Author Full name: Nelle Harper Lee Full name: Nelle Harper Lee Born April 28, 1926 Born April 28, 1926 Nickname: Nelle Nickname: Nelle Hometown: Monroeville, Alabama Hometown: Monroeville, Alabama

Semi-autobiographical Loosely based on her life Loosely based on her life Used real people as characters Used real people as characters Setting Setting Historic events in Alabama Historic events in Alabama

Similarities Between Her Life and Book Father-lawyer, newspaper editor, defended two black men in MS Father-lawyer, newspaper editor, defended two black men in MS African-American housekeeper African-American housekeeper Mom died in 1951, but had nervous condition, emotionally absent Mom died in 1951, but had nervous condition, emotionally absent Neighbor who got into trouble, hidden away Neighbor who got into trouble, hidden away

Book Published: 1960 Published: 1960 Most famous award won: Pulitzer Most famous award won: Pulitzer Narrator: Scout Narrator: Scout Setting: Maycomb, AL Setting: Maycomb, AL

Genre To Kill a Mockingbird is a: To Kill a Mockingbird is a: “coming of age” novel as well as a “coming of age” novel as well as a “courtroom drama” “courtroom drama” the story centers around the growing up of the main character, Scout, and a court case of a black man (Tom Robinson) accused of raping a white woman. the story centers around the growing up of the main character, Scout, and a court case of a black man (Tom Robinson) accused of raping a white woman.

Characters Main Character: Scout (a girl!) Main Character: Scout (a girl!) (Jean Louise Finch) Brother: Jem Finch Brother: Jem Finch Father: Atticus Finch Father: Atticus Finch Calpurnia: Housekeeper Calpurnia: Housekeeper

Characters Scout Jem Atticus Calpurnia

Neighbors Miss Maudie-across street Miss Maudie-across street Radleys-strange family down block Radleys-strange family down block Dill-friend of Scout and Jem Dill-friend of Scout and Jem Miss Dubose-cranky neighbor Miss Dubose-cranky neighbor Miss Stephanie-gossipy neighbor Miss Stephanie-gossipy neighbor

Other Awards Modern Library Best Novel-#5 Modern Library Best Novel-#5 Radcliffe Publishing-#4 Radcliffe Publishing-#4 Best Novel’s of 20 th century-#15 Best Novel’s of 20 th century-#15 Librarian’s Must Read List-#1 Librarian’s Must Read List-#1 ALA most challenged-#4 ALA most challenged-#4 Why? Profanity, racial slurs Why? Profanity, racial slurs

Movie Director: Robert Mulligan Director: Robert Mulligan Award-winning actor: Gregory Peck as Atticus Award-winning actor: Gregory Peck as Atticus Year: 1962 Year: 1962 Oscars: actor, art direction, screenplay (nominated 5 more) Oscars: actor, art direction, screenplay (nominated 5 more) Cameo-Robert Duvall as Boo Cameo-Robert Duvall as Boo

Truman Capote Truman Capote is a famous writer who wrote “In Cold Blood” with the help of Harper Lee Truman Capote is a famous writer who wrote “In Cold Blood” with the help of Harper Lee Capote grew up with Lee on her street in Alabama Capote grew up with Lee on her street in Alabama In the book, he is called “Dill” In the book, he is called “Dill”

Scottsboro Trial March 25, 1931 March 25, black youths accused of raping 2 white women (13-21 yrs. old) 9 black youths accused of raping 2 white women (13-21 yrs. old) Sentenced to death by all white juries, except 13 yr. old Sentenced to death by all white juries, except 13 yr. old One of worst travesties of justice One of worst travesties of justice

Emmett Till yr old Chicago boy murdered in MS by lynch mob for whistling at white woman 14-yr old Chicago boy murdered in MS by lynch mob for whistling at white woman Mother insisted on open casket >>>Civil Rights Movement Mother insisted on open casket >>>Civil Rights Movement

Jim Crow Laws Separate but equal laws: schools, bathrooms, transportation, public places Separate but equal laws: schools, bathrooms, transportation, public places Especially in the South Especially in the South

Franklin Roosevelt, New Deal Programs started by Roosevelt during Great Depression Programs started by Roosevelt during Great Depression Govt. Agencies: Social Security, FHA, FDIC (welfare) Govt. Agencies: Social Security, FHA, FDIC (welfare)

Social Class in the Jim Crow South African-Americans: Tom, Calpurnia Even poorer whites: Ewell’s Poor whites: Cunningham’s Professionals: Finch’s