Who is the main character in to kill a Mockingbird?
To Kill a Mockingbird. by: Harper Lee. Scout Finch - The narrator and protagonist of the story. Jean Louise “Scout” Finch lives with her father, Atticus, her brother, Jem, and their black cook, Calpurnia, in Maycomb. She is intelligent and, by the standards of her time and place, a tomboy.
Who is Scout Finch in to kill a Mockingbird?
Scout Finch The narrator and protagonist of the story. Jean Louise “Scout” Finch lives with her father, Atticus, her brother, Jem, and their black cook, Calpurnia, in Maycomb. She is intelligent and, by the standards of her time and place, a tomboy.
Who is Miss Maudie Atkinson in to kill a Mockingbird?
Miss Maudie Atkinson - The Finches’ neighbor, a sharp-tongued widow, and an old friend of the family. Miss Maudie is almost the same age as Atticus’s younger brother, Jack. She shares Atticus’s passion for justice and is the children’s best friend among Maycomb’s adults. Calpurnia - The Finches’ black cook.
Who are the Cunninghams in to kill a Mockingbird?
A poor farmer and part of the mob that seeks to lynch Tom Robinson at the jail. Mr. Cunningham displays his human goodness when Scout’s politeness compels him to disperse the men at the jail. Son of Mr. Walter Cunningham and classmate of Scout. Walter cannot afford lunch one day at school and accidentally gets Scout in trouble.
Is Calpurnia a maid or cook?
Calpurnia is the Finch family's cook, a black woman, and a mother figure to Scout.
Who are the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Atticus FinchJean Louise 'Scout' FinchBoo RadleyJem FinchAlexandra HancockMayella Violet EwellTo Kill a Mockingbird/Characters
What is Jem's real name in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Jeremy AtticusThe story centres on Jean Louise (“Scout”) Finch, an unusually intelligent girl who ages from six to nine years old during the novel. She and her brother, Jeremy Atticus (“Jem”), are raised by their widowed father, Atticus Finch. Atticus is a well-known and respected lawyer.
What is Calpurnia's role in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Who is Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird? Calpurnia is the Finch family's African-American cook, but Calpurnia also fulfills the duties of housekeeper and nanny to the children. Nonetheless, Calpurnia plays an integral role in the lives and upbringing of Scout and Jem.
Who is the villain in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Bob Ewell RobertBob Ewell. Robert E. Lee "Bob" Ewell is the main antagonist of To Kill a Mockingbird. He has a daughter named Mayella and a younger son named Burris, as well as six other unnamed children.
Who are the 5 main characters in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Scout Finch The narrator and protagonist of the story. Jean Louise “Scout” Finch lives with her father, Atticus, her brother, Jem, and their black cook, Calpurnia, in Maycomb.
Who broke Jem's arm?
Bob EwellAt the end of the novel Bob Ewell, who has suffered as a result of Atticus's defense of Tom Robinson, attacks Jem and Scout on their way home from the Halloween pageant. Jem breaks his arm in the struggle.
Who did Jem kill?
On the night of the Halloween pageant Bob follows the children home and attacks them but Boo saves Jem and Scout but fatally stabs Bob Ewell. Atticus is convinced Jem killed Bob Ewell but Heck Tate (the sheriff) points out that Jem isn't strong enough and after Bob broke his arm he wouldn't have been able to stab him.
What is Atticus old nickname?
What is Atticus's old nickname? One-shot Finch.
What type of person is Boo Radley?
In the reality of the story, Boo Radley is a kind but mentally underdeveloped recluse who stays inside after an accident in his childhood. He secretly leaves the Finch siblings little gifts in a tree outside as a friendly, social gesture and becomes a hero who saves them from an attack at the end of the book.
How does Atticus treat Calpurnia?
She is held in high esteem by Atticus. He relies on her to look after the children, especially in his absence. Calpurnia's position is respected by Atticus. He pays her a fair wage and considers her “a faithful member of this family”.
What was Calpurnia's nightmare?
