Name:
1. “You never understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (30).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Atticus says this to Scout
when she is upset after
her first day of school.
Atticus’s advice to Scout is thematic. He tells her that she must learn to consider things from
other people’s point of view. He is advising her of the need for compassion and empathy.
Harper Lee’s observation of life is that one achieves maturity.
2. “Shoot all the bluejays you want…but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (90).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Atticus says this to Jem;
he is setting the ground
rules for the children
after they receive air
rifles for Christmas.
The only time Atticus warns the children that something is a sin is when he cautions them
against killing mockingbirds. Miss Maudie enlarges upon this and says that
mockingbirds don’t cause any harm; they are gentle and give of themselves through
song. Atticus is referring to people whose natures are like that of the mockingbird. It
is a sin to destroy a gentle person.
Character traits:
empathetic
Character traits:
empathetic
compassionate
compromising
3. “Now you tell your father not to teach you any more…You’ll tell him I’ll take over from here and try to undo the damage-“ (17).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Miss Caroline says this to
Scout. She is
reprimanding her for
already knowing how to
read and write on the
first day of first grade.
Scout’s experiences in school are rich in educational satire. Miss Caroline’s displeasure with
Scout’s skills in reading and writing satirize educational preoccupation with structure
and sequence. Miss Caroline imposes the standards of her own educational
experience rather than relating to her students’ situation.
Character traits:
insecure
unsure of herself
scared
4. “Reason I can’t pass the first grade…is I’ve had to stay out ever’ spring an’ help Pa with the choppin’, but there’s another’n at the house now that’s
field size” (24).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Walter Cunningham says
this to Atticus during
lunch. Jem invites Walter
to lunch after Scout
embarrasses Walter on
the first day of school.
Walter is needed on the farm to help his family during the very difficult economic time called
The Great Depression. Walter values education but is not able to access it because of his
socio-economic background.
5. “I was on the verge of leavin’—I done my time for this year” (27).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Burris Ewell says this to
Miss Caroline when she
asks him to leave and
treat his hair for cooties.
The main reason for describing Burris Ewell is to lay the foundation for the larger role the
Ewells will play later in the novel. This quote illustrates his extreme lack of respect for
rules and other people.
Character traits:
hard-working
dedicated
responsible
Character traits:
rude
disrespectful
ignorant
6. “Hush your mouth! Don’t matter who they are, any body sets foot in this house’s yo’ company” (24).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Calpurnia tells this to
Scout when she
embarrasses Walter
when he pours syrup all
over his dinner.
Calpurnia is not only invested in more than just her household responsibilities but also in
teaching the children how to grow up to be good people. She is also concerned about
making Walter feel comfortable in the Finch’s home.
Character traits:
empathetic
7. “What I meant was, if Atticus Finch drank until he was drunk he wouldn’t’ be as hard as some men are at their best” (45).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Miss Maudie says this to
Scout when Scout starts
to spend more time with
Miss Maudie while the
boys are off together.
Miss Maudie is telling Scout that Atticus is a great man. Even at his theoretical very worst,
Atticus is a better man than some are at their best.
8. “Looks like all of Maycomb was out tonight, in one way or another” (71-72).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Atticus says this after the
fire when it is revealed
that Boo put a blanket
around Scout because she
was cold.
Atticus is commenting about how everyone in Maycomb came out and revealed their true
character through their actions during and after the fire. Scout became the benefactor in
Boo Radley’s desire to do his part in helping by wrapping Scout in a blanket when he
sees that she is suffering from the cold.
9. “Mr. Nathan, Mr. Arthur, mad dogs comin’ ! Mad dog’s comin’ !” (94).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Calpurnia yells this on
the Radley’s porch when
she tries to warn them of
Tim Johnson’s approach
down the street.
Calpurnia is alerting the Radleys that a mad dog is approaching; she is doing her part to help
protect Maycomb against Tim Johnson spreading the disease of racism through the
town. She is attempting to help, but in the end Atticus is the one who must stop the
danger.
10. “Good evening Mrs. Dubose! You look like a picture this evening” (100).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Atticus says this and
other similar
complements to Mrs.
Henry DuBose on his
nightly walks home from
work.
Atticus is modeling his gentlemanly behavior to his children. Even with the most disagreeable
of people, Atticus is able to find the good in them; he never compromises his principals.
We can’t control what others say or think, but we can control how we respond to
them.
Character traits:
wise
thoughtful
Character traits:
observant
Character traits:
intelligent
courageous
Character traits:
empathetic
gentlemanly
11. “Atticus is a gentleman, just like me!” (99).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Jem yells this to Scout
after he learns Atticus is
Ol’ One Shot and has
saved the town from the
dangerous Tim Johnson.
