AP Language and Composition Name:
Period 4 Date Due:
Inherit the Wind
Study Guide
Answer the following questions [if applicable]:
In the video, how do the music and action set up the basic conflict?
How do the town fathers feel about the town’s publicity?
Why does Bert say to Rachel that he must oppose the school board?
Why is the appearance of Matthew Harrison Brady such a big event for Hillsboro?
Why is Brady in Hillsboro?
In his speech to the crowd, Brady makes jokes and speaks of evolution as “evilution” – an evil threatening their society. Does he seem to be genuinely concerned, or is he merely playing the crowd?
Who is E.K. Hornbeck, and what is he doing is Hillsboro?
E.K. Hornbeck describes himself as a cynic. What is a cynic?
What is the crowd’s reaction to Hornbeck’s announcement that Henry Drummond will be the defense lawyer? What is Brady’s reaction?
In the conversation between Reverend Brown and his daughter, what conflict is developed?
Why couldn’t Rachel get any comfort from her father when she was younger?
As Drummond and Hornbeck leave the fair, they are approached by Ross McHenry who represents the view of many of the townspeople. What does McHenry tell Henry Drummond?
What’s the big sign hanging over the entrance to the courthouse?
What is Hornbeck’s opinion of the average Southerner? Of Matthew Harrison Brady?
Brady makes a joke about Drummond’s suspenders, but then he objects to the note of levity introduced by Drummond. Why?
When Drummond objects to the judge referring to Brady as Colonel, what does the judge do? What does the relationship between the mayor and the judge seem to indicate?
What is the crowd’s reaction when Drummond says he wants the sign outside the courtroom taken down?
Why does Rachel say Bert has to quit the trial?
Why is Bert having second doubts?
What does Drummond tell Bert he needs to do if he doesn’t want to feel lonely anymore?
Why does Rachel get upset with her father’s speech?
How does Reverend Brown react to his daughter’s objection?
Who makes the allusion to “inheriting the wind” at this point? Where does the quote come from? What point is Brady making with this quote?
How does Brady view the religious fundamentalism of the poor people?
Drummond uses the story of the toy horse “Golden Dancer” to make a point. What is the point he makes?
Brady makes a speech about “godless science,” and in this speech we see why he is very passionate about this case. What does he envision as a result of this trial?
Drummond then says that the right to think is on trial in this case. In what way is this the case?
In the argument between Brady and Drummond that follow, we se that both Drummond and Brady are passionate in their beliefs. Why is Drummond so passionate?
How did Brady violate Rachel Brown’s confidence?
Why does Brady’s wife cry out?
In ruling against the scientists that Drummond wishes to put on the stand, is the judge, in your opinion, being impartial?
Why does Drummonds request to withdraw from the case? What response does he get?
Fanaticism and ignorance are Drummond’s enemies. To what does he suggest these things will lead?
When the judge orders Drummond jailed for contempt, who offers to go his bond?
Why is it necessary for the banker to step forward?
Why does the playwright have these townspeople step forward to support Drummond?
What is Hornbeck’s view of the average voter?
In Drummond’s view, what is natural law?
How does Brady view natural law?
What does the Bible represent to Brady? To Drummond?
What does Drummond say is holy to him?
What speech of Drummond’s is applauded by the courtroom spectators?
The conflict between faith and reason is brought to a head in the courtroom scene between Brady and Drummond. Who wins this exchange?
What is the court’s verdict regarding Bert Cates?
How does Brady react to the judge’s fine? How does Drummond react? Why?
In the scene after the court is dismissed by the judge, Brady begins a speech. During this scene do you feel sorry for Brady? Defend your answer.
While admitting he has faults, how doss Brady’s wife defend him?
How is the conflict between Reverend Brown and his daughter concluded?
Why does the judge only fine Bert Cates $100.00? Why doesn’t he, in fact, send him to jail?
When we see the look on the face of the spectators after Brady’s speech from the witness box, we can see that they are dismayed. Why?
