TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Written by: Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbird

Background Information  TKAM- semi-autobiographical of author Harper Lee  Pre-Civil Rights Era  Jim Crow Laws ( ) Segregation (esp. in the South) Separate “but equal” facilities for blacks & whites  Racial Tension Lynching- illegal execution of accused by a mob  Blacks & whites competing for same jobs

About the Novel…  A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, this Depression-era story is set in a small town in Alabama, where a black man is accused of raping a white woman.  The story takes place over two summers, and is seen and told through the eyes of a child.  The characters learn valuable lessons about principles, honor, pride, and prejudice. Even their views of the local bogeyman, change after time.

Importance of the Title:  “ It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” Comes from an old proverb The mockingbird is harmless and does its best to please those that listen to its songs and is defenseless against hunters.  The wrongness of killing the mockingbird becomes a metaphor for the injustice of two characters who are harmless and helpless.

Important Facts The story describes the lifestyle of Southern America during the post-Depression era of the 1930’s It also describes the judicial system of Alabama and the country before the Civil Rights Movement The main characters are good people that witness prejudice in various forms

What to Expect Language includes slang and derogatory words. The “N” word The causes & dangers of prejudice The causes & dangers of gender stereo-typing The qualities of a hero The power of the spoken word and the use of symbols

Some Prejudice Described in the Book Gender Prejudice Male vs. Female Female vs. Male Socio-Economical Prejudice Poor vs. RichRich vs. Poor Racial Prejudice White vs. Black Black vs. White Female vs. Female

Genre- Realistic Fiction Features Stories with real life situations Story takes place in a recognizable setting. Places, events and characters are vividly described.

Realistic Fiction Introduces: Characters, Setting, Conflict/Problem, & Goal Beginning Plot Develops Story events and reaction to the events Middle Resolution to conflict or problem End

Realistic Fiction Plot The main character’s problem makes up the plot and is the source of the conflict Conflict Tension exists between forces in the character’s life 3 Forms of Conflict Person vs. Self Person vs. Person Person vs. Society

TKAM Key Facts  Tense- Past – use of flashbacks  Setting- Time Place- Maycomb, Alabama (Fictional town)  Tone- Starts off humorous; childlike Ends dark & critical of society

More TKAM Key Facts  Theme- Repeated or recurring idea/s TKAM Themes: Prejudice & Racism * Inter-racial marriage Good vs. Evil (Morals) Family Social Class Education

Even More TKAM Key Facts  P.O.V. – Point of View 1 st person narrator Scout  Protagonist/s (main “good” character) Scout Atticus  Antagonist- (main “bad” character) Bob Ewell  Allusion- reference to another piece of literature, a famous person, place or event

Characters

Scout- Jean Louise Finch  Narrator of the story  Age during story 6-9 yrs. Old  Rebellious tomboy  Intelligent for her age

Jem- Jeremy Atticus Finch  Scout’s older brother  Age during story yrs. old  Scout’s best friend and protector  Deals with difficult issues throughout the story

Atticus  Scout & Jem’s father (single parent)  Extremely moral  Attorney for Maycomb  Tom Robinson’s assigned lawyer  State Legislative Representative

Dill- Charles Baker Harris  Scout & Jem’s friend  Active imagination/ adventurous  Lives in Meridan, Mississippi  Stays with Aunt Rachel during the summer

Aunt Alexandra  Atticus’ sister  Money and social Status are VERY important to her  Critical of Atticus’ parenting  Lives at Finch’s Landing  Stays with Atticus and children during trial  Wants to feminize Scout

Arthur “Boo” Radley  Mysterious neighbor of the Finch’s  Was a troubled young man  Town “Monster”  Lives with his controlling brother  Has been locked up in his house for 15 or so years.

Calpurnia  Finch’s black housekeeper  Motherly figure to Scout  Lives in the “white world” as well as the “black world”  Takes Jem & Scout to church

Mrs. Dubose  Mean, elderly, sick neighbor of the Finchs  Teaches Jem & Scout a valuable lesson in bravery  Addicted to Morphine

Miss Maudie Atkinson  Lives across the street from the Finchs  Loves gardening  Friend to the Finchs especially to Scout  High morals  Open-minded citizen in Maycomb

Mrs. Stephanie Crawford  Town Gossip  Takes a small part of the truth and exaggerates it until it barely resembles truth at all.

Tom Robinson  A black man accused of raping and beating Mayella Ewell

Mayella Ewell  Oldest Ewell child 19 yrs. old  Lives a miserable and lonely life in a run down house by the town dump  Victim of abuse  Has 7 brothers & sisters

Bob Ewell  Mean and ignorant  Has 8 children who are unsupervised most of the time  His son Burris has “cooties”  Belongs to the lowest social class in Maycomb (below the black citizens) Spends welfare checks on alcohol  Hates Atticus and all that Atticus stands for

Mr. Underwood  Owner of the town paper The Maycomb Tribune  Openly dislikes blacks, however defends Tom Robinson

Dolphus Raymond  A white man with mixed children  Lives on the outskirts of Maycomb  Pretends to be drunk because people do not understand his life choices

Mr. Cunningham  Poor farmer  Proud man-doesn’t like to considered a “charity” case  Client of Atticus  Pays Atticus in vegetables & nuts  One of the men in lynch mob

Sheriff Heck Tate  Maycomb’s sheriff  An honest and upstanding man  Helps diffuse a serious situation