Jem is proud of Atticus’s courage and skill but overlooks the more refined quality of his
modesty. Jem’s admiration of Atticus is shown in his jubilant throwing of a rock and
claiming that Atticus is “like me.” What Jem does not realize is that being governed
by conscience is a lifelong journey; it is not like turning on a switch.
Character traits:
maturing
excited
inspired
12. “A nigger-lover. I ain’t very sure what it means, but the way Francis said it—tell you one thing right now, Uncle Jack, I’ll be—I swear before God
if I’ll sit there and let him say somethin’ about Atticus” (86).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Scout is recounting her
encounter with Francis to
Uncle Jack.
This passage is significant because it shows that Scout is trying to do the right thing; she does
not want to disappoint Atticus. The reader is reminded of when Jem went to get his
pants because he does not want to disappoint Atticus. Scout is growing up. She is
trying to abide by what Atticus has told her, but this is the first times she must learn
to deal with the strongly rooted racist views of Maycomb, and Scout has a difficult
time understanding and dealing with this type of hatred.
Character traits:
empathetic
positive
13. “You know what’s going to happen as well as I do, Jack, and I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all,
without catching Maycomb’s usual disease” (88).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Atticus is talking to his
brother while Scout is
listening in on their
conversation. He is
voicing his concerns
about his children and
the upcoming trial.
Atticus hopes to prevent Jem and Scout from being inflicted with Maycomb’s usual disease of
prejudice by setting his own example. His defense of Tom Robinson is his ultimate
declaration. It is his hope that they will become and remain individuals with strong
values and will turn to him for guidance.
14. “I thought I wanted to be a lawyer but I ain’t so sure now!” (50).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Jem shouts this to Atticus
when he is out of earshot
after Atticus reprimands
him for playing the
Radley game
Being a lawyer means being like Atticus. Atticus is governed by conscience. Jem knows that
bothering the Radleys is the wrong choice, but he chooses not to be governed by
conscience, and he continues to play the Radley game. He is not yet sure that he
wants to take on the responsibilities of being governed by his conscience.
15. “I- it’s like this, Scout. Atticus ain’t ever whipped me since I can remember. I wanta keep it that way” (56).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Jem tells this to Scout
when he is explaining to
her why he has to go to
Jem’s decision to return to the Radley Place in spite of his fears, founded and unfounded,
is significant because it reveals his respect for Atticus. Jem cares about what Atticus
thinks of him. He does not want to disappoint him.
Character traits:
caring
worried
Character traits:
confused
scared
angry
Character traits:
proud
worried
nervous
retrieve his pants that are
caught on the Radley’s
fence.
maturing
16. “Shot in the air. Scared him pale, though. Says if anybody sees a white nigger around, that’s the one” (54).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Miss Stephanie says this
to the people who come
out after Nathan Radley
fires a shot in the air
because he suspects a
black person has been
trespassing in his garden.
The significance of the town’s conclusion regarding who it was in the Radley collard patch
exemplifies the prejudice and foreshadows the Tom Robinson trial. It is simply assumed
by the town that only a black person could have been guilty even when Jem is
standing in the crowd without any pants!
Character traits:
meddlesome
racist
busybody
gossiper
17. “You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter
what anybody says to you, don’t let them get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change…it’s a good one, even if it does resist learning” (76).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Atticus says this to Scout
after she gets into trouble
for fighting Cecil Jacobs
because Cecil is talking
about Atticus’s decision
to defend Tom Robinson.
Atticus is giving Scout advice. She can’t settle her disagreements with her fists. This shifts the
attention onto Scout and not where it belongs. Atticus insists that his children must rise
above all the nonsense no matter how difficult it will be for them. In order to follow in
his footsteps, they too must be governed by conscience. Violence only begets
violence; it is not the answer.
Character traits:
empathetic
wise
proud
18. “Always wanted a smaller house…gives me more yard. Just think, I’ll have more room for my azaleas now!” (73).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Miss Maudie says this to
the onlookers as her
house burns to the
ground.
Miss Maudie shows an invincible spirit. She views the fire as a blessing which will allow her
more space for her flowers and permit her more time outdoors. In spite of the fact that
she has lost all of her possessions in the fire, she empathizes with the children; she
does not want them to worry about her, so she tells them she is glad about the fire.
Character traits:
loving
proud
brave
loyal
fearless
19. “Yes indeed, what has this world come to when a Finch goes against his raising? I’ll tell you! Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash
he works for!” (102).
Speaker and context:
Significance:
Mrs. Henry DuBose
shouts this from her
porch to Jem and Scout as
they pass by her house to
spend Jem’s birthday
money.
Mrs. DuBose is a sickly and soured old lady who shouts disparaging remarks at Jem and Scout
when they walk by. The remarks are usually dour predictions of their future. When she
insults Atticus and their deceased mother, Jem gets particularly upset. Jem has a hard
time remaining a gentleman.
Character traits:
racist
rude
unkind