An Introduction to Harper Lees To Kill a

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An Introduction to Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird

An Introduction to Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee • Born on April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama • Youngest of

Harper Lee • Born on April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama • Youngest of four children • 1957 - submitted manuscript for her novel; urged to rewrite it • Spent over two years reworking it • 1960 - To Kill a Mockingbird (her only novel) was published • 1966 - was one of two persons names by President Johnson to the National Council of Arts; won a Pulitzer Prize in 1961, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007 (highest civilian award in U. S. ) • Over 30 million copies sold, 40 different languages, 80 weeks on the best seller list

Setting • Maycomb, Alabama • 1930’s • Great Depression • Prejudice and legal segregation

Setting • Maycomb, Alabama • 1930’s • Great Depression • Prejudice and legal segregation • Ignorance

Maycom b, Alabama (an interpretation)

Maycom b, Alabama (an interpretation)

Point of View • First person • Story is told by Scout, a 10

Point of View • First person • Story is told by Scout, a 10 year old girl • Bildungsroman: a novel about the formative years, moral and psychological growth of the main character (usually a child) • Harper Lee is a woman; Scout represents the author as a little girl although the story is not strictly autobiographical

Main Characters • Scout (Jean Louise Finch)- six-year old narrator of story • Jem

Main Characters • Scout (Jean Louise Finch)- six-year old narrator of story • Jem (Jeremy Atticus Finch)- her older brother (4 years older) • Atticus Finch- Jem and Scout’s father, a prominent lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman • Arthur (Boo) Radley- a 33 -year old recluse who lives next door • Charles Baker (Dill) Harris- Jem and Scout’s friend who comes to visit his aunt Rachel in Maycomb each summer • Tom Robinson- a respectable black man accused of raping a white woman • Calpurnia- the Finches’ black cook/nanny

Social Class in the Novel • This is probably similar to how class structure

Social Class in the Novel • 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

1930 s- The Great Depression • The Great depression began when the Stock Market

1930 s- The Great Depression • The Great depression began when the Stock Market crashed in October of 1929 • Businesses failed, factories closed • People were out of work • Even people with money suffered because nothing was being produced for sale • Poor people lost their homes, were forced to “live off the land. ”

Prejudice • Racial prejudice was alive and kicking, even though slavery had ended in

Prejudice • Racial prejudice was alive and kicking, even though slavery had ended in 1864, old ideas were slow to change • Race • Gender • Handicaps • Rich/Poor • Age • Religion

Women, too. . . • Gender bias (or prejudice) was also a problem •

Women, too. . . • Gender bias (or prejudice) was also a problem • Women were considered “weak” • Women were generally not educated for occupations outside the home • In wealthy families, women were expected to oversee the servants and entertain guests • Men were not considered capable of nurturing children

Legal Issue of the 1930 s • Women were given the right to vote

Legal Issue of the 1930 s • Women were given the right to vote in 1920 • Juries, however, were MALE and WHITE • “Fair Trial” did not include acceptance of a black man’s word against that of a white man

While Reading. . . • Setting is all important- be aware of the “where”

While Reading. . . • Setting is all important- be aware of the “where” and “when” as you begin • Remember the time period and the language used • Point of view- the novel is shaped by the voice of a young girl who see the story froma position of naïve acceptance • “Goodness vs. Ignorance (Evil)” is an important theme • “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. ” – Atticus Finch