1. To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee

2. Harper Lee Born on April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama
Youngest of four children
1957 – submitted manuscript for her novel; was urged to rewrite it
Spent over two years reworking it
1960 – To Kill a Mockingbird published
was one of two persons named by President Johnson to the National Council of Arts
Go Set a Watchman (a companion to Mockingbird) is published to mixed reviews.
Died February 19, 2016.

3. SETTING
Maycomb,
ALABAMA
1930’s

4. Main Characters
Scout (Jean Louise Finch) – six-year-old narrator of story
Jem (Jeremy Finch) – her older brother
Atticus Finch – Jem and Scout’s father, a prominent lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman
Arthur (Boo) Radley – a thirty-three-year-old recluse who lives next door
Charles Baker (Dill) Harris – Jem and Scout’s friend who comes to visit his aunt in Maycomb each summer
Tom Robinson – a respectable black man accused of raping a white woman
Calpurnia – the Finches’ black cook

5. Social Class in the Novel
This is probably similar to how class structure existed during the 1930’s in the South. The wealthy, although fewest in number, were most powerful. The blacks, although great in number, were lowest on the class ladder, and thus, had the least privileges.
Examples of each social class:
Wealthy - Finches
Country Folk - Cunninghams
“White Trash” – Ewells
Black Community – Tom Robinson

6. Living in the Great Depression
The Finches’ would be considered “middle class”, Atticus was still able to earn a living, but it looked different that before.
In the south, where people were the most poor, life didn’t really change much during The Great Depression.
The Great Depression increased racial tension, whites resented blacks who were able to make a living.

7. Major Themes in To Kill a Mockingbird
Courage
Justice
Race
Prejudice
Good Versus Evil
Education
Social inequality
Innocence

8. Symbolism
A symbol is something that represents something else, either by association or by resemblance. It can be a material object or a written sign used to represent something invisible.
The Mockingbird
The Radley House
The Mad Dog

9. Point of View First person point of view Scout’s the narrator
Coming of age story—moving from innocence to a more cynical view of the world.

10. Dynamic vs. Static Characters
STATIC characters do not change during a story. They can be either a main or minor character.
DYNAMIC characters change quite a bit during the course of a story. They can be either a main or a minor character.

11. Literary Terms to Know:
Foreshadowing: the use in a literary work of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur. This technique helps to create suspense, keeping readers wondering what will happen next.
Irony: portrays the difference between appearance and reality, expectation and result, or meaning and intention.

12. Literary Terms to Know:
Conflict: a struggle between opposing forces. Characters in conflict form the basis of stories, novels and plays. There are 2 kinds of conflict: external and internal.
Simile: a figure of speech in which like or as is used to make a comparison between two unlike ideas.

13. Literary Terms to Know:
Metaphor: a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else. It implies the comparison.
Hyperbole: a deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. They are used for emphasis or comic effect.

14. Remember…
To Kill a Mockingbird was written at the start of the Civil Rights Movement, but is set during The Great Depression. Both historical time periods have an impact on the Author’s tone.

15. Words to Know Stereotypes:
a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment.
In the United States, for example, certain racial groups are linked to stereotypes such as being good at math, athletics, dancing and so forth. Not all stereotypes are negative, but all are harmful.

16. Words to Know
Prejudice: injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one's rights
White against black
Rich against poor
Black against white
Girls against boys
Poor against rich
Boys against girls

17. Words to Know
Racism: Racism is the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races. It involves the use of discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race.
Bigotry: stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.
Discrimination: treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit:

18. Loaded Language The language of To Kill a Mockingbird is vernacular.
Language is used to indicate racist attitudes of various characters.
Nigger, negro, colored.
Language is used to ask the question “which is worse—the institutional racism of Maycomb like the court system, or extreme individual racism of individuals like Bob Ewell”?