1. To Kill a Mockingbird Introduction

2. About the Author Author: Nelle Harper Lee
Born in Monroeville, Alabama 1926
Parents: Frances Finch and Amasa Coleman Lee
Descendent of general Robert E. Lee
Family was interested in the law, author attended law school but 6 months before ready to graduate, she quit.
Chose to be a writer and created To Kill a Mockingbird

3. Literary Context Continued
Example of “Bildungsroman”
Maturation and coming of age of its central character (Scout).
Learns things about herself and life in general

4. Historical Context Time period of story is very important!
The Great Depression of the 1930’s
Economic and social importance
Set in fictional Maycomb, Alabama
Farm country
Millions had lost their jobs

5. Historical Context Continued
President: Franklin Delano Roosevelt said “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
He helped the farmers
Problems were also going on between the country’s African-Americans and the European-Americans (Especially in the South).

6. Historical Context Continued
Problems between middle-class and the “poor whites”
This social structure is portrayed in the novel

7. Characters Scout Finch: Main Character, young girl
Jem Finch: Scout’s brother
Dill (Charles Baker Harris): Scout and Jem’s friend who comes to town in the summer time.
Atticus Finch: Scout’s father, a lawyer
Miss Caroline Fisher: Scout’s first teacher
Boo Radley (Aurthur): The recluse that “stabbed his father”
Nathan Radley: Boo’s brother

8. Characters Continued Tom Robison: African-American on trial
Mr. Underwood: Owns the newspaper
Heck Tate: Sheriff

9. Characters Continued
Walter Cunningham: Young school friend of Scout’s, poor family
Miss Maudie Atkinson: Scout’s neighbor
Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose: rich old woman neighbor
Calpurnia: Scout and Jem’s “nanny”, African-American
Aunt Alexandra: Scout and Jem’s Aunt, rich and snobby