1. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Miss Harper Lee
“I never expected any sort of success with Mockingbird. I didn’t expect the book to sell in the first place.”

2. Miss Harper Lee ( )
1. born in Monroeville, Alabama, April 28, 1926, the
youngest of three children
2. attended Univ. of Alabama in their law program, later
dropping out, wanting to be an author
very private person, wanted nothing to do with fame,
had not spoken to the press since 1964
4. TKAM was her only published book.

3. Harper Lee - continued
1956 – is given a Christmas present by two good friends – enough money to live in NYC for a year, not work, and focus on her writing 1960 – TKAM is released to the public, a great success. ( worked on revisions for three years) (wrote 1 pg. a day – 6-12 hrs.) 1961 – the first woman to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction 2007 – awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bush 2015 – another novel is discovered –Go Set A Watchman – and is released / not as successful as TKAM 2016 – passes away at the age of 89

4. Lee’s Life and To Kill A Mockingbird
Monroeville, AL- small, quiet town surrounded by farms (7,000) Born during the Great Depression Mother- Francis Finch Lee suffered from bi-polar disorder – rarely left the house Mr. Lee- lawyer and representative to state legislature Truman Capote lives next door and is bullied for being little, different, and nerdy/ as a adult becomes a famous writer
Maycomb, AL – small, quiet town surrounded by farms Takes place in the 1930s – Great Depression Main characters’ last name – Finch / Boo “ Arthur” Radley Atticus Finch- lawyer and representative to state legislature Dill lives next door with his aunt, small and different- wild imagination

6. Historical Context: The Great Depression 1929-1939
The novel is set in the midst of the Great Depression, considered the worst economic depression in modern times. In 1933, the US had a 25% unemployment rate. One half of all the banks were closed. Those who had mortgages lost their land to foreclosures. Those in the professional world, such as Atticus, often accepted goods in return for services (barter). Farmers were somewhat better off because they grew their own food, but very few people were buying their crops.

7. Historical Context: Segregation
A great deal of discrimination existed in the justice system: blacks were not allowed to be on jury (jury of their peers?) Blacks were often arrested, tried, and convicted with little cause. The KKK was active and lynching was a common practice. The South passed the Jim Crow laws: interracial marriage was illegal; restaurants, modes of transportation, and schools were separate for whites and blacks, and more. It was named after a character in a minstrel show that portrayed a black man as ignorant, dumb, and comical.

8. Historical Context: The Southern Family
Black people often worked for white landowners as field hands, servants, or sharecroppers. Black people were always seen as inferior to whites. Ladies: “Ladies bathed before noon, after their 3:00 naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum.” – Young girls were expected to be feminine. Tomboys were frowned on. A lady’s flowers were her pride and joy. Manners were a requirement. A person could be fined for cussing in front of a lady! Everyone went to church on Sundays. A family’s lineage determined its social status in the town.

9. Historical Contact: Mental Illness
It was considered an embarrassment to the family and those with money kept the afflicted person home, if possible, or hired a care- taker. Most were institutionalized and suffered treatments such as lobotomies, electroshock therapy, and insulin-induced comas. The knowledge about mental illness was scare and many afflicted were experimented on. “Inside the house lived a malevolent phantom.”

10. Historical Context: 1930s Culture
Music: Swing and Jazz Movies: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind Inventions: radar, chocolate chip cookie, long-playing phonograph record Radio stories: “The Lone Ranger,” “Little Orphan Annie,” and “The Shadow Politics: FDR, Nazism growing in Germany, end of WWI

11. “Maycomb was a tired old town.”

12. Boo Radley’s House: “The Radley Place jutted into a sharp curve beyond our house. The house was low, was once white with a deep front porch and green shutters, but had long ago darkened to the color of the slate-gray yard around it. Rain-rotted shingles dropped over the eaves of the veranda; oak trees kept the sun away. The remains of a picket fence drunkenly guarded the front yard– a “swept” yard that was never swept—where Johnson grass and rabbit-tobacco grew in abundance.

