To Kill a Mockingbird

1. To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee

2. Critics Rave about Mockingbird St. Louis Post Dispatch:“Exciting and surprising climax…” Los Angeles Times:“Memorable…vivid…a gentle, persuasive humor and a glowing goodness.” Minneapolis Tribune:“The reader will find an immense satisfaction…and a desire, on finishing it, to start again on page one.”

3. Major Characters • Jean Louise Finch “Scout”— A tomboy and the narrator of the story. • Jem Finch—Scout’s older brother, best friend and playmate. • Atticus Finch—Scout and Jem’s father, a Southern lawyer and a widower. • Arthur “Boo” Radley—The recluse neighbor of the Finches who turns out to be their guardian angel and a true example of a “mockingbird.”

4. Charles Baker Harris “Dill”—a summer neighbor and playmate of the Finch children. Calpurnia—the Finches black cook. Bob Ewell—a poor, drunk white man who accuses Tom Robinson of raping his daughter Mayella Ewell– Bob Ewell’s daughter whom he has abused. Tom Robinson—a black man who is accused of raping a white woman. Atticus defends him in court. He’s the other “mockingbird.” Minor Characters

5. ATTICUS Justice BOB EWELL Innocence JEM SCOUT DILL Bigotry Or Prejudice CHARACTERS AS SYMBOLS CALPURNIA & MAUDIE TOM ROBINSON & BOO Helpfulness Helplessness

6. Plot Summary In quick summary, the book is a story of a brother and sister witnessing their father defend a black man within their racist, white community. Within the trial and through their own trials with their recluse neighbor, the siblings learn the evils of prejudice and the goodness that lies within human beings.

7. Themes • Prejudice (Gender, Social Class, Religious and Racist) • Courage • Good vs. Evil • Empathy • The significance of the term “Mockingbird” • Loneliness • Innocence

8. Atticus – The Significance of the “Mockingbird” • Atticus said to Jem “I’d rather you shot at tin-cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (119).

9. Miss Maudie’s – The Significance of the “Mockingbird • Miss Maudie said to Scout “Your father’s right, 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” (119).

10. Mr. Underwood’s – The Significance of the “Mockingbird • Mr. Underwood wrote in his editorial that Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children, and Maycomb thought he was trying to write an editorial poetical enough to be reprinted in The Montgomery Advertiser. He also feltthat it was also a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting, or escaping. Therefore showing were he stands on Tom’s shooting.

11. Explaining Atticus’ Viewpoint • Atticus said that Jem could shoot all the cans he wanted to, but not to ever shoot a mockingbird. It is connected to Tom because all Tom does is help people the best way he knows how and hurts no one. • Atticus most likely also wanted to explain to Jem the importance of not shooting that bird because he didn’t want him to turn out like one of the people from the jury.

12. Explaining Maudie’s Viewpoint: • Miss Maudie explains to Scout that mockingbirds sing their hearts out for us; therefore, we shouldn’t kill them. • This is connected to Tom because all he does is work his heart out, and what does he get in return? Nothing! At least nothing but trouble and grief.

13. Explaining Scout’s Viewpoint • Scout said “Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it.” • She was referring to Arthur Radley (Boo). Scout realizes that Boo being revealed as a hero is similar to shooting a mockingbird. Boo wouldn’t be able to handle the fame and the popularity; he’d lose his identity.

14. Atticus’ Closing Argument: Novel vs. Film Essential Questions Atticus Finch's Closing Argument How does watching the scene of Atticus’ closing argument in the film enhance the tone of his message? What differences in mood do you notice between what you read and what you saw on film?