To Kill a Mockingbird Context and Introduction English 11 Miss Tyczynski

Nelle Harper LeeHarper Lee Born April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama. Her first and only novel To Kill a Mockingbird was published in In 1960 she won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Lee continued to receive awards after the book’s publication. In November of 2007 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the nation’s highest civilian award) for her contribution to American literature. ge/excerpt_photo02.jpg

Historical Significance Maycomb, AL bears a striking resemblance to Monroeville, AL. Lee was six years old at the start of the Scottsboro trial and Scout is six years old at the beginning of the Robinson trial. Similarities exist between the Robinson trial in the text and the Scottsboro trial of the 1930’s. Both trials involve black men wrongfully charged with raping white women. In both trials all white juries ignored evidence that would have exonerated the defendants.

Setting: Depression-era Maycomb, Alabama Maycomb, Alabama 1930’s – allusion to FDR in 1932: “[Maycomb County] had recently been told it had nothing to fear but fear itself” (6). To Kill a Mockingbird is framed by Scout as the larger story of how Jem broke his arm.

Characters Simon Finch- Atticus Finch- Jem Finch- Scout Finch- Alexandra Finch- Uncle Jack- Calpurnia- Miss Rachel- Charles Baker Harris (Dill)- Miss Stephanie Crawford-

The Radley Family History Mr. & Mrs. Radley Nathan Radley Arthur/Boo Radley The Radley family was very reclusive –did not attend church (a social activity). –Mr. Radley (later Nathan) seen walking. –Mrs. Radley came out to the porch to water her plants. –Boo stays in the house.

(Arthur) Boo Radley At 18- Arthur gets into trouble with friends. The judge turns him over to his father who promises “no further trouble.” Arthur/ Boo retreats into the house for 15 years. At 33-

Chapter One Vocabulary assuaged- apothecary- strictures- dictum- chattel- taciturn- repertoire- vapid- malevolent- morbid- predilection- domiciled- eased makes/sells medicine rules, limits rule property shy, not talkative collection of songs or performances dull, lacking taste wishing to do harm, ill-will relating to death or disease personal preference regardless of the facts established a residence

Reading Questions Explain each literary term using details given in the first chapter of To Kill a Mockingbird as evidence: ex: setting- where and when a story takes place. Maycomb, AL in the 1930’s. –characterization –tone –protagonist –allusion –metaphor and simile –imagery