To Kill A Mockingbird

INTRODUCTION Published in 1960 Within one year after publication sold 500,000 copies. The novel challenges our stereotypes and perception of right and wrong.

AUTHOR BIO: HARPER LEE Issues of racism that the author observed as a child in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama. Her father, a former newspaper editor and proprietor, practiced law and served in the Alabama State Legislature from 1926 to A.C. Lee once defended two black men accused of murdering a white storekeeper. Both clients, a father and son, were hanged. Lee was a tomboy

Many parallels exist between the trial of Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird and one of the most notorious series of trials in the nation’s history, The Scottsboro Trials. On March 25, 1931, a freight train was stopped in Paint Rock, a tiny community in northern Alabama, and nine young African American men who had been riding the rails were arrested. As two white women – one underage – descended from the freight cars, they accused the men of raping them on the train. Within a month the first man was found guilty and sentenced to death. There followed a series of sensational trials condemning the other men solely on the testimony of the older woman, a known prostitute, who was attempting to avoid prosecution under the Mann Act, prohibiting taking minors across state lines for immoral purposes, like prostitution. Both women eventually admitted they had not been raped. Although none of the accused was executed, a number remained on death row for many years. The case was not settled until 1976 with the pardon of the last of the Scottsboro defendants. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Linked with character, plot, and theme Maycomb County, Alabama Small southern town Remnant of the Old South Tradition-bound, decaying town Characters who cling to their ancient prejudices During the Depression – between 1933 and Setting functions on a symbolic level Radley Place represents the decaying, genteel South Ewell homestead = thriving “white trash” SETTING

The Great Depression A "Hooverville" is the popular name for shanty towns built by homeless people during the Great Depression. They were named after Herbert Hoover, who was President of the United States during the onset of the Depression and widely blamed for it. The homeless clustered in shanty towns close to free soup kitchens. These settlements were often formed on empty land and generally consisted of tents and small shacks. Authorities did not officially recognize these Hoovervilles and occasionally removed the occupants for trespassing on private lands, but they were frequently tolerated or ignored out of necessity.

1.Need for compassion Author’s plea for human understanding extends to anyone who is “different.” 2. Need for conscience. 3. Maturation 4. Prejudice 5. Discrimination 6. Courage 7. Tolerance THEMES

1. Mockingbird = The innocent (Tom, Boo) 2. The Gray Ghost = Symbolizes Boo 3. The mad dog = Represents defective, hapless creatures like Tom and Mayella who are destroyed 4. Mrs. Dubose’s flowers = hope and spirit. SYMBOLISM