"To Kill a Mockingbird" Journal Prompts

After completing the assigned chapters of To Kill a Mockingbird you are to respond to the following prompts. Each journal entry should be well thought out and at least ¾ of a page to 1 page in length.
If you are having trouble responding to a prompt, you may select a quote from the chapter, write it out, and then react to it. This too should be well thought out and at least ¾ of a page to 1 page in length.


* Entry 1: The Radley house is both enticing and frightening for the children. Describe a childhood fear or mystery you recall. (Chap. 1-2)

* Entry 2: Scout writes a great deal about first grade. Tell a story from your own first grade experience. (Chap. 3-4)

* Entry 3: Atticus tells Scout “you never really understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” What does he mean? Is he right? (Chap. 3-4)

* Entry 4: What do Scout and Jem think of Miss Maudie? Describe a special adult friend you had as a child. (Chap. 5-6)

* Entry 5: Scout is at first frightened and then fascinated by the snow. Tell about the first time you remember seeing snow or some other natural wonder. (Chap. 7-8)

* Entry 6: If your house were to catch fire and you could carry out one armload, what would you choose to take and why? (Chap. 7-8)

* Entry 7: Scout and Jem suffered through Christmas at their relatives—are the holiday traditions at your house sometimes more than you can take? Or if your home does not have holiday traditions, what is your experience with others who do not understand your family’s choices. (Chap. 9-10)

* Entry 8: Jem and Scout take some grief over their father’s defense of Tom Robinson. What principles has your family verbally or actively upheld? (Chap. 9-10)

* Entry 9: Filled with spiteful vengeance, Jem destroys Mrs. Dubose’s garden. Tell about a situation in your life when you reacted with such revenge in your heart. (Chap 11)

* Entry 10: Scout has some difficulty understanding Jem as he grows. Why is a four-year age difference more significant now for Jem and Scout that it was before? Describe a time in your life when age difference became more or less of a problem. (Chap. 12-13)

* Entry 11: Scout and Jem visit Calpurnia’s church. How would you feel if you were the visitor under those circumstances? Describe a time when you were an outsider. (Chap. 12-13)

* Entry 12: Dill feels like his parents get along better without him. Do you think parents need their children? How do parents let their children know this? (Chap. 14-15)

* Entry 13: A group of men in the Finch’s front yard frighten the children. Tell about a time a crowd frightened you. (Chap. 14-15)

* Entry 14: Atticus tells Scout that Mr. Cunningham is a good man – “he just has his blind spots along with the rest of us.” What does Atticus mean? What are your blind spots? (Chap. 16-17)

* Entry 15: Atticus catches the Ewells in a terrible lie. Have you ever caught a liar or been caught lying yourself? How did you feel? How did others involved feel? Is it ever okay to lie? When? (Chap. 18-19)

* Entry 16: Atticus differentiates between the law between the law and social code. Explain the difference between the two. Which of these two set of principles of behavior is mores important? Why? (Chap. 20-21)

* Entry 17: Jem’s Confidence in Tom Robinson’s acquittal reflects his naïve belief in the judgment of the jury. Jem’s confidence in their integrity is shattered when the jury convicts an obviously “innocent” man. Describe a time you remember feeling disillusionment because your youthful perceptions were shattered.

* Entry 18: Aunt Alexandra has some definite ideas about with whom Scout may play. Is she wise? Do your parents have certain expectations about the friends you make? What rules will you set as a parent about the kinds of people with whom your children associate? (Chap. 23)

* Entry 19: Scout’s teacher exhibits profound hypocrisy. Describe someone you know who engages in such behavior. How do you and others react to this behavior? What are the impacts? (Chap. 26)

* Entry 20: Boo Radley will never be tried for Ewell’s murder. Did Heck and Atticus make the right decision in this situation? In what way is this murder “cover-up” justified? Consider both sides of the questions—that is, how would you feel about it if you ere part of the Ewell family.

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