1. To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee

2. Introduction To Kill a Mockingbird is a largely autobiographical novel by Harper Lee. To Kill a Mockingbird is a largely autobiographical novel by Harper Lee. Biography-the story of someone’s life Biography-the story of someone’s life Autobiography- story of someone’s life, told by that person Autobiography- story of someone’s life, told by that person

3. About the Author Harper Lee Harper Lee Born Nelle Harper Lee, April 28, 1926 Born Nelle Harper Lee, April 28, 1926 Grew up during the Great Depression Grew up during the Great Depression Grew up in Monroeville, Alabama, in the heart of the South, where racial tension was high Grew up in Monroeville, Alabama, in the heart of the South, where racial tension was high Her own childhood mirrors that of the character “Scout” Her own childhood mirrors that of the character “Scout” In 1960, she published her only novel- To Kill a Mockingbird In 1960, she published her only novel- To Kill a Mockingbird It received a Pulitzer Prize for literature in 1961 It received a Pulitzer Prize for literature in 1961

4. Life During the 1930’s Race Relations Race Relations –Nine black teenagers are falsely charged with raping two white women in Scottsboro, Alabama; eight are convicted and sentenced to death –The U.S. Supreme court reverses their convictions because their constitutional rights had been violated –The teens are tried for a 2 nd time and found guilty. –The SC reverses their conviction again. –Eventually, four of the defendants are freed; the other five serve prison terms. –The last Scottsboro defendant was paroled in 1950. –It was virtually impossible for a black person to receive a fair trial

5. Life during the 1930’s The Great Depression sweeps the nation-Many families do not have enough money for basic needs. The Great Depression sweeps the nation-Many families do not have enough money for basic needs. The per capita income for families in Ala. is $125-$250 a year. The per capita income for families in Ala. is $125-$250 a year. Many southern blacks pick cotton for a living. Many southern blacks pick cotton for a living. Franklin D. Roosevelt is President. Franklin D. Roosevelt is President. Hitler is chancellor of Germany and believes that Jews, African Americans and other races are inferior to Anglo- Saxons. Hitler is chancellor of Germany and believes that Jews, African Americans and other races are inferior to Anglo- Saxons.

6. Legal Segregation in Alabama, 1923-1940 No white female nurses in hospitals that treat black men No white female nurses in hospitals that treat black men Separate passenger cars for whites and blacks Separate passenger cars for whites and blacks Separate waiting rooms for whites and blacks Separate waiting rooms for whites and blacks Separation of black and white convicts Separation of black and white convicts Separate schools Separate schools No interracial marriages No interracial marriages Segregated water fountains Segregated water fountains Segregated theaters Segregated theaters

7. Morphine: A Southern Lady’s Drug 1930’s Typical Morphine Addict 1930’s Typical Morphine Addict –White female –Middle-aged or older –Widowed –Homebound –Lives in the south –Property owner –Began using morphine for medicinal reasons –In To Kill a Mockingbird, the Finch children will come into contact with Mrs. Dubose. She personifies the American morphine addicts of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

8. Narrative Point of View To Kill a Mockingbird is told in the first person, from the point of view of Scout To Kill a Mockingbird is told in the first person, from the point of view of Scout The story is not told by the younger Scout. It is told by an older Scout looking back. The story is not told by the younger Scout. It is told by an older Scout looking back.

9. Autobiographical Elements: Harper Lee vs. Scout Finch Born in Monroeville, Alabama Born in Monroeville, Alabama Grew up in the 1930’s Grew up in the 1930’s Father was a lawyer Father was a lawyer Mother’s maiden name=Finch Mother’s maiden name=Finch Born in Maycomb, Alabama Born in Maycomb, Alabama Grew up in the 1930’s Grew up in the 1930’s Father (Atticus) is a lawyer Father (Atticus) is a lawyer Last name=Finch Last name=Finch

10. Setting of TkaM Setting is a very strong element in TkaM. It is linked with theme, character, and plot. Time: 1930’s, Great Depression era –Economic difficulties of this time caused problems for all classes of people –There was a sharp division between blacks and whites Place: Maycomb, Alabama (1933-1935)- Alabama is renown as a site of racial tension; Southerners in Maycomb continued to believe in white supremacy

11. What is a theme? Theme: The main idea or meaning of a work.

12. Themes Prejudice Prejudice Friendship Friendship Sacrifice Sacrifice Social snobbery Social snobbery Tolerance Tolerance Equality Equality Need for conscience Need for conscience Maturity Maturity Status Status Morality Morality Patience Patience Need for compassion Need for compassion

13. Key Issues Tom Robinson’s innocence Tom Robinson’s innocence Atticus’ hidden courage Atticus’ hidden courage Mob mentality Mob mentality Social classes Social classes Mrs. Dubose’s morphine addiction Mrs. Dubose’s morphine addiction Jem’s maturity Jem’s maturity Jem and Scout’s experiences with Boo Radley Jem and Scout’s experiences with Boo Radley

14. Jean Louise Finch…”Scout” Six when the story begins Six when the story begins Naturally curious about life Naturally curious about life Tomboy Tomboy Impulsive Impulsive Emotional Emotional Warm and friendly Warm and friendly Sensitive Sensitive Gains in maturity in the novel Gains in maturity in the novel

