1. To Kill A Mocking Bird (Robert Mulligan, 1962#)
Racism/ Racial Intolerance/ Racial Inequality (Bigotry), Justice and the Law, Perspective (Being in someone else’s shoes),
Moral Courage/ Bravery, Ethics (knowing right from wrong)
Racism/ Racial Intolerance/ Racial Inequality (Bigotry)
Obviously, racism is a major theme of the novel. During the Depression era, blacks were still highly
subjugated members of society. Blacks were not permitted to commingle with whites in public
settings, as exemplified in the courthouse physical separation of races and in the clearly distinct
black and white areas of town. Moreover, things like intermarriage were almost unheard of, and
sorely looked down upon.
Atticus and his closing speech (break down)
The segregation present in the courthouse Scout and Dill also sit with the black citizens of
the town in the balcony of the court house to observe the trial
Calpurnia – cook
Bob Ewell refers to Tom as a nigger/ Atticus uses the word Negro or Black
The mockingbird comes to represent true goodness and purity. Tom Robinson is one
example of a human "mockingbird". He stands accused of raping and beating Mayella Ewell,
but is innocent of the charges. The town commits the ultimate sin by finding him guilty and
sentencing him to death. In effect, they have killed a mockingbird.
The jury find Tome guilty simply because he is a black man and his accuser is white.The
evidence is so powerfully in his favor, that race is clearly the single defining factor in the
jury's decision.
Scout asks Atticus if he defends niggers
The children in school tease Scout
Justice and the Law
Boo is never handed in for the murder of Bob Ewell
Although Atticus loses the trial, he believes strongly that despite social inequalities, all men
are equal in the courtroom
Perspective (Being in someone else’s shoes)
Scout tries to relate to the Cunningham’s position (relaying what happened in school to
Atticus, Atticus tells her ““You never really understand and person until you consider things
from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”
Scout says that standing on the Radleys porch was enough – meaning she could see the
town from Boo’s perspective
Scout asks Mr Cunningham about his entailment
Moral Courage/ Bravery
Atticus takes on Tom’s case even though he knows the town will be against him (Herculean
task - requires tremendous effort, strength) Atticus is brave to defend a black man in the
face of criticism and threats of violence
when facing the mob of men outside the jailhouse.
Atticus doesn’t react to Bob Ewellto Atticus, withholding violence is one of the highest forms
of bravery.
Bob Ewell represents the greatest cowardice, as he both lies in the courtroom to protect
himself and resorts to attacking children in the darkness in order to make himself feel more
of a man.

2. To Kill A Mocking Bird (Robert Mulligan, 1962#)
Racism/ Racial Intolerance/ Racial Inequality (Bigotry), Justice and the Law, Perspective (Being in someone else’s shoes),
Moral Courage/ Bravery, Ethics (knowing right from wrong)
Maudie’s comment on Atticus “There’s some me in this world who are born to do our
unpleasant jobs for us, your father’s one of them”
Atticus struggles on with case because he believes that one day good will prevail over the
evils of racism and racial equality will exist (speech)
Ethics (knowing right from wrong)