1. To Kill a Mockingbird By
Harper Lee

2. Author’s Background Born Nelle Harper Lee on April 28, 1926
Born in Monroeville, Alabama, a small city w/ a population of about 7,000 people
Youngest of three children

3. Author’s Background
Father- Amasa Coleman Lee- began practicing law in 1915
Mother- Frances Cunningham Finch Lee
Attended Huntington College from

4. Author’s Background Studied Law @ University of Alabama from 1945-49
Attended Oxford for one year
Left school to move to New York and pursue a career as a writer

5. Author’s Background Worked in NY for BOAC airlines
First submitted To Kill A Mockingbird for publication in 1957
Worked on revisions for 3 years/ published in 1960

6. Author’s Background Won a Pulitzer Prize in 1961
Never published another novel, but did publish several essays
Rumors report that she is working on a second novel

7. Historical Context Novel takes place in Alabama in the 1930’s
Time of the Great Depression
Although slavery was abolished in 1863, African Americans were still denied many rights
Segregation exists in schools, public bathrooms, busses and many other public places

8. Historical Context
A great deal of discrimination existed in the justice system
African Americans were not allowed to be on juries
Blacks were often arrested, tried, and convicted with little cause

9. Historical Context- the South
Agricultural economy was hit hard by the depression
Many white southerners had a romanticized idea of how life should be
They felt threatened by change and industrialization

10. Historical Context-the South
Little opportunity for African Americans to advance themselves
Nearly half of all blacks in the South did not receive an education past the 5th grade
Racist groups like the Ku Klux Clan and the Black Shirts terrorized blacks
Lynching was still a common practice

11. The Scottsboro Trials
Many parallels between the trial of Tom Robinson in the novel & the Scottsboro Trials
In 1931, 9 young African American males are stopped on a freight train in Alabama
They are arrested, tried, and convicted of the rape of two white women
The men were pardoned in 1976

12. Literary Devices- Point of View
One of the most distinctive characteristics of the novel
The story is told from the perspective of a child who is approx 6 years old when the story begins

13. Literary Devices-Setting
Entire story takes place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama
The small town is conservative and traditional
Blacks and whites live in separate sections of town
Time period is during the years of the Great depression

14. Literary Devices-Symbolism
The mockingbird is a symbol of innocence in the novel
Miss Maudie tells the children “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” because they never do harm

15. Literary Devices
Motifs- recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that help develop the themes
ex: small town life
old fashioned values
gothic details

16. Literary Devices
Allusions- references to various places, people, things, historical events, or other works of literature
Idioms- expressions or phrases that have meanings different than a literal interpretation would suggest

17. Main Characters
Jean Louise Finch- known as Scout; the narrator of the novel; tomboyish and very bright
Jeremy Finch- known as Jem; Scout’s older brother

18. Main Charaters
Atticus Finch- Scout’s widowed father; works as a lawyer; a model of tolerance and understanding

19. Main Characters
Calpurnia- the Finch’s black housekeeper; has helped to raise the children since the death of their mother
Charles Baker Harris- known as Dill; Scout and Jem’s “summer friend”
Miss Maudie Atkinson- favorite neighbor of the Finches; speaks to the children as equals

20. Main Characters
Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose- mean neighbor of the Finches; often harasses the children
Walter Cunningham (Jr. & Sr.)- the poor but noble family who “never took anything they couldn’t pay back”
Heck Tate- the town sheriff

21. Main Characters
Arthur Radley- referred to as “Boo”; the reclusive neighbor that both fascinates and frightens the children
Bob Ewell- head of the Ewell family; drunk, unemployed, full of hate & anger
Mayella Ewell- eldest daughter of the Ewell’s; responsible for the care of her 7 siblings; accuses Tom Robinson of rape

22. Major Characters
Tom Robinson- young, hard working black man; has a mangled arm; accused of raping Mayella Ewell
Judge John Taylor- presiding judge in the rape case; sympathetic toward Tom Robinson
Dolphus Raymond-local man from a good white family; prefers to live w/ the blacks; lets people think he’s a drunk

23. Themes Prejudice and Tolerance Guilt and Innocence Justice
Knowledge and Ignorance
Courage and Cowardice