To

Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
Background and Essential Information about the Novel
9th/10th Grade English, Karel Meza

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Essential Question: What is the important background information on
the book and author? Why is this information important and how does it
help with your understanding of the novel?

SWBAT (Students will be able to): Identify the importance of the setting
and how the historical information influences the plot of the novel.

CA Content Standards:
RL 9-10.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail
itsdevelopment over the course of the text, including how it emerges and isshaped
and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text
SL 9-10.1 Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions
(one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics,
texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and
persuasively.

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Based on what we already know by completing the Webercise...

What do you predict will be a major

issue in the novel?
Discuss your thoughts with your partner.

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Background on the Author
Harper Lee was born in April 28, 1926, and died recently in February 19, 2016
She was born in Monroeville, Alabama, and this information will be important later.
Her father was a Lawyer and her mother suffered from mental illness, her mother
was mostly a recluse and which is why she is not often discussed as much as her
father.
Lee intended to follow in the footsteps of her father, but dropped out of Law School
to continue to pursue her writing career.
Lee knew a lot of people as writer and journalist, most notably she was friends with
another popular author Truman Capote.
Lee has made such an impact in literature and education that she was awarded the
Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007 for her "outstanding contribution to America's
literary tradition”.

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Background on the Novel

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird was originally published in July 1960, but had been
drafted in another name before then.
A year later the book won Pulitzer Prize, and several other literary awards
It was translated into 40 languages and sold more than 30 million copies, and
continues to sell many more copies every year.
This novel is heavily influenced by Lee’s childhood, and many pieces and details of the
novel come from her experiences of similar situations.
This novel has been adapted into several success films and plays, the 1962 film was
even nominated for several academy awards.
It is still one of the most popular coming of age novels, and is taught and read every
year across the country.

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Setting
The book takes place in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. Which was
modeled by the town she grew up in.
The time period is the 1930’s which is important because its in the middle of the
Great Depression in which most were in a severe financial crisis.
In general its described a a ‘typical’ small southern town of its time.
It located in a more rural area where most of the characters and their families make
their living by farming.
Another notable fact about the time period is that these events are occurring before
the civil rights period, it was a tumultuous time meaning the African American
community was especially vulnerable.

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Artist drawing of the map of Maycomb details the outline of the town.

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Let’s Chat.

What is an important background or setting detail that stood out to you?

Why do you think this will be important?

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Characters:

Main Characters – The characters which the story and plot centers around
Scout (Jean Louise Finch)- Narrator
Jem (Jeremy Atticus Finch)- Scout's older brother and Atticus's son.
Atticus Finch - Scout and Jem's father

Secondary Characters – Characters that affect the main characters, and play a role
in the development of the main characters and the plot.
Boo Radley (Arthur Radley ) – Mysterious Neighbor
Tom Robinson – on trial for being accused of rape, defended by Atticus
Calpurnia – The Finch family’s maid
Mayella & Bob Ewell – Accuse Tom Robinson of Rape
Aunt Alexandra - Atticus's sister, and Scout and Jem's aunt
Dill Harris – Jem and Scout's friend
Miss Maudie – Widowed Neighbor
Uncle Jack – Atticus and Alexandra's younger brother. Scout and Jem's uncle.

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Atticus
He is the father to both Jem and Scout, and is a widow.
Atticus is a well respected Lawyer and a well respected man in the community until
the trial.
Throughout the novel he is the “voice of reason”, and seems to have infinite wisdom
His main focus seems to be raising his children to uphold moral values, overall he is a
caring single father who dislikes violence

Popular Quote:
"You might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me if you will:
you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody
says to you, don't you let 'em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change."
- Chapter 9 of To Kill a Mockingbird

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Jem:
His full name is Jeremy Atticus Finch, but most characters just refer to him as “jem”
We see him from age 10 – 13 throughout the duration of the novel.
He is Scout’s older brother. is constantly looking out for scout and scolding her when
she gets out of trouble. He looks up to Atticus, and serves as a role model for Scout.
We seem Jem start from immature and naïve, he then grows and learns as much as
Scout does during the novel

Popular Qoute:
"Atticus says you can choose your friends but you sho' can't choose your family, an'
they're still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge 'em or not, and it makes
you look right silly when you don't." - Chapter 23 of To Kill a Mockingbird

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Scout:
Scout’s full name is Jean Louise Finch.
She is our novel’s main protagonist and narrator.
Throughout the novel we see her age from 6 - 9 throughout the course if the novel.
She is often described as being very smart and she loves to read, especially above her
reading level, she is still naïve
She is very headstrong and is often more actions before words, as a result she is
labeled as Impulsive and a troublemaker

Popular Quotes:
"I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks." - Chapter 23 of To Kill a Mockingbird

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Point of View:

We’ve already learned that the narrator of the novel is Scout, but what we hadn’t
gone over is that she is retelling the story years later after the events have occurred
The novel is written in first-person point of view, in the eyes of young Scout with the
wisdom of a much older Scout.
This perspective showcases Scout’s naïve nature, but also expresses the wisdom she
has gained through the reflection of past events.

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Let’s Chat.
How is Scout limited as our narrator? Is she a trustworthy narrator, or is she biased?

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Themes / Main Ideas to Think About

These are some general ideas and themes that you want to think about as you’re
reading the book, and to make note of when you spot them.
Good Vs. Evil
Racism / Prejudice
Justice
Morality
Innocence

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Symbols to Look For:

Along with the themes and main ideas, you want to keep an eye out for the following
symbols as they appear. Think about what is going on or what is being said when we
are introduced to these:

Mad Dog

Mockingbird

Camellias (Flowers)

Knothole

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From the Back Cover of the Book:

This a direct quote from the back of one of the copies of To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s
also a good summary and framework when thinking about the book.

Harper Lee's Pulitzer prize-winning masterwork of honor and injustice in the deep
south—and the heroism of one man in the face of blind and violent hatred

A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South

poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities
through the eyes of a young girl, as her father—a crusading local lawyer—risks
everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.

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Close Reading Tips:

Now that we have a general idea of what we are about to read, keep the following in
mind to develop your close reading skills:

As you read think about issues that we see in the book that still affect us today
Think about how the themes affect everyday life
Take note of anything that stands out to you about a character
Highlight if you think something important was said
Write any ideas or connections you make while reading
If you don’t know what something means, look it up

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Final Activity:

For a reflection of what we have gone over through these notes, complete the
following:

Write a 3– 5 sentence summary of what you’ve learned:

It can be about something you found interesting, you hope to learn, or something
that you would like to learn more about.

Next to your summary draw or sketch one of the main ideas we discussed, write one
sentence about what that theme/main idea means to you.

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