Study Task 1 - To Kill a Mockingbird - Research

Plot outline

- Dill visits Maycomb for the Summer and meets Jem and Scout Finch

- Dill becomes interested in Boo Riley who hasn't been outside for years

- The children wan to try and get him to come out

- Scout starts school although her teacher does not like her because she is already advanced in her reading and writing
- Scout gets into a fight with Walter Cunningham who's father owes money to Atticus for legal work, however pays for it in food
- Calpurnia is introduced, she is the black maid who is treated as part of the family
- Gifts are found in the Oak Tree outside Boo Radleys house
- Dill comes back and the children adventure up to Boos house
- Jem gets his trousers caught on wire, leaving him in just his underwear. He later goes to retrieve them
- Miss Maudice is introduced, who is a friend of Atticus and is similarly tolerant and doesn't like gossip
- When Jem retrieves his trousers he finds them stitched and folded up
- More gifts are found in the tree
- The tree hole is then filled with cement 
- Miss Maudie's hose catches fire
- Scout is teased at school about Atticus representing a black person
- The children get air rifles for Christmas and are embarrassed by their father who they think cannot shoot 
- Their father warns them not to kill mockingbirds who sing for everyone's pleasure. 'Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember its a sin to kill a mockingbird '
- A mad dog appears in the street and Atticus shoots it. It is found that he was once an expert marksman
- Mrs Dubose taunts them about Atticus defending a black man 
- Jem beheads Mrs Dubose's camellia bushes
- Jem has to read to Mrs Dubose as punishment, whilst Scout keeps him company. When she dies it is revealed that it was to help her with her morphine addiction
- Dill does not come back for the summer instead he stays with his mother and stepfather
- Atticus goes away and Calpurnia takes them to church where they see how difficult it is for black people in the area
- Whilst Atticus is doing the trail Aunt Alexandra looks after the children, who wants to turn Scout into a young lady
- Dill runs away and spends the summer with his Aunt Rachael
- Atticus is approached outside the jail by white men who want to lynch Tom Robinson
- Scout sees Walter Cunninghams father in the group and talks to him, then the group leave
- The trial starts and many come to watch. The children get seats in blacks only area and speak to Dolphus Raymond who is in a relationship with a black woman and uses his 'drunkeness' as an excuse for his behaviour.
- Bob Ewell's anger is revealed and he hates Atticus for humiliating him
- It is obvious that Tom Robinson is not guilty of raping Mayella. Instead she tried to lead him on but her father then beat her for trying to flirt with a black man.
- Tom is found guilty but the congregation stand for Atticus as he leaves, to respect how he stood up for Tom
- Jem begins to realise the injustice of the law and Scout is disgusted that women cannot be part of the jury. Jem realises that Boo stays inside because he wants to.
- Aunt Alexandra puts on a missionary tea 
- Atticus interrupts and says how Tom escaped from prison and was then killed
- Scout sees Aunt Alexandra's and Miss Maudies reaction and realises the strength that women show
- Bob Ewell makes threats against the family and Helen Robinson.
- There is a pageant at the school to celebrate Halloween 
- On the way home Scout and Jem are attacked,  but someone stops the attacker and carries Jem back to the house
- It was found to be Boo Radley (Arthur), Bob Ewell was found with a knife in him .
- Atticus believes Jem accidentally killed him , whilst Heck Tate realises it was Boo. Everyone is told that Bob Ewell fell on his knife as Boo would never cope with the publicity. 
- Scout helps Boo back to his house and he is never seen again 
- Atticus sits and waits for Jem to wake up the following morning.