1. To Kill a Mockingbird
By Harper Lee

2. Setting Maycomb, Alabama (fictional city) 1933-1935
Although slavery has long been abolished, the Southerners in Maycomb continue to believe in white supremacy.

3. Themes Racial Prejudice Social Snobbery Morality Tolerance Patience
Equality
The Need for Compassion
The Need for Conscience

4. Jean Louis Finch – “Scout”
The story’s narrator
Although now an adult, Scout looks back at her childhood and tells of the momentous events and influential people of those years.
Scout is six when the story begins.
She is naturally curious about life.

5. Scout’s Character Traits
Tomboy
Impulsive
Emotional
Warm & Friendly
Sensitive
Adorable
Gains in Maturity throughout the Novel

6. Atticus Finch Father of Scout and Jem A widower
An attorney by profession
Highly respected
Good citizen
Instills good values and morals in
his children.
His children call him “Atticus”
Honest
Typical southern gentleman
Brave
Courteous
Soft-spoken

7. Jem Finch Scout’s older brother Looks up to his father Atticus
Usually looks out for Scout
Typical older brother at times
Smart
Compassionate
Matures as the story progresses

8. Calpurnia The Finch’s black housekeeper
Has watched the children since their mother’s death
Has been a positive influence on the children.

9. Arthur “Boo” Radley An enigma
An adult man, whose father has “sentenced” him to a lifetime confinement to their house because of some mischief he got into when he was a teenager.
Has a reputation of being a lunatic
Basically a harmless, well-meaning person
Sometimes childlike in behavior
Starving for love and affection
Saves Jem and Scout from certain danger

10. Dill A close friend of Jem and Scout
Usually lives in Maycomb only during the summer (stays with a relative)
Tells “big stories”
Has been deprived of love and affection

11. Tom Robinson A young, harmless, innocent, hardworking black man
Has a crippled left hand
Married with three children. Works on a farm belonging to Mr. Link Deas, a white man
Will be falsely accused of raping a white girl, Mayella Ewell

12. Two Poor White Families: The Cunninghams The Ewells
Poor white family
Hard-working
Honest
Proud
Survive on very little
Always pay back their debts – even if it is with hickory nuts, turnips, or holly.
Poor white trash
Dirty
Lazy
Good-for-nothing
Never done a day’s work
Foul-mouthed
Dishonest
Immoral

13. The Black Community Simple Honest Clean Hard-working God fearing Proud
Would never take anything with paying it back
Respectful
Had stronger character than most of the whites
Oppressed
Uneducated
Discriminated against
Talked about badly
Deserve better than what is dished out to them by society

14. 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

15. Respond Atticus says to Scout:
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (39).
Why is this idea important? Foreshadowing for the novel? Universal understandings?

16. Chapters 1 - 3
How does the author create a feeling of mystery in the first chapter?
Cite details that establish the setting of the novel.
Contrast Dill’s family situation with the Finches’.
Find the humor in Scout’s first day o school.

17. Chapters 1 - 3 Cite examples of contrast between Jem and Scout.
Contrast Burris Ewell with the other children. What is the reason for the description?
What is the thematic significance of the advice Atticus gives Scout?
Why does Scout explain Walter Cunningham’s situation to Miss Caroline?

18. Defining Characterization
Direct Characterization tells the audience what the personality of the character is.
Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a character.