Summary
Summary English literature
- Institution
- 11th Grade
Summary of 20 pages for the course English home language, design, RTT at 11th Grade
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
ENGLISH LITERATURETO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
▪ Beautiful, touching, funny
▪ Scout Finch
• Main character
• Rebellious
• Fun
▪ Set in Maycomb, Alabama in 1930
▪ Open discussion of race
▪ Winner of the Pulitzer prize
▪ One of the most influenced books in the U.S.
❖ Type of novel “BILDUNGSROMAN”
▪ Genre
• Equality
• Race relations
• Tolerance and Justice
• American Civil Rights
THEME OF TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Race: Issues of race and prejudice pervade To Kill a Mockingbird. Tom Robinson's trial reveals racial tensions that
are deeply ingrained in the day-to-day life of the community and its people, even among those who are not
immediately involved in the legal proceedings. Jem and Scout accompany Calpurnia to church, where all members
of the congregation are African American. There they experience incidents of racism from some of the church-
goers. The town's newspaper publisher shows signs of racism even as he exposes it in the community. Aunt
Alexandra also shows racist tendencies, as when she advises Atticus: "Don't talk like that in front of them [African
Americans]. ... It encourages them." During the trial the children—and particularly the deep-thinking Jem—are
shaken by this sudden exposure to the town's prejudice. Their reactions in particular make the racist behavior of
the adults around them look petty, illogical, and unethical.
Class: Harper Lee's exploration of class often has to do with money and power. In the novel Aunt Alexandra is
loyal to Maycomb's existing class distinctions. People know their place, and to keep one's place is a tedious but
necessary job. She makes it clear that Scout cannot invite impoverished classmate Walter Cunningham to their
home because "he—is—trash. ... I'll not have you ... picking up his habits." Aunt Alexandra would also consider the
Ewell family to be in a lower social class than the Finches. Throughout the novel, especially after Aunt Alexandra
moves in, Jem and Scout wrangle with the idea of class. They often talk about it as "background" or "family," but
what they are trying to figure out is how to navigate the tricky waters of Maycomb's various social classes while
remaining true to their beliefs.
Equality versus Inequality: In to Kill a Mockingbird Lee examines issues of equality and inequality. For
example, the solicitor, Mr. Gilmer, seems a decent enough person in his general interactions, but the way he
addresses Bob Ewell, a white man, is very different from the way he addresses Tom Robinson, a black man, and
reveals how deep racial inequality is ingrained in Maycomb. Inequality can be viewed through many lenses in the
story. In addition to a general inequality between whites and blacks in Maycomb, the theme also reveals divisions
between the wealthy and the poor. Inequality shows up in discussions about families whose community roots run
deep, as opposed to those people who are newcomers. There is also a sense of inequality between the sexes.
Women are not permitted to serve on the jury. Jem occasionally jibes Scout about her gender: "You're getting' more
like a girl every day!"
,Morality: Morality occupies a central place in To Kill a Mockingbird and can be linked to racial issues and
inequality. How moral or ethical individuals are directly relates to how racist they are. Much of the tension in the
novel comes about when the moral compass and ethical standards of Jem and Scout—instilled in them by their
father's teaching and example—come into direct conflict with the world of Maycomb. Atticus seems to have faith in
an innate goodness in people—one that would allow them to choose the best path, treat people with dignity, and
show respect for others, no matter what station in life they occupy. But for Jem and Scout life exposes a cruel and
vicious world. Their concept of morality as being innate is shattered during the trial when Tom is convicted,
despite the flimsy evidence presented against him.
CHAPTER 1:
In chapter 1 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout the narrator opens the novel by recalling the events that leads to her
brother Jem breaking his arm. She starts to give back story of her family history, the Finches date back to Simon
Finch. Simon settled on the Alabama banks with his three slaves. He established a cotton farm called the Finches
Landing. Most Finches including her father Atticus grew up on Finches Landing. Atticus was the first Finch to start
a life out of the farm, studying law and choosing to raise his family in Maycomb Alabama. Scout then takes us in
with her father, brother Jem and the housekeeper Calpurnia. The story starts in the summer time when six year old
Scout and ten year Jem. The Radley’s are a family that lives three doors from the Finches house. One of the
neighbourhood legends senters around Arthur Boo Radley. Legend has it that many years ago Boo fell into the
wrong crowd. One evening they got into enough trouble that Boo was senesced to state school. Mr. Radley asked
the judge if Boo could be released into his custody when the left the court house it was the last time anyone saw
Boo radley for 15 years. One night Mrs. Radley ran from the house screaming that Boo was trying to kill them.
Apparently Boo had stabbed Mr. Radley in the leg with a pair of scissors. The police were called and Boo was
locked in the courthouse basement. Eventually Boo was transferred back home where he had been imprisoned
ever since. When Mr. Radley died the other son Nathan returned from Florida, keeping Boo locked inside. Over the
years stories about Boo and the Radleys grew ridiculous. Maycomb residence was scared of the Radley house.
