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FINCH
"The surname of Jem, Scout, and Atticus."
CALPURNIA
"The negro woman who acts as cook, housekeeper, and surrogate mother for the Finch family."
MAYCOMB
"The small American town in Alabama where 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is set."
DILL
"Dill comes to stay with his Aunt Rachel every Summer and quickly befriends Jem and Scout. His real name is Charles Baker Harris."
RADLEY
"Boo Radley is a recluse who never leaves his house. He finally emerges in chapter 28, and saves Jem and Scout's lives."
CAROLINE
"Miss Caroline is Scout's first teacher at school. She scolds Scout for being able to read."
ATTICUS
"Both Jem and Scout refer to their father by his christian name of Atticus."
CUNNINGHAM
"Jem and Scout invite Walter Cunningham home to lunch in chapter 3. This event becomes significant later on in chapter 15."
BURRIS
"A member of the Ewell family. He gets sent home from school on the first day because he has head lice."
OAK
"Boo Radley often leaves 'surprises' in the knot-hole of the oak tree for Jem and Scout to find. In chapter 7, Nathan Radley fills the hole with cement."
MAUDIE
"Miss Maudie loves gardening, and is an ally of the Finch family. In chapter 8 her house burns down."
LAWYER
"Atticus is a lawyer. Judge Taylor appoints him to defend Tom Robinson, a negro who is accused of raping a white woman."
DUBOSE
"Mrs Dubose is a morphine addict. In chapter 11 Jem unwittingly helps her overcome her addiction."
SNOWMAN
"In chapter 8, Jem and Scout build a snowman who looks remarkably like Mr Avery. It is the first time in their lives they have seen snow."
TAYLOR
"John Taylor is the judge who presides over the trial of Tom Robinson."
ALEXANDRA
"Alexandra is Jem and Scout's Aunt who is often disapproving of the way Atticus raises his children. In chapter 12 she comes to stay with the Finch family, to add some feminine influence to the house."
FRANCIS
"Francis is Jem and Scout's cousin. In chapter 9 Scout physically attacks him for making a verbal attack of Atticus."
CAMELLIA
"In chapter 11, Jem deliberately attacks Mrs Dubose's camellia plant and is punished by being made to read to her for one month."
ROBINSON
"Tom Robinson is the negro who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell. He is eventually shot while trying to escape from prison."
COURTHOUSE
"The original courthouse of Maycomb County burned down in 1856 and another one had to be built."
DOLPHUS
"Dolphus Raymond is a colourful character who supposedly drinks whiskey from a paper bag. He lives with a negro woman and has several children of mixed race."
DEFENDANT
"A person who is on trial."
TESTIMONY
"A statement given under oath in a court of law."
TRIBUNE
"The Maycomb Tribune is Maycomb's newspaper. It's editor is Mr Braxton Underwood."
WITNESS
"A person who testifies in court."
CHIFFAROBE
"A dresser with drawers on one side. Mayella lures Tom into the house on the pretext of needing his help to break up an old chiffarobe."
PREJUDICE
"One of the major themes of the novel. (See NOTES/THEMES) As well as racial prejudice, there is prejudice against social groups and individuals."
ALABAMA
"The southern state where the novel is set. Formerly, many slaves worked on the cotton plantations here, and prejudice against the negroes has always been high."
SCOUT
"The nickname of Jean Louise Finch, the youthful narrator of the novel."
MERIDIAN
"Dill's home town."
COURAGE
"An important theme in the novel. Read Chapter 11 to find out what Atticus has to say on the subject of true courage."
SCHOOL
"Scout looks forward to attending school, but finds it a disappointment. She learns far more outside the classroom. (See NOTES/ESSAYS)"
NATHAN
"Boo Radley's brother, who takes over as Boo's strict guardian when their father dies."
CECIL
"Cecil Jacobs is a friend of Jem and Scout. He succeeds in giving them a big scare on their way to the Pageant."
AVERY
"Mr Avery is a fat man who boards near Scout and Jem. They make their snowman in his likeness."