To Kill a Mockingbird Background Notes

Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbird is largely autobiographical. Born in Monroeville, Alabama. Born on April 28, 1926.

Harper Lee

Family Father (Francis Finch Lee) A lawyer – The pattern for Atticus Finch, the attorney whose quiet heroism and integrity are central to the novel.

Childhood Harper Lee grew up in the Great Depression of the 1930’s. This is the same time period as TKAM.

Education Harper Lee attended Law School at the University of Alabama. She left in 1950 without finishing.

Education She spent one year as an exchange student at Oxford University in Great Britain.

Work Experience Then she worked as an airline reservation clerk in New York City.

Writing Experience She wrote in her free time. Eventually she quit her job and devoted all of her time to writing.

Writing Experience She submitted her first manuscript of To Kill a Mockingbird in It was rejected.

Writing Experience She spent another 30 months revising the entire book. It was finally accepted.

Writing Experience In 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird was published. “One-Book Author”

Pulitzer Prize Award In 1961, To Kill a Mockingbird won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

Other Awards in 1961 –the Literary Award from the Alabama Library Association –Brotherhood Award of the National conference of Christians and Jews.

TKAM Film In 1962 – A film version (considered a classic) –Received several Academy Awards.

TKAM Setting Maycomb County, is the imaginary district in southern Alabama where To Kill a Mockingbird is set.

TKAM Setting Maycomb, the setting of TKAM, is modeled on Harper Lee’s home town, Monroeville.

TKAM Setting The story begins in the summer of The story ends on Halloween night, 1935.

Background of U.S. The country is in the grips of the Great Depression.

Background of U.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt, with his “New Deal ” programs is trying to improve the situation of widespread poverty and unemployment.

The Great Depression

Setting: Maycomb Maycomb, however, is relatively isolated, and slow to respond to change.

Setting: Maycomb Maycomb’s population has remained virtually unchanged for many years.

Setting: Maycomb Yet, progress, however slow, is making its way to Maycomb.

Characters Harper Lee’s childhood friend, Truman Capote, is the basis for the character Dill in TKAM.

Characters Truman Capote is the author of In Cold Blood.

Characters Monroeville citizens serve as the basis for many of the characters in the novel.

To Kill a Mockingbird is a “coming of age” novel, which details the growth and development of the main character.

Point of View First Person: “I” The account of a young child coming to terms with racism and intolerance in a southern town.

Themes Racism Class/Social Prejudice Intolerance Bigotry Differences Injustice

Overview TKAM is a condemnation of the injustice of prejudice and a plea for greater understanding and tolerance between races.

Works Cited