To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird A True Classic By Harper Lee

Harper Lee and Her Novel

Family of Harper Lee • Born: April 28, 1926 inMonroeville, Alabama…real name Nelle Harper Lee • Parents: Amasa (father) Frances Cunningham Finch (mother) Father: lawyer and served in the Alabama Legislature

Siblings of Harper Lee • Youngest of four children • Sister: Alice was a lawyer and practiced with her father • Sister: Louise married Hank Conner and had two children • Brother: Edwin Coleman married Sara Anne McCall and had two children

Education of Harper Lee • Youngest of four children…educated at Monroeville public schools • Attended Huntingdon College 1944-45 • Studied law at the University of Alabama 1945-49 • Studied one year at Oxford University

Employment of Harper Lee • Worked as a reservation clerk with Eastern Air Lines and British Overseas Airline Company in 1950’s • Gave up job to focus on her writing • Divided her time between NYC and Monroeville

Friends Growing Up • Growing up loved to write • Truman Capote was her neighbor • Born Sept. 30, 1924 • Died Aug. 25, 1984 • Wrote Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1955) and In Cold Blood (1966) • Spent summers in Monroeville

Writing the Novel • Compiled the story • Submitted it for publishing to J.B. Lippincott Company • Urged to rewrite because too much like a group of short stories rather than a novel • Worked with an editor for two and a half years to rewrite • Resubmitted in 1960

The Novel’s Reception • Published July 1960 • Placed on best seller list for 85 weeks straight • Printed in ten languages • Became book of the month • Became a Reader’s Digest condensed book • Paperback of the year in 1962 • Won the Pulitzer Prize

To the Big Screen • Made into a movie • Gregory Peck won the Academy Award for his role as Atticus Finch • Mary Badham Wilt played Scout • Nominated for Best Supporting Actress at age ten, but lost to Patty Duke

Movie Cast • Dill: John Menga • Miss Maudie: Rosemary Murphy • Mrs. Dubose: Ruth White • Tom Robinson: Brock Peters • Calpurnia: Estelle Evans • Mayella: Colin Wilcox Paxton • Bob Ewell: James Anderson • Aunt Stephanie: Alice Ghostley • Boo: Robert Duvall • Nathan: Richard Hale • Jem: Philip Alford

Novel’s Background • The novel is based on the following: • National events • Specific people • Personal experience

National Events • Scottsboro Trial • Alleged gang rape of two white girls • Nine black teenagers accused • Southern freight train from Chattanooga to Memphis • March 25, 1931 • April 9, 1931…nine were sentenced to death • Mistrial for the ninth because of his youth • Executions suspended because of appeals • November 7, 1932 US Supreme Court ordered new trials because they had not had adequate legal representation

Maycomb is Like Monroeville • Truman Capote was Dill • Atticus was based on Harper’s dad • Calpurnia was similar to Hattie Belle Clausell the negro woman who helped Harper Lee’s mom • The Radley family was similar to the Boleware family who lived on the same street at Harper’s family…their son got into trouble with the law and was kept inside under the father’s watch… very similar to Boo • Stores in the book are like those in Monroeville…the courthouse was at the center of the town square in both places

Monroeville Today Monroeville, the county seat of Monroe County, was named, like the county, for U. S. President James Monroe. The land was originally held by Creek Indians. Total size of the county is 1,019 square miles, the ninth largest of-Alabama's counties.

In and Around MonroevilleToday

Concepts from the NovelLegal Aspects • Prosecution: The state of Alabama (Mr. Gilmer) • Defense: Tom Robinson (Defendant) Atticus Finch (lawyer) • Judge: Mr. Taylor • Jury: all white men who are farmers and uneducated • Court: old worn down inside and outside mighty Greek columns…opposites • Witness: testifies to what he/she saw • Summation: closing remarks • Evidence: eye witness account…no doctor • Bench: where the judge sits

Flowers of the South • Holly • Collards • Camellias • Azaleas • Cotton • Chinaberries • Dewberries • Pecan tree • Cannas • Mimosa • Kudzu • Hickory nuts • Scuppernongs • Wisteria • Geraniums • Gardenias • Johnson grass Camellias Scuppernongs Chinaberries