13. Let‘s Meet the Characters of Our Tale! Atticus Finch
* lawyer and representative to the state legislature
widowed and in his forties / very respected by the community
The name “Atticus” is the English respelling of the Greek word “Attikos,” meaning “an Athenian.” Our democratic system of government began in Athens, Greece.
He is a unique parent, guiding his children as well as letting them learn through experience. Very close to them

14. Jean Louise Finch “Scout”
one of the two protagonists / 5 yrs. old at the beginning and 8 yrs. old at the end
Story is told through her point of view – her thoughts, actions, and opinions – Jean Louise.
above average intelligence/ perceptive/anger management problems ()/ courageous
“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”

15. Jeremy Finch “Jem”
Scout’s older brother // 10 yrs. at the beginning and 13 yrs. Old at the end
Story’s events parallel his transition from a child to a young man
Sensitive, compassionate, protective of his father and sister
“If there’s just one kind of folks, why can’t they get along with each other? If they’re all alike wh why do they go out of their way to despise one another?”

16. Charles Baker Harris “Dill”
is sent to live with his aunt every summer / shuffled from relative to relative
wild imagination / crafty manipulator / very sensitive
lies to cover his insecurities
“.. A pocket Merlin, whose head teemed with eccentric plans, strange longings, and quaint fancies.”

17. Arthur “Boo” Radley
“Jem gave a reasonable description of Boo: Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that's why his hands were bloodstained—if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time. ” *kind, gentle, reclusive, painfully shy, protective, curious”

18. Miss Maudie
*benevolent, brave lady
*loves her flowers and nature
*helps the kids when times are rough
*direct and candid
“There are just some kind of men who – who’s so busy worrying about the next world, they’ve never learned to live in this one…”
Calpurnia “Cal” *Calpurnia was the third wife of Caesar, who was noted for her faithfulness *family cook and surrogate mother *bridge between white and black worlds "Suppose you and Scout talked colored-folks' talk at home it'd be out of place, wouldn't it? Now what if I talked white-folks' talk at church, and with my neighbors? They'd think I was puttin' on airs to beat Moses."

19. PART ONE: “BOO”

20. Chapter One
The first chapter focuses on the carefree childhood experience of Dill, Scout, and Jem. Flashback is employed at the beginning of the chapter when Scout tells the reader about Jem’s broken arm at age thirteen. The story is then immediately brought back to the present and the novel will explain the events leading to his accident. The chapter’s focus is on Boo and why he does not leave his home.

21. Chapters 2-3: Education and Inequalities
Scout’s first days of school provide a commentary on the theme of education. Miss Caroline’s inexperience and methods of teaching are presented as illogical and inadequate. While Atticus tells Scout to put herself in Miss Caroline’s shoes, it is clear that Miss Caroline will not do the same. The introduction of the Cummingham and Ewell families expose the reader to the division of social class in Maycomb. The Finches are upper-class. The Cunningham’s are poor farmers, yet polite and desirous of education. The Ewells are lower-class and more impoverished than the Cunningham family. They are also ignorant, temperamental, and villainous.

22. Chapters 4-6: Character Development
Miss Maudie
Strong female character
Sense of justice and equality
A foil to Miss Stephanie and others who gossip
Positive mother figure
Boo Radley
Miss Maudie describes him as a nice by who suffered under a dictatorially religious family
Kids see him as a monster – fascinates the kids

23. Chapters 7-8: Jem
The reader begins to see the difference in experience and maturity between Scout and Jem. Jem realizes that Nathan Radley has deprived Boo of the one connection he had with the outside world / injustices of the world

24. Chapters 9-11: Courage
Scout and Jem see courage when Atticus shoots the mad dog with one shot. Atticus sees Mrs. Dubose as courage: “when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.”

25. Chapters 9-11: Impact of Parents on Instilling Values
Atticus consciously makes parenting decisions in an attempt to instill values of justice and self-control: two values that are lacking in many Maycomb citizens. ex. He tells his children to not fight back to those who attack them verbally, but to show quiet courage instead. ex. He also tells the children that is a sin to kill a mockingbird as they are innocent and only make beautiful music for us to listen to.

26. “THE TRIAL AND ITS AFTERMATH”
PART TWO:
“THE TRIAL AND ITS AFTERMATH”

27. Chapters 12-13: Important Ideas Language
The visit to the First Purchase Church also shows the reader that language divides the two races of Maycomb. This is demonstrated in Cal’s change in language between the church and the Finches’ household. She becomes a bridge between the two worlds in which she lives, and Scout and Jem are able to see through this apparent change that language is another way in which the races are divided.

28. CHAPTERS 12-13: Character Development Aunt Alexandra
In these chapters, the reader sees that Aunt Alexandra possesses many of the unappealing qualities held by the women of Maycomb. She is narrow-minded and rigid. She relies strongly on social order and is very opinionated on Atticus’ methods of parenting. Aunt Alexandra does, however, have redeeming qualities that make her different from the other women in town. She has good intentions and wants to make sure that the children grow up properly with pride in their family. Although she does not always seem to be a sympathetic character, it is clear that she does care deeply for the members of her family.

