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To Kill a Mockingbird
Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em,
but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
“You never really understand a person
until you consider things from his point of view—
” “Sir?” “
—until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
“I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks.”
Vocabulary, Allusions and References
The author 2 Chapter 1 16 Chapter 11 39 Chapter 21 54
Title 2 Chapter 2 22 Chapter 12 42 Chapter 22 54
Genre 2 Chapter 3 25 Chapter 13 45 Chapter 23 55
Introduction 3 Chapter 4 28 Chapter 14 46 Chapter 24 56
Context of the novel 3 Chapter 5 29 Chapter 15 47 Chapter 25 57
Style 5 Chapter 6 31 Chapter 16 48 Chapter 26 58
Tone 5 Chapter 7 32 Chapter 17 49 Chapter 27 59
Themes 6 Chapter 8 33 Chapter 18 51 Chapter 28 61
Symbols 9 Chapter 9 35 Chapter 19 52 Chapter 29 63
Characters 10 Chapter 10 38 Chapter 20 52 Chapter 30 63
Chapter 31 63
To Kill a Mockingbird NOTES 1
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The author Title
Harper Lee was born in 1926 and grew up A mockingbird imitates or copies the
in Alabama. This is also the setting for this sounds they hear; that of other birds and
novel. As a university student, she wrote even animals. The people of Maycomb
stories about racial injustice and went on (of that time) believed that mockingbirds
to write To Kill a Mockingbird in the late never do any harm, they only provide
1950s. This is the only novel she has pleasure for people through their songs.
published. This was a turbulent time for To kill a mockingbird therefore means to
the USA, with the Civil Rights Movement destroy what is good and innocent.
gaining momentum.
Genre
Southern Gothic
As a sub-genre of American Gothic, this elements, it uses Southern vernacular, it
book is an example of Southern Gothic features exaggerated characters, and
fiction, which usually deals with it references the supernatural. The
unresolved mysteries from the past and it character of Boo Radley functions as a
includes violence, even gruesome living ghost, (physical appearance and
elements. It takes place in the South and his name).
contains both dark and comedic
Courtroom Drama
This book is also a courtroom drama, as been unfairly accused of rape. Implicitly,
much of the action takes place during a the racist prejudices of the entire South
criminal trial. It centres around the trial of are put on trial, allowing commentary on
Tom Robinson, a black man who has justice, morality, or society.
Bildungsroman
In German it means a “novel of community and in the legal system.
education” and follow a character’s While at the beginning of the book she
(often the narrator) passage from youth believes that most people in her
into adulthood; it starts out with a childlike community are fundamentally good, by
understanding of the adult world, then a the end of the book she has seen
challenge arises that teaches a lesson, violence and cruelty, leaving her a wiser
changing perceptions. In this novel, and more prepared to enter society.
Scout learns about racism in her
To Kill a Mockingbird NOTES 2
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Introduction
To Kill a Mocking Bird is about a girl, in court. However, despite the
Scout Finch, and her brother, Jem, in a evidence given in court of his
small town called Maycomb in innocence, the court decides that Tom
Alabama (United States) during the is guilty.
1930s (May 1933 to October 1935). The
story is told from Scout’s point of view. The book explores various social issues,
such as racism. Be aware that certain
The story focuses on the Finch children’s words are used that are most definitely
exploits, with a visiting neighbour boy seen as unacceptable these days. In
called Dill. The reader is introduced to the 1930s black Americans were called
an interesting group of people from Negros or Niggers. This is now seen as a
Maycomb, such as neighbours, racist term, and people prefer the term
townsfolk and family. African Americans.
One of the main events in the story is It is important to read and experience
the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man the novel within the context of the time
who is falsely accused of raping a it is set in and the social, political and
young white woman. Scout’s father, economic constructs of the time.
Atticus, is the lawyer who defends Tom
The context of this novel:
The Great Depression
The Great Depression was a time in the 1930s when the American economy was in
such a bad state, that most people lost their jobs. Agriculture was one of the
economic sectors that suffered hugely, with prices fallen by about 60%. This directly
influenced small farming towns like Maycomb.
To Kill a Mockingbird NOTES 3
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Racial segregation in America
Racism is the belief that the physical characteristics of a person or group determine
their abilities and that one group is naturally superior to another.
Racism in American society existed since the time that Africans were first brought to
North America as slaves. Although slavery ended in 1865, the way in which black
Americans were treated was slow to improve – especially in the southern states.
Alabama supported racial segregation.
The way American courts worked
One of the main events in the novel is the trial of Tom Robinson. This section explains
the way courts were run in Alabama.
• In American courts a judge is in charge of a trial, but the final say doesn’t rest
with him, but is decided by a jury of 12 people.
• In Alabama in the 1930s the juries consisted of 12 white men.
• The prosecutor (a lawyer) tries to convince the members of the jury that the
person on trial is guilty.
• The defence lawyer tries to convince them that the person is innocent.
• In addition to asking questions of the person on trial, both lawyers can call
witnesses in support of the case they are making. Both can then also cross-
examine (ask questions of) each other’s witnesses.
• Once all the evidence has been heard, the judge instructs the jury to consider
its verdict (decision) very carefully.
• The members of the jury leave the courtroom and discuss the evidence
together until they decide on a verdict on which they all agree.
The timeline for this story is like a circle.
• It begins with Scout telling us that Jem has broken his arm. She then takes us
back about two years and begins her story of the events that led up to this.
• And at the end of the novel we find out exactly how Jem’s accident
happened, so the story has come full circle – it has ended where it began!
To Kill a Mockingbird NOTES 4
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