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Historical Context
Historical Context
To Kill A Mockingbird is set in a very significant time in American history: The 1930s. Explore the artefacts in the slides to learn more about this time.
Additionally, you might want to explore the Library of Congress's Jim Crow and Segregation resources to learn about this time furher.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by American author Harper Lee. The story follows the Finch family, with particular emphasis on the children: Scout, who narrates the story, and her brother, Jem. Both children grow up in the racially segregated town of Maycomb, Alabama, under the watchful and morally upright guidance of their father, Atticus Finch. However, their perspectives on justice, humanity, and morality are challenged and forever altered when their father defends a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, exposing them to the harsh realities of prejudice and inequality in their community.
The Novel In Sections
The Novel In Sections
Use this study pack to organise your notes on the text. Keeping your notes together like this will help you track patterns across the text, make connections to other texts, and prepare for assessments in the future.
Scout is one of the most famous narrators in literature. It's interesting that this complex story exploring complex themes is told from the perspective of a young child. Read the slides to learn more about the choices Harper Leee makes with narration.
You also can watch this video that discusses narration and To Kill A Mockingbird.
Click the image or the title above to access some resources that could help you analyse novels. These resources explain and demonstrate the ways that we analyse various aspects of novels.
Here are some practice questions to help you prepare for the prose exam.
Should To Kill A Mockingbird be taught at school?
Should To Kill A Mockingbird be taught at school?
Consider writing an essay to explore this idea further. Reflect on how the representation of different groups can be empowering or disempowering.
Who do you think the title To Kill a Mockingbird refers to? Is it just one character, or more?
Some people say, “We shouldn’t judge the past by the standards of today.” How does this apply to the way racism and gender are depicted in the novel?
Did you find Atticus Finch admirable, or too idealized? Does he stand up to your expectations of a moral hero?
How does the novel explore the idea of innocence, and do you think that loss of innocence is always a tragedy?
What are your thoughts on Scout as a narrator? How does her child’s perspective shape our understanding of events?
To what extent is Mayella Ewell a victim in this story?
What did you make of Boo Radley’s role in the novel? Symbolically and emotionally?
Did you find the courtroom scenes compelling or frustrating? Why?
How did the ending make you feel? Was justice served?
Is To Kill a Mockingbird still a relevant and important book to read today? Why or why not?
To what degree is To Kill A Mockingbird a white saviour narrative?
How does Harper Lee use Scout’s narrative voice to critique prejudice and social inequality?
In what ways does To Kill a Mockingbird explore the relationship between law and morality?
Analyse the symbolic function of the mockingbird motif. Which characters embody this symbol, and what is its significance?
How does Harper Lee portray masculinity and fatherhood through Atticus Finch and other male characters?
To what extent does the novel challenge or reinforce traditional gender roles?
How does the novel critique racial injustice in the American South during the 1930s?
Discuss the role of class and social hierarchy in shaping characters' identities and opportunities in Maycomb.
In what ways can To Kill a Mockingbird be read as a Bildungsroman?
How does the novel use setting—particularly the town of Maycomb—to reflect broader themes of stagnation and moral growth?
How might To Kill a Mockingbird be interpreted through a postmodern lens, particularly in terms of its use of unreliable narration, intertextuality, or narrative fragmentation?
Click the link above or the image to access materials that might help with your understanding of the text.
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