29. CHAPTERS 14-15: IMPORTANT IDEAS PARENTING
Dill’s reappearance in these chapters reminds the reader of Scout and Jem’s good fortune with regards to family. They have a loving father who is very involved and Cal and Aunt Alexandra who care deeply about them. Dill’s parents, on the other hand, treat him with indifference, which leads him to hop on a train and run away from home.

30. CHAPTERS 14-15:THEME INNOCENCE vs EXPERIENCE
While two years earlier, Jem, Scout, and Dill’s lives were focused solely on summer games and childhood fantasies, their lives are now dominated by the adult world of the Tom Robinson court case. The lynch mob symbolizes Jem’s first transition into adulthood as he refuses to leave Atticus although repeatedly told to do so. Although he is disobedient to his father, he makes this decision with maturity and thought, as he knows that Atticus is in danger. This is starkly contrasted by Scout’s innocent perspective on the situation. She is blissfully unaware the seriousness of the situation, and spends the time chatting with Mr. Cunningham about his son.

31. CHAPTERS 16-17: THE TRIAL
The trial of Tom Robinson reveals even more clearly the inequalities of this community. While the focus is on this particular case, it will become clear that it is Maycomb that is truly on trial. The courtroom is segregated by race, and it is symbolic that Jem, Scout, and Dill sit in the ‘colored section,’ as they do not hold the racist views of those sitting in the ‘white section.’ It is also fitting that Miss Maudie does not attend the trial, as she too does not hold the racist views of the rest of the community.

32. CHAPTERS 16-17: THEME INNOCENCE vs EXPERIENCE
Jem, although transitioning into maturity, still holds on to the illusion of fairness and equality in Maycomb. While the reader knows that Tom Robinson will most likely be found guilty, Jem still believes that his father’s evidence and examination will lead to a successful outcome. When Atticus reveals that Bob Ewell is left handed, Jem is convinced that Atticus has won, but the reader’s experience allows them to know better.

33. CHAPTERS 16-17: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: BOB EWELL
Bob Ewell represents the prejudiced, intolerant, ignorant Maycomb. Although Bob himself possesses these qualities, it is his role in the trial that further reveals that Maycomb is plagued by racism. The town looks down on Bob Ewell as a lazy, abusive drunk, yet the community members and jury give him the power to destroy Tom Robinson, an innocent man on trial for his life.

34. CHAPTERS 18-19: IMPORTANT IDEAS MOCKINGBIRD
The symbol of the mockingbird plays an important role in the novel. Atticus says that you should not kill a mockingbird because they don’t do anything but make beautiful music. They are innocent. Mayella Ewell is a kind of mockingbird. She has been influenced by the poverty, ignorance, and hatred in her life, but she is presented as a victim. She must suffer the abuse of her father and deal with her difficult siblings, She has no friend and is incredibly lonely. While Mayella is a victim, the reader can have little sympathy for her as she has victimized another innocent, Tom Robinson, in an attempt to cover her shame.

35. CHAPTERS 18-19: IMPORTANT IDEAS MOCKINGBIRD
Tom Robinson is also a kind of mockingbird in the novel. He is honest, good, and hardworking. He is an innocent and shows compassion for Mayella, yet he is put on trial for his life as a result. Mr. Gilmer treats him with complete disrespect simply because of his race, and the reader knows that although he is innocent, he will be convicted simply because he is black.

36. CHAPTERS 20-22: CHARACTERIZATION MR. DOLPHUS RAYMOND
Mr. Dolphus Raymond goes against social norms and has children with a black woman. The community criticizes him for his decisions, but blames his lifestyle on his alcoholism. The reader learns in these chapters that he pretends to be a drunk to rationalize his decisions for the white community in Maycomb, but in reality he simply prefers the company of the black people. He never explains why he prefers black people just as the white community never really explains why they hate black people. The difference is that the community attempts to impose these views on others, while Raymond lives his life and does not dictate how others should live theirs. The fact that Mr. Raymond is outside the courtroom is also fitting because, like Miss Maudie, he does not hold the racist views of the rest of the white community.

