book report of to kill a mockingbird

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Plot summary

• Analysis, adaptations, and Go Set a Watchman

What is To Kill a Mockingbird about?

What inspired harper lee to write to kill a mockingbird , how did people respond to to kill a mockingbird , why is to kill a mockingbird a significant text, is there a sequel to to kill a mockingbird .

To Kill a Mockingbird

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• National Endowment for the Arts - To Kill a Mockingbird
• Encyclopedia of Alabama - To Kill A Mockingbird
• Internet Archive - "To Kill a Mockingbird"
• Academia - To Kill a Mockingbird: Race, Class and Innocence in the Contemporary Society INTRODUCTION
• To Kill a Mockingbird - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
• Table Of Contents

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. She and her brother, Jeremy Atticus (“Jem”), are raised by their widowed father, Atticus Finch. Atticus is a well-known and respected lawyer. He teaches his children to be empathetic and just, always leading by example.

When Tom Robinson, one of the town’s Black residents, is falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a young white woman, Atticus agrees to defend him despite threats from the community. 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. He is later killed while trying to escape custody. The children, meanwhile, play out their own miniaturized drama. 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. The sheriff, however, decides to tell the community that Ewell’s death was an accident.

It is widely believed that Harper Lee based the character of Atticus Finch on her father, Amasa Coleman Lee, a compassionate and dedicated lawyer. The plot of To Kill a Mockingbird was reportedly inspired in part by his unsuccessful defense of two African American men—a father and a son—accused of murdering a white storekeeper. The fictional character of Charles Baker (“Dill”) Harris also has a real-life counterpart. Dill is based on the author Truman Capote , Lee’s childhood friend and next-door neighbour in Monroeville, Alabama. (After the spectacular success of To Kill a Mockingbird , some speculated that Capote was the actual author of Lee’s work. This rumour was not put to rest until 2006.) There is some anecdotal evidence that the town recluse, Arthur (“Boo”) Radley, was based on Lee and Capote’s childhood neighbour, Son Boulware. According to Capote, Boo “was a real man, and he lived just down the road from us.…Everything [Lee] wrote about it is absolutely true.”

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 movement . Initial critical responses to the novel were mixed. Many critics praised Lee for her sensitive treatment of a child’s awakening to racism and prejudice. Others, however, criticized the novel’s tendency to sermonize. Some reviewers argued that the narrative voice was unconvincing. The novel was nonetheless enormously popular with contemporary audiences. To Kill a Mockingbird flourished in the racially charged environment of the United States in the early 1960s. In its first year it sold about 500,000 copies. A year after the publication of the novel, Lee was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

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 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 and film adaptations, the most notable of which was the 1962 film starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. Lee’s novel continues to resonate with audiences today; in 2018 a stage adaptation of the novel debuted to rave reviews on Broadway.

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 is essentially a sequel. 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 (some believe the novel is actually an early draft of To Kill a Mockingbird ), the novel reportedly sold 1.1 million copies in its first week.

To Kill a Mockingbird , novel by American author Harper Lee , published in 1960. Enormously popular, it was translated into some 40 languages, sold more than 40 million copies worldwide , and is one of the most-assigned novels in American schools. In 1961 it won a Pulitzer Prize . The novel was praised for its sensitive treatment of a child’s awakening to racism and prejudice in the American South .

To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression . The protagonist is Jean Louise (“Scout”) Finch, an intelligent though unconventional girl who ages from six to nine years old during the course of the novel. She is raised with her brother, Jeremy Atticus (“Jem”), by their widowed father, Atticus Finch . He is a prominent lawyer who encourages his children to be empathetic and just. He notably tells them that it is “a sin to kill a mockingbird ,” alluding to the fact that the birds are innocent and harmless.

When Tom Robinson, one of the town’s Black residents, is falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman, Atticus agrees to defend him despite threats from the community . At one point he faces a mob intent on lynching his client but refuses to abandon him. Scout unwittingly diffuses the situation. 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,” paralleling Atticus’s saying about the mockingbird.

The children, meanwhile, play out their own miniaturized drama of prejudice and superstition as they become interested in Arthur (“Boo”) Radley , a reclusive neighbour who is a local legend . They have their own ideas about him and cannot resist the allure of trespassing on the Radley property. Their speculations thrive on the dehumanization perpetuated by their elders. Atticus, however, reprimands them and tries to encourage a more sensitive attitude. Boo makes his presence felt indirectly through a series of benevolent acts, finally intervening when Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout. Boo kills Ewell, but Heck Tate, the sheriff, believes it is better to say that Ewell’s death occurred when he fell on his own knife, sparing the shy Boo from unwanted attention. Scout agrees, noting that to do otherwise would be “sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird.”

• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Literature Notes
• Book Summary
• To Kill a Mockingbird at a Glance
• Character List
• Summary and Analysis
• Part 1: Chapter 1
• Part 1: Chapters 2-3
• Part 1: Chapters 4-5
• Part 1: Chapters 6-7
• Part 1: Chapters 8-9
• Part 1: Chapters 10-11
• Part 2: Chapters 12-13
• Part 2: Chapters 14-16
• Part 2: Chapters 17-20
• Part 2: Chapters 21-23
• Part 2: Chapters 24-26
• Part 2: Chapters 27-28
• Part 2: Chapters 29-31
• Character Analysis
• Scout (Jean Louise) Finch
• Atticus Finch
• Dill Harris
• Boo Radley and Tom Robinson
• Aunt Alexandra and Miss Maudie Atkinson
• Bob and Mayella Ewell
• Character Map
• About To Kill a Mockingbird
• Harper Lee Biography
• Critical Essays
• Racial Relations in the Southern United States
• Comparing To Kill a Mockingbird to Its Movie Version
• Famous Quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird
• Film Versions of To Kill a Mockingbird
• Full Glossary for To Kill a Mockingbird
• Essay Questions
• Practice Projects
• Cite this Literature Note

To Kill a Mockingbird is primarily a novel about growing up under extraordinary circumstances in the 1930s in the Southern United States. The story covers a span of three years, during which the main characters undergo significant changes. Scout Finch lives with her brother Jem and their father Atticus in the fictitious town of Maycomb, Alabama. Maycomb is a small, close-knit town, and every family has its social station depending on where they live, who their parents are, and how long their ancestors have lived in Maycomb.

