Introduction and Novel Guide To Kill a Mockingbird Introduction and Novel Guide

Summary Sparknotes (-4:50) Scout, a young girl, narrates the story which takes place in 1930’s in the south. A black man, Tom, is accused of raping a white woman. Scout’s father, Mr. Finch, is the best lawyer in town.

Summary Sparknotes (-4:50) Mr. Finch told to defend Tom even though most people think he is guilty just because he is black. Scout and her brother face a lot of trouble from people in the town who are mad at her father. The trials finishes and everyone has to live with the results.

Atticus Finch Protagonist 50 years old Lawyer Quiet, smart, dignified Father to Scout and Jem Widowed Expert marksman

Scout (Jean Louise Finch) Protagonist Narrator (looking back as an adult) Tomboy Younger sister of Jem; daughter to Atticus 6 years old Wild

Jem (Jeremy Finch) 10 years old Older brother to Scout, son to Atticus Smart, brave, strong Best friend to Dill

Cal (Calpurnia) Black housekeeper, cook, and nanny to Finch family Like a mother to Scout and Jem

Dill (Charles Baker Harris) 10 years old Friend to Jem and Scout Comes in the summers

Arthur “Boo” Radley Got into trouble as a teen Outcast from the town – subject of gossip Kept in his house by his parents Quiet, secretive Kind, generous, brave

Miss Maudie Atkinson 40-ish Unmarried Kind neighbor to Finch family Not prejudiced (unusual at the time)

Tom Robinson 25 years old Black man, worker Accused of raping Mayella (innocent) Married to Helen, three kids Very kind Right handed (important in trial)

Bob Ewell Antagonist Mayella’s father (has 7 other kids) Very poor; a drunk; lazy; inappropriate with his daughter; violent Accuses Tom

Mayella Violet Ewell 20-ish daughter of Bob Ewell Cares for her 7 brothers/sisters Tries to seduce Tom but father finds out; accuses Tom of rape Poor; weak; liar

Aunt Alexandra Hancock Sister to Atticus Doesn’t like that Calpurnia has so much to do with raising the kids (doesn’t agree with her) Doesn’t like that Scout is a tomboy

Uncle Jack (John) Finch Younger brother to Atticus Loves Scout and Jem very much

Judge John Taylor Tells Atticus he must defend Tom Knows that this is a hopeless case because of how racist the town is

The Cunninghams VERY poor family in town Walter (the father) wants to lynch Tom – changes thanks to Scout Walter Jr. (the son) is a classmate of Scout; can’t afford to eat lunch; Scout is kind to him

Setting Maycomb, Alabama (fictional) 1930s Racial divide between whites and blacks

The Great Depression Stock Market crashed in 1929 Most people lost everything Huge job losses 1933: 13-15 million Americans unemployed Bread lines, soup kitchens, homeless people Farmers couldn’t afford to harvest so crops spoiled Banks closed, more money lost

The Great Depression, cont. Things started to improve because of President Roosevelt’s policies 2nd big problem in 1937 Began improving again 1939: WW1 starts 1941: US in WW1

The book 1961: Pulitzer Prize 88 weeks on bestseller list Sold over 30 million copies

Harper Lee Born 1926 in Alabama Father was an attorney (defended 2 black men on murder charges – convicted and hanged) Only book (until Go Set a Watchman in 2015) Very private about her life Liked the film a lot and became close friends with Gregory Peck 2007: Harper Lee was awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

Before reading… Shmoop (-3:10)

http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression http://www.csub.edu/campshakespeare/pdf/to_kill_a_mockingbird.pdf http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2138827/To-Kill-a-Mockingbird-voted- Greatest-Novel-Of-All-Time.html