To Kill a To Kill a MockingbirdMockingbird

By Harper LeeBy Harper Lee

Harper LeeHarper Lee She was born in 1926 in Monroeville, She was born in 1926 in Monroeville,

Alabama (the fictional “Maycomb, Alabama (the fictional “Maycomb, Alabama”)Alabama”)

Her father “Amasa” was a lawyer Her father “Amasa” was a lawyer whom she deeply admiredwhom she deeply admired

Her mother’s maiden name was Her mother’s maiden name was “Finch”“Finch”

Her own childhood mirrors that of the Her own childhood mirrors that of the character “Scout”character “Scout”

In 1960 she published her only novel In 1960 she published her only novel – “To Kill a Mockingbird”– “To Kill a Mockingbird”

It received the Pulitzer Prize for It received the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1961Literature in 1961

Since 1960, “To Kill a Mockingbird” Since 1960, “To Kill a Mockingbird” has never been out of printhas never been out of print

At age 81, she is alive and resides in At age 81, she is alive and resides in New YorkNew York

She rarely makes public appearances She rarely makes public appearances or gives interviewsor gives interviews

Harper Lee continuedHarper Lee continued

Harper Lee’s ChildhoodHarper Lee’s Childhood Grew up in 1930s- rural Grew up in 1930s- rural

southern Alabama town: southern Alabama town: MonroevilleMonroeville

Father: Amasa Lee- attorney Father: Amasa Lee- attorney who served in state legislature who served in state legislature in Alabamain Alabama

Older brother and younger Older brother and younger neighbor (Truman Capote) are neighbor (Truman Capote) are playmatesplaymates

Harper Lee: avid readerHarper Lee: avid reader Six years old when Scottsboro Six years old when Scottsboro

trials were meticulously trials were meticulously covered in state and local covered in state and local newspapersnewspapers

Scout Finch’s ChildhoodScout Finch’s Childhood Grew up in 1930s- rural southern Grew up in 1930s- rural southern

Alabama town: MaycombAlabama town: Maycomb Father: Atticus Finch-attorney Father: Atticus Finch-attorney

who served in state legislature in who served in state legislature in AlabamaAlabama

Older brother and younger Older brother and younger neighbor (Dill) are playmatesneighbor (Dill) are playmates

Scout reads before she enters Scout reads before she enters school; reads school; reads Mobile Register Mobile Register newspaper in first gradenewspaper in first grade

Six years old when the trials of Six years old when the trials of Tom Robinson takes placeTom Robinson takes place

Black Writers of the TimeBlack Writers of the Time Langston HughesLangston Hughes

Born in Joplin, MissouriBorn in Joplin, Missouri Writer during the Harlem RenaissanceWriter during the Harlem Renaissance

African American cultural movement from the mid African American cultural movement from the mid 1920’s-mid 1930’s1920’s-mid 1930’s

Lorraine HansberryLorraine Hansberry Wrote the play “Raisin in the Sun”Wrote the play “Raisin in the Sun” 11stst play by an African American woman on play by an African American woman on

Broadway Broadway

Morphine: A Southern Lady’s DrugMorphine: A Southern Lady’s Drug 1930s Typical 1930s Typical

Morphine Addict:Morphine Addict: White femaleWhite female Middle-aged or olderMiddle-aged or older WidowedWidowed HomeboundHomebound Lives in the southLives in the south Property ownerProperty owner Began using morphine Began using morphine

for medical reasons for medical reasons (pain relief)(pain relief)

In “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the In “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the Finch children will become Finch children will become acquainted with a morphine addict acquainted with a morphine addict named Mrs. Dubose. Although named Mrs. Dubose. Although only a fictitious character, she only a fictitious character, she personifies the American personifies the American morphine addict of the late morphine addict of the late nineteenth and early twentieth nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.centuries.

The NovelThe Novel

ToneToneSomber/SeriousSomber/SeriousHumorous (at times)Humorous (at times)

SettingSetting Maycomb, Alabama Maycomb, Alabama

(fictional city)(fictional city) 1933-19351933-1935 Although slavery has Although slavery has

long been abolished, long been abolished, the Southerners in the Southerners in Maycomb continue to Maycomb continue to believe in white believe in white supremacy.supremacy.

LanguageLanguage Sometimes the language of Scout will be that of her as a Sometimes the language of Scout will be that of her as a

child; other times, she will be speaking in the voice of an child; other times, she will be speaking in the voice of an adultadult

Atticus uses formal speechAtticus uses formal speech Calpurnia uses “white language” in the Finch house and Calpurnia uses “white language” in the Finch house and

switches to “black jargon” when amidst blacksswitches to “black jargon” when amidst blacks The Ewells use foul words and obscenitiesThe Ewells use foul words and obscenities Jem, Scout, and Dill will use slang words, typical of their Jem, Scout, and Dill will use slang words, typical of their

ageage Tom Robinson uses language typical of the southern Tom Robinson uses language typical of the southern

black such as “suh” for “sir” and “chillun” for “children”black such as “suh” for “sir” and “chillun” for “children” Various derogatory terms for blacks will be used such as Various derogatory terms for blacks will be used such as

“nigger,” “darky,” “Negroes,” and “colored folk” – Lee uses “nigger,” “darky,” “Negroes,” and “colored folk” – Lee uses such language to keep her novel naturally in sync with such language to keep her novel naturally in sync with common language of the timescommon language of the times

Social Class in the NovelSocial Class in the NovelWealthy

Country Folk

"White Trash"

BlackCommunity

This is probably similar to how class structure existed during the 1930’s in the South. The wealthy, although fewest in number, were most powerful. The blacks, although great in number, were lowest on the class ladder, and thus, had the least privileges.

