To Kill A MockingbirdTo Kill A Mockingbird““A novel of strong contemporary A novel of strong contemporary

national significance” national significance”

––Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune

Mockingbird background2001 – One Book, One Chicago

“…when people speak their minds and bring to discussion their own varieties of experience, when they receive respect for their opinions and the good will of their fellows, things change. It is as if life itself takes on a new compelling clarity, and good things get done.”

- Harper Lee

Mockingbird Movie

1962Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch#34 on the AFI top 100 list

Mockingbird Movie

AFI – top 50 movie heroes of

all time5. Will Kane (High Noon)4. Rick Blaine (Casablanca)3. James Bond (Lots of films)2. Indiana Jones (Raiders)1. Atticus Finch (TKAM)

Harper LeeHarper Lee

Born in 1926Born in 1926

In Monroeville, In Monroeville, AlabamaAlabama

Monroeville – 7,000Monroe County – 24,000

Understanding Harper LeeUnderstanding Harper Lee Since publishing TKAM, Lee has kept to herself, Since publishing TKAM, Lee has kept to herself,

granting only a handful of interviews. The best granting only a handful of interviews. The best look into her life, or at least an understanding of look into her life, or at least an understanding of her childhood, is the book itself; many aspects of her childhood, is the book itself; many aspects of TKAM are autobiographical:TKAM are autobiographical:– Monroeville served as the model for Maycomb, Monroeville served as the model for Maycomb,

where the story takes place.where the story takes place.– Lee’s friend and next door neighbor, Truman Lee’s friend and next door neighbor, Truman

Capote, served as the inspiration for the character Capote, served as the inspiration for the character Dill.Dill.

– Lee gave all three of her mother’s names to various Lee gave all three of her mother’s names to various characters in the book.characters in the book.

– Finally, Lee has stated that Atticus Finch was Finally, Lee has stated that Atticus Finch was based largely on her own father.based largely on her own father.

Why Just One?Why Just One?

For such a talented For such a talented writer, many people writer, many people wonder why Lee would wonder why Lee would only write novel. only write novel.

When Lee’s cousin When Lee’s cousin asked her that same asked her that same question, her answer question, her answer was, “When you have was, “When you have a hit like that, you can’t a hit like that, you can’t go anywhere but go anywhere but down.” down.”

A few facts about the book… A few facts about the book…

Was Harper Lee’s only Was Harper Lee’s only novelnovel

Set in early 1930’s Set in early 1930’s (starts in 1933) (starts in 1933)

Published in 1960Published in 1960 Won Pulitzer Prize in Won Pulitzer Prize in

19611961

A few more facts about the book…A few more facts about the book… Told in Told in first person point first person point

of viewof view Told by a six-year-old Told by a six-year-old

girl– believable?girl– believable? Based on historical Based on historical

eventsevents Written in two main partsWritten in two main parts

– Part one: characterization Part one: characterization of Maycombof Maycomb

– Part two: putting Maycomb Part two: putting Maycomb in motion, or revealing it in motion, or revealing it during a controversial timeduring a controversial time

What were some of the factors What were some of the factors influencing Harper Lee?influencing Harper Lee?

Small town lifeSmall town life The influence of neighbors and family The influence of neighbors and family

membersmembers The DepressionThe Depression Segregation in the SouthSegregation in the South

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

Following a time of false Following a time of false prosperity and prosperity and speculation in stocks speculation in stocks during the 20’s, America’s during the 20’s, America’s financial market fell to its financial market fell to its knees in the 30’s on knees in the 30’s on October 29, “Black October 29, “Black Tuesday”, the day the Tuesday”, the day the stock market crashed.stock market crashed.

The Great Depression

Black Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929

For a heavily agricultural region For a heavily agricultural region like the South, the Great like the South, the Great Depression hit especially hard, Depression hit especially hard, and drove an already struggling and drove an already struggling area of the country to the brink of area of the country to the brink of poverty.poverty.

The Great DepressionBy 1932

25-30% of workers unemployed

Stock prices hit 20% of their previous valueInternational trade down 1/2

The Great Depression

By 1933

- 11,000 of the 25,000 US banks had failed

The Great Depression

In 1933

FDR’s New Deal – new laws and programs designed to: eliminate unemployment

control banks and bankingsupport farmers

The Great Depression

1935-1936

More new laws and programs

National Labor Relations BoardWorks Progress AdministrationSocial Security System

Franklin Roosevelt was President who got us out of the Depression

“The only thing we have to

fear is fear itself.” -FDR

Social PerspectivesSocial Perspectives

Blacks still considered Blacks still considered second-class citizenssecond-class citizens

““Jim Crow” laws– Jim Crow” laws– segregation by lawsegregation by law

Menial jobs– fieldhandsMenial jobs– fieldhands Considered lazy and Considered lazy and

dishonestdishonest Treated harshlyTreated harshly Themes of prejudice (class, Themes of prejudice (class,

gender, race, social)gender, race, social)

"Jim Crow" laws barred African Americans from access to employment and to public places such as restaurants, hotels, and other facilities. In the South especially, blacks lived in fear of racially motivated violence.

An example of segregation-water fountains found throughout Southern towns were separate for the races.

Brown vs. Board of Education desegregates schools

1954

1955

Emmett Till killed for talking to a white woman

Montgomery, AL Bus Boycott

Central H.S. in Little Rock, AK desegregated. National Guard keeps order

1957

1960

First of many lunch counter sit-ins

To Kill a Mockingbird published