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The reader often sees Atticus standing alone.

To Kill a Mockingbird - Themes

This quiz explores key themes in To Kill a Mockingbird, including justice, prejudice and growing up, helping you prepare clear, well-supported points for your GCSE answers.

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Fascinating Fact:

Justice and injustice are repeatedly contrasted, as Atticus’s careful defence in court is defeated by a biased jury that reflects Maycomb’s racist values.

In GCSE English Literature, you need to explain how themes run through To Kill a Mockingbird. Ideas such as justice, prejudice, courage and growing up appear in the trial, in family life and in everyday scenes, so being able to trace these patterns will help you write focused, thoughtful exam responses.

Key Terms

Theme: A central idea or message that is developed throughout a text, such as justice, prejudice or innocence.
Prejudice: Judging or mistreating people unfairly because of race, class, gender or other differences.
Moral courage: The bravery to do what is right, even when it is unpopular or risky.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What are the main themes in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Key themes include racial prejudice, justice and injustice, courage, growing up and empathy. The novel also explores family relationships, social class and the difference between appearance and reality.

How is the theme of justice shown in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Justice is shown through the legal trial of Tom Robinson and through everyday events. The gap between fair treatment and what actually happens exposes the limits of the law in Maycomb.

How can I write about themes in my GCSE To Kill a Mockingbird essay?

Choose one theme, select two or three key moments, and support your points with short quotations. Then explain how each moment develops the theme and link briefly to historical context.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Why is Burris Ewell not forced to go to school?

The Ewell family have a formal exemption from obeying the law

Those in authority have no concern for the Ewell family

Those in authority know that he cannot be forced into being educated although he could, with effort, be forced to attend school

Those in authority are afraid of the Ewells and how they might respond if Burris is forced to attend school

Atticus gives the situation with the Ewells as a case where the law is knowingly bent to accommodate certain people

2 .

Why does Atticus make Jem read to Mrs Dubose?

He wants Jem to make compensation for destroying Mrs Dubose's flowers

He feels sorry for Mrs Dubose, who is dying

He wishes to teach Jem about true courage

All of the above

Atticus has many reasons for making Jem read to Mrs Dubose. He especially wishes his children to see that courage can be found in the most unlikely places and the most unlikely people

3 .

After expending much effort trying to draw Boo Radley out of his house, what does Jem realise?

That Maycomb prefers people like Boo Radley to keep hidden away

That 'old' families like the Radleys can behave however they please

That the Radleys are solitary people and that Boo cannot help following the family trait

Boo Radley's solitude might be chosen

Jem feels despair at the injustice he has witnessed amongst the people of Maycomb and empathises with anyone who would wish to shut himself away from communal life

4 .

One of the stories which Jem and Scout believe, along with all the other children of Maycomb (and some adults), is that eating anything taken from the Radley yard is potentially fatal. This belief relates to which of the following themes?

Generosity and neighbourliness

Distinguishing truth from hearsay and folklore

The importance of family and heritage

All of the above

Jem and Scout test this belief for themselves when they try the chewing gum found in the knot-hole

5 .

"When Jem an' I fuss Atticus doesn't ever just listen to Jem's side of it, he hears mine too." Scout's statement to Uncle Jack relates to which of the following themes of the novel?

Courage

Justice

Racial and class prejudice

Solitude

Scout has been raised to expect justice, to believe that innocence will not be punished and that people in authority will seek for the truth above all

6 .

Which of the following characters express racist attitudes?

Mrs Dubose

Mayella Ewell

Francis

All of the above

Nearly all of the white inhabitants of Maycomb are racist. Some are overtly so, using phrases such as "nigger lover", while most others have unsuspectingly absorbed racist attitudes into their thinking. The novel shows that racist attitudes need to be confronted and ruthlessly destroyed, somewhat like Miss Maudie's weeds

7 .

The reader often sees Atticus standing alone, for example in facing the rabid dog, preventing the lynching of Tom Robinson and in the courtroom. These scenes relate to which of the following themes?

Prejudice

Courage

Gender

Community

Although the children admire Atticus for his courage in facing the rabid dog, he shows much greater courage when he stands alone in his attempt to prevent Tom's death

8 .

Heritage and family are important themes in the novel. Which of the following is NOT correct?

Aunt Alexandra believes that families pass their quirks and characteristics down the generations

Boo Radley's violent episode with the scissors is excused because violence runs in his family

Calpurnia vouches for Tom Robinson's character by referring to the good character of his family

Social status in Maycomb depends to some extent on family history and ancestral claims to land

Many of the characters are ready to excuse or condemn others purely on the basis of their family connections and accepted familial characteristics

9 .

What does Scout eventually learn about being a "lady" from Aunt Alexandra?

Sometimes being a lady means hiding deep feelings behind a mask of politeness

A lady is always quiet and kind and never holds strong opinions

"Ladies" only engage in gossip and small talk

Scout never learns anything from Aunt Alexandra except how she does not wish to be as an adult

Scout recognises and admires the courage necessary for Aunt Alexandra to hide her worry about Atticus in order to play the role of the gracious hostess

10 .

Atticus teaches Jem and Scout that they must learn to see the world from other people's perspectives. This relates to which of the following themes?

Understanding and compassion

Truth

Justice

All of the above

Atticus tells his children that they can never know someone until they have walked in that person's shoes. Understanding someone is the basis for compassion, truth and the pursuit of justice

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Themes

Author: Sheri Smith (PhD English Literature, English Teacher & Quiz Writer)