TKAM Chapter 1-11 Summary
Chapter 1
The opening of Mockingbird touches on the hypocrisy, racial prejudice, and the evil men do to each other that in general and in Maycomb. SCout opens with a little backstory about her ancestor Simon Finch and how he fled from Europe to America. He built a plantation called Finch’s Landing. Aunt Alexandria runs Finch’s Landing. Dill is introduced. The fascination of Bo starts.
Chapter 2
Shows the economic differences between families in Maycomb. Summer ends and school starts. Scout learns to accept differences between people as just the way things are.
Chapter 3
Shows Scout’s prejudice and lack of information. She is quick to judge anything different from the way she is used to things being done. Scout beats up Walter for getting her in trouble and then Jem invites him to lunch. Scout gets in trouble at lunch for talking about the way Walter eats. The Ewell’s are introduced. When Miss Caroline wants Scout to stop reading, she learns to accept other people's point of view. Atticus continues to read with Scout showing he doesn’t bow down to authority.
Chapter 4
See the age difference between Scout and Jem. Scout doesn’t get the gifts being left and Jem already suspects it’s Boo who is leaving the gifts. Shows kids obsession with Boo Radley. Boo is trying to connect with the kids. Dill arrives for the summer.
Chapter 5
Miss Maudie is introduced. She, like Atticus, teaches the children to question prejudice and treat people with respect. Scout starts spending time with Miss Maudie. Scout learns about Boo from Miss Maudie. The kids get caught trying to slip a note into the window of the Radley house. Atticus warns the children to always treat people with respect regardless if they’re different.
Chapter 6
Dill’s last night. Kids sneak to the Radley place and cause Nathan to fire his gun. Kids being kids lie about it. Though Atticus knows the children are lying, he practices what he preaches and shows the children respect.
Chapter 7
Jem’s folded and mended pants teach them that Boo is not a monster. Jem understands Boo is communicating through the gifts. Jem wants to thank Boo. Jem is starting to grow up. Scout is still clueless about who is leaving the gifts. Nathan Radley cements the hole where Boo had been leaving the gifts. Bos efforts at communicating with the kids had been blocked. This upsets Jem.
Chapter 8
The children build a snowman that resembles a town member and Atticus has them disguise him better. With the cold weather we see Maycomb at its best; neighbors helping neighbors. Miss Maudie's house catches fire. The fire marks the end of innocence. From here on out the trial dominates the story. While Jem and Scout are watching the fire someone drapes a blanket over Scout. When she notices it Jem know that it was Boo. His protection of the kids foreshadows future protective action.
Chapter 9
Scout and Jem start to see the prejudice in people thought the kids at school saying Atticus defends “niggers.” Atticus preaches tolerance and courage. Atticus knows he won’t win the case, but takes it to keep his integrity. Atticus is always fighting for what’s right. Atticus siblings as well as townspeople start to blame him for defending Tom. Big fight at Christmas between Scout and Aunt Alexandria’s grandson Francis. Atticus brother Jack punishes Scout for her actions before he realizes she acted for good reason. Atticus knows the trial is going to be bad for Scout and Jem and tries to warn them.
Chapter 10
In a complicated world of good and evil, mockingbirds are one of the few things that are entirely good. The mockingbird is a symbol of innocence and purity. Atticus gives the kids the air rifles they wanted, but doesn’t teach them how to shoot them. Insead just warns them not to kill a mockingbird. Miss Atkinson explains that all mockingbirds do is sing and create beauty and pleasure so it’s a sin to kill them. Jem is growing up faster now and begins to understand that honor and courage are about humility and service, not pride. Scout is still innocent and wants to brag about her father shooting the dog eat up with rabies.
Chapter 11
Though Jem is growing up, he is still having a hard time controlling his emotions. When Mrs. Dubose condems Atticus for defending Tom, Jem rips the flowers off her bushes. As punishment, Atticus makes Jem go and read to Mrs. Dubose. Through Mrs. Dubose addiction with morphine, Atticus teaches the children about courage and human dignity. Jem reading to Mrs. Dubose helps her kick the habit before she dies. She leaves Jem a single white camellia flower. Though Mrs. Dubose condemned Atticus, he still thought she was the bravest person for fighting the fight even though she knew she was beaten.