Scout and Jem’s fascination with Boo became more intense when Charles Baker Harris or Dill came to stay next to
the Finches with his aunt Rachel. He became instant friends with Scout and Jem and they made plans to get Boo out
of the house
CHAPTER 2:
It is now the end of the summer. Dill leaves to go back to Mississippi before the school starts. Scout is exited to start
first grade after many days of watching the school children from her tree house. Her first day however does not go
as she hopes. Scout’s teacher Miss Caroline Fisher is new to teaching and new to the Maycomb society. When she
finds out that Scout can already read and write she makes Scout feel guilty, telling her she shouldn’t be reading at
home with Atticus. Things get worse when Miss Caroline offers Walter Cunninghanham lunch money. Scout
explains to her what Cunninghanhams don’t take anything that they can’t pay back. Miss Caroline gets so frustrated
she makes Scout stand in the corner of the room.
CHAPTER 3:
We are on the playground were Scout takes her frustration out on Walter Cunninghanham. Jem stops her because
Walter in the son of one of the men that Atticus defended in court. He then invites Walter to join them for lunch at
their house. At the Finches house Walter is in a discussion about farming with Atticus while they eat, Scout
condisendingley ask Walter why he is pouring syrup on his food. When Calpurnia tells her that it is no way to treat
a guest. Scout responds that he is just a Cunninghanham. Calpurnia scolds her and sends her to the kitchen to eat
alone. As the boys head back to school Scout stays behind to seek comfort from Atticus. She tells him Calpurnia
likes Jem better ad asks Atticus to fire Calpurnia. Atticus informs her that he has no intension of doing so and that
the family would not survive without her. When Scout returns to school Miss Caroline panics after she spots lice on
a student’s head. She asks the student to go home and treat it so that he doesn’t give it to the other children. Burris
Ewell laughs at her suggestion and tells her that he has no intension of coming back to school.
, One of the older students tells her that the Ewells only attend the first day of school to avoid getting into trouble
with the officer. When Miss Caroline asks Burris to sit down he shouted insults at her. Eventually leading to her
crying. Scout is feeling depressed about the day’s events, but she is very surprised about Calpurnia’s actions when
she returns home. She assumes that it is Calpurnia’s way of apologizing for being so harsh. After supper Atticus
asks her to read with him, but she tells him that Miss Caroline told her not to. Scout asks if she could be like Burris
Ewell and just go to school the first day and not go back. Atticus explains that the Ewell’s is a special case. People
feel so bad for the children that they allow their father to hunt out of season. But everyone else had to live inside
the law. That is why Atticus said that Scout must return to school. Atticus strikes a deal with Scout that she will
continue to go to school and they would continue to read at night just like the always did.
CHAPTER 4:
Scouts school year passes uneventfully, leaving her wondering whether she is actually getting an education. By
now Scout feels she can walk past the Radley house although she usually gets scared and runs instead. One day she
saw something in the knot hole of an oak tree by the Radley lot. She walks up to find two pieces of gum in foil
wrappers. Scout takes the gum and begins to chew it. When Jem finds out exactly where she found the gum he
makes her spit it out. The gum is the first of many small gifts they find in the knot hole. On the last day of school
they find a small box with two Indian head pennies inside, because they don’t know who’s hiding spot it is they
decide to keep the pennies until school starts next fall. When Dill returns the summer Scout and Jem are excited
that they forgot about the knot hole. The three go right in to play, rolling Scout down the street in an old tire. When
Jem gives the tire an extra hard push it shoots down the road and in to the Radley’s place. Scout gets out of the tire
and runs away scared, leaving Jem to get the tire. Later Jem comes up with the idea of making a play called “Boo
Radley”. It consists of playing and acting stories of Boo like the story of the sisters. However when Atticus sees
them practicing he gives them a lecture. Scout is ready to quit until Jem says that she should stop acting like a girl.
Scout explains that it is not just Atticus disapproval but also about what happened the day with the tire hitting the
Radley’s porch. She heard someone laughing inside the house.
CHAPTER 5:
Jem and Dill’s friendship grows and it makes Scout feel left out. She starts spending more time with the widowed
neighbor Miss Maudie Atkinson. From their conversations Scout learns that Miss Maudie grew up with the Finch
siblings like Atticus. She’s patient, kind and open minded. Miss Maudie also tells Scout more about the Radley
family. For the first time Scout begins to think of Boo Radley not as a monster but as a sad and lonely person. With
that in mind, Scout is less than enthusiastic when she discovers Jem and Dill's plan to deliver a note to Boo via a
fishing pole through a loose shutter. She reluctantly goes along with the plan, serving as a lookout for Jem as he
delivers the note. Too late they realize that Atticus is on to them, and he sternly tells them to leave Boo Radley
alone.
CHAPTER 6:
On the night before Dill returns home at the end of summer, he and Jem plan to peek into the windows of the
Radley house. Scout tries to stop them, but when Jem tells her she is acting more like a girl every day she ends up
going with them. As they try unsuccessfully to peer into the windows, they see the shadow of a man approaching.
They start running as a shotgun is fired, narrowly escaping through the fence at the back of the property.
Unfortunately Jem gets caught in the wire and is forced to leave his pants behind. When they get home the whole
neighborhood is abuzz with excitement, so the children slip quietly into the crowd. The adults believe Nathan
Radley scared off a black man who had come to steal collard greens from his garden. Standing in the crowd,
Stephanie Crawford points out that Jem isn't wearing any pants. Dill quickly comes up with a story that he had won
Jem's pants playing strip poker by the fishpond. Later that night and against his better judgment, Jem decides that
he must go back to recover his pants before morning to protect their secret. Scout tries to persuade him otherwise,
but he is determined and quickly returns with his pants
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Anonymous1457. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R133,33. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
52928 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy summaries for 14 years now