TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

BY HARPER LEE

Background and Essential Information about the Novel

9 th /10 th Grade English, Karel Meza
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.
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.
Background on the Author
◦ April 28, 1926 - February 19, 2016
◦ Born in Monroeville, Alabama
◦ Her father was a Lawyer and her mother suffered
from mental illness
◦ Dropped out of Law School to continue to
pursue her writing career
◦ Friends with another popular author Truman
Capote
◦ Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in
2007 for her "outstanding contribution to
America's literary tradition"
Background on the Novel
◦ To Kill a Mockingbird was published in July 1960
◦ 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
◦ Heavily influenced by Lee’s childhood
◦ Adapted into films and plays, 1962 film was
nominated for several academy awards
◦ One of the most popular coming of age novels
 Setting

1930’s, middle of
Fictional town of Typical small
the Great
Maycomb, Alabama southern town
Depression

Rural area, most of Pre-Civil rights

the characters make movement,
their living by tumultuous time for
farming African Americans
Map Of Maycomb
Quick Video about Setting and Background
 What is an important background or
setting detail that stood out to you?

Why do you think this will be

Let’s Chat. important?

Share with your partner and get ready

to discuss.
 Characters
Main Characters Secondary Characters

Scout (Jean Louise Finch)- Narrator Boo Radley (Arthur Radley ) – Mysterious Neighbor

Jem (Jeremy Atticus Finch)- Scout's older brother and Atticus's son. Tom Robinson – on trial for being accused of rape, defended by
Atticus

Atticus Finch - Scout and Jem's father 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.
Atticus
◦ Father to both Jem and Scout
◦ A well respected Lawyer until the trial
◦ The “voice of reason” in the novel
◦ A caring single father who dislikes violence
◦ "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
Jem
◦ Full name: Jeremy Atticus Finch
◦ Age 10 – 13 throughout the duration of the book
◦ Scout’s older brother and role model
◦ Grows and learns as much as Scout does during
the novel
◦ "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
Scout
◦ Full name: Jean Louise Finch
◦ Our novel’s main protagonist and narrator
◦ Age 6 - 9 throughout the course if the novel
◦ Smart and loves to read, yet naïve
◦ Impulsive and a troublemaker
◦ "I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks."
- Chapter 23 of To Kill a Mockingbird
 The narrator of the novel is Scout,
but years later after the events
have occurred

The novel is written in first-person

Point of View point of view

Showcases Scout’s naïve nature,

but also expresses the wisdom she
has gained throughout the events
 Let’s Chat.

How is Scout limited as our narrator? Is she a

trustworthy narrator, or is she biased?

Share with your partner and get ready to discuss.

Themes / Main Ideas to Think About

Good Vs. Racism /

Justice
Evil Prejudice

Morality Innocence
Symbols to
Look For
Mad Dog

Mockingbird

Camellias (Flowers)

Knothole
From the Back Cover
of 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.
 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
Close Reading you about a character

Tips 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
 Final Activity

Write a 3– 5 sentence summary

of what you’ve learned: Next to your summary draw or
sketch one of the main ideas we
It can be about something you discussed, write one sentence
found interesting, you hope to about what that theme/main
learn, or something that you idea means to you.
would like to learn more about.
Sources:
◦ Harper Lee Biography
◦ https://www.britannica.com/topic/To-Kill-a-Mockingbird
◦ https://www.lcps.org/cms/lib4/VA01000195/Centricity/Domain/657/CharacterDescriptionChart.pdf
◦ https://tokillamockingbirdquotes.org/