15. Atticus Finch Father of Scout and Jem Father of Scout and Jem A widower A widower An attorney by profession An attorney by profession Highly respected Highly respected Good citizen Good citizen Instills good values/morals in his children Instills good values/morals in his children His children call him “Atticus” His children call him “Atticus” Honest Honest Brave Brave Courteous Courteous Soft-spoken Soft-spoken Typical Southern gentleman Typical Southern gentleman

16. Jem Finch Scout’s older brother Scout’s older brother 10 at the beginning of the novel and 13 at the end 10 at the beginning of the novel and 13 at the end Very wise for his age Very wise for his age Very emotional Very emotional More easy-going and not as adventurous as Scout More easy-going and not as adventurous as Scout

17. Calpurnia The Finch’s black housekeeper The Finch’s black housekeeper Has watched the children since their mother’s death Has watched the children since their mother’s death Has been a positive influence on the children Has been a positive influence on the children

18. Arthur “Boo” Radley An adult man, whose father has “sentenced” him to a lifetime confinement to their house because of some mischief he got into when he was a teenager An adult man, whose father has “sentenced” him to a lifetime confinement to their house because of some mischief he got into when he was a teenager Has a reputation of being a lunatic Has a reputation of being a lunatic Basically a harmless, well- meaning person Basically a harmless, well- meaning person Sometimes childlike in behavior Sometimes childlike in behavior Starving for love and affection Starving for love and affection

19. Tom Robinson A young, harmless, innocent, hardworking black man A young, harmless, innocent, hardworking black man Has a crippled left hand Has a crippled left hand Married with three children Married with three children Works on a farm belonging to Link Deas, a white man Works on a farm belonging to Link Deas, a white man Will be falsely accused of raping a white girl Will be falsely accused of raping a white girl

20. Dill A close friend of Jem and Scout A close friend of Jem and Scout Usually lives in Maycomb only during the summer with his aunt Usually lives in Maycomb only during the summer with his aunt Tell “big stories” Tell “big stories” Has been deprived of love and affection Has been deprived of love and affection

21. Aunt Alexandra Atticus’ sister Atticus’ sister Wishes to make Scout behave like a “lady” Wishes to make Scout behave like a “lady” Doesn’t approve of Atticus defending a black man Doesn’t approve of Atticus defending a black man Concerned how Finch family is seen in the community Concerned how Finch family is seen in the community

22. Two Poor White Families The Cunninghams Poor white family Poor white family Hard-working Hard-working Honest Honest Proud Proud Survive on very little Survive on very little Always pay back their debts-even with hickory nuts, turnips, or holly Always pay back their debts-even with hickory nuts, turnips, or holly The Ewells Poor white trash Poor white trash Dirty Dirty Lazy Lazy Good-for-nothing Good-for-nothing Never have done a day’s work Never have done a day’s work Foul-mouthed Foul-mouthed Dishonest Dishonest Immoral Immoral

23. The Black Community Simple Simple Honest Honest Clean Clean Hard-working Hard-working God fearing God fearing Proud Proud Would never take anything without paying it back Would never take anything without paying it back Respectful Respectful Had stronger character than most whites Had stronger character than most whites Oppressed Oppressed Uneducated Uneducated Discriminated against Discriminated against Talked about badly Talked about badly Deserve better than what is dished out to them by society Deserve better than what is dished out to them by society

24. Language Sometimes the language of Scout will be that of her as a child; other times, she will be speaking in the voice of an adult Sometimes the language of Scout will be that of her as a child; other times, she will be speaking in the voice of an adult Atticus uses formal speech Atticus uses formal speech Calpurnia uses “white language” in the Finch house and switches to “black jargon” when amidst blacks Calpurnia uses “white language” in the Finch house and switches to “black jargon” when amidst blacks The Ewells use foul words and obscenities The Ewells use foul words and obscenities Jem, Scout, and Dill will use slang words, typical of their age Jem, Scout, and Dill will use slang words, typical of their age Tom Robinson uses language typical of the southern black such as “suh” for “sir” and “chillun” for “children” Tom Robinson uses language typical of the southern black such as “suh” for “sir” and “chillun” for “children” Various derogatory terms will be used-Lee uses such language to keep her novel naturally in sync with the common language of the times Various derogatory terms will be used-Lee uses such language to keep her novel naturally in sync with the common language of the times

25. Tone Somber Somber Serious Serious Humorous (at times) Humorous (at times)

26. Symbolism The Mockingbird symbolizes everything that is good and harmless in this world. The Mockingbird symbolizes everything that is good and harmless in this world. It only sings to please others and therefore is considered a sin to shoot the mockingbird. They are considered harmless creatures who give joy with their songs. It only sings to please others and therefore is considered a sin to shoot the mockingbird. They are considered harmless creatures who give joy with their songs. The mockingbird image/symbol appears four times in the novel. The mockingbird image/symbol appears four times in the novel. Only two characters in the novel symbolize the mockingbird. Only two characters in the novel symbolize the mockingbird.