1. 11
To Kill aTo Kill a
MockingbirMockingbir
dd
By HarperBy Harper
LeeLee

2. 22
SettingSetting
 Maycomb, AlabamaMaycomb, Alabama
(fictional city)(fictional city)
 1933-19351933-1935
 Although slavery hasAlthough slavery has
long been abolished,long been abolished,
the Southerners inthe Southerners in
Maycomb continue toMaycomb continue to
believe in whitebelieve in white
supremacy.supremacy.

3. 33
ThemesThemes
 Racial PrejudiceRacial Prejudice
 Social SnobberySocial Snobbery
 MoralityMorality
 ToleranceTolerance
 PatiencePatience
 EqualityEquality
 The Need for CompassionThe Need for Compassion
 The Need for ConscienceThe Need for Conscience

4. 44
SymbolismSymbolism
 The Mockingbird: Symbolizes EverythingThe Mockingbird: Symbolizes Everything
That is Good and Harmless in This WorldThat is Good and Harmless in This World
 The mockingbird only sings to please othersThe mockingbird only sings to please others
and therefore it is considered a sin to shoot aand therefore it is considered a sin to shoot a
mockingbird. They are considered harmlessmockingbird. They are considered harmless
creatures who give joy with their song.creatures who give joy with their song.
 The mockingbird image or symbol appearsThe mockingbird image or symbol appears
four times in the novel.four times in the novel.
 Two characters in the novel symbolize theTwo characters in the novel symbolize the
mockingbird: Tom Robinson & Boo Radley.mockingbird: Tom Robinson & Boo Radley.

5. 55
Jean Louis Finch – “Scout”Jean Louis Finch – “Scout”
 The story’s narratorThe story’s narrator
 Although now anAlthough now an
adult, Scout looksadult, Scout looks
back at her childhoodback at her childhood
and tells of theand tells of the
momentous eventsmomentous events
and influential peopleand influential people
of those years.of those years.
 Scout is six when theScout is six when the
story begins.story begins.
 She is naturallyShe is naturally
curious about life.curious about life.

6. 66
Scout’s Character TraitsScout’s Character Traits
 TomboyTomboy
 ImpulsiveImpulsive
 EmotionalEmotional
 Warm & FriendlyWarm & Friendly
 SensitiveSensitive
 AdorableAdorable
 Gains in Maturity throughout the NovelGains in Maturity throughout the Novel

7. 77
Atticus FinchAtticus Finch
 Father of Scout and JemFather of Scout and Jem
 A widowerA widower
 An attorney by professionAn attorney by profession
 Highly respectedHighly respected
 Good citizenGood citizen
 Instills good values and morals inInstills good values and morals in
his children.his children.
 His children call him “Atticus”His children call him “Atticus”
 HonestHonest
 Typical southern gentlemanTypical southern gentleman
 BraveBrave
 CourteousCourteous
 Soft-spokenSoft-spoken

8. 88
Jem FinchJem Finch
Scout’s older brother
Looks up to his father Atticus
Usually looks out for Scout
Typical older brother at times
Smart
Compassionate
Matures as the story
progresses

9. 99
CalpurniaCalpurnia
 The Finch’s blackThe Finch’s black
housekeeperhousekeeper
 Has watched the childrenHas watched the children
since their mother’s deathsince their mother’s death
 Has been a positiveHas been a positive
influence on the children.influence on the children.

10. 1010
Arthur “Boo” RadleyArthur “Boo” Radley
 An enigmaAn enigma
 An adult man, whose father has “sentenced”An adult man, whose father has “sentenced”
him to a lifetime confinement to their househim to a lifetime confinement to their house
because of some mischief he got into when hebecause of some mischief he got into when he
was a teenager.was a teenager.
 Has a reputation of being a lunaticHas a reputation of being a lunatic
 Basically a harmless, well-meaning personBasically a harmless, well-meaning person
 Sometimes childlike in behaviorSometimes childlike in behavior
 Starving for love and affectionStarving for love and affection
 Saves Jem and Scout from certain dangerSaves Jem and Scout from certain danger

11. 1111
Tom RobinsonTom Robinson
 A young, harmless,A young, harmless,
innocent, hardworkinginnocent, hardworking
black manblack man
 Has a crippled leftHas a crippled left
handhand
 Married with threeMarried with three
children. Works on achildren. Works on a
farm belonging to Mr.farm belonging to Mr.
Link Deas, a whiteLink Deas, a white
manman
 Will be falsely accusedWill be falsely accused
of raping a white girl,of raping a white girl,
Mayella EwellMayella Ewell

