Chapter 3 - Allusions

man who sat on a flagpole: Flagpole sitting was one of the stranger fads of the 1930s. See a picture of a flagpole sitter.

Chapter 4 - Allusions

Indian-heads: Before the Lincoln penny, there were Indian-head pennies. See a picture of an Indian-head penny.

One Man's Family: a radio serial (like a soap opera) which began in 1932 and proved to be enormously popular for almost thirty years. By acting out their version of the Radley story, the children are playing in their own version of the drama. Find out more about One Man's Family.

Chapter 5 - Allusions

Old Testament pestilence: Pestilence refers to a condition or disease that causes massive damage or death. One example of pestilence in the Old Testament of the Bible is a plague of locusts, such as the one described in Exodus 10. See a drawing of a locust plague.

Second Battle of the Marne: a battle in World War I. Read and see more about the Second Battle of the Marne.

Chapter 7 - Allusions

Egyptians walked that way: Jem's assumptions as to how Egyptians would have walked is probably based on pictures of Egyptian art.

Chapter 8 - Allusions

Appomattox: a former village in central Virginia. On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House, ending the Civil War.

Bellingraths: Miss Maudie is referring to Walter and Bessie Bellingrath who, in 1932, opened their large, beautiful gardens to the public. The Bellingrath Gardens are located in Mobile, Alabama.

Lane cake: a rich white cake. Read a recipe for a Lane cake.

Rosetta Stone: Discovered in Egypt in 1799, the Rosetta Stone is a large block of basalt inscribed with a report of a decree passed in 196 BC. Written in three languages, the stone gave historians many clues as to the meaning of Egyptian Hieroglyphs. See a picture of the Rosetta Stone.