37. CHAPTERS 20-22: THEME MORALITY
While Mr. Raymond can only see the evil racist side of Maycomb’s white population, Atticus holds more hope for humanity and can see the good in people. His closing argument to the jury shows that he has confidence in their morality, and he does not have a defeatist attitude. Atticus understands that people are capable of both good and evil, and has faith that the good qualities of humanity. He attempts to transmit this perspective to his children.

38. CHAPTERS 20-22: THEME INNOCENCE vs EXPERIENCE
While Scout is able to remain resilient and hold a positive and innocent perspective after the trial, Jem’s idealistic illusions about justice are broken after the verdict is revealed. He is exposed to the harsh realities of adulthood and experience.

39. CHAPTERS 23-25: THEME EMPATHY
Atticus, at different points in the novel, advises his children to stand in another person’s shoes. In these chapters, he tells Jem to see things from Bob Ewell’s perspective. This advice has been apt at other points in the novel, when Scout has a conflict with her teacher for instance. This time, however, Atticus’s faith in human goodness fails as he is not able to fully grasp Bob’s anger towards him.

40. CHAPTERS 23-25: THEME INNOCENCE vs EXPERIENCE
Jem and Scout are both entering the world of adult experience in these chapters. Jem’s conversation with Atticus about the judicial system reveals the harsh realities of human nature, but also shows some hope when Atticus tells him that a Cunningham on the jury wanted to acquit Tom.

41. CHAPTERS 23-25: THEME INNOCENCE vs EXPERIENCE
Scout’s argument with Aunt Alexandra about Walter Cunningham is also a shift from innocence to experience. Scout is exposed to the realities of social class. She also begins to understand the hypocrisy of the members of the community. For instance, she notes that Mrs. Merriweather cries over the oppressed in Africa, yet shows racism towards the oppressed black community in Maycomb. Scout has not yet fully grown into experience as Jem has. This is illustrated in the incident with the roly-poly bug. Scout wants to kill the bug, but Jem says no as he is sensitive to those who are oppressed and helpless.

42. CHAPTERS 23-25: IMPORTANT IDEAS MOCKINGBIRD
Tom Robinson’s death demonstrates his role as a mockingbird in this novel. Tom is an innocent, yet he is tragically killed as a result of his race. Mr. Underwood says that his death is like “the senseless slaughter of songbirds,” which is an obvious reference to the novel’s title, and Atticus’ earlier advice to the children to not kill mockingbirds.

43. Chapters 26-27: Theme Innocence vs Experience
The references made to Boo Radley in these chapters show the children’s transition into the adult world. While the Radley house used to be a source of complete terror, the children have been exposed to more serious adult fears like Bob Ewell’s threats, so their youthful fear of Boo has somewhat dissipated. These references also serve to bring Boo Radley back to the reader’s mind as the narrative has focused so heavily on the trial.

44. Chapters 28-31: Literary Elements Foreshadowing
Lee foreshadows the eventual attack in these chapters in a couple of different ways. Firstly, Aunt Alexandra feels a sense of foreboding before Jem and Scout leave for the school Halloween party, foreshadowing Bob Ewell’s attack on the children on their way home.

45. Chapters 28-31: Characterization Bob Ewell
Bob’s attack on the children further reveals his character as a malicious coward. When Lee foreshadows an attack, the reader assumes that he will go after Atticus as he threatened. While Bob is not portrayed as a positive character throughout the novel, his attack on the defenseless and innocent children reveals how despicable a man he really is.

46. Chapters 28-31: Character Development Boo Radley
“Boo” Radley’s entrance in these chapters solidifies him as a sympathetic and caring character as he saves the children from Bob Ewell’s attacks. Boo becomes a real person to the children as a result of these actions, but he also proves that goodness exists in the world.

47. Chapters 28-31: Character Development Scout
When Scout discovers that it was Boo who saved her, he transforms from childhood ghost to a human being. When Scout says, “Hey, Boo,” the reader sees that Scout is on the way to developing a more adult experience perspective on the world. Scout’s maturity is fully demonstrated when Atticus asks her if she understands that Bob Ewell fell on his knife She says she understand because it would like shooting a mockingbird. This shows Scout’s transformation, as she is now able to see the world through Boo’s eyes and shows empathy towards him. The novel ends with her falling asleep, representing that she is still a child, but now has a more adult mature perspective on the world.

48. Chapters 28-31: Literary Elements Tone
The novel ends with a tone of cautious optimism. Although a great deal of evil exists in the world, the tone of the final chapters shows that the evil is balanced by faith in the goodness of humanity.