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STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Consult the chapters on the Scottsboro Case and the civil rights era
and write an essay on one of the figures portrayed there as a hero or
heroine.
2. Does society's idea of the hero change? Explain.
3. Has your own idea of a particular hero or heroism in general changed?
Explain. If so, to what do you attribute any change?
4. In a nutshell, what is Professor Freedman's objection to Atticus as a
hero for young lawyers?

TOPICS FOR WRITTEN OR ORAL EXPLORATION
1. Stage a courtroom scene in which Atticus Finch is on trial. Have two
people play the roles of prosecuting and defense attorneys and others
play characters from the novel who testify for or against Atticus. Add
Monroe Freedman to the list of witnesses.
2. Professor Freedman refuses to endorse the tradition of the gentleman
as an ideal and virtuous man. Discuss the ideal of the "gentleman" by
using the information in Chapter 4 ( "Realities and Stereotypes"), To
Kill a Mockingbird, and Professor Freedman's article.
3. Consider that attorneys Freedman and Barge have submitted their two
"briefs" to you, the judge, for an opinion. Compose an opinion (in
the manner of Judge James Horton of the Scottsboro case), deciding
whether Atticus Finch must relinquish his title of Heroic Lawyer.
4. Write your own definition of a hero, citing examples. How does your
definition compare with the character of Atticus Finch?

SUGGESTED READINGS

The following works enlarge on the argument regarding Atticus Finch in
the legal community:

Ayer John D. "Narrative in the Moral Theology of Tom Shaffer." Journal
of Legal Education 40 (March-June 1990): 173-93.

Carter Claudia A. "Lawyers as Heroes: The Compassionate Activism of a
Fictional Attorney Is a Model We Can Emulate." Los Angeles Law-
yer 22 (July-August 1988): 13.

D'Alemberte Talbot. "Remembering Atticus Finch's Pro Bono Legacy."
Legal Times, vol. 14 ( April 6, 1992): 26.

Dunn Timothy. "Atticus Finch De Novo: In Defense of Gentlemen." New
Jersey Law Journal 130 ( April 27, 1992): 15.

Freedman Monroe. "Finch: The Lawyer Mythologized." Legal Times, vol.
14 ( May 18, 1992): 25.

-195-

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com

Publication Information: Book Title: Understanding To Kill a Mockingbird: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historic Documents. Contributors: Claudia Durst Johnson - author. Publisher: Greenwood Press. Place of Publication: Westport, CT. Publication Year: 1994. Page Number: 195.
    
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