Chapter 21 Practice Quiz — To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 21
Why does Calpurnia come to the courthouse in Chapter 21?
She brings a note from Atticus informing him that the children are missing from home.
Where have Jem, Scout, and Dill been watching the trial from?
They have been sitting in the Colored balcony with Reverend Sykes.
What does Atticus decide about the children staying for the verdict?
He allows them to return after supper to hear the verdict, as long as the jury is still out.
How does Jem feel about the verdict during the jury deliberation?
He is confident and optimistic that Tom Robinson will be acquitted based on the strength of Atticus's defense.
What warning does Reverend Sykes give Jem about the verdict?
He tells Jem not to be so confident, saying he has never seen a jury decide in favor of a Black man over a white man.
How does Scout realize the verdict before it is read aloud?
She notices that no juror looks at Tom Robinson as they return, recalling Atticus's teaching that a jury never looks at the man it has convicted.
What is the jury's verdict on Tom Robinson?
Guilty on all counts.
How does Jem physically react to the guilty verdict?
He jerks with each guilty verdict as though being struck, and tears stream silently down his face.
What do the Black spectators in the balcony do as Atticus leaves the courtroom?
They all rise to their feet in a silent gesture of respect.
What does Reverend Sykes say to Scout as Atticus passes beneath the balcony?
"Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin'."
What literary technique does Harper Lee use when Scout notices the jurors won't look at Tom?
Foreshadowing—the detail signals the guilty verdict before it is announced.
What theme is most powerfully illustrated by the balcony scene?
Moral courage—Atticus earns respect not by winning but by fighting honestly for justice in the face of prejudice.
How does Chapter 21 represent Jem's loss of innocence?
The guilty verdict shatters his belief that the justice system will always produce fair outcomes, marking a pivotal moment in his coming of age.
What is the significance of the jury's long deliberation?
It suggests that at least some jurors struggled with the evidence, indicating Atticus's defense created genuine doubt despite the ultimate guilty verdict.
What contrast does the chapter create between the verdict and the balcony scene?
The guilty verdict represents institutional racism, while the standing ovation represents individual and communal recognition of moral integrity.
Who is notably absent from the courtroom during the trial in this chapter?
Miss Maudie does not attend the trial, reflecting her distaste for treating it as public entertainment.
What does the courtroom atmosphere become as the night wears on?
It takes on a dreamlike, surreal quality as Scout fights to stay awake during the long wait.
What does the standing ovation symbolize about Atticus's role in Maycomb?
It symbolizes that the Black community views Atticus as a rare white ally who treated Tom Robinson with dignity and gave him a genuine defense.
What narrative perspective shapes the reader's experience of the verdict?
Scout's first-person child narrator perspective, which conveys both innocence and a dawning awareness of injustice.
How does Chapter 21 connect to the novel's broader message about justice?
It demonstrates that legal justice and moral justice do not always align—the legal system failed Tom Robinson, but the community's tribute affirms the moral rightness of Atticus's fight.