A widower, Atticus raises his children by himself, with the help of kindly neighbors and a black housekeeper named Calpurnia. Scout and Jem almost instinctively understand the complexities and machinations of their neighborhood and town. The only neighbor who puzzles them is the mysterious Arthur Radley, nicknamed Boo, who never comes outside. When Dill, another neighbor's nephew, starts spending summers in Maycomb, the three children begin an obsessive — and sometimes perilous — quest to lure Boo outside.

Scout is a tomboy who prefers the company of boys and generally solves her differences with her fists. She tries to make sense of a world that demands that she act like a lady, a brother who criticizes her for acting like a girl, and a father who accepts her just as she is. Scout hates school, gaining her most valuable education on her own street and from her father.

Not quite midway through the story, Scout and Jem discover that their father is going to represent a black man named Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping and beating a white woman. Suddenly, Scout and Jem have to tolerate a barrage of racial slurs and insults because of Atticus' role in the trial. During this time, Scout has a very difficult time restraining from physically fighting with other children, a tendency that gets her in trouble with her Aunt Alexandra and Uncle Jack. Even Jem, the older and more levelheaded of the two, loses his temper a time or two. After responding to a neighbor's (Mrs. Dubose) verbal attack by destroying her plants, Jem is sentenced to read to her every day after school for one month. Ultimately, Scout and Jem learn a powerful lesson about bravery from this woman. As the trial draws nearer, Aunt Alexandra comes to live with them under the guise of providing a feminine influence for Scout.

During the novel's last summer, Tom is tried and convicted even though Atticus proves that Tom could not have possibly committed the crime of which he is accused. In the process of presenting Tom's case, Atticus inadvertently insults and offends Bob Ewell, a nasty, lazy drunkard whose daughter is Tom's accuser. In spite of Tom's conviction, Ewell vows revenge on Atticus and the judge for besmirching his already tarnished name. All three children are bewildered by the jury's decision to convict; Atticus tries to explain why the jury's decision was in many ways a foregone conclusion.

Shortly after the trial, Scout attends one of her aunt's Missionary Society meetings. Atticus interrupts the meeting to report that Tom Robinson had been killed in an escape attempt. Scout learns valuable lessons about achieving the ideal of womanhood and carrying on in the face of adversity that day.

Things slowly return to normal in Maycomb, and Scout and Jem realize that Boo Radley is no longer an all-consuming curiosity. The story appears to be winding down, but then Bob Ewell starts making good on his threats of revenge. Scout is in the Halloween pageant at school, playing the part of a ham. With Atticus and Aunt Alexandra both too tired to attend, Jem agrees to take Scout to the school. After embarrassing herself on-stage, Scout elects to leave her ham costume on for the walk home with Jem.

On the way home, the children hear odd noises, but convince themselves that the noises are coming from another friend who scared them on their way to school that evening. Suddenly, a scuffle occurs. Scout really can't see outside of her costume, but she hears Jem being pushed away, and she feels powerful arms squeezing her costume's chicken wire against her skin. During this attack, Jem badly breaks his arm. Scout gets just enough of a glimpse out of her costume to see a stranger carrying Jem back to their house.

The sheriff arrives at the Finch house to announce that Bob Ewell has been found dead under the tree where the children were attacked, having fallen on his own knife. By this time, Scout realizes that the stranger is none other than Boo Radley, and that Boo is actually responsible for killing Ewell, thus saving her and Jem's lives. In spite of Atticus' insistence to the contrary, the sheriff refuses to press charges against Boo. Scout agrees with this decision and explains her understanding to her father. Boo sees Jem one more time and then asks Scout to take him home, but rather than escort him home as though he were a child, she has Boo escort her to his house as a gentleman would.

With Boo safely home, Scout returns to Jem's room where Atticus is waiting. He reads her to sleep and then waits by Jem's bedside for his son to wake up.

Previous To Kill a Mockingbird at a Glance

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To Kill a Mockingbird

By harper lee.

'To Kill A Mockingbird' is a coming of age story where a child discovers that white and black belong to two unfairly different worlds in her society.

Article written by Onyekachi Osuji

B.A. in Public Administration and certified in Creative Writing (Fiction and Non-Fiction)

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee tells the story of a child whose carefree relish of her childhood is given a rude awakening by the realization that she lives in an unjust and racist society when she witnesses the unfair conviction of a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman.

’Spoiler Free’ Summary of To Kill a Mockingbird

The novel begins with the character of Scout describing her brother Jem’s arm injury that happened years earlier. Jem and Scout have several theories about what led to the injury and argue about it, then to settle the argument, they seek their father’s opinion, and their father tells them that they are both right.

Scout then begins to narrate the events of the years before Jem’s injury. They live in a nice residential area of a town called Maycomb County. It is a small town where everyone knows everyone else down to their ancestry, and the people are accustomed to social interactions with each other. However, there is a house in Scout’s neighborhood that is of interest to the people of the town because the house is always shut and the inhabitants of the house never socialize with neighbors.

The inhabitants of this house are the Radleys and their youngest son Arthur Radley who is never seen outside is nicknamed Boo Radley and described as an awkward monster in children’s imagination.

