To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird

Introductory NotesIntroductory Notes

The NovelThe Novel Written in 1957 (published in Written in 1957 (published in

1960)1960) Spent 80 weeks on best seller listSpent 80 weeks on best seller list Won Pulitzer Prize in 1961Won Pulitzer Prize in 1961 Became Oscar-winning movie in Became Oscar-winning movie in

19621962 30 million copies in print, 30 million copies in print,

translated in 40 different languagestranslated in 40 different languages

Harper LeeHarper Lee Nelle Harper LeeNelle Harper Lee Born in Alabama, 1926Born in Alabama, 1926 Studied Law at University Studied Law at University of Alabamaof Alabama This is Lee’s first and only novelThis is Lee’s first and only novel In 2007, Harper was awarded the In 2007, Harper was awarded the

Presidential Medal of Freedom Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest civilian honor) for (the highest civilian honor) for her contribution to literature. her contribution to literature.

ParallelsParallelsLeeLee ScoutScout

Grew up in small Grew up in small Alabama townAlabama town

Every summer, Truman Every summer, Truman Capote came to visitCapote came to visit

Father was a lawyerFather was a lawyer Was considered a Was considered a

“tomboy”“tomboy” A recluseA recluse

Setting is small Setting is small Alabama townAlabama town

Every summer Dill Every summer Dill came to visitcame to visit

Atticus is a lawyerAtticus is a lawyer Does not like to be Does not like to be

called a girlcalled a girl Lives next to Boo Lives next to Boo

Radley, a recluseRadley, a recluse

Historical InformationHistorical Information Written during the time of the Civil Rights Movement Written during the time of the Civil Rights Movement

(1960’s) when groups were attempting to integrate (1960’s) when groups were attempting to integrate blacks and whites.blacks and whites.

Inequality was at its heightInequality was at its height The novel is a comment on the inequality and The novel is a comment on the inequality and

injustice that existed between two racial groups.injustice that existed between two racial groups. The novel emphasizes that racial views had not The novel emphasizes that racial views had not

changed much since the 1930’s when Harper was changed much since the 1930’s when Harper was growing up in the South (30 years earlier). growing up in the South (30 years earlier).

Novel BackgroundNovel Background The story begins in summer 1933 and ends The story begins in summer 1933 and ends

Halloween night 1935Halloween night 1935 Country is in the midst of the Great DepressionCountry is in the midst of the Great Depression Setting- Maycomb is a very poor county in Setting- Maycomb is a very poor county in

Alabama. (Said to be Monroeville)Alabama. (Said to be Monroeville) Professionals don’t make much b/c clients can’t Professionals don’t make much b/c clients can’t

afford to pay themafford to pay them Maycomb is slow to respond to change- Maycomb is slow to respond to change-

newcomers and new ideas are not easily acceptednewcomers and new ideas are not easily accepted

1930’s - Great Depression 1930’s - Great Depression •The Great Depression was caused by the Stock Market Crash•Businesses failed, factories closed

•13 million Americans 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.”•750,000 farmers lost their land.

Life in the 1930sLife in the 1930s

Legal Issues of the 1930’s Legal Issues of the 1930’s which impact the storywhich impact the story

Women given the vote Women given the vote in 1920in 1920

Juries were MALE Juries were MALE and WHITE and WHITE

““Fair trial” did not Fair trial” did not include acceptance of include acceptance of a black man’s word a black man’s word against a white man’sagainst a white man’s

Major Prejudices of the 1930’sMajor Prejudices of the 1930’s

RacialRacial GenderGender SocialSocial

Racial separation (segregation)Racial separation (segregation)

Racial PrejudicesRacial Prejudices Slavery ended in 1864, with the passing of the Slavery ended in 1864, with the passing of the

1414thth amendment, but the Civil Rights amendment, but the Civil Rights movement did not begin until the 1950’smovement did not begin until the 1950’s

Many African Americans were forced by Many African Americans were forced by circumstance (not by law) to take menial jobs circumstance (not by law) to take menial jobs (housekeeper, cook, janitor, etc.)(housekeeper, cook, janitor, etc.)

Racial Prejudices contd.Racial Prejudices contd. In the South, in the 1930’s, blacks were denied In the South, in the 1930’s, blacks were denied

equal rights and access to education as a result equal rights and access to education as a result of Jim Crow Laws.of Jim Crow Laws.

Under the Jim Crow Laws, segregation was Under the Jim Crow Laws, segregation was legal and African Americans were regulated to legal and African Americans were regulated to second class citizens.second class citizens.

If Jim Crow Laws were not abided by, If Jim Crow Laws were not abided by, violence, such as lynching, would ensue.violence, such as lynching, would ensue.

Jim Crow LawsJim Crow Laws A black male can not offer to shake hands with A black male can not offer to shake hands with

a white male (because it implies social a white male (because it implies social equality)equality)

Blacks are not to be referred to as Mr., Mrs., Blacks are not to be referred to as Mr., Mrs., Sir, or Ma’am, but rather by their first names.Sir, or Ma’am, but rather by their first names.