12. 1212
DillDill
 A close friend of JemA close friend of Jem
and Scoutand Scout
 Usually lives inUsually lives in
Maycomb only duringMaycomb only during
the summer (staysthe summer (stays
with a relative)with a relative)
 Tells “big stories”Tells “big stories”
 Has been deprived ofHas been deprived of
love and affectionlove and affection

13. 1313
Two Poor White Families:Two Poor White Families:
The Cunninghams The EwellsThe Cunninghams The Ewells
 Poor white familyPoor white family
 Hard-workingHard-working
 HonestHonest
 ProudProud
 Survive on very littleSurvive on very little
 Always pay back theirAlways pay back their
debts – even if it isdebts – even if it is
with hickory nuts,with hickory nuts,
turnips, or holly.turnips, or holly.
 Poor white trashPoor white trash
 DirtyDirty
 LazyLazy
 Good-for-nothingGood-for-nothing
 Never done a day’sNever done a day’s
workwork
 Foul-mouthedFoul-mouthed
 DishonestDishonest
 ImmoralImmoral

14. 1414
The Black CommunityThe Black Community
 SimpleSimple
 HonestHonest
 CleanClean
 Hard-workingHard-working
 God fearingGod fearing
 ProudProud
 Would never takeWould never take
anything with paying itanything with paying it
backback
 RespectfulRespectful
 Had stronger characterHad stronger character
than most of the whitesthan most of the whites
 OppressedOppressed
 UneducatedUneducated
 Discriminated againstDiscriminated against
 Talked about badlyTalked about badly
 Deserve better than whatDeserve better than what
is dished out to them byis dished out to them by
societysociety

15. 1515
LanguageLanguage
 Sometimes the language of Scout will be that of her as aSometimes the language of Scout will be that of her as a
child; other times, she will be speaking in the voice of anchild; other times, she will be speaking in the voice of an
adultadult
 Atticus uses formal speechAtticus uses formal speech
 Calpurnia uses “white language” in the Finch house andCalpurnia uses “white language” in the Finch house and
switches to “black jargon” when amidst blacksswitches to “black jargon” when amidst blacks
 The Ewells use foul words and obscenitiesThe Ewells use foul words and obscenities
 Jem, Scout, and Dill will use slang words, typical of theirJem, Scout, and Dill will use slang words, typical of their
ageage
 Tom Robinson uses language typical of the southernTom Robinson uses language typical of the southern
black such as “suh” for “sir” and “chillun” for “children”black such as “suh” for “sir” and “chillun” for “children”
 Various derogatory terms for blacks will be used such asVarious derogatory terms for blacks will be used such as
“nigger,” “darky,” “Negroes,” and “colored folk” – Lee“nigger,” “darky,” “Negroes,” and “colored folk” – Lee
uses such language to keep her novel naturally in syncuses such language to keep her novel naturally in sync
with common language of the timeswith common language of the times

16. 1616
ToneTone
SomberSomber
SeriousSerious
Humorous (at times)Humorous (at times)

17. 1717
Harper LeeHarper Lee
 She was born in 1926 in Monroeville,She was born in 1926 in Monroeville,
Alabama (the fictional “Maycomb,Alabama (the fictional “Maycomb,
Alabama”)Alabama”)
 Her father “Amasa” was a lawyerHer father “Amasa” was a lawyer
whom she deeply admiredwhom she deeply admired
 Her mother’s maiden name wasHer mother’s maiden name was
“Finch”“Finch”
 Her own childhood mirrors that of theHer own childhood mirrors that of the
character “Scout”character “Scout”
 In 1960 she published her only novelIn 1960 she published her only novel
– “To Kill a Mockingbird”– “To Kill a Mockingbird”
 It received the Pulitzer Prize forIt received the Pulitzer Prize for
Literature in 1961Literature in 1961
 Since 1960, “To Kill a Mockingbird”Since 1960, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
has never been out of printhas never been out of print
 At age 81, she is alive and resides inAt age 81, she is alive and resides in
New YorkNew York
 She rarely makes publicShe rarely makes public
appearances or gives interviewsappearances or gives interviews