In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Calpurnia has a dream that a statue of Caesar was flowing with blood as many Romans wash their hands in the blood. She also sees in her dream that Julius Caesar would die in her arms.
Who are the 3 main characters in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Main charactersScout Finch.Jem Finch.Atticus Finch.
Who is the most important character in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Atticus Finch, hero of Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, is the most inspiring character in literature, according to new research – despite his outing as a racist in Lee's sequel last summer.
What is Scout's real name?
Jean Louise FinchAnswer and Explanation: Scout's real name in Harper Lee's classic To Kill a Mockingbird is Jean Louise Finch, but she is rarely called by her given name.
Who are the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 10?
Jean Louise Finch (Scout)Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem)Atticus Finch.Charles Baker Harris (Dill)Arthur Radley (Boo)Bob Ewell.Miss Maudie Atkinson.Calpurnia.More items...
What is To Kill a Mockingbird about?
To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression (1929–39). The story centres on Jean Louise (“S...
What inspired Harper Lee to write To Kill a Mockingbird?
It is widely believed that Harper Lee based the character of Atticus Finch on her father, Amasa Coleman Lee, a compassionate and dedicated lawyer....
How did people respond to To Kill a Mockingbird?
Harper Lee began writing To Kill a Mockingbird in the mid-1950s. It was published in 1960, just before the peak of the American civil rights moveme...
Why is To Kill a Mockingbird a significant text?
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the best-known and most widely read books in the United States. Since its publication in 1960, the nov...
Is there a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird?
In 2015 Harper Lee published a second novel titled Go Set a Watchman. Although it was technically written before To Kill a Mockingbird, the novel i...
What was the impact of To Kill a Mockingbird on race?
With a shift of attitudes about race in the 1970s, To Kill a Mockingbird faced challenges of a different sort: the treatment of racism in Maycomb was not condemned harshly enough . This has led to disparate perceptions that the novel has a generally positive impact on race relations for white readers, but a more ambiguous reception by black readers. In one high-profile case outside the U.S., school districts in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia attempted to have the book removed from standard teaching curricula in the 1990s, stating:
Why did Lee rename the book "To Kill a Mockingbird"?
After the "Watchman" title was rejected, it was re-titled Atticus but Lee renamed it To Kill a Mockingbird to reflect that the story went beyond a character portrait.
What is the most interesting thing about To Kill a Mockingbird?
One of the amazing things about the writing in To Kill a Mockingbird is the economy with which Harper Lee delineates not only race—white and black within a small community—but class. I mean different kinds of black people and white people both, from poor white trash to the upper crust—the whole social fabric.
What are the themes of To Kill a Mockingbird?
As a Southern Gothic and Bildungsroman novel, the primary themes of To Kill a Mockingbird involve racial injustice and the destruction of innocence. Scholars have noted that Lee also addresses issues of class, courage, compassion, and gender roles in the Deep South.
What was Jane Austen's aspiration?
In a 1964 interview, Lee remarked that her aspiration was "to be ... the Jane Austen of South Alabama." Both Austen and Lee challenged the social status quo and valued individual worth over social standing. When Scout embarrasses her poorer classmate, Walter Cunningham, at the Finch home one day, Calpurnia, their black cook, chastises and punishes her for doing so. Atticus respects Calpurnia's judgment, and later in the book even stands up to his sister, the formidable Aunt Alexandra, when she strongly suggests they fire Calpurnia. One writer notes that Scout, "in Austenian fashion", satirizes women with whom she does not wish to identify. Literary critic Jean Blackall lists the priorities shared by the two authors: "affirmation of order in society, obedience, courtesy, and respect for the individual without regard for status".
Where does the story take place in To Kill a Mockingbird?
The story, told by the six-year-old Jean Louise Finch, takes place during three years (1933–35) of the Great Depression in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, the seat of Maycomb County.
When was the first draft of To Kill a Mockingbird released?
