By Harper Lee

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Lee published To Kill a Mockingbird when she was 34 years old, and it is the only novel she ever published.
Lee grew up in Monroeville, Alabama and she is a descendent of Robert E. Lee.
Her father was a state senator and lawyer in
Monroeville, and the inspiration for her character Atticus Finch.
Lee’s mother’s maiden name was Finch.
Scout’s character is based on Lee
Received the Pulitzer Prize for her novel

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The story is strongly centered on real events that occurred in the South in the 1930s.
Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson, a black man, who is accused of raping a poor white girl, Mayella Ewell. This story line is based on the Scottsboro Trials.
The Great Depression plays a large part in the story. Many families had nothing.
Segregation was heavily enforced.

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Maycomb, Alabama
1933—1935
The story takes place after the abolishment of slavery, but the white Southerners tend to still believe in white supremacy.
Main characters
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Atticus Finch
Scout (Jean Louise) Finch, daughter of Atticus
Jem (Jeremy) Finch, son of Atticus
Dill (Charles) Harris, friend of the Finch children
Calpurnia, housekeeper/cook/nanny of the Finch family
Boo Radley, neighborhood Boogie Man
Tom Robinson, Atticus’s client

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The first plot line tells the story of Boo Radley.
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Boo Radley, or Arthur Radley, is the mysterious recluse neighbor of the Finches.
Boo Radley is rarely, if ever, seen outside of his home.
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He is cared for by his brother, Nathan, after the death of his parents.
The rumors surrounding Boo make him out to be a psychotic killer with a taste for small animals, and possibly children.
The story of Boo Radley allows the reader to get to know Jem, Scout, and Dill as the adventurous, superstitious children that they are.

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The second plot of the novel is the story of Tom
Robinson.
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Tom Robinson is accused of raping Mayella Ewell.
Atticus Finch represents Tom Robinson.
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Jem and Scout put up with a lot of abuse from their classmates because of this.
The all white jury convicts Tom Robinson.
Robinson attempts to escape from jail and is shot to death.
These events turn the plot line back to Boo
Radley.

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Racial Prejudice
Social Snobbery
Morality
Tolerance
Patience
Equality
The need for compassion
The need for conscience

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The mockingbird symbolizes everything that is good and harmless in the world.
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It only sings to please others, and it is a sin to shoot one.
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This image, or symbol, appears four times in the novel.
The mockingbird represents two characters: Boo
Radley and Tom Robinson.

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Narrator of the story
6 years old when the story begins
Very curious
Very smart
Can read and write before starting school
Outspoken—Scout says what she thinks, even is she knows it might get her into trouble

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Dynamic
Round
She is a tomboy, impulsive, emotional, friendly, sensitive, and very caring about others.

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Scout’s older brother
Looks up to his father and wants to be like him
Looks out for Scout
Smart
Compassionate
Dynamic
Round

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Father of Jem and Scout
Widower
Attorney and politician
Very well respected by his peers
Instills good values and morals in his children
Honest
Brave
Courteous

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Housekeeper for the
Finches
Has cared for the children since their mother’s death
Taught Scout to write
The only mother figure in the children’s lives

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Mysterious man
Surrounded by suspicion and rumors
Reputed to be crazy
Recluse
Turns out to be harmless, and caring
Somewhat childlike
Saves Jem and Scout from danger

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A young, harmless, innocent, hardworking, black man
Has a crippled left hand
Married, has three children
Works on a farm
Falsely accused of raping
Mayella Ewell

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Friend of Jem and Scout
Only lives in Maycomb for the summer
Tell stories
BIG imagination

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Poor white family
Hard-working
Proud
Honest
Survive on very little
Always find a way to pay their debts
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Poor white trash
Dirty
Lazy
Never work
Foul-mouthed
Dishonest
Immoral

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Honest
Clean
Hard-working
God fearing
Proud
Respectful
Strong character/morals
Oppressed
Under educated
Discriminated against

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Somber
Serious
Humorous at times