Blacks must wait for whites at an intersectionBlacks must wait for whites at an intersection

Jim Crow Laws contd.Jim Crow Laws contd. Blacks were never toBlacks were never to

Assert that a white person is lying.Assert that a white person is lying. Impute dishonorable intentions to a white person.Impute dishonorable intentions to a white person. Suggests that a white person is from an inferior class.Suggests that a white person is from an inferior class. Lay claim to, or overly demonstrate, superior knowledge or Lay claim to, or overly demonstrate, superior knowledge or

intelligenceintelligence Curse at a white personCurse at a white person Laugh at a white personLaugh at a white person Comment on the appearance of a white womanComment on the appearance of a white woman

Gender PrejudicesGender Prejudices Women were considered “weak”Women were considered “weak” Women were generally not Women were generally not

educated for occupations outside educated for occupations outside the homethe home

In wealthy families, women were In wealthy families, women were expected to oversee the servants expected to oversee the servants and entertain guests and entertain guests

Men not considered capable of Men not considered capable of nurturing childrennurturing children

Social PrejudicesSocial Prejudices ““White Trash”White Trash” Poor, uneducated white people who Poor, uneducated white people who

lived on “relief “ lived on “relief “ lowest social class, even below the poor lowest social class, even below the poor

blacksblacks prejudiced against black people prejudiced against black people felt the need to “put down” blacks in felt the need to “put down” blacks in

order to elevate themselvesorder to elevate themselves

Historical ParallelsHistorical Parallels

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys In 1931, The trial of the nine falsely accused In 1931, The trial of the nine falsely accused

teens would draw North and South into their teens would draw North and South into their sharpest conflict since the Civil War, yield two sharpest conflict since the Civil War, yield two momentous Supreme Court decisions and give momentous Supreme Court decisions and give birth to the Civil Rights Movement. birth to the Civil Rights Movement.

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys March 25: In the depths of the Depression, a fight March 25: In the depths of the Depression, a fight

breaks out between white and black young men who breaks out between white and black young men who are riding as hoboes on a Southern Railroad freight are riding as hoboes on a Southern Railroad freight train. The train is stopped by an angry posse in Paint train. The train is stopped by an angry posse in Paint Rock, Alabama, and nine black youths are arrested Rock, Alabama, and nine black youths are arrested for assault. Rape charges are added, following for assault. Rape charges are added, following accusations from two white women who have also accusations from two white women who have also come off the train, come off the train, Victoria Price and and Ruby Bates. . The accused are taken to Scottsboro, Alabama, the The accused are taken to Scottsboro, Alabama, the Jackson County seat. The women are examined by Jackson County seat. The women are examined by Drs. R. R. Bridges and Marvin Lynch.Drs. R. R. Bridges and Marvin Lynch.

The Scottsboro Boys, contd.The Scottsboro Boys, contd. 8 of the boys are sentenced to death8 of the boys are sentenced to death The other boy was 13; 11 jurors voted death, The other boy was 13; 11 jurors voted death,

one life in prison – a hung juryone life in prison – a hung jury A letter surfaces from one of the “victims” A letter surfaces from one of the “victims”

written to her boyfriend in which she denies written to her boyfriend in which she denies being raped. She later testifies in court that being raped. She later testifies in court that both girls were lyingboth girls were lying

Even after her testimony, boys still sentenced Even after her testimony, boys still sentenced to deathto death

The Scottsboro Boys, contd.The Scottsboro Boys, contd. A mob of white men tried to break into the jail A mob of white men tried to break into the jail

where the boys were being heldwhere the boys were being held

GenreGenre BildungsromanBildungsroman

[bil-doongz-roh-mahn][bil-doongz-roh-mahn] German. Type of novel German. Type of novel

concerned with the education, concerned with the education, development, and maturing of a development, and maturing of a young protaginistyoung protaginist

A “coming of age” novelA “coming of age” novel It also includesIt also includes

Parent/Mentor playing a role in Parent/Mentor playing a role in that growth that growth (negatively/positively)(negatively/positively)

Rituals or rites of passageRituals or rites of passage Protagonists faces a crisis which Protagonists faces a crisis which

helps to find his/her identity and helps to find his/her identity and role in the worldrole in the world

GenreGenre Scout, narrator, is six when novel beginsScout, narrator, is six when novel begins Scout has a limited point of view (first person Scout has a limited point of view (first person

limited) and she lacks understanding of how limited) and she lacks understanding of how things work in the “real world”things work in the “real world”

The story follows Scout over the course of The story follows Scout over the course of three years as she learns about herself, society, three years as she learns about herself, society, and her familyand her family

Use of past tense signifies that the narrator is Use of past tense signifies that the narrator is reflecting back on her childhood.reflecting back on her childhood.

Themes in TKaMThemes in TKaM Loss of InnocenceLoss of Innocence Attaining CourageAttaining Courage Social InequalitySocial Inequality Coexistence of Good & EvilCoexistence of Good & Evil Importance of Moral EducationImportance of Moral Education