1. To Kill a Mockingbird
By Harper Lee

2. Genre Bildungsroman -- A coming of age novel
Basic events of the novel are fictional
Events also have a strong autobiographical basis.
Social Drama
Courtroom Drama
Southern Drama

3. Nelle Harper Lee Born in Monroeville, Alabama on April 28, 1926
Her father -- a lawyer and part owner and editor of the newspaper.
-- He and her ancestor, Robert E. Lee, the Civil War General, are used to create the character, Atticus.
Her mother was a talented pianist.
The Finch name came from her mother’s maiden name Frances Finch.

4. Setting 1933 -1935 Maycomb, Alabama modeled on author’s hometown of
Monroeville, Alabama.
Lee grew up during the Great
Depression of the 1930’s much like
Scout Finch.

5. Point of View Scout narrates in the first person point of view.
Scout mostly tells of her own thought and feelings, but also devotes considerable time to recounting and analyzing Jem’s thoughts and actionsl

6. Dill
Modeled after her childhood friend Truman Capote, who became a celebrated author.
* His most famous work is called In Cold
Blood.

7. Harper Lee’s Education
Monroeville public schools
Huntington College
University of Alabama
Oxford University – exchange student for a year
University of Alabama – left before becoming a lawyer.

8. Themes
The Mockingbird – innocent folk who in their own manner try to live right, but nevertheless are destroyed mercilessly.
1. Tom Robinson – may not help a white
woman.
2. Atticus Finch – may not defend Tom.
3. Scout & Jem Finch – may not be educated their daddy’s way.
4. Walter Cunningham – may not be poor.
5. Boo Radley – may not be himself.

9. Themes Continued The Coexistence of Good and Evil
The Importance of a Moral Education
The Existence of Social Inequality

10. Motifs
Gothic Details
In literature, the term Gothic refers to a style of fiction first popularized in
eighteenth century England.
* supernatural occurrences
* gloomy and haunted settings
* full moons
Gothic Detail in To Kill a Mockingbird
* unnatural snowfall
* fire that destroys Miss Maudie’s house
* The children’s superstitions about Boo Radley
* The mad dog that Atticus shoots
* Ominous night of the Halloween party on which Bob
Ewell attacks the children
* Small Town Life

11. Symbols
Mockingbirds
comes to represent innocence thus, to “kill a mockingbird” is to destroy innocence.
Boo Radley
symbolizes the children’s changing attitude from childhood innocence toward a grown-up moral attitude.

12. Symbols continued Boo is one of the books most important mockingbirds
He is an important symbol of the good which exists within people.
Despite the pain Boo has experienced, the purity of his heart rules in his interaction with the children.
In saving Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell, Boo proves the ultimate symbol of good.

13. Foreshadowing
The Gothic elements of the novel (fire, mad dog) build tension that subtly foreshadows Tom Robinson’s trial and tragic death.
Burris Ewell’s appearance in school foreshadows the nastiness of Bob Ewell.
The presents that Jem and Scout find in the oak tree foreshadows the eventual discovery of Boo Radley’s good-heartednes.
Bob Ewell’s threats and suspicious behavior after the trial foreshadow his attack on the children.

14. Conflict External Atticus vs. society’s prejudicial attitudes Internal
Atticus vs. himself
His responsibility to Tom Robinson vs. his allegiance to his family.