Examples of each social class:

Wealthy - Finches

Country Folk - Cunninghams

“White Trash” – Ewells

Black Community – Tom Robinson

Two Poor White Families:Two Poor White Families:The Cunninghams The EwellsThe Cunninghams The Ewells

Poor white familyPoor white family Hard-workingHard-working HonestHonest ProudProud Survive on very littleSurvive on very little Always pay back their Always pay back their

debts – even if it is debts – even if it is with hickory nuts, with hickory nuts, turnips, or holly.turnips, or holly.

Poor white trashPoor white trash DirtyDirty LazyLazy Good-for-nothingGood-for-nothing Never done a day’s Never done a day’s

workwork Foul-mouthedFoul-mouthed DishonestDishonest ImmoralImmoral

The Black CommunityThe Black Community SimpleSimple HonestHonest CleanClean Hard-workingHard-working God fearingGod fearing ProudProud Would never take Would never take

anything with paying it anything with paying it backback

RespectfulRespectful Had stronger character Had stronger character

than most of the whitesthan most of the whites

OppressedOppressed UneducatedUneducated Discriminated againstDiscriminated against Talked about badlyTalked about badly Deserve better than what Deserve better than what

is dished out to them by is dished out to them by societysociety

ThemesThemes Racial PrejudiceRacial Prejudice Social SnobberySocial Snobbery MoralityMorality ToleranceTolerance PatiencePatience EqualityEquality The Need for CompassionThe Need for Compassion The Need for ConscienceThe Need for Conscience

SymbolismSymbolism

The Mockingbird: Symbolizes The Mockingbird: Symbolizes Everything That is Good and Harmless Everything That is Good and Harmless in This Worldin This World The mockingbird only sings to please others The mockingbird only sings to please others

and therefore it is considered a sin to shoot a and therefore it is considered a sin to shoot a mockingbird. They are considered harmless mockingbird. They are considered harmless creatures who give joy with their song.creatures who give joy with their song.

The mockingbird image or symbol appears The mockingbird image or symbol appears four times in the novel.four times in the novel.

Two characters in the novel symbolize the Two characters in the novel symbolize the mockingbird: Tom Robinson & Boo Radley.mockingbird: Tom Robinson & Boo Radley.

The Characters

Jem

Tom Robinson

Dill

Calpurnia

Boo

Scout

Atticus

Jean Louis Finch – “Scout”Jean Louis Finch – “Scout” The story’s narratorThe story’s narrator Although now an adult, Although now an adult,

Scout looks back at her Scout looks back at her childhood and tells of childhood and tells of the momentous events the momentous events and influential people of and influential people of those years.those years.

Scout is six when the Scout is six when the story begins.story begins.

She is naturally curious She is naturally curious about life.about life.

Scout’s Character TraitsScout’s Character Traits TomboyTomboy ImpulsiveImpulsive EmotionalEmotional Warm & FriendlyWarm & Friendly SensitiveSensitive AdorableAdorable Gains in Maturity throughout the NovelGains in Maturity throughout the Novel

Atticus FinchAtticus Finch Father of Scout and JemFather of Scout and Jem A widowerA widower An attorney by professionAn attorney by profession Highly respectedHighly respected Good citizenGood citizen Instills good values and morals in Instills good values and morals in his children.his children. His children call him “Atticus”His children call him “Atticus” HonestHonest Typical southern gentlemanTypical southern gentleman BraveBrave CourteousCourteous Soft-spokenSoft-spoken

Jem FinchJem Finch

Scout’s older brother

Looks up to his father Atticus

Usually looks out for Scout

Typical older brother at times

Smart

Compassionate

Matures as the story progresses

CalpurniaCalpurnia The Finch’s black The Finch’s black

housekeeperhousekeeper Has watched the Has watched the

children since their children since their mother’s deathmother’s death

Has been a positive Has been a positive influence on the influence on the children.children.

Arthur “Boo” RadleyArthur “Boo” Radley

An enigmaAn enigma An adult man, whose father has “sentenced” An adult man, whose father has “sentenced”

him to a lifetime confinement to their house him to a lifetime confinement to their house because of some mischief he got into when he because of some mischief he got into when he was a teenager.was a teenager.

Has a reputation of being a lunaticHas a reputation of being a lunatic Basically a harmless, well-meaning personBasically a harmless, well-meaning person Sometimes childlike in behaviorSometimes childlike in behavior Starving for love and affectionStarving for love and affection Saves Jem and Scout from certain dangerSaves Jem and Scout from certain danger

Tom RobinsonTom Robinson A young, harmless, A young, harmless,

innocent, hardworking innocent, hardworking black manblack man

Has a crippled left Has a crippled left handhand

Married with three Married with three children. Works on a children. Works on a farm belonging to Mr. farm belonging to Mr. Link Deas, a white Link Deas, a white manman

Will be falsely Will be falsely accused of raping a accused of raping a white girl, Mayella white girl, Mayella EwellEwell

DillDill A close friend of Jem A close friend of Jem

and Scoutand Scout Usually lives in Usually lives in

Maycomb only during Maycomb only during the summer (stays the summer (stays with a relative)with a relative)

Tells “big stories”Tells “big stories” Has been deprived of Has been deprived of

love and affectionlove and affection