Period 4 Date Due:
Inherit the Wind
Study Guide
Answer the following questions [if applicable]:
In the video, how do the music and action set up the basic conflict?
How do the town fathers feel about the town’s publicity?
Why does Bert say to Rachel that he must oppose the school board?
Why is the appearance of Matthew Harrison Brady such a big event for Hillsboro?
Why is Brady in Hillsboro?
In his speech to the crowd, Brady makes jokes and speaks of evolution as “evilution” – an evil threatening their society. Does he seem to be genuinely concerned, or is he merely playing the crowd?
Who is E.K. Hornbeck, and what is he doing is Hillsboro?
E.K. Hornbeck describes himself as a cynic. What is a cynic?
What is the crowd’s reaction to Hornbeck’s announcement that Henry Drummond will be the defense lawyer? What is Brady’s reaction?
In the conversation between Reverend Brown and his daughter, what conflict is developed?
Why couldn’t Rachel get any comfort from her father when she was younger?
As Drummond and Hornbeck leave the fair, they are approached by Ross McHenry who represents the view of many of the townspeople. What does McHenry tell Henry Drummond?
What’s the big sign hanging over the entrance to the courthouse?
What is Hornbeck’s opinion of the average Southerner? Of Matthew Harrison Brady?
Brady makes a joke about Drummond’s suspenders, but then he objects to the note of levity introduced by Drummond. Why?
When Drummond objects to the judge referring to Brady as Colonel, what does the judge do? What does the relationship between the mayor and the judge seem to indicate?
What is the crowd’s reaction when Drummond says he wants the sign outside the courtroom taken down?
Why does Rachel say Bert has to quit the trial?
Why is Bert having second doubts?
What does Drummond tell Bert he needs to do if he doesn’t want to feel lonely anymore?
Why does Rachel get upset with her father’s speech?
How does Reverend Brown react to his daughter’s objection?
Who makes the allusion to “inheriting the wind” at this point? Where does the quote come from? What point is Brady making with this quote?
How does Brady view the religious fundamentalism of the poor people?
Drummond uses the story of the toy horse “Golden Dancer” to make a point. What is the point he makes?
Brady makes a speech about “godless science,” and in this speech we see why he is very passionate about this case. What does he envision as a result of this trial?
Drummond then says that the right to think is on trial in this case. In what way is this the case?
In the argument between Brady and Drummond that follow, we se that both Drummond and Brady are passionate in their beliefs. Why is Drummond so passionate?
How did Brady violate Rachel Brown’s confidence?
Why does Brady’s wife cry out?
In ruling against the scientists that Drummond wishes to put on the stand, is the judge, in your opinion, being impartial?
Why does Drummonds request to withdraw from the case? What response does he get?
Fanaticism and ignorance are Drummond’s enemies. To what does he suggest these things will lead?
When the judge orders Drummond jailed for contempt, who offers to go his bond?
Why is it necessary for the banker to step forward?
Why does the playwright have these townspeople step forward to support Drummond?
What is Hornbeck’s view of the average voter?
In Drummond’s view, what is natural law?
How does Brady view natural law?
What does the Bible represent to Brady? To Drummond?
What does Drummond say is holy to him?
What speech of Drummond’s is applauded by the courtroom spectators?
The conflict between faith and reason is brought to a head in the courtroom scene between Brady and Drummond. Who wins this exchange?
What is the court’s verdict regarding Bert Cates?
How does Brady react to the judge’s fine? How does Drummond react? Why?
In the scene after the court is dismissed by the judge, Brady begins a speech. During this scene do you feel sorry for Brady? Defend your answer.
While admitting he has faults, how doss Brady’s wife defend him?
How is the conflict between Reverend Brown and his daughter concluded?
Why does the judge only fine Bert Cates $100.00? Why doesn’t he, in fact, send him to jail?
When we see the look on the face of the spectators after Brady’s speech from the witness box, we can see that they are dismayed. Why?