TO+KILL+A+MOCKING+BIRD

-Author Biosketch  Harper Lee, born on April 28,1926. Grown up in sweet home Alabama in Monroeville. She is the youngest of four and was a true tom boy growing up. Her father, Amasa Coleman Lee, owned part of the local newspaper, was a lawyer, and was a member of the Alabama state legislature. For her mother, she was sick with a mental illness for most of Harpers life. In High School she had a passion for English Literature. After graduating in 1944, she attended the all-female Huntingdon College in Montgomery. Instead of caring about her social life and meeting new people at college, she payed all her attention to writing.

Although in her early life she was still trying to figure out the type of person she was and what she wanted to do as a career. She got accepted into law school her junior year in High School but she came to find out that was not what interested her and that is what lead her to go to Huntingdon College where she realized writing was her dream and she was going to pursue it.

Harper Lee published To Kill a Mockingbird in 1960. This book is related to her childhood, that is why she wrote it. In1962 it was made into an Academy Award-winning movie which starred Gregory Peck. In many American High Schools this novel is being read especially in the Deep South. In this book, two little boys, Scout and Jem come across multiple incidents that expose the evil side of human nature. As the novel progresses, Scout and Jem try to maintain faith in the human capacity for good in light of these recurring actions of human evil.

**Facts**
 * Her mother was Frances Cunningham Finch and in the book she uses all three of her mother's name for different characters.
 * Lee received the Pulitzer Prize in Literature for To Kill a Mockingbird in 1961.
 * To Kill a Mockingbird was made into a film also, starring Gregory Peck which he won an Oscar for his excellent performance in the film.
 * in 1966, this novel was banned from Virginia's Hanover County School Board because it deals with the subject of rape.

Harper Lee

Historical Context

Scottsboro Trials- This Novel's setting in the 1930s. On March 25, 1931, a freight train was stopped in Paint Rock. Paint Rock is a small community in Northern Alabama. Nine African-American men that were riding the rails of the train were arrested. Two white woman, one being underage accused the men of raping them while still of the train. With just a month, the first man was found guilty and was being put to death. After that, a series of trials indicating the other man only on the testimony of the older woman which was a known prostitute who was trying to avoid prosecution under the Mann Act.

More history is, during the worst years of Great Depression, over 25% of the labor force were unemployed for much longer than a year. Of those lucky enough to have jobs, there hours were cut back. This affected more men than woman, especially older and black men \at the time.

Character Illustrations Scout Finch - She's a tomboy who wants to be everywhere where her brother goes. She's 6 years old and a lot like Harper Lee when she was a little girl.

Jem FInch - He is the 10 year old brother of Scout. He likes football and is very playful at the beginning of the book. He looks up to and respects his father.

Atticus Finch - Father of Scout and Jem. He is a lawyer and his kids think he is boring and does nothing exciting but sits and his office and works. He is very generous and kind to those who aren't.

Dill Harris - He is 7 years old. He jumps from relative to relative all the time but stays with his aunt every summer where he plays with Jem and Scout because they are his aunts neighbors. He has an active imagination.

Calpurnia - The Finch's black cook. She looks out for Jem and scout.

Aunt Alexandria- The sister of Atticus. She comes to stay with them for the benefit of Scout and tries to make her more ladylike.

Bob Ewell- Father of Mayella. Mayella is the girl who had got raped by Tom Robison and Bob Ewell is being questioned in court.

Mayella Ewell- Bob Ewells daughter. She had been raped and is blaming it on Tom Robinson.

Tom Robinson- The man who is being accused of Rape. Atticus is defending him.

Dominant Element Analysis Symbolism- In the whole book, the mockingbird is a symbol of innocence. Throughout the book many innocent people are hurt. Boo Radley is referred to a mockingbird. The "mad dog" is a symbol of racism and madness. Jem taking care of Mrs. Dubose's flowers, this means he's doing it to tolerate peoples criticism to his family. The fire at Miss Maudies house when the snowman melts into the mud can mean everyone is the same no matter what color they are. When Jem broke his arm it shows that he will never forget what took place in that time of his life.The things left in the tree symbolizes Boos ability to communicate with people. Atticus's pocket watch shows his pride in Southern history. Imagery-