To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird

By Harper Lee

1930’s - Great Depression 1930’s - Great Depression began when the stock market began when the stock market

crashed in October, 1929crashed 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.”

Racial prejudice was alive & well. Racial prejudice was alive & well. Although slavery had ended in 1864, Although slavery had ended in 1864,

old ideas were slow to change. old ideas were slow to change.

Racial separation (segregation)Racial separation (segregation)

Prejudice in the novelPrejudice in the novel

Race

Gender

Handicaps

Rich/Poor

Age

Religion

PrejudicePrejudice

1. Injury resulting from an unfair judgment or action of another.

2. A judgment or opinion formed before considering or without knowing the facts.

AUTHOR’SAUTHOR’S LINKS TO THE LINKS TO THE NOVEL’S PLOT AND NOVEL’S PLOT AND

CHARACTERSCHARACTERS Harper Lee’s father was a Southern lawyer. He

served as the prototype for Atticus Finch. Harper Lee’s age (6 to 8) correlates with Scout’s

age during 1933-1935, the time period of the book.

The courtroom in Maycomb is patterned after the one in Monroeville where Harper Lee observed her father in courtroom proceedings.

Some of the novel’s characters are composites of people Harper Lee knew personally; for example, the author Truman Capote as Dill.

Tom Robinson’s trial appears to be a composite of many trials in the South, specifically the Scottsboro trials.

"The Scottsboro Boys" Trials"The Scottsboro Boys" Trials 1931 - 19371931 - 1937

Alleged rape of two white girls by nine black teenagers on the Southern Railroad freight run from Chattanooga to Memphis on March 25, 1931. The story of the Scottsboro Boys is one of the most shameful examples of injustice in our nation's history.

CHARACTERSCHARACTERS

ATTICUS FINCH – lawyer, father of Scout and Jem; widower

JEAN LOUISE “SCOUT” FINCH – adult narrator as story begins; narrates story in retrospect; relates events

that begin when she is 6 years old. JEM FINCH – Scout’s brother, who is 4

years older than she. CHARLES BAKER “DILL” HARRIS – 7-

year-old visitor to Maycomb; acts as a catalyst

MORE CHARACTERSMORE CHARACTERS

ARTHUR “BOO” RADLEY – neighborhood recluse

CALPURNIA – the black housekeeper for the Finch family

AUNT ALEXANDRA – Scout & Jem’s aunt

MAUDE ATKINSON – friend of Finch family

MORE CHARACTERSMORE CHARACTERS

TOM ROBINSON – black man accused of raping a white girl

MAYELLA EWELL – the girl who accuses Tom of rape

BOB EWELL – Mayella’s fatherHECK TATE – sheriff of Maycomb

CHARACTERSAS

SYMBOLS

Innocence

Justice

Helpfulness

BigotryOr

Prejudice

Helplessness

JEMSCOUTDILL

ATTICUS

BOB EWELL

CALPURNIA&

MAUDIE

TOMROBINSON

&BOO

QUESTIONS TO QUESTIONS TO CONSIDERCONSIDER

1. What was America like during the time of this book?

2. What is the significance of the title with regards to the plot and symbolism?

3. What experiences and people did Harper Lee rely on in order to develop her plot and characters?

4. Is there still prejudice in America today?