Collards Hickory nuts Fried chicken Scuppernongs Lemonade Pound cake Lane cake Ice cream Ham Summer vegetables Peach pickles Ambrosia Biscuits and butter Cornbread Pork and beans Fried pork chops Coca cola Sardines Crackers Nehi cola Potato salad Pickled pigs’ knuckles Charlotte Dewberry tarts Cookies Divinity Angel food cake Biscuits and gravy Butterbeans Foods of the South

Culture of the 1930’s • People • Amelia Earhart…1st woman to fly solo across Atlantic • Jessie Owens…African American athlete...4 gold medals in track and field 1936…Olympics Berlin • Art • Mt. Rushmore completed by Gutzon Borglum • Jason Pollock artist • Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center • Education • School terms shortened because depression led to short money supply-taxes • Dick and Jane books

Culture Continued… • Fashion and Fads • Hobby…stamp collecting • Monopoly…20, 000 sets sold in a week in 1935 • Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio • Zipper used in clothes • Literature • Writers • F. Scott Fitzgerald • Hemingway • Steinbeck • Wilder • Music • Duke Ellington • Benny Goodman • Glenn Miller • 1931 Star Spangled Banner

Culture Continued… • Radio • 80% people owned one by 1939 • Jack Benny Show…Lone Ranger…soap operas…The Shadow • Science/Technology • NY World’s Fair 1939 World of Tomorrow • Einstein immigrated to US in 1933 professor at Princeton • Better refrigeration • Nylon made • 1938 photocopying started • Theater and Film • Hollywood flourished • Clark Gable…Bette Davis…Shirley Temple • Gone with the Wind

Culture Continued…Dick and Jane Reader: • Popular basal reader • Written by Zerna Sharp • 1930-1970 • Relied on sight reading and repetition....ignored phonics • Stories about family life • 1965 integration of school....characters changed • Main original characters • Jane • Dick • Spot • Mom • Dad

CharactersAtticus Finch • Ideal view of justice • Understands true worth of people whether black or white • Doesn’t allow prejudice to get in the way • Teaches his children well • Wants his kids to be compassionate and understanding of all people • His sister doesn’t agree with all his beliefs • Central figure…his name is a term that refers to greatness and it implies learning, culture, and heroism • Source of strength and help • Has a sense of integrity

CharactersScout Finch • Jean Louise • Narrator • Innocent young child…6 to 9 years old • Open-minded • Learns the complexities of life • Gains understanding • Nickname because she is the scout of Maycomb • Tomboy • Idolizes her father • A bit bossy • Smart…quick thinking

CharactersJem Finch • Jeremy • Older brother • Grows up…changes the most • 10 years old to 13 • Acts similar to Atticus

CharactersCalpurnia • Black cook and housekeeper for the Finch family • Link between the black and white worlds • Raises the Finch children…disciplines them • Learned to read and write from old law books

CharactersDill Harris • Real name Charles Baker Harris • From Meridian, Mississippi • Play companion of Jem and Scout • Comes to Maycomb each summer to his aunt’s house, Miss Rachel • Has no father and is unwanted by his mother…lonely • Looks like a misfit • Has a talent for telling tales from books and movies • Enthralled by the Radley house and family

CharactersBoo Radley • Neighbor to the Finch family • Has not been outside in many years…stories surround him…stabbing father with scissors • Symbol of kindness and bravery • Phantom….hence his name • He seems to be the town freak but has a greater sense of values • Foils Bob Ewell’s plan of attack • Kids learn that he is very different than they imagine

CharactersMiss Maudie • Kids favorite neighbor • Supports Atticus and what he does • Widow in her forties • Serves as a role model for Scout • Makes cakes • House burns • Well respected

CharactersAunt Alexandra • Atticus’s younger sister • Is at odds with Atticus and his beliefs • Is preoccupied with family and the reputation • Comes to help turn Scout into a lady