One summer, Scout and Dill meet a new boy in the neighborhood called Dill. Dill lives in another city but would be coming to Maycomb County every summer to stay with his relative. Scout and Jem become friends with Dill who is fascinated with the legend of the never-seen Boo Radley. Dill begins to formulate dares and plots to get them all to go to the Radley house in the hope of seeing Boo Radley. But they never succeed in seeing him.

Scout’s father is a lawyer called Atticus. One time in school, other pupils begin to taunt Scout for having a dad who is a ‘’nigger lover’’. Scout tells her father about it, and her father tells her about a client he has been assigned to defend in court. The client’s name is Tom Robinson and he has been falsely accused of raping a white girl named Mayella Ewell. Atticus tells Scout that the case is not until the next summer but that she must stay strong and be prepared to resist such taunting with grace.

Summer comes, and Tom Robinson is tried in court with Atticus as his defense attorney. Scout and the other kids have high hopes that Tom Robinson would be freed. But the outcome was not as expected.

Events take a turn for the worse as lives are lost and endangered by some people who nurse racism and hatred in their hearts.

Complete Plot Summary of To Kill a Mockingbird

Scout is a girl of six who lives in a nice neighborhood with her brother Jem, her father Atticus, and their cook Calpurnia. Scout and Jem play together and later make friends with a boy named Dill, who visits the neighborhood every summer.

A house close to them is always shut, and no one ever visits it. The occupants of the House are the Radleys, who do not socialize in the town. The youngest son of the Radleys had never been seen since years ago when he was a teenage boy, and he is rumored to be a monster and nicknamed Boo.

Dill is fascinated with Boo and devices various plots to get himself, Scout, and Jem close enough to the Radley House for them to get a glimpse of Boo. But all their childish plots fail, and they content themselves with enacting drama about their imagination of Boo’s life.

Scout begins school and their teacher Miss Caroline Fisher, an inexperienced young teacher, asks everyone to bring out their food in class. Seeing that one of the pupils does not have any food, Miss Fisher offers to lend him money to buy something to eat. Scout volunteers to explain to the teacher that the boy cannot afford to borrow money from her because they are poor but this gets her on the wrong footing with Miss Fisher and she gets whipped.

The boy concerned is Walter Cunningham whose father was once a client of Scout’s father Atticus. Scout fights with Walter at break time for being the cause of her getting whipped but later as a peace offering invites him to lunch with her at home.

Scout and Jem begin to be mocked by people because their father chose to defend a black man in a court case. Atticus explains to them that they must hold their heads high and ignore the taunts because the case of the black man is one he must defend if he wants to live well with his conscience. The case is that of a black young man who was accused of rape by a white girl and her father.

Mrs Henry Lafayette Dubose, a mean old lady that lives two houses away from Atticus’s house sees Jem and Scout and begins to taunt them for their father’s legal defense of a black man. In a fit of rage, Jem destroys the flowers in her front yard. Atticus finds out and instructs Jem to go and apologize to Mrs Dubose. Jem does as instructed and Mrs Dubose insists that Jem must come read to her every day for one month and Jem grudgingly obeys.

Mrs Dubose later dies and Atticus uses her as an example to teach Jem that people have both good and bad in them. Mrs Dubose was a mean old lady but she was courageous and chose to withdraw from her medically prescribed morphine addiction even though it caused her great pain.

Atticus travels for work for some days and their cook Calpurnia takes Scout and Jem to her church. There, the children discover that the black community is very different from their own white community. The cook, Calpurnia who speaks and writes good grammar speaks vernacular when around fellow black folks. Scout also witnesses Reverend Sykes organize a collection to help Tom Robinson’s wife and children who are left without support as his wife was finding it hard to get employment following her husband’s imprisonment.

Atticus’ sister, Alexandra moves in with Atticus. In her opinion, Atticus is not raising his children well and she has to help him teach them to behave like people from a respectable family.

Dill runs away from home and sneaks into Scout’s room. He is discovered by Scout and Jem and Scout plans to keep his presence a secret but Jem reports the incident to Atticus. After a stern warning, Dill is allowed to live with them.

The date of Tom Robinson’s trial draws near and the entire town is filled with tension. Atticus goes to stand guard at the jail where Tom is locked up. Jem, Scout, and Dill sneak out of the house and go in search of Atticus. They find him sitting at the jailhouse and shortly after, a group of men arrive asking Atticus to allow them access to Tom. Scout senses that they may harm Atticus and emerges from her hiding place. She recognizes Mr. Cunningham, her father’s former client, and the father of her classmate Walter Cunningham, among the group and begins to engage him in conversation.

After a while, Mr. Cunningham begins to feel awkward about their intention to lynch a prisoner and requests that his band leaves the scene. And so, Scout saves Tom Robinson from getting lynched without even knowing it.

The day of Tom Robinson’s trial comes and the entire Maycomb County, where nothing exciting ever happens, converges at the local court to witness the trial. The trial begins, and after a hard-fought case with a strong defense, Tom Robinson is still pronounced guilty by the jury. Bob Ewell, the father of the girl who claimed Tom Robinson raped her, threatens to hurt Atticus for humiliating him in court during cross-examination at the witness box.

Atticus assures Tom Robinson that there is still hope as they would appeal the case in a higher court. But Tom Robinson does not believe that there is any hope for a man in his position. He attempts to escape from prison but is shot dead by guards.

Months go by and the Tom Robinson tragedy is forgotten. The people of Maycomb County organise a Halloween party where children would perform on stage in various costumes. Scout is given the costume of a ham. Scout’s father and her aunt excuse themselves from attending the party and Jem is asked to accompany Scout as it is a night party. Scout makes an embarrassing flop in her performance at the party.

