A Time to Kill- Reading Comprehension, study guide & Activities

A Time to Kill
by John Grisham
About_
This study guide covers John Grisham’s A Time to Kill, following the aftermath of a brutal crime against a young girl
and the explosive murder trial that follows. Students will trace the moral, legal, and racial tensions that unfold in
fictional Ford County, Mississippi, through the eyes of defense attorney Jake Brigance. Each section pairs factual
recall questions with critical thinking prompts to deepen comprehension of plot, character, and theme. This study
guide contains 65 questions across 5 chapter sections (50 Factual + 15 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and
1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 5 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (50 total), 5 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (15 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 10-12
Teacher Note_
This guide is designed to save you preparation time while pushing students beyond simple recall into genuine
ethical and legal debate. The mix of factual and critical questions builds close-reading skills while the character
focus activity encourages deeper engagement with moral complexity. Enjoy watching your students wrestle with
the hard questions this novel raises!