Go Set a Watchman. An earlier draft of To Kill a Mockingbird, titled Go Set a Watchman, was controversially released on July 14, 2015. This draft, which was completed in 1957, is set 20 years after the time period depicted in To Kill a Mockingbird but is not a continuation of the narrative.
What year was To Kill a Mockingbird made into a movie?
This book cover is one of many given to Harper Lee's classic work To Kill a Mockingbird (1960). The novel won a Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and the next year was made into an Academy Award-winning film. Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group.
How many copies of To Kill a Mockingbird have been sold?
Since its publication in 1960, the novel has been translated into some 40 languages and has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. A staple on American high- school reading lists, the novel has inspired numerous stage ...
What is the plot of To Kill a Mockingbird?
The plot of To Kill a Mockingbird was inspired in part by his unsuccessful youthful defense of two African American men convicted of murder. Criticism of the novel’s tendency to sermonize has been matched by praise of its insight and stylistic effectiveness. Harper Lee. Harper Lee, 2001.
Who attacked Mayella in Atticus?
Although Atticus presents a defense that gives a more plausible interpretation of the evidence—that Mayella was attacked by her father, Bob Ewell —Tom is convicted, and he is later killed while trying to escape custody. A character compares his death to “the senseless slaughter of songbirds.”.
Where is To Kill a Mockingbird set?
What is To Kill a Mockingbird about? To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression (1929–39). The story centres on Jean Louise (“Scout”) Finch, an unusually intelligent girl who ages from six to nine years old during the novel.
Where is the setting of Go Set a Watchman?
Go Set a Watchman is set 20 years after the events of To Kill a Mockingbird. In the novel, Jean Louise (”Scout”) Finch—now a grown woman living in New York City—returns to her childhood home in Alabama to visit her aging father, who has embraced racist views. Despite the controversy surrounding its publication ...
Who is the recluse in the book "Scout and Jem"?
Scout and Jem become especially interested in the town recluse, Arthur (“Boo”) Radley, who interacts with them by leaving them small gifts in a tree. On Halloween, when Bob Ewell tries to attack Scout and Jem, Boo intervenes and saves them. Boo ultimately kills Ewell.
How old is Atticus in Maycomb?
Atticus is older than most fathers in Maycomb at almost 50 years old, and as a lawyer, Scout and Jem initially believe that Atticus doesn’t do anything of import. Atticus… read analysis of Atticus Finch.
What does Scout say after Tom Robinson's trial?
being a democracy), Scout hears her say after Tom Robinson ’s trial that the black residents of Maycomb got what they deserved.
How old is Mayella Ewell?
Mayella Ewell. Bob Ewell ’s 19-year-old daughter. She’s described as thick and used to hard labor and cultivates bright red geraniums in the family’s yard. and Scout can tell that though Mayella tries to keep clean, she’s… read analysis of Mayella Ewell.
What county is Miss Caroline from?
She’s a young teacher from Winston County, which makes children suspicious of her—people from Winston County are, in the eyes of those in Maycomb County, very peculiar. Miss Caroline takes offense to Scout’s advanced literacy and introduces a new way of teaching in Maycomb.
How old is Scout in the book?
Jean Louise Finch (Scout) The novel’s protagonist. Over the course of the novel’s three years, Scout grows from six to nine years old. She’s bright, precocious, and a tomboy. Many neighbors and family members take offense to her love… read analysis of Jean Louise Finch (Scout)
Is Miss Stephanie a good Maycomb lady?
The Maycomb gossip. She’s a good Maycomb lady in that she’s active in the church and is very social, but Scout knows to not believe anything she says. Miss Stephanie very interested in Miss Maudie … read analysis of Miss Stephanie Crawford
Is Miss Maudie a widow?
Miss Maudie is in her 40s and a widow, and she loves to garden but hates her house. She’s a mostly benign presence in Scout ’s life until Jem … read analysis of Miss Maudie Atkinson.
