Reading Comprehension Template

1. Author

1.1. Harper Lee

1.2. April 28, 1926

1.3. American

1.4. About

2. General Info

2.1. July 11, 1960

2.2. Novel

2.3. English

2.4. United States

3. Plot

3.1. Jem and Jean are scared of Boo Radley.

3.2. Jem and Jean try to get Boo to come out and have a picnic with them.

3.3. Atticus doesn't want them to be involved with the Radley's.

3.4. Atticus, Jem and Jeans dad, and a respected Lawyer, defend a black man named Tom Robinson in his trial for rape.

3.5. The children keep their distance from Boo Radley for the fear that he may hurt them.

3.6. These problems show the evils of racism and stereotyping to the children. (Jem, Jean and Dill)

4. Themes, Allusions & Symbols

4.1. Harper Lee is trying to show us that we should not stereotype people based on what they look like but how they act.

4.2. I believe that Boo Radley is a symbol because he doesn't show any real significant meaning to the plot except to keep the children busy. Radley soon comes out and shows them the evil of stereotyping a racism.

4.3. Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself.

5. Characters

5.1. Jem

5.2. Jean Louise

5.3. Boo Radley

6. Vocabulary

6.1. Section 1

6.1.1. consulted

6.1.2. foray

6.2. Section 2

6.2.1. garish

6.2.2. elucidate

6.3. Section 3

6.3.1. grope

6.3.2. iota

6.4. Section 4

6.4.1. demise

6.4.2. squander

7. Summary

7.1. Scout starts school. Scout’s father Atticus prepares to defend innocent black man Tom Robinson, who is on trial for the rape of white Mayella Ewell.

7.2. Gifts for the kids turn up in the Radley tree and a blanket appears on Scout’s shoulders during a fire. Aunt Alexandra comes to stay and tries to make tomboyish Scout a lady.

7.3. The children prevent a lynch mob. Atticus proves that Tom Robinson is innocent and Bob Ewell beat Mayella, but the all-white jury finds Tom guilty and he dies trying to escape.

7.4. Bob Ewell threatens Atticus and attacks Scout and Jem on their way home one evening. Boo Radley appears, kills Ewell, and saves the children.