To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee

Author Harper Lee –Born Nelle Harper Lee on April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama –Daughter of a lawyer –Studied law at the University of Alabama –Left school to move to NY to pursue a career as a writer

More on Lee Won a Pulitzer Prize in 1961 Didn’t release another novel until earlier this year (TKAM was published in 1960)

SETTING OF THE NOVEL Southern United States 1930’s –Great Depression –Prejudice and legal segregation –Ignorance

1930’s - Great Depression began when the stock market crashed in October, 1929 Businesses failed, factories closed –People were out of work –Even people with money suffered because nothing was being produced for sale. Poor people lost their homes, were forced to “live off the land.”

Racial prejudice was alive & well. Although slavery had ended in 1864, old ideas were slow to change.

Racial separation (segregation)

Gender Bias (Prejudice) Women were considered “weak” Women were generally not educated for occupations outside the home In wealthy families, women were expected to oversee the servants and entertain guests Men not considered capable of nurturing children

Legal Issues of the 1930’s which impact the story Women given the vote in 1920 Juries were male and white “Fair trial” did not include acceptance of a black man’s word against a white man’s

Prejudice in the novel Race Gender Handicaps Rich/Poor Age Religion

Characters Atticus Finch - an attorney whose wife has died, leaving him to raise their two children: -Jem – 10-year-old boy -Scout – (Jean Louise), 6-year-old girl Tom Robinson – a black man accused of raping a white girl; he is defended at trial by Atticus

More on Characters Jean Louise Finch- known as Scout; the narrator of the novel; tomboyish and very bright Jeremy Finch- known as Jem; Scout’s older brother Calpurnia- the Finch’s black housekeeper; has helped to raise the children since the death of their mother Charles Baker Harris- known as Dill; Scout and Jem’s “summer friend”

Even MORE on characters Miss Maudie Atkinson- favorite neighbor of the Finches; speaks to the children as equals Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose- mean neighbor of the Finches; often harasses the children Walter Cunningham (Jr. & Sr.)- the poor but noble family who “never took anything they couldn’t pay back” Heck Tate- the town sheriff Arthur Radley- referred to as “Boo”; the reclusive neighbor that both fascinates and frightens the children

A few more characters… Bob Ewell- head of the Ewell family; drunk, unemployed, full of hate & anger Mayella Ewell- eldest daughter of the Ewell’s; responsible for the care of her 7 siblings; accuses Tom Robinson of rape Judge John Taylor- presiding judge in the rape case; sympathetic toward Tom Robinson Dolphus Raymond-local man from a good white family; prefers to live w/ the blacks; lets people think he’s a drunk

Point of View First person –Story is told by Scout, a 6-9 -year-old girl –Scout represents the author, Harper Lee, as a little girl although the story is not strictly autobiographical

Symbolism The mockingbird is a symbol of innocence in the novel Miss Maudie tells the children “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” because they never do harm

THEMES Prejudice and Tolerance Guilt and Innocence Justice Knowledge and Ignorance Courage and Cowardice

Reading the Novel Setting is all important –be aware of the “where” and “when” as you begin Point of View – the novel is shaped by the voice of a young girl who sees the story from a position of naïve acceptance “Goodness vs. Ignorance (Evil)” is an important theme