Seeking Justice: To Kill a Mockingbird (2020)

Lesson 24
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ELA

Unit 6

8th Grade

Lesson 24 of 35

Objective


Explain how specific incidents and lines of text reveal aspects of characters in To Kill a Mockingbird or cause them to change.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee  — chapters 24 and 25

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

What does Tom Robinson’s decision to try and escape prison reveal about his character and the social context in which he lived? Provide at least one piece of evidence from the text to support your answer.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


  • On page 263, Mrs. Merriweather says, “‘Oh child, those poor Mrunas’... Mrs. Merriweather’s large brown eyes always filled with tears when she considered the oppressed.” How does this line of text reveal her to be a hypocrite on the subject of race and oppression? Provide at least one piece of evidence from the text that helps develop this idea.
  • On page 263, Mrs. Merriweather says of having a “sullen” black servant working for her, “Sophy, you simply are not being a true Christian today. Jesus Christ never went around grumbling and complaining.” How does this statement reveal her to be a hypocrite? Provide at least one piece of evidence from the text that helps develop this idea.
  • How does the news of Tom Robinson’s death change Atticus’s perspective on the world? Provide at least two pieces of evidence from the text that reveal this change.
  • Discussion: Why do you think Harper Lee includes the scene where Jem tells Scout not to kill the roly-poly bug?
  • Discussion: Do you think that Tom Robinson committed suicide? Explain your thinking.

Lesson Guidance


Homework

  • Read To Kill a Mockingbird, chapters 26 and 27.

Notes

  • Be sure to teach students the definition of “hypocrite” before they answer the key questions.
  • Today’s chapter is a difficult one. In addition to the simple tragedy of Tom’s death, there are aspects of today’s reading that are evocative of current events around police brutality and the murder of black men at the hands of law enforcement. Students may have strong reactions to today’s reading.

Common Core Standards


  • RL.8.3 — Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
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Lesson 23

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Lesson 25

Lesson Map

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