this family there is no appreciation of education. The Ewells are here to remind us that poverty and attitude are not colour related. The Ewells are ‘White trash’.
The Radleys
Boo is damaged and vulnerable – he’s misunderstood and poorly treated by his family. The soap figures he carves for Jem and Scout show his deep longing to have a caring family.
Dill’s family
Dill’s family are absent in the novel.
He is sent away to his aunt in
Maycomb every summer and runs away.
He tells Scout that no-one is worried about him.
The Robinson Family
The Robinsons show that poverty is no barrier to high values. In Chapter 25 we are given a brief glimpse of the Robinson family. They live in a poor yet neat and well loved home. We see contentment and affection.
The Cunninghams
What is the significance of families in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

6. What is the significance of Racism in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’
TKAM shows us the everyday, casual racism of 1930s Alabama.
Black people are continually derided, insulted and considered as subhuman by the white community.
The Maycomb community readily accepts Tom Robinson’s guilt because of the commonly held belief that black men were animalistic with little self control.
Tom is not thought worthy of a fair trial – this is shown by the lynch mob scene.
The blacks are segregated from the white community.
Key Chapters involving Racism
Chapter Event
Key Characters and their
Involvement in racism:
Tom Robinson
Atticus Finch
Calpurnia
Bob Ewell
Mr Cunningham
The Maycomb Community
What is the significance of Racism in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

7. What is the significance of Racism in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’
TKAM shows us the everyday, casual racism of 1930s Alabama.
Black people are continually derided, insulted and considered as subhuman by the white community.
The Maycomb community readily accepts Tom Robinson’s guilt because of the commonly held belief that black men were animalistic with little self control.
Tom is not thought worthy of a fair trial – this is shown by the lynch mob scene.
The blacks are segregated from the white community.
Key Chapters involving Racism
Chapter Event
Key Characters and their
Involvement in racism:
Tom Robinson: The key victim of racism throughout the novel. He is wrongly accused of rape and it is clear that he will not receive a fair trial. Huge sense of fatalism and it comes as no surprise that he is killed in prison. Makes the error of saying that he ‘felt sorry’ for a white woman. His decency and family values shame the bigoted residents of Maycomb.
Atticus Finch: Defends Tom Robinson at personal cost despite knowing that he will be defeated. Spreads his message of tolerance and compassion. Treats Calpurnia with absolute respect and equality. Reprimands Scout for using the term ‘nigger’. Calls casual embedded racism ‘Maycomb’s usual disease’.
Calpurnia: Occupies an unusual position- equally accept by the Finches and the black community. Experiences racism from Aunt Alexandra.
Bob Ewell
Demonstrates the bigotry not unusual in small town Southern America. His response to seeing his daughter kiss a black man is to viciously beat her and accuse him of rape. Despite the verdict of the trial, Bob still seeks revenge, initially spitting on Atticus and then attacking his children.
Mr Cunningham
Mr Cunningham is initially shown to the reader as a decent, honest and hardworking man. We share Scout’s shock when he appears as part of the Lynch mob. He represents how engrained racism in Maycomb society. Mr Cunningham is caught up in the behaviour of the mob which legitimises racism.
The Maycomb Community
Maycomb society casually accepts racism. However, Atticus’ brave stance in defending Tom R causes the town to make ‘babysteps’ towards a more tolerant attitude. The jury spend time deliberating the outcome which is another hopeful sign.
What is the significance of Racism in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

8. What is the significance of Mockingbirds in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’
Mockingbirds symbolise innocence and natural goodness in the novel.
Mockingbirds are harmless and should not be killed or persecuted.
‘remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’
‘senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children.’
‘It would be like killing a mockingbird wouldn’t it Atticus?’
Key Chapters involving the mockingbirds
Chapter Event
Key mockingbirds
Tom Robinson
Boo Radley
Other Mockingbirds
What is the significance of Mockingbirds in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

9. What is the significance of Courage in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’
In the Southern states in the 1930s, there was a long-established tradition of fierce, reckless, ‘shotgun’, courage essential to the character of the Southern gentleman.
For example, Nathan Radley shoots at ‘niggers’ when he thinks he’s being burgled, the men in the lynch mob think they are tough and the children in the playground use their fists.
Atticus is described by Scout as ‘feeble, he was nearly fifty’.
Through Atticus, the children learn the meaning of true courage.
Key Chapters involving Courage
Chapter Event
Key Characters
Atticus
Jem and Scout
Ms Dubose
Miss Maudie
Boo Radley
What is the significance of Courage in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

10. Growing and maturing in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’
Key Chapters involving growing up
Chapter Event
Key Characters
What is the significance of growing up and maturing in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’