After the party, Scout decides to walk home in her heavy costume. As she walks home with Jem, Bob Ewell attacks them. He slices his knife at Scout but her costume protects her from getting harmed. Jem tries to fight him off but is shoved aside so violently that he breaks his arm and becomes unconscious. Boo Radley hears their screams and rushes to their defense. Boo Radley stabs Bob Ewell and carries Jem to Atticus.

Heck Tate, the sheriff of the county, is summoned. He finds Bod Ewell stabbed to death and after gathering information about the incident, he deduces that Bob Ewell was stabbed by Boo Radley. But in a bid to protect the shy Boo Radley’s privacy from public attention, he lies in his report, claiming that Bob Ewell died by stumbling upon his knife.

Scout finally sees Boo Radley in person and exchanges a few polite words with him. She walks Boo Radley to his front porch and he retires inside, never to be seen again.

Who comes and threatens Atticus?

It is Bob Ewell that threatens Atticus. Bob Ewell is a nasty man who accused Tom Robinson of raping his daughter. He hates Atticus for humiliating him in court and for choosing to defend a black man.

Why won’t Jem go home when Atticus tells him to?

Jem refuses to go home when Atticus tells him to because he is afraid that Atticus would get hurt. Atticus was facing a mob that was trying to lynch his client in jail.

How did the Radley house acquire its reputation?

The Radley house acquired its reputation because its windows and doors were always shut, the occupants of the house never visited anyone and never received any visitors. All these were unusual behavior in a small town where everyone socialized with everyone else, and for this, the house acquired the reputation of being a strange, spooky place.

Why did Scout fight Walter Cunningham?

Scout fought Walter Cunningham because their teacher whipped her in class for trying to explain his situation to her. And so, Scout felt it was Walter Cunningham’s fault that she got whipped.

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About Onyekachi Osuji

Onyekachi was already an adult when she discovered the rich artistry in the storytelling craft of her people—the native Igbo tribe of Africa. This connection to her roots has inspired her to become a Literature enthusiast with an interest in the stories of Igbo origin and books from writers of diverse backgrounds. She writes stories of her own and works on Literary Analysis in various genres.

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To Kill a Mockingbird

Ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Introduction

To kill a mockingbird: plot summary, to kill a mockingbird: detailed summary & analysis, to kill a mockingbird: themes, to kill a mockingbird: quotes, to kill a mockingbird: characters, to kill a mockingbird: symbols, to kill a mockingbird: literary devices, to kill a mockingbird: theme wheel, brief biography of harper lee.

Historical Context of To Kill a Mockingbird

Other books related to to kill a mockingbird.

• Full Title: To Kill a Mockingbird
• When Written: 1950-1960
• Where Written: New York City and Monroeville, Alabama
• When Published: 1960
• Literary Period: Modernism
• Genre: Bildungsroman; Social Novel
• Setting: The fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression
• Climax: The trial of Tom Robinson; or when Bob Ewell attacks Scout and Jem
• Antagonist: Bob Ewell; more broadly, racism and mob mentality
• Point of View: First Person

Extra Credit for To Kill a Mockingbird

“Dill” Capote. The character of Dill is based on Harper Lee’s real-life childhood friend, Truman Capote, who went on to become a national literary star in his own right. He wrote the bestselling true crime book In Cold Blood .

Atticus in Real Life. Harper Lee became close friends with Gregory Peck, the actor who played Atticus in the Academy Award-winning film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird . She remained close with his family after Peck died, and Peck’s grandson is even named Harper after her.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Book Review, Summary & Analysis

Introduction: to kill a mockingbird by harper lee - book review, summary & analysis, book:  to kill a mockingbird, about the author: harper lee  , excerpts from the original text.

There is no need to say everything you know. That's not a lady-besides, people don't like people around them who know more than they do. That will annoy them. No matter how correct you are, you can't change these people. Unless they want to learn, there is no way. You either close your mouth or use their language. —— Quoted from page 153.

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Book summary, book review & analysis.

"The life that has not read this book is really different from the life after reading it." 

Main Storyline

How to get along with others, how to deal with dissent.

"Even if you didn't do those pranks, I would still let you read to Mrs. Du Boss to accompany her because I want you to take a good look at her. This is the bravest person I have ever seen. What did she explain? called the real courage. courage gas on hand is not a man with a gun. courage is when you embark on the field before you know you will be Tongzou meal, but you still on the field, and no matter what happens, you Persevere till the end. Most of the time you will fail, but sometimes, you will also succeed."

How to stick to yourself?

"Sometimes, I feel that I am a failure to be a parent, but I am everything they have. When Jim looks up to others, he looks up first. It’s me, I want to live upright so that I can face him calmly..."

"You may hear some bad comments in school, but please do one thing for me: raise your head and lower your fists. No matter what others say to you, don't get angry. Try to fight with your head. Don't because We had already failed for a hundred years before that, and though we had no reason to fight for victory."

"Be sensible about despicable things, and when things pass, you can look back with sympathy and understanding, and be grateful for not disappointing people at the time. When most people think they are right and you are wrong Of course, they have the right to think so, and their views are also entitled to be fully respected. But before they can get along with others, they must first get along. There is one thing that cannot follow the principle of conformity, and that is the conscience of people."

Self-photography in the mirror

"Uh, coming out of the court that night, Miss Gates-she walked in front of us when she descended the steps, you must have not seen her-she was talking to Miss Stephenson. I heard her say: It's time to teach them. They are becoming less and less aware of their identities. Will they think that they can marry us in the next step. Jim, a man who hates Hitler so much, is so vicious to the people of his hometown when he turns his face?"

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To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

• To Kill a Mockingbird Summary

To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Alabama during the Depression, and is narrated by the main character, a little girl named Jean Louise "Scout" Finch. Her father, Atticus Finch , is a lawyer with high moral standards. Scout, her brother Jem, and their friend Dill are intrigued by the local rumors about a man named Boo Radley , who lives in their neighborhood but never leaves his house. Legend has it that he once stabbed his father in the leg with a pair of scissors, and he is made out to be a kind of monster. Dill is from Mississippi but spends his summer in Maycomb at a house near the Finch's.

The children are curious to know more about Boo, and during one summer create a mini-drama they enact daily, which tells the events of his life as they know them. Slowly, the children begin moving closer to the Radley house, which is said to be haunted. They try leaving notes for Boo on his windowsill with a fishing pole, but are caught by Atticus, who firmly reprimands them for making fun of a sad man's life. Next, the children try sneaking over to the house at night and looking through its windows. Boo's brother, Nathan Radley, who lives in the house, thinks he hears a prowler and fires his gun. The children run away, but Jem loses his pants in a fence. When he returns in the middle of the night to get them back, they have been neatly folded and the tear from the fence roughly sewn up.

Other mysterious things happen to the Finch children. A certain tree near the Radley house has a hole in which little presents are often left for them, such as pennies, chewing gum, and soap carved figures of a little boy and girl who bear a striking resemblance to Scout and Jem. The children don't know where these gifts are coming from, and when they go to leave a note for the mystery giver, they find that Boo's brother has plugged up the hole with cement. The next winter brings unexpected cold and snow, and Miss Maudie's house catches on fire. While Jem and Scout, shivering, watch the blaze from near the Radley house, someone puts a blanket around Scout without her realizing it. Not until she returns home and Atticus asks her where the blanket came from does she realize that Boo Radley must have put it around her while she was entranced by watching Miss Maudie, her favorite neighbor, and her burning house.

Atticus decides to take on a case involving a black man named Tom Robinson who has been accused of raping a very poor white girl named Mayella Ewell , a member of the notorious Ewell family, who belong to the layer of Maycomb society that people refer to as "trash." The Finch family faces harsh criticism in the heavily racist Maycomb because of Atticus's decision to defend Tom. But, Atticus insists on going through with the case because his conscience could not let him do otherwise. He knows Tom is innocent, and also that he has almost no chance at being acquitted, because the white jury will never believe a black man over a white woman. Despite this, Atticus wants to reveal the truth to his fellow townspeople, expose their bigotry, and encourage them to imagine the possibility of racial equality.

Because Atticus is defending a black man, Scout and Jem find themselves whispered at and taunted, and have trouble keeping their tempers. At a family Christmas gathering, Scout beats up her cloying relative Francis when he accuses Atticus of ruining the family name by being a "nigger-lover". Jem cuts off the tops of an old neighbor's flower bushes after she derides Atticus, and as punishment, has to read out loud to her every day. Jem does not realize until after she dies that he is helping her break her morphine addiction. When revealing this to Jem and Scout, Atticus holds this old woman up as an example of true courage: the will to keep fighting even when you know you can't win.

The time for the trial draws closer, and Atticus's sister Alexandra comes to stay with the family. She is proper and old-fashioned and wants to shape Scout into the model of the Southern feminine ideal, much to Scout's resentment. Dill runs away from his home, where his mother and new father don't seem interested in him, and stays in Maycomb for the summer of Tom's trial. The night before the trial, Tom is moved into the county jail, and Atticus, fearing a possible lynching, stands guard outside the jail door all night. Jem is concerned about him, and the three children sneak into town to find him. A group of men arrive ready to cause some violence to Tom, and threaten Atticus in the process. At first Jem, Scout and Dill stand aside, but when she senses true danger, Scout runs out and begins to speak to one of the men, the father of one of her classmates in school. Her innocence brings the crowd out of their mob mentality, and they leave.

The trial pits the evidence of the white Ewell family against Tom's evidence. According to the Ewells, Mayella asked Tom to do some work for her while her father was out, and Tom came into their house and forcibly beat and raped Mayella until her father appeared and scared him away. Tom's version is that Mayella invited him inside, then threw her arms around him and began to kiss him. Tom tried to push her away. When Bob Ewell arrived, he flew into a rage and beat her, while Tom ran away in fright. According to the sheriff's testimony, Mayella's bruises were on the right side of her face, which means she was most likely punched with a left hand. Tom Robinson's left arm is useless due to an old accident, whereas Mr. Ewell leads with his left. Given the evidence of reasonable doubt, Tom should go free, but after hours of deliberation, the jury pronounces him guilty. Scout, Jem and Dill sneak into the courthouse to see the trial and sit in the balcony with Maycomb's black population. They are stunned at the verdict because to them, the evidence was so clearly in Tom's favor.

Though the verdict is unfortunate, Atticus feels some satisfaction that the jury took so long deciding. Usually, the decision would be made in minutes, because a black man's word would not be trusted. Atticus is hoping for an appeal, but unfortunately Tom tries to escape from his prison and is shot to death in the process. Jem has trouble handling the results of the trial, feeling that his trust in the goodness and rationality of humanity has been betrayed.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ewell threatens Atticus and other people connected with the trial because he feels he was humiliated. He gets his revenge one night while Jem and Scout are walking home from the Halloween play at their school. He follows them home in the dark, then runs at them and attempts to kill them with a large kitchen knife. Jem breaks his arm, and Scout, who is wearing a confining ham shaped wire costume and cannot see what is going on, is helpless throughout the attack. The elusive Boo Radley stabs Mr. Ewell and saves the children. Finally, Scout has a chance to meet the shy and nervous Boo. At the end of this fateful night, the sheriff declares that Mr. Ewell fell on his own knife so Boo, the hero of the situation, won't have to be tried for murder. Scout walks Boo home and imagines how he has viewed the town and observed her, Jem and Dill over the years from inside his home. Boo goes inside, closes the door, and she never sees him again.

To Kill a Mockingbird Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for To Kill a Mockingbird is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

How old was Scout when her mother died?

Scout's mother died when she was two years old.

Our mother died when I was two, so I never felt her absence.

Where can I find the literary devices used in each chapter a book?

To find literary devices used in each chapter of "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, you can refer to literary analysis guides, study aids, or academic resources that offer chapter-by-chapter breakdowns. Here are a few places where you might...

From the text:

We eased in beside Miss Maudie, who looked around. “Where were you all, didn’t you hear the commotion?” “What happened?” asked Jem. “Mr. Radley shot at a Negro in his collard patch.” “Oh. Did he hit him?

Study Guide for To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird is a book written by Harper Lee. The To Kill a Mockingbird study guide contains a biography of Harper Lee, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About To Kill a Mockingbird
• To Kill a Mockingbird Video
• Character List

Essays for To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

• The Impact of Class Structure
• Justice in To Kill a Mockingbird
• The Journey Motif in Works of American Literature
• Prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird and Goin' Someplace Special
• Character Analysis in To Kill A Mockingbird

Lesson Plan for To Kill a Mockingbird

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Introduction to To Kill a Mockingbird
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher

Wikipedia Entries for To Kill a Mockingbird

• Introduction
• Biographical background and publication
• Plot summary
• Autobiographical elements

To Kill a Mockingbird

Introduction.

To Kill a Mockingbird is written by Harper Lee.  It got published in 1960. It has sold more than 30 million copies across the world. It has been translated into 40 languages of the world. This novel won a Pulitzer Prize award in 1961.  This novel is appreciated all over the world by critics for its delicate dealing of children’s education in the society of prejudice and racism to make them aware that humans are equal and there should be justice. The novel presents the life and events of South America. Harper Lee released his second novel Go Set a Watchman in 2015. This novel also features Scout but she is a grown-up woman in this novel and she lives in New York City. She then returns to Alabama to have a visit to the house of her father.

Setting of the Novel

Historical context, about the authorship of this novel.

Charles Baker Dill Harris is one of the characters of this novel who spends quality time of enjoyment and fun in Maycomb with Jem and Scout in summers. This character is a reference to Truman Capote who remained a childhood friend of Harper Lee. He was a neighbor of Harper Lee in Monroeville in Alabama. Some of the critics opined that this novel is written by Truman Capote and he is the actual author of the works of Harper Lee.  But this idea got dusted when a letter was found in 2006 which was written by Capote to his aunt in 1959. The letter states that Truman Capote read the draft of To Kill a Mockingbird and he liked it a lot. But there is nothing written about the fact the Capote has written any part of this novel.

To Kill a Mockingbird Summary

The summer comes and Dill returns again to the neighborhood in the summer. The children play the acting roles again as they played last summer. Soon they get bored with this routine. They decide to play Boo Radley`s story. for this they need to communicate with him so they leave a note from him inviting him to come for an ice-cream with them. Scout’s father Atticus gets to know about this and he asks the children not to intervene with Radley. They children stay silent for some days but then they make another plan for the story of Radley. They decide to sneak into Radley’s house and see what happens inside there at night. They go to the house of Radley in the night and when they start to see the happenings inside, someone shoots at them with fire.

She tells the court that she one day invites Tom to help her in her work and Tom rapes her by taking advantage of the situation. Atticus in the cross questions asks her that Tom is unable to beat her because his left hand is useless and he cannot control her with one hand. After listening to this, Mayella says that she does not want to tell anything more about the incident because it depresses her.

They move back to the courtroom and they are lucky to reach in time because when they reach Atticus is making his closing remarks. He requests the jury not to look at Tom as guilty because he is black but the case can be seen as a false allegation over Tom. He closes his remarks but suddenly Calpurnia shouts in the courtroom that Scout and Jem are missing.

After the trial, things slowly settle down in the town. One day, Alexandra invites some women for tea. The invited women belong to the missionary circle and they preach Christianity. Scout also joins them and shows the zeal she wears proper dress for the occasion. But Scout gets disappointed with the women because she thinks that they women do not talk seriously rather they are engrossed in gossip and useless talks.

The novel takes another shift and this time Bob Ewell stalks the wife of Tom Robinson and the wife of Judge Taylor. He tries moving around to seduce them. Although Atticus writes that Bob Ewell is somehow harmless but Alexandra is not happy with this she seems concerned about the way of Bob  Ewell.

Themes in To Kill a Mockingbird

The journey of good and evil is parallel.

Individuals like Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are not able to cope with the evil and hence they get destroyed. Jem is deceived to a degree by his revelation of the shrewdness of bigotry during and after the case of Tom Robinson. After the case, Scout channels her faith in justice in due course of time but Jem`s trust in equality and justice is badly hampered.

The Importance of Moral Education

Social inequality.

Harper Lee’s investigation of class frequently has to do with wealth and force. In the novel, Alexandra is faithful to Maycomb’s current class qualifications. Individuals are aware of their place, and to keep the status of individuals is a monotonous however fundamental activity. She clarifies that Scout can’t welcome poor Walter Cunningham to their home. Aunt Alexandra would believe the Ewell family to be in a lower social class than the Finches.

To Kill a Mockingbird Characters Analysis

Scout finch.

While reading this novel, one can easily grasp that Scout is the kind of person who moves in the same manner in which Atticus has raised her. He has nourished her understanding of things, soul, and distinction without stalling her in hypocrisy, deceptions and ideas of legitimacy. The girls in her age learn to wear dresses and other manners. She wears overalls and figures out how to climb trees with Jem and Dill. She doesn’t generally get a handle on social comforts, and human conduct regularly bewilders her.  However Atticus’ safeguarding Scout from affectation and the pressure of the society has made her open, straightforward, and good natured.

Toward the start of the novel, Scout is a blameless, decent five-year-old youngster who has no involvement in the disasters of the world. As the novel advances, Scout encounters racial prejudice. The development process of her character is represented by the topic of whether she will rise up out of this with conscience and optimism or she will be wounded like Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. 

On account of Atticus’ knowledge, Scout discovers that however humankind has an incredible limit with regards to evil; it likewise has an extraordinary capacity for goodness.  She also learns that humans can defeat evil with good understanding and sympathy. Scout’s advancement into an individual equipped for accepting that viewpoint denotes the summit of the novel and demonstrates that, whatever insidious she experiences, she will hold her inner voice without getting critical or bored.

Atticus Finch

Atticus rehearses the ethic of compassion and understanding that he lectures Scout and Jem and never holds resentment against the individuals of Maycomb. In spite of their hard apathy to racial imbalance, Atticus sees a lot to appreciate in them. He perceives that individuals have both great and awful characteristics, and he is resolved to respect the great while understanding and excusing the terrible. Atticus gives this extraordinary good exercise to Scout—this point of view shields the honest from being decimated by contact with malicious.

Unexpectedly Atticus is a brave figure and venerated person in Maycomb, neither Jem nor Scout deliberately venerates him toward the start of the novel. Both are humiliated that he is older than different fathers and that he is not capable of fishing and hunting. In any case, Atticus rearing up the children in a wise way wins the respect of both Scout and Jem in the end of the novel. Jem us highly dedicated to Atticus at the end of the novel. Atticus stands inflexibly dedicated to equality and justice. He wants to see matters from the points of view of others.  He is the ethical guide and voice of the inner voice.

Arthur Boo Radley

He is a drunkard. He belongs to a poor family in Maycomb. He is unemployed and does not like to do any job. He portrays the evil side of America South. He falsely accuses Tom with the rape. He stands as person to racial discrimination and believes that black people are all evil.

Charles Baker Dill Harris

Miss maudie atkinson, aunt alexandra, mayella ewell.

She is the lonely and unhappy daughter of Bob Ewell. The course of the novel suggests that she is abused by her father. She is not treated well by her father and this becomes the reason that she seduces Tom Robinson.

Tom Robinson

To kill a mocking bird analysis, significance of the title, interpreting the epigraph.

The author starts this novel with an epigraph by Charles Lamb: “Lawyers, I suppose, were children once.”

The Fictional Town of Maycomb and Its Significance

Interpreting the end of the novel.

The novel ends when Scout and Jem are attacked by Bob Ewell. They are rescued by Radley and during the process of rescue, Bob gets murdered.  Scout`s father has a log and detailed discussion with the Sheriff Tate to discuss the proceedings of the murder while Boo Radley is rescued by Scout towards his home. The discussion of Atticus and Sheriff is hard to comprehend, in light of the fact that both of them are discussing two different perspectives of the case. 

Atticus intensely contradicts concealing Jem’s association in the murder of Bob Ewell. But at the same time, he acknowledges that protecting Boo from police is the right thing. This obvious irregularity is significant for the understanding of the readers and researcher to comprehend Atticus and his inspirations. Atticus is a man of principles who esteems law; however he also values his relationship with his kids as well.

Atticus isn’t worried about the possibility that concealing the involvement of Jem in the murder will be dishonest or unlawful. He is worried that accomplishing something so misleading will demolish his affinity and association with his kids. Atticus would prefer that Jem face a few challenges than imagine that his dad didn’t hold him to a similar standard as every other person. Atticus doesn’t have that sort of relationship with Boo. He, in fact, is thankful to Boo for protecting the lives of his children. So Atticus is eager to acknowledge that exposing Boo to police would be an error.

To Kill A Mockingbird as an Autobiography

Harper Lee said that this isn’t a self-portrayal, but instead a case of how a writer ought to expound on what he knows and compose truthfully.  Nevertheless, a few people and occasions from the childhood of Lee are a direct reference to the life of young Scout in the novel., Amasa Coleman Lee,the father of Harper Lee, was a lawyer, and the father of Scout is also a lawyer. In 1919, Asama Coleman guards two dark men who are arrested for the charge of murder. After they are given death sentences Lee`s father never goes for the next criminal case. The mother of Scout dies when Scout is a baby but the mother of Harper Lee dies when Lee is 25 year-old. Edwin is the elder brother of Harper Lee and he becomes the motivation for Jem.

To Kill a Mockingbird is a story of Injustices:

This novel deals with a serious issue. This issue is of injustice.  The best instance of bad form of injustice includes Tom Robinson who is erroneously blamed for a wrongdoing that he never does, nor proposes to do it. Tom’s perspective is not accepted on account of his race, which showcases the mistreatment of all the black people in the times when the novel is written down. Tom’s activities were not quite the same as what others in his circumstance would have done.

Rather than blowing up and striking back against society and the white townsfolk, Tom experienced the difficulties of the trial without getting exasperated on the grounds that he is erroneously blamed, and behaves as a respectable man. Tom’s activities delineate the sort of man he really is, not one to assault and beat a powerless young person; he shows that he is a civilized man.

The last occurrence of injustice is the response of the white court when Tom Robinson expressed that he feels distress for Mayella Ewell. A considerable lot of the individuals start to talk and giggle, as though they accept that Tom Robinson feels sorry for her because he has taken the advantage of her loneliness. 

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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, 1961

Author: Harper Lee

Publisher: J. B. Lippincott & Co.

Genre: Bildungsroman, Historical Fiction

First Publication: 1960

Language:  English

Major Characters: Scout Finch, Atticus Finch, Jem Finch, Arthur Radley, Mayella Ewell, Aunt Alexandra, Bob Ewell, Calpurnia (housekeeper), Tom Robinson, Miss Maudie Atkinson, Judge John Taylor, Dill Harris, Heck Tate, Stephanie Crawford

Setting Place: The fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression

Theme:  Community and Convention, Female Sexuality and Friendship, Faith, Suffering, and God’s Will, Science and Superstition, Justice and Judgment

Narrator:  First person

Book Summary: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.

Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee takes readers to the roots of human behavior – to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos.

Now with over 18 million copies in print and translated into forty languages, this regional story by a young Alabama woman claims universal appeal. Harper Lee always considered her book to be a simple love story. Today it is regarded as a masterpiece of American literature.

Book Review: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

With endless books and infinitely more to be written in the future, it is rare occasion that I take the time to reread a novel. And this time it’s To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a timeless classic. The first time I read this I was much, much younger and I remember loving it then. Over fifteen years later, it still held so much for me – wonderful language and characters that I never forgot about, profound themes explored , and relevancy even so many years later. Harper Lee is one of the best female authors.

The story in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is told from the point of view of Scout (Jean-Louise Finch), a six year old girl , through various events that happen in the town of Maycomb and in particular, the court case of Tom Robinson as her father Atticus Finch acts as Tom’s defence lawyer. Tom, a black man who has been accused of raping a young white woman, has to endure multiple racial attacks. Atticus, widely described as the “most enduring fictional image of racial heroism”, describes the events to Scout so that she sees that all people should be treated equally.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

The narrator of this story is young tomboy Jean Louise (Scout), and her observations of Maycomb and people’s behavior are simple, honest, and visually very rich. I had no problem picturing Scout, Jem and Dill’s childish efforts to draw Boo Radley out of his house, or Calpurnia taking the kids to a colored church.

But when, after 128 pages, the court case begins and the plot really becomes intriguing, you immediately feel a rise in tension and excitement. Here Jem and Atticus become the main characters instead of Scout because they are more aware of the risks and importance of the case, although Scout’s moment with the mob was heartwrenchingly beautiful in it’s innocence.

“People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.”

The last part of the book was less tense but never dull: it was important to show the aftermath and the effects of the case on different class – and races – of people to convey the impact of Atticus’ actions. Because back in 1935 and even now, in our current political situation, standing up for what’s right while the majority is against you, is an incredible brave and difficult thing to do.

One thing especially about this story that stood out to me, are the interesting gender roles in this book. We have Atticus who isn’t only presented as an amazing father but also as a great male character, because he’s patient, courteous, clever…but not traditionally masculine. In contrast with Bob Ewell, the main antagonist, Atticus isn’t physically strong, doesn’t use strong language, and hates violence (example: he keeps his shooting skills a secret from his children).

“The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”

His sister, aunt Alexandra, is a very traditional female figure who wants Scout to behave more ‘lady like’, and because Scout doesn’t like her (at first), we as readers dislike her too. Acting as her opposites are Calpurnia and Miss Maudie, who neither show traditional feminine characteristics like politeness and charm, but both are presented as good and right.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a well-loved book for many good reasons, but I was very surprised by its diverse male and female characters, who make this story even richer than it already is.

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'To Kill a Mockingbird' Overview

• B.A., English, Rutgers University

To Kill a Mockingbird is a searing portrayal of racial prejudice, justice, and innocence lost in a complex mixture of childish naiveté and mature observation. The novel explores the meaning of justice, the loss of innocence, and the realization that a place can be both a beloved childhood home and a source of evil.

Fast Facts: To Kill a Mockingbird

• Author : Harper Lee
• Publisher : J.B. Lippincott & Co.
• Year Published : 1960
• Genre : Fiction
• Type of Work : Novel
• Original Language : English
• Themes : Prejudice, justice, innocence
• Characters : Scout Finch, Atticus Finch, Jem Finch, Tom Robinson, Calpurnia
• Notable Adaptation : 1962 film adaptation starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch

Plot Summary

Scout Finch lives with her father, a lawyer and widower by the name of Atticus, and her brother, a young boy named Jem. The first part of To Kill a Mockingbird tells of one summer. Jem and Scout play, make new friends, and first learn of a shadowy figure by the name of Boo Radley, who lives in a neighboring house yet is never seen.

A young Black man named Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white woman. Atticus takes on the case, despite the vitriol this arouses in the largely white, racist townsfolk. When the time of the trial comes around, Atticus proves that the girl that Tom Robinson is accused of raping actually seduced him, and that the injuries to her face were caused by her father, angry that she had tried to sleep with a Black man. The all-white jury nevertheless convicts Robinson and he is later killed by a mob while trying to escape from jail.

The girl's father, who holds a grudge against Atticus because of some of the things he said in court, waylays Scout and Jem as they walk home one night. They are saved by the mysterious Boo, who disarms their attacker and kills him.

Major Characters

Scout Finch. Jean Louise "Scout" Finch is the narrator and main character of the novel. Scout is a "tomboy" who rejects traditional feminine roles and trappings. Scout initially believes that there is always a clear right and wrong in every situation; as she grows older, she begins to understand more about the world around her and begins to value reading and education more.

Atticus Finch. Scout’s widower father is an attorney. Atticus is a bit of an iconoclast. He values education and indulges his children, trusting their judgment despite their young age. He is an intelligent, moral man who believes strongly in the rule of law and the necessity of blind justice.

Jem