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To Kill A Mockingbird Introduction

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Nelle Harper Lee was born in 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama and drew from her childhood experiences to write To Kill a Mockingbird. The novel is set in 1930s Maycomb, Alabama, a small town meant to represent Lee's hometown, and explores themes of racial injustice and the loss of childhood innocence through the story of Scout Finch. It was published in 1960 to widespread acclaim, winning the Pulitzer Prize and becoming a bestseller that remains widely read today for its portrayal of a pivotal time in the American South and issues of prejudice that still resonate.

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Introduction to To Kill A Mockingbird By: Nelle Harper Lee
About Nelle Harper Lee Born: April 28, 1926 Birthplace: Monroeville, Alabama Youngest of four children Her father was a lawyer and newspaper editor Nelle Harper Lee was a tomboy as a child
Harper Lee Continued Attended and graduated from Monroe County High School Studied law at the University of Alabama Spent a year at Oxford University Did not pursue a legal careermoved to New York where she worked for an airline and spent the remainder of her time writing Mockingbird. 1960 To Kill A Mockingbird emerged
Nelle Harper Lee Childhood friend of writer Truman Capote Always took an interest in literature and writing To Kill a Mockingbird is the only novel Lee ever wrote (1960) November 5, 2007 Presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom By George W. Bush Rarely grants requests for public appearances, interviews, or book signings
First time is a charm Won the heralded Pulitzer Prize in 1961 In 1999 the novel was voted Best Novel of the Century by the Library Journal Remains a bestseller with 30 million copies in print
A Southern Gothic Novel Setting: exclusively in the American South Common Themes: deeply flawed, disturbing or disoriented characters; decayed or derelict settings; grotesque situations; and other sinister events relating to or coming from poverty, alienation, racism, crime, and violence Explores social issues and reveals the cultural character of the American South
Mockingbird? "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."
Setting Maycomb, Alabama during the depression (1930s) Thought to represent Harper Lees small hometown of Monroeville, AL
Setting Continued
What was going on? The South was in racial turmoil. Civil Rights Not only was the South dealing with the effects of The Great Depression, they were also DEEPLY involved in the Civil Rights Movement The United States was in financial turmoil. The effects of The Great Depression were felt world-wide not just in the South. Novels setting: 1930s Publication: 1960
Main Characters Scout (Jean Louise Finch) six-year-old narrator of story Jem (Jeremy Finch) her older brother Atticus Finch Jem and Scouts father, a prominent lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman Arthur (Boo) Radley a thirty-three-year-old recluse who lives next door; thought of as a freak
Main Characters, cont. Charles Baker (Dill) Harris Jem and Scouts friend who comes to visit his aunt in Maycomb each summer Tom Robinson a respectable black man accused of raping a white woman Calpurnia the Finches black cook Bob Ewell-drunken, unemployed, and comes from a poor family; represents the dark side of the south by symbolizing racial hatred Mayella Ewell-Bobs daughter; lonely and unhappy; accuses a black man of raping her
Themes Good vs. Evil Loss of Innocence Prejudice Understanding Educated vs. Uneducated Religion A Time for Courage
Themes Each theme is characterized by human flaws, and the only way to overcome the flaw is to act just, according to the laws of a peaceful society.
Conflicts Man vs. Man Bob Ewell vs. Tom Robinson Ewells vs. Atticus Finch Man vs. Society Boo Radley vs. Society Tom Robinson vs. Society
Social Class in the Novel Wealthy Country Folk "White Trash" Black Community Examples of each social class: Wealthy - Finches Country Folk - Cunninghams White Trash Ewells Black Community Tom Robinson This is probably similar to how class structure existed during the 1930s 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.
THE END! HAPPY READING!
Boo Radleys Home Place
TKAM Play in Monroeville The Radleys House, The Finchs House, and Dills Aunts house
TKAM Play in Monroeville, cont.

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To Kill A Mockingbird Introduction

  • 1. Introduction to To Kill A Mockingbird By: Nelle Harper Lee
  • 2. About Nelle Harper Lee Born: April 28, 1926 Birthplace: Monroeville, Alabama Youngest of four children Her father was a lawyer and newspaper editor Nelle Harper Lee was a tomboy as a child
  • 3. Harper Lee Continued Attended and graduated from Monroe County High School Studied law at the University of Alabama Spent a year at Oxford University Did not pursue a legal careermoved to New York where she worked for an airline and spent the remainder of her time writing Mockingbird. 1960 To Kill A Mockingbird emerged
  • 4. Nelle Harper Lee Childhood friend of writer Truman Capote Always took an interest in literature and writing To Kill a Mockingbird is the only novel Lee ever wrote (1960) November 5, 2007 Presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom By George W. Bush Rarely grants requests for public appearances, interviews, or book signings
  • 5. First time is a charm Won the heralded Pulitzer Prize in 1961 In 1999 the novel was voted Best Novel of the Century by the Library Journal Remains a bestseller with 30 million copies in print
  • 6. A Southern Gothic Novel Setting: exclusively in the American South Common Themes: deeply flawed, disturbing or disoriented characters; decayed or derelict settings; grotesque situations; and other sinister events relating to or coming from poverty, alienation, racism, crime, and violence Explores social issues and reveals the cultural character of the American South
  • 7. Mockingbird? "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."
  • 8. Setting Maycomb, Alabama during the depression (1930s) Thought to represent Harper Lees small hometown of Monroeville, AL
  • 10. What was going on? The South was in racial turmoil. Civil Rights Not only was the South dealing with the effects of The Great Depression, they were also DEEPLY involved in the Civil Rights Movement The United States was in financial turmoil. The effects of The Great Depression were felt world-wide not just in the South. Novels setting: 1930s Publication: 1960
  • 11. Main Characters Scout (Jean Louise Finch) six-year-old narrator of story Jem (Jeremy Finch) her older brother Atticus Finch Jem and Scouts father, a prominent lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman Arthur (Boo) Radley a thirty-three-year-old recluse who lives next door; thought of as a freak
  • 12. Main Characters, cont. Charles Baker (Dill) Harris Jem and Scouts friend who comes to visit his aunt in Maycomb each summer Tom Robinson a respectable black man accused of raping a white woman Calpurnia the Finches black cook Bob Ewell-drunken, unemployed, and comes from a poor family; represents the dark side of the south by symbolizing racial hatred Mayella Ewell-Bobs daughter; lonely and unhappy; accuses a black man of raping her
  • 13. Themes Good vs. Evil Loss of Innocence Prejudice Understanding Educated vs. Uneducated Religion A Time for Courage
  • 14. Themes Each theme is characterized by human flaws, and the only way to overcome the flaw is to act just, according to the laws of a peaceful society.
  • 15. Conflicts Man vs. Man Bob Ewell vs. Tom Robinson Ewells vs. Atticus Finch Man vs. Society Boo Radley vs. Society Tom Robinson vs. Society
  • 16. Social Class in the Novel Wealthy Country Folk "White Trash" Black Community Examples of each social class: Wealthy - Finches Country Folk - Cunninghams White Trash Ewells Black Community Tom Robinson This is probably similar to how class structure existed during the 1930s 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.
  • 17. THE END! HAPPY READING!
  • 19. TKAM Play in Monroeville The Radleys House, The Finchs House, and Dills Aunts house
  • 20. TKAM Play in Monroeville, cont.