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To Kill a Mockingbird A Novel. Mrs. Day Ninth Lit/Comp. About the Author. Harper Lee Born 1926 in Monroeville, AL Very Private Person Early 1950s Studied law Airline hostess Began writing some during this time. About the Novel. To Kill a Mockingbird published in 1960
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To Kill a MockingbirdA Novel Mrs. Day Ninth Lit/Comp
About the Author Harper Lee • Born 1926 in Monroeville, AL • Very Private Person • Early 1950s • Studied law • Airline hostess • Began writing some during this time
About the Novel • To Kill a Mockingbird published in 1960 • Took 2 ½ years to write • Very Popular • Best Seller for 1 ½ years • Made into a movie • 1961: Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Characters • Scout • Jem • Atticus Finch • Calpurnia • Dill • Boo Radley • Miss Maudie • Tom Robinson • Miss Caroline • Bob Ewell • Mayella Ewell • Mr. Cunningham • Heck Tate • Mrs. Dubose
Similarities between the novel and author’s life Though there are many similarities between the life of Harper Lee and Scout, the main character, this is NOT an autobiographical novel. This novel is considered to be FICTION. • Scout • Maycomb County- small town • Father a lawyer • Last name is Finch • Young girl at time book was set • Harper Lee • Monroeville- small town • Father a lawyer • Father’s middle name is Finch • Young girl at time book was set
Shortly after post WWI economic boom • Stock Market crash in 1929 • Lasted from 1929-1939 • Effects of The Great Depression • Farmers were already feeling the effects • Prices of crops went down • Many farms foreclosed • People could not afford luxuries • Factories shut down • Businesses went out • Banks could not pay out money • People could not pay their taxes • Schools shut down due to lack of funds • Many families became homeless and had to live in shanties Historical Background The Great Depression
Novel is set pre Civil Rights Movement • Segregation of Whites and Blacks: Blacks and Whites were forced to attend separate schools, movie theater sections, restaurants, etc… • Racial Discrimination- work force, judicial, etc… • Klu Klux Klan and hate crimes Historical Background Civil Rights
This is probably similar to how class structure existed during the 1930’s 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. Historical Background Life in the South • Examples of each social class: • Wealthy - Finches • Country Folk - Cunninghams • “White Trash” – Ewells • Black Community – Tom Robinson
Other Topics of Discussion • What does it mean to be a lady in the South? • What can dialect tell us about the setting and characters in a Novel? • The use ofthe “n” word in the novel. • Class distinctions • Coming of Age • What is a hero? • Is the American legal system always fair?
Please bring your own personal copy of To Kill a Mockingbird to class for a book check on: Monday April 19th