1. To Kill a Mockingbird
A Novel by Harper Lee

2. Literary Concepts in Unit
Allusion
Ambiguity
Reference to a statement, a person, a place, or an event from literature, history, religion, mythology, politics, sports, science, or pop culture.
An element of uncertainty in a text, in which something can be interpreted in a number of different ways.

3. Literary Concepts in Unit
Diction
Euphemism
A writer’s or speaker’s choice of words.
Denotation— definition
Connotation— feelings associated with a word
An expression that makes something sound better than it actually is.
“Previously-owned vehicle”
“Sanitation Engineer”

4. Literary Concepts in Unit
Idiom
Imagery
A set expression of that means something other than the literal meanings of its individual words.
“It’s raining cats and dogs!”
Any language that appeals to the reader’s five senses.

5. Literary Concepts in Unit
Motivation
Point of View
The fears or conflicts or needs that drive a character.
Vantage point from which a writer tells a story. In broad terms there are three possible points of view: omniscient, first person, and third person limited.

6. Literary Concepts in Unit
Setting
Style
The time and place of a story or play.
The distinctive way an author uses language.
Consider…
Edgar Allan Poe
Lois Lowry
Elie Weisel
Shakespeare

7. Literary Concepts in Unit
Symbol
Person, place, thing, or event that stands for itself and for something beyond itself as well.
Consider…
Snow in The Giver
Bird in “The Scarlet Ibis”
Stars in Romeo and Juliet
Fire in Night

8. Literary Concepts in Unit
Syntax
Theme
Grammatical structure of sentences.
Central idea of a work of literature.
A theme is not the same as a subject.

9. Rhetorical Concepts in Unit
Argument
Claim
A series of statements in a text designed to convince us of something.
The writer’s opinion.
What the writer wants to prove.

10. Rhetorical Concepts in Unit
Generalization
Broad statement that covers many situations.
“If animals can think, they will probably do their best thinking when it serves their purposes, not when some scientist asks them to”
from “Can Animals Think?”

11. Rhetorical Concepts in Unit
Logical Appeal
Evidence
An appeal to one’s sense of intellect.
“This makes me think…”
Specific, factual information or proof that backs up the reasons in an argument.
Statistics, numbers, etc.

12. Rhetorical Concepts in Unit
Emotional Appeal
An appeal to one’s emotions.
“This makes me feel…”
Loaded Words--words loaded with emotional connotations
Anecdotes--brief, personal stories

13. Rhetorical Concepts in Unit
Ethical Appeal
Establishing credibility as a speaker.
“I trust him because…”
A speaker can win an audience’s trust with verbal and non- verbal cues.

14. Rhetorical Concepts in Unit
Intent
Tone
The author’s purpose.
What does he/she want us to do with this text?
Consider…
The Giver
Sleeping Freshmen
Night
Attitude a writer takes toward a subject, a character, or the audience.

15. Genre: Fiction/Bildungsroman
COMING OF AGE
This word is German for “coming of age novel.”
The narrator will attempt to discover her identity.
A coming of age novel is a work about the development of a character into adulthood.
The character will have experiences that initiates her into self-awareness.

16. AUTHOR’S BACKGROUND
Harper Lee

17. Author’s Background Born Nelle Harper Lee on April 28, 1926
Born in Monroeville, Alabama, a small city w/ a population of about 7,000 people

18. Author’s Background
Father: Amasa Coleman Lee--began practicing law in 1915
Mother: Frances Cunningham Finch Lee
Attended Huntington College from

19. Author’s Background Studied Law @ University of Alabama from 1945-49
Attended Oxford for one year
Left school to move to New York and pursue a career as a writer

20. Author’s Background
First submitted To Kill A Mockingbird for publication in 1957
Worked on revisions for 3 years/ published in 1960

21. Author’s Background Won a Pulitzer Prize in 1961
Never published another novel
Is considered a hermit

22. Historical Context
The Scottsboro Trials

23. Historical Context Novel takes place in Alabama in the 1930’s
Time of the Great Depression
Although slavery was abolished in 1860s, African Americans were still denied many rights
Segregation exists in schools, public bathrooms, busses and many other public places

24. Historical Context
A great deal of discrimination existed in the justice system
African Americans were not allowed to be on juries
Blacks were often arrested, tried, and convicted with little cause

25. Historical Context Agricultural economy was hit hard by the depression
Many white southerners had a romanticized idea of how life should be
They felt threatened by change and industrialization

26. Historical Context: The South
Little opportunity for African Americans to advance themselves
Nearly half of all blacks in the South did not receive an education past the 5th grade
Racist groups like the Ku Klux Clan and the Black Shirts terrorized blacks
Lynching was still a common practice

27. EXIGENCE/PURPOSE EXIGENCE PURPOSE
WHAT CAUSES THE AUTHOR TO WRITE WHAT HE/SHE WRITES?
PURPOSE
WHAT DOES THE AUTHOR WANT US TO DO WITH THIS INFORMATION?

28. The Scottsboro Trials
There are many parallels between the trial of Tom Robinson in the novel and the Scottsboro Trials
In 1931, 9 young African American males are stopped on a freight train in Alabama

29. The Scottsboro Trials
They are arrested, tried, and convicted of the rape of two white women
The men were pardoned in 1976

30. Setting Entire story takes place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama
The small town is conservative and traditional
Blacks and whites live in separate sections of town
Time period is during the years of the Great depression

31. THE TITLE—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.

32. CHARACTERS

33. Main 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

34. Main Charaters
Atticus Finch- Scout’s widowed father; works as a lawyer; a model of tolerance and understanding

35. Main Characters
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”
Miss Maudie Atkinson- favorite neighbor of the Finches; speaks to the children as equals

36. Main Characters
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

37. Main Characters
Arthur Radley- referred to as “Boo”; the reclusive neighbor that both fascinates and frightens the children
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

38. Major Characters
Tom Robinson- young, hard working black man; has a mangled arm; accused of raping Mayella Ewell
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

39. Topics/Issues in TKAMB
Prejudice and Tolerance
Guilt and Innocence
Justice
Knowledge and Ignorance
Courage and Cowardice