To Kill a
Mockingbird, by Harper Lee—Plot Chart
Year |
Time of year |
Chapter |
What happens |
Part 1 |
|||
1933 |
Early
summer |
1 |
Introduction.
Arrival of Dill. Children try to get Boo to come out. |
|
September |
2 |
Scout
starts school: Miss Caroline Fisher. Description of Cunningham family. |
|
September |
3 |
Burris Ewell upsets Miss Caroline. Ewells
described. |
1934 |
Late spring/early summer |
4 |
Boo
leaves gifts in tree. Dill comes back to Mavcomb. |
|
Late
spring/early summer |
5 |
Children
attempt to send Boo a letter. |
|
Late
summer |
6 |
Children
try to spy on Boo. |
|
October/November |
7 |
Boo
leaves more gifts. Hole is filled with cement. Tom
arrested for alleged rape (November 21st). |
|
Winter |
8 |
Cold
winter. Snow in Maycomb. Miss Maudie's
house burnt. |
|
Christmas |
9 |
Atticus agrees
to defend Tom Robinson. Scout fights Cousin Francis. |
1935 |
February |
10 |
Atticus shoots
Tim Johnson (a rabid dog). |
|
Spring |
11 |
Jem beheads
Mrs. Dubose's camellias and has to read to her. She overcomes her morphine
addiction and dies. |
Part 2 |
|||
|
Summer |
12 |
Children
go to First Purchase church with Calpurnia. Aunt
Alexandra arrives. |
|
Summer |
13 |
Aunt
Alexandra entertains Maycomb's ladies. |
|
Summer |
14 |
Dill
returns to Maycomb. |
|
Summer |
15 |
The Old Sarum mob tries to lynch Tom. Scout intervenes and
unwittingly saves him. |
|
Summer |
16 |
The trial
begins. The children sit in the black people's balcony. |
|
Summer |
17 |
Heck Tate
(sheriff) testifies, followed by Bob Ewell. |
|
Summer |
18 |
Mayella Ewell testifies. |
|
Summer |
19 |
Tom
Robinson testifies. Dill cries at the cross-examination of Tom. |
|
Summer |
20 |
Scout and
Dill meet Dolphus Raymond outside. Atticus sums up for the defense. The children are found
to be in the court. |
|
Summer |
21 |
The jury
returns a verdict of guilty on Tom.. |
|
Summer |
22 |
Jem cries at
the verdict. Atticus receives presents from black
community. Bob Ewell spits at Atticus
and vows revenge. |
|
Summer |
23 |
Atticus is not
frightened by Bob's threat. |
|
August |
24 |
The
missionary circle meets for tea. News comes of Tom's death. |
|
September |
25 |
School
starts again. Miss Gates teaches about Hitler and the Jews. |
|
September |
26 |
B.B.
Underwood writes an editorial on Tom's death. |
|
October |
27 |
Bob Ewell attempts revenge on Judge Taylor and Helen
Robinson. Atticus is not worried. A pageant is
planned. |
|
October |
28 |
Jem and
Scout go to the pageant. Bob attacks them, but they are rescued. Bob is found
dead at the scene. |
|
October |
29 |
Scout
describes the attack - Boo is revealed as the children's savior. |
|
October |
30 |
Atticus thinks Jem has killed Bob Ewell. Heck
Tate proves that it was Boo. |
|
October |
31 |
Boo and
Scout go to see Jem. Scout takes Boo home. |
Adapted from:
http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/gcse/mockingbird.htm
© Andrew Moore, 2001