1 To Kill a Mockingbird A novel by: Harper Lee
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
1
To Kill a Mockingbird
A novel by: Harper Lee
Picture found at: http://mockingbird.chebucto.org 2
Harper Lee
Born 1926 in Monroeville, AL
Very Private Person Early 1950s
Studied law Airline hostess Began writing some
during this time
Harper Lee
Youngest of four children
1957 – submitted manuscript for her novel; was urged to rewrite it
4
Harper Lee cont.
To Kill a Mockingbird published in 1960 Took 2 ½ years to write Very Popular Best Seller for 1 ½ years Made into a movie
1961: Pulitzer Prize for Fiction 1966 - was one of two persons named by
President Johnson to the National Council of Arts
5
Similarities Between Novel and Author’s Life
Novel is NOT autobiographical Towns
Monroeville & Maycomb: similar layout and size
Fathers Both Lawyers Lee’s father’s middle is Finch; Finch is the last name of family Both had genuine humility and natural dignity
Time Frame Lee same age as Scout at the time the story takes place
Picture found at: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/98/mock/
intro.html 6
Setting
Maycomb, AL 1933-1935
During the Great Depression Deep South
Segregation and Racism
Historical Background
Two Huntsville Mill Girls Hobo to Chattanooga Hobos were generally migrant workers who
wandered from place to place without a permanent home or job
Hoboing was the practice of jumping on trains without a ticket to gain free passage to another location generally to look for a job.
7
8
Scottsboro Case
Victoria Price 21 years old Known prostitute Employed at Margaret
Spinning Mill
Ruby Bates 17 years old Quiet and well behaved Employed at Margaret
Spinning Mill
9
Scottsboro Case
The Alleged Rape According to Price’s
testimony: African-American men
forced white men off train
Six men raped Price and Bates
The Defendants
10
Scottsboro Case
A Lynching Spirit Officials maintain a
peaceful crowd Armed soldiers on guard
inside and outside the courtroom
An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people gather outside the courthouse
Outside the Courtroom
11
Scottsboro Case
The Trial April 6, 1931 – April 9, 1931
Witnesses Price and Bates One white man (corroborated) Nine African-American men Acquaintance of women (did not corroborate) Physician
Eight of nine men sentenced to death
12
Scottsboro Case Trial Continues
November 7, 1932 United States Supreme Court orders new trial
March 27, 1933 the new trial begins Famous New York defense attorney Samuel S.
Leibowitz Two physicians refute that multiple rapes occurred Ruby Bates openly denies rapes occurred
April 9, 1933 first defendant found guilty Judge James Horton overturns conviction
April 1, 1935 United States Supreme Court reversed all convictions
13
Parallels Between Scottsboro and Tom Robinson Trials
1930s 1930s
Northern Alabama Southern Alabama
Rape charge by white women against African-American men
Rape charge by a white woman against an African-American man
Poor white status of accusers a critical issue
Poor white status of Mayella a critical issue
Central figure is a heroic judge Central figure is Atticus, who defends an African-American man
Judge goes against public sentiment
Atticus arouses anger in community defending Robinson
Jury ignores evidence Jury ignores evidence
Scottsboro Trial Tom Robinson’s Trial
SETTING OF THE NOVEL
Southern United States 1930’s
Great Depression Prejudice and legal segregation Ignorance
1930’s - Great Depression began when the stock market crashed in October, 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.”
Life During the 1930s The Great Depression sweeps the
nation – Many families do not even have money for basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter.
The per capita income for families in Alabama (and Oklahoma) is $125 - $250 a year
Many southern blacks pick cotton for a living
Franklin D. Roosevelt is President
Racial prejudice was alive & well. Although slavery had ended in 1864,
old ideas were slow to change.
Racial Separation (Segregation)
18
19
20
21
Legal Segregation in Alabama, 1923-1940
No white female nurses in hospitals that treat black men
Separate passenger cars for whites and blacks
Separate waiting rooms for whites and blacks
Separation of white and black convicts
Separate schools No interracial marriages Segregated water fountains Segregated theatres
Gender Bias (Prejudice)
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 not considered capable of nurturing children
Legal Issues of the 1930’s which impact the story
Women given the right to vote in 1920
Juries were MALE and WHITE
“Fair trial” did not include acceptance of a black man’s word against a white man’s
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
26
Point of View
1st Person Told by someone in the story. The “I” person is the narrator also.
Everything is told from one perspective.
2nd Person Told from the you perspective. Very rarely used and a difficult form
to write in.
3rd Person Told from an outside force looking in. This narrator is all knowing
and sees everything. The perspectives of all the characters can be seen.
27
To Kill a Mockingbird’s Point of View
In this novel the story is told from Scout’s point of view (1st person).
The novel is primarily told by the child, Scout, but the narrator also uses the fact that it has
been years since the event to fill in other details (showing maturity).
Themes
Racial Prejudice Social Snobbery Morality Tolerance Patience Equality The Need for Compassion The Need for Conscience
Reading the Novel
Setting is all important –be aware of the “where” and “when” as you begin
Point of View – the novel is shaped by the voice of a young girl who sees the story from a 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."
Symbolism
The Mockingbird: Symbolizes Everything That is Good and Harmless in This World The mockingbird only sings to please others and
therefore it is considered a sin to shoot a mockingbird. They are considered harmless creatures who give joy with their song.
The mockingbird image or symbol appears four times in the novel.
Two characters in the novel symbolize the mockingbird: Tom Robinson & Boo Radley.
Related Documents