18. 1818
Life During the 1930sLife During the 1930s
 Race RelationsRace Relations
 Nine black teenagers are falselyNine black teenagers are falsely
charged with raping two whitecharged with raping two white
women in Scottsboro, Alabama;women in Scottsboro, Alabama;
eight are convicted and sentencedeight are convicted and sentenced
to deathto death
 The U.S. Supreme Court reversesThe U.S. Supreme Court reverses
their convictions because theirtheir convictions because their
constitutional rights had beenconstitutional rights had been
violatedviolated
 The teens are tried for a secondThe teens are tried for a second
time, and are again found guiltytime, and are again found guilty
 The Supreme Court reverses theThe Supreme Court reverses the
convictions againconvictions again
 Eventually, four of the defendantsEventually, four of the defendants
are freed; the other five serveare freed; the other five serve
prison termsprison terms
 The last Scottsboro defendantThe last Scottsboro defendant
was paroled in 1950was paroled in 1950
 It was virtually impossible for aIt was virtually impossible for a
black to receive a fair trialblack to receive a fair trial

19. 1919
Life During the 1930sLife During the 1930s
 The Great Depression sweepsThe Great Depression sweeps
the nation – Many families dothe nation – Many families do
not even have money for basicnot even have money for basic
needs such as food, clothing,needs such as food, clothing,
and shelter.and shelter.
 The per capita income forThe per capita income for
families in Alabama (andfamilies in Alabama (and
Oklahoma) is $125 - $250 aOklahoma) is $125 - $250 a
yearyear
 Many southern blacks pickMany southern blacks pick
cotton for a livingcotton for a living
 Franklin D. Roosevelt isFranklin D. Roosevelt is
PresidentPresident

20. 2020
Life During the 1930sLife During the 1930s
 Hitler is Chancellor of GermanyHitler is Chancellor of Germany
 He believes that Jews, AfricanHe believes that Jews, African
Americans, and other races are inferiorAmericans, and other races are inferior
to Anglo-Saxons.to Anglo-Saxons.
 In 1936, Jesse Owens, a black AmericanIn 1936, Jesse Owens, a black American
athlete, traveled to Germany toathlete, traveled to Germany to
participate in the Summer Olympics.participate in the Summer Olympics.
 Owens’ biggest competitor in the longOwens’ biggest competitor in the long
jump was a German named Luz Long.jump was a German named Luz Long.
 Despite racial tensions, the two becameDespite racial tensions, the two became
good friends.good friends.
 Jesse Owens won the gold medal andJesse Owens won the gold medal and
Long won the silver.Long won the silver.
 Long was later killed during World WarLong was later killed during World War
II, and Jesse Owens traveled back toII, and Jesse Owens traveled back to
Germany to pay his respects when theGermany to pay his respects when the
war was over.war was over.

21. 2121
Legal Segregation in Alabama,Legal Segregation in Alabama,
1923-19401923-1940
 No white female nurses inNo white female nurses in
hospitals that treat black menhospitals that treat black men
 Separate passenger cars forSeparate passenger cars for
whites and blackswhites and blacks
 Separate waiting rooms forSeparate waiting rooms for
whites and blackswhites and blacks
 Separation of white and blackSeparation of white and black
convictsconvicts
 Separate schoolsSeparate schools
 No interracial marriagesNo interracial marriages
 Segregated water fountainsSegregated water fountains
 Segregated theatresSegregated theatres

22. 2222
Morphine: A Southern Lady’s DrugMorphine: A Southern Lady’s Drug
 1930s Typical1930s Typical
Morphine Addict:Morphine Addict:
 White femaleWhite female
 Middle-aged or olderMiddle-aged or older
 WidowedWidowed
 HomeboundHomebound
 Lives in the southLives in the south
 Property ownerProperty owner
 Began using morphineBegan using morphine
for medical reasonsfor medical reasons
(pain relief)(pain relief)
 In “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the FinchIn “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the Finch
children will become acquaintedchildren will become acquainted
with a morphine addict named Mrs.with a morphine addict named Mrs.
Dubose. Although only a fictitiousDubose. Although only a fictitious
character, she personifies thecharacter, she personifies the
American morphine addict of theAmerican morphine addict of the
late nineteenth and early twentiethlate nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries.centuries.

23. 2323
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24. 2424
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