To Kill a Mockingbird: Overview
Lee's novel features Scout Finch, a tomboyish young girl from Maycomb, Alabama. She lives with her brother, Jem, and widowed father, Atticus, who serves the town as a prominent lawyer. In general, the Finches are well off compared to the town's other inhabitants. However, while the town may be poor, it is rich in character and secrets.
Innocence
One of the central themes of To Kill a Mockingbird is innocence. Scout and Jem are innocent children unaware of the story behind the Radley house. Tom Robinson is proven innocent despite the jury's verdict. Even Boo Radley is innocent and simply wants to be a part of the community and shares a connection with the children.
Guilt
Guilt also plays a significant role in the plot of Lee's novel. While the children are 'innocents' by default, they are guilty of prejudice against Boo. The townspeople are the guiltiest of all and cause the destruction and death that follows the Robinson trial. Even Atticus feels guilty about Tom's death and questions his abilities as a father.
Fair Trial
True innocence or guilt should only be decided due to a fair trial. If the jury is not impartial, or the judge is crooked, the verdict can't be trusted. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the jury disregarded the mountain of evidence supporting Tom's case in favor of acting on their racial prejudice.
Takeaway
To Kill a Mockingbird shed light on the unfair treatment of black people, particularly black men accused of assault in the mid 20 th century. It acts as a window into the past and a very racially divided south whose remnants remain today. The book has inspired countless young people to pursue justice and the practice of law.
Overview
Plot summary
The story, told by the six-year-old Jean Louise Finch, takes place during three years (1933–35) of the Great Depression in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, the seat of Maycomb County. Nicknamed Scout, she lives with her older brother Jeremy, nicknamed Jem, and their widowed father Atticus, a middle-aged lawyer. They also have a black cook, Calpurnia, who had been with the family for many years and helped Atticus raise the two children.
Biographical background and publication
Born in 1926, Harper Lee grew up in the Southern town of Monroeville, Alabama, where she became close friends with soon-to-be-famous writer Truman Capote. She attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery (1944–45), and then studied law at the University of Alabama (1945–49). While attending college, she wrote for campus literary magazines: Huntress at Huntingdon and the humor magazine Rammer Jammer at the University of Alabama. At both colleges, she wrot…
Autobiographical elements
Lee said that To Kill a Mockingbird is not an autobiography, but rather an example of how an author "should write about what he knows and write truthfully". Nevertheless, several people and events from Lee's childhood parallel those of the fictional Scout. Amasa Coleman Lee, Lee's father, was an attorney similar to Atticus Finch. In 1919, he defended two black men accused of murder. After they were convicted, hanged and mutilated, he never took another criminal case. L…
Style
The strongest element of style noted by critics and reviewers is Lee's talent for narration, which in an early review in Time was called "tactile brilliance". Writing a decade later, another scholar noted, "Harper Lee has a remarkable gift of story-telling. Her art is visual, and with cinematographic fluidity and subtlety we see a scene melting into another scene without jolts of transition." Lee combines the narrator's voice of a child observing her surroundings with a grown woman's reflec…
Themes
Despite the novel's immense popularity upon publication, it has not received the close critical attention paid to other modern American classics. Don Noble, the editor of a book of essays about the novel, estimates that the ratio of sales to analytical essays may be a million to one. Christopher Metress writes that the book is "an icon whose emotive sway remains strangely powerful because it al…
Reception
Despite her editors' warnings that the book might not sell well, it quickly became a sensation, bringing acclaim to Lee in literary circles, in her hometown of Monroeville, and throughout Alabama. The book went through numerous subsequent printings and became widely available through its inclusion in the Book of the Month Club and editions released by Reader's Digest Condensed B…
Go Set a Watchman
An earlier draft of To Kill a Mockingbird, titled Go Set a Watchman, was controversially released on July 14, 2015. This draft, which was completed in 1957, is set 20 years after the time period depicted in To Kill a Mockingbird but is not a continuation of the narrative. This earlier version of the story follows an adult Scout Finch who travels from New York City to visit her father, Atticus Finch, in Maycomb, Alabama, where she is confronted by the intolerance in her community. Th…