1. Using the novel's chronology of events, plot the development of tension throughout the book on a piece of graph paper: chapters along the x axis, dramatic suspense along the y axis. Label each point of action in the plot.
    
2. Using this plot graph, answer the following questions about the novel:
    
1. How does Harper Lee begin her novel?
2. How does Harper Lee end her novel?
3. How does Harper Lee create a sense of community?
4. Which experiences change the children's understandings of the world?
5. How does Harper Lee show a development in the children over three years?
How does Harper Lee prepare the reader for Tom Robinson's trial?
6. How does Harper Lee portray the trial in a dramatic way?
    
3. Using the quotations about Atticus, explain their location in the novel, and what they show about his character. Use a table to display your answers:
    

4. Brainstorm five main themes of the novel. Write a paragraph about each of the themes you have identified.
    
5. What connections can you make between the Boo Radley story and the Tom Robinson trial? List your answers in tow columns.
    

6. In pairs, write 10 statements about Harper Lee's portrayal of human beings. Here are two examples to start you off:
    
• Harper Lee shows how "outsiders" are marginalised by members of the dominant community.
• Harper Lee explores family relationships: exposing the conflict and celebrating the support and affection.
   
7. Lists reasons why Harper Lee chose Scout as her narrator. Here are some ideas to help you begin:
    
As a young child, Scout is open about her experiences and inquisitive about people and ideas. The reader sees the story through her eyes, and can see how absurd many social rules and issues are within the adult world. Scout hears snippets of conversation and pieces together information to narrate the story. Harper Lee does not tell the reader what to think about the issues within the novel, but allows us to interpret Scout's observations to explore the powerful themes for ourselves.
 
8. Find and record examples of Scout being the following types of narrator:
    
• Biassed
• Judgmental
• Perceptive
• Honest
• Childlike
• Selective
   
9. In the final chapter, Scout imagines the story from Boo Radley's point of view. Look closely at this section and explain how Harper Lee uses language and tone to summarise the story in a simplistic way. Think about the following:
    
   Seasons   Feelings   Pronouns   Descriptive verbs   Clauses
    
10. Choose three of your favourite moments from the novel. Explain how Harper Lee has used language, tone and style to bring those moments alive for the reader.
    Think about:

Sentence structure and length
Use of adjectives, adverbs, pronouns etc
Use of dialogue in dialect to create realism
Creation of atmosphere and tension through description
Use of similes and metaphors
Use of repetition, pauses, rhetorical questions

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