1. By Harper Lee

2.  Lee published To Kill a Mockingbird when she was 34 years old, and it is the only novel she ever published.  Lee grew up in Monroeville, Alabama and she is a descendent of Robert E. Lee.  Her father was a state senator and lawyer in Monroeville, and the inspiration for her character Atticus Finch.  Lee’s mother’s maiden name was Finch.  Scout’s character is based on Lee  Received the Pulitzer Prize for her novel

3.  The story is strongly centered on real events that occurred in the South in the 1930s.  Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson, a black man, who is accused of raping a poor white girl, Mayella Ewell. This story line is based on the Scottsboro Trials.  The Great Depression plays a large part in the story. Many families had nothing.  Segregation was heavily enforced.

4.  Maycomb, Alabama  1933—1935  The story takes place after the abolishment of slavery, but the white Southerners tend to still believe in white supremacy.  Main characters  Atticus Finch  Scout (Jean Louise) Finch, daughter of Atticus  Jem (Jeremy) Finch, son of Atticus  Dill (Charles) Harris, friend of the Finch children  Calpurnia, housekeeper/cook/nanny of the Finch family  Boo Radley, neighborhood Boogie Man  Tom Robinson, Atticus’s client

5.  The first plot line tells the story of Boo Radley.  Boo Radley, or Arthur Radley, is the mysterious recluse neighbor of the Finches.  Boo Radley is rarely, if ever, seen outside of his home.  He is cared for by his brother, Nathan, after the death of his parents.  The rumors surrounding Boo make him out to be a psychotic killer with a taste for small animals, and possibly children.  The story of Boo Radley allows the reader to get to know Jem, Scout, and Dill as the adventurous, superstitious children that they are.

6.  The second plot of the novel is the story of Tom Robinson.  Tom Robinson is accused of raping Mayella Ewell.  Atticus Finch represents Tom Robinson.  Jem and Scout put up with a lot of abuse from their classmates because of this.  The all white jury convicts Tom Robinson.  Robinson attempts to escape from jail and is shot to death.  These events turn the plot line back to Boo Radley.

7.  Racial Prejudice  Social Snobbery  Morality  Tolerance  Patience  Equality  The need for compassion  The need for conscience

8.  The mockingbird symbolizes everything that is good and harmless in the world.  It only sings to please others, and it is a sin to shoot one.  This image, or symbol, appears four times in the novel.  The mockingbird represents two characters: Boo Radley and Tom Robinson.

9.  Narrator of the story  6 years old when the story begins  Very curious  Very smart  Can read and write before starting school  Outspoken—Scout says what she thinks, even is she knows it might get her into trouble

10.  Dynamic  Round  She is a tomboy, impulsive, emotional, friendly, sensitive, and very caring about others.

11.  Scout’s older brother  Looks up to his father and wants to be like him  Looks out for Scout  Smart  Compassionate  Dynamic  Round

12.  Father of Jem and Scout  Widower  Attorney and politician  Very well respected by his peers  Instills good values and morals in his children  Honest  Brave  Courteous

13.  Housekeeper for the Finches  Has cared for the children since their mother’s death  Taught Scout to write  The only mother figure in the children’s lives

14.  Mysterious man  Surrounded by suspicion and rumors  Reputed to be crazy  Recluse  Turns out to be harmless, and caring  Somewhat childlike  Saves Jem and Scout from danger

15.  A young, harmless, innocent, hardworking, black man  Has a crippled left hand  Married, has three children  Works on a farm  Falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell

16.  Friend of Jem and Scout  Only lives in Maycomb for the summer  Tell stories  BIG imagination

17.  Poor white family  Hard-working  Proud  Honest  Survive on very little  Always find a way to pay their debts  Poor white trash  Dirty  Lazy  Never work  Foul-mouthed  Dishonest  Immoral

18.  Honest  Clean  Hard-working  God fearing  Proud  Respectful  Strong character/morals  Oppressed  Under educated  Discriminated against

19.  Somber  Serious  Humorous at times