2. The American Civil War Between 1861 and 1865 Slavery was legal in the southern states of the US Forced to recognise the legal equality of black and white people Attitudes did not change
3. The Depression of the 1930’s Wall Street stock market crash of 1929 Poverty on an international scale affected the southern states No real improvement until WW2
4. Civil Rights Issue Blacks were still treated as 2nd class citizens Beginning of black consciousness in late 1950s Reverend Martin Luther King Jr and the Civil Rights movement
5. Brief Summary Set in Maycomb, Alabama (southern US), 1930s Narrated by Jean Louise Finch , aka ‘Scout’ Scout, Jem & Dill want to see Arthur Radley (‘Boo’) Scout & Jem’s father, Atticus is a lawyer Calpurnia, their Negro cook Members of the community
6. Brief Summary Jem rolls Scout in a tyre into Boo Radley’s front garden Presents are left for them by Boo Radley Jem’s pants which were stripped off in his escape from the house were repaired and left for Jem The children build a relationship with the recluse which dawns on Jem as time goes on
7. Brief Summary Self-contained scenes: scene in school, fire, first encounter with snow, family Christmas at their aunt’s house, shooting of a rabid dog, Jem’s punishment The children learn important lessons about life
8. Brief Summary Image of Atticus: intelligent, wise, moral Atticus has to defend a negro, Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping a white girl, MayellaEwell Atticus’ decision polarises the community
9. Brief Summary A group of men come to see Atticus at his house and he decides to spend the night outside the jail where Tom is held The children follow him and get caught in the middle of a lynch mob The children attend the trial and see the evidence that Tom Robinson is innocent but is still found guilty.
10. Brief Summary Jem is unable to come to terms with what has happened. Miss Maudie Atkinson, their neighbour, consoles Jem Bob Ewell, father of Mayella, decides to have revenge on Atticus Tom is shot and killed while trying to escape from the jail
11. Brief Summary On their way home after Scout’s Halloween pageant, Scout and Jem are attacked by Bob Ewell Jem’s arm is broken They are saved by Boo Radley Bob Ewell is killed in the scuffle
12. Brief Summary Atticus is convinced that Jem killed Bob Ewell Sheriff convinces him that it was Boo Radley He spreads news that Bob Ewell fell on his own knife Scout and Jem are maturing and learning about the world
14. Education 2 forms of education: through school & through observation of life Scout finds that school education is limited, boring & useless She can already read & write, and this is seen as a handicap Scout learns valuable lessons outside of school: behaviour from Calpurnia, tolerance from Atticus, calmness & dignity from Aunt Alexandra
15. Growing up Concept of maturity Jem, being older, matures much faster than Scout in both behaviour & understanding Atticus teaches them tolerance, understanding, and seeing things from the viewpoint of other people Jemsympathises with Mrs Dubose and Boo Radley Scout feels sympathy for Mayella Both Scout and Jem begin to use their powers of reason far more than their emotions
16. Courage Jem: childish courage of accepting a dare, real courage of staying with his father to face the mob, physical courage of defending his sister against attack Atticus: moral courage in taking on the unpopular case, physical courage in facing the mad dog and mob in the jail Scout: moral courage to turn away from fights in response to Atticus’ request Bob Ewell’s lack of courage
17. Law & Justice Atticus & Judge Taylor believe in the law, but are unable to make sure that justice is done Law is only as good as the jury Heck Tate, the sheriff, has to uphold the law, makes a ruling based on commonsense, natural justice & decency Emphasis through the eyes of a young child whose view is clear & unbiased
18. Prejudice Racialism is so entrenched in the society that no one seems to notice how prejudiced they are Aunt Alexandra is prejudiced against people because of their families Boo Radley as victim of prejudice due to his lack of conformity Atticus is the embodiment of tolerance, ignores race or family
19. Mockingbird Motif Idea that it is wrong to attack innocents for no reason Boo Radley and Tom Robinson as human versions of the mockingbird Innocence of childhood and justice itself are destroyed by what happens in court
20. Characters Atticus Scout Jem Calpurnia Miss Maudie Atkinson Heck Tate Tom Robinson Boo Radley Bob Ewell MayellaEwell Miss Stephanie Crawford Aunt Alexandra
21. Atticus Courageous, honest, moral man who tries to bring up his children well He tries to show them by example how to live their life, not by just telling them what to do He hides nothing, is always courteous, listens with respect, truthful, good humoured, calm Embodies Christian virtues: faith in the law, hopes in his fellow man, charitable to all
22. Atticus Insists on good manners & correct behaviour Brave both morally & physically Respected by all Tolerant to a fault, tries to instill this in his children Able to see the other person’s point of view
23. Scout Tomboy who enjoys rough games & fighting Matures & develops as the story unfolds Open & friendly Depends more on an emotional response to problems Sensitive to other people’s feelings
24. Jem Initially lacks consideration for Boo Radley Believes in many childish superstitions which he dispenses with later Grows a little patronising towards his sister Reads a lot, thinks & argues a lot, takes things to heart More self-centred than Scout More sensitive to the feelings of others & less easy to provoke
25. Jem Comes to resemble his father Generous & compassionate Perseverance Fighter and wants to improve the system rather than ignore it
26. Calpurnia Mother figure to the children: looks after them, scolds them when necessary, teaches them correct behaviour, shows them the Christian way of life, supports Atticus Aware of the differences between black & white societies Highly respected for her character & judgment by Atticus
27. Miss Maudie Voice of reason Supports Atticus in all he does RecognisesJem’s new status as a thinking adult Optimist Loyal to her friends
28. Heck Tate Voice of the law without prejudice Genuine & honest Dispenses justice where the law has failed to do so
29. Tom Robinson Victim of prejudice Pity for and generosity towards Mayella are not liked by the white people in the court Intelligent & tactful enough not to repeat the error
30. Bob Ewell Cocky and arrogant Enjoys his moment in the spotlight Cowardly, attacking Helen Robinson & children Racially prejudiced Slight suggestion that he may have sexually abused his daughter
31. Stephanie Crawford Hypocrite Goes around ‘doing good’ but has a vicious tongue & is uncharitable Responsible for the children’s early lurid view of Boo Radley
32. Aunt Alexandra Strength & dignity that carries her through most crises First appears as cold and harsh Real love for Atticus becomes clear Shows concern for Jem and Scout
33. Useful quotes Ms Maudie: Your father’s right. Mockingbirds just make music. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs; they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.(page 3) Atticus: There’s something I’d like to ask. If you’ll do it, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds. You see, you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.(page 15)
34. Useful quotes Atticus: And I hope you can get through what’s coming without catching Maycomb’s usual disease. Why reasonable people go start raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up is something I don’t pretend to understand.(page 20) Ms Maudie: If your father’s anything, he’s civilised. Marksmanship like that’s a gift of God. I think maybe he put his gun down when he realised God had given him an unfair advantage.(page 29)
35. Useful quotes Atticus: So a quiet, respectable Negro man who had the unmitigated temerity to feel sorry for a white woman is on trial for his life. He’s had to put his word against his two white accusers. I need not remind you of their conduct here in court – their cynical confidence that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption – the evil assumption – that all Negros lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral, an assumption one associates with minds of their calibre. However, you know the truth – and the truth is, some Negroes lie, and some Negro men are not to be trusted around women – black or white. And so with some white men. This is a truth that applies to the entire human race, and to no particular race.(page 78)
36. Useful quotes Atticus: I’m no idealist to believe so firmly in the integrity of our courts and in the jury system – that’s no ideal to me, it is a living, working reality. But a court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up.(page 79)