CharactersMiss. Stephanie Crawford • Prejudice • Town gossip • Spreads rumors about Boo Radley

CharactersMrs. Dubose • Old neighbor • Kids think that she is mean • Taunts and frightens the kids • Struggles at the end to free herself of the morphine addiction

CharactersBob Ewell • Poor farmer • Makes no attempt to live with dignity • Often abuses his 8 children • Unemployed drunk • Dependent on town charity • Lives in squalor next to the town dump • Angry man

CharactersMayella Ewell • Bob Ewell’s 19 year old daughter • Has no friends • Lonely • Kind but not smart

CharactersTom Robinson • African American who is wrongfully accused of raping Mayella • Strong, handsome and in his twenties • Has a wife Helen and 3 kids • Described as clean living • Works for Link Deas • Hand crippled from cotton gin accident

Miss. Caroline Fisher • Teacher • Twenty-one • Looks like a peppermint • Bright auburn hair • From North Alabama

The Cunningham's • Walter goes to school with Scout • The crash hit them the hardest • Country folk • Farmers • Paid for thigs with what they had…hickory nuts

Setting • Imaginary district of Maycomb County • Southern Alabama • Summer of 1933 to Halloween 1935 • Grips of the Depression • Rural area…farms…crops meager • Poor • Progress is slow

The Radley House • Old • Run down • Rain rotted shingles • Mysterious • Family….Mr. and Mrs. And Nathan and Arthur • Two live oaks stood at the end of the property

Downtown Maycomb • Tyndall’s Hardware • Ok Café • Maycomb Tribune • Hotel • Maycomb Jail • Mayco Drug Store • Sinkfield Tavern • Maycomb Bank • VJ Elmore Store • Post Office • Court House

Barker’s Eddy…off Meridian Highway…about a mile from town Fish pool Town Dump Ewell House Negro Settlement Tom Robinson’s house First Purchase African ME Church Other Places Around Maycomb

Cecil Jacobs Mr. Avery Mrs. Merriweather Mrs. Crenshaw Miss Tutti and Frutti Judge Taylor Heck Tate Mr. Underwood Mr. Gilmer Dr. Reynolds Dolphus Raymond Link Deas Caroline Fisher Reverend Sykes Zeebo Rachel Haverford Helen Robinson Lula Walter Cunningham Sr. Walter Cunningham, Jr. Mr. Harry Johnson Other Residents of Maycomb

Point of View • Scout Finch is the narrator…the reader sees the story through a child’s eyes • She uses adult language • Perceptive, independent child • 1st person

ThemesPrejudice • White and black community is separate • Most white people believe they are superior to the blacks • Prejudice leads to hypocrisy • Characters who want change and tolerance are seen as odd • Sexism is a form of prejudice…Scout is admonished for not being a lady

ThemesUnderstanding • Atticus teaches Jem and Scout to be tolerant of others • Seeing life from a different perspective…walking in someone else's shoes • Children learn to accept behavior of others…Mrs. Dubose and Boo Radley

ThemesLoss of Innocence • Scout in the beginning is innocent and by the end of the novel has matured…bilundgsroman • Scout outgrows childish ways • Jem grows up as well • Trial of Tom and especially the outcome teaches Scout and Jem about the harsh realities of life

ThemesCourage • Jem shows courage by touching the house • Atticus shoots the rabid dog • Scout learns not to fight with her fists…instead uses her mind…moral courage • Atticus takes on the case • Mrs. Dubose overcomes addiction and faces death on her own terms • Boo comes out of the house

Themes Justice and Law • Atticus has faith in the justice system • Court outside description vs. inside • Judge Taylor does his best to give Tom a fair trial • Heck Tate does not decide to pursue Bob Ewell’s death shows his belief in natural justice/ “let the dead bury the dead”

Symbols • Fire at Miss Maudie’s house burns out of control just as racism does in Maycomb • The rabid dog needs to be shot down in one shot just as racism does, and Atticus must do it • Boo’s name …ghost • Boo and Tom are the mockingbird…symbol of innocence • Jail symbolizes anything that is out of date

To Kill A Mockingbird