To Kill a Mockingbird

1. To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee

2. Background • Harper Lee was a descendant of Robert E. Lee • She was born April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama • Lee wrote from about 12 noon until early evening and would produce only a page or two of text.

3. Background continued… • She has only written one novel. • TKMB is mostly autobiographical • Lee’s father was a lawyer and his middle name was “Finch” • Lee was a tom-boy like Scout during 1933-1935

4. Continued… • Fictional Maycomb is modeled after Lee’s own Monroeville • The schoolyard and the courtroom are the same as when she grew up • Southern Dialect is used to portray the region • TKMB was published in July 1960

5. Setting • Maycomb, Alabama 1933-1935 • Maycomb is a typical remnant of the “Old South” • The town exemplifies the prejudiced atmosphere of the Old South

6. Point of View • Lee uses 1st Person limited narration • A grown Scout Finch narrates events from 3 years of her childhood and tells the effects of those events upon herself, her brother, her father and the inhabitants of Maycomb

7. Continued… • Scout’s vision of the world is uncluttered and unprejudiced; She can serve as a true witness to events and facts that the adult community neither wishes to see or understand.

8. Symbolism • “mockingbird” • Find out who the “mockingbirds” are in the story

9. Themes • The need for compassion • The need for conscience • Prejudice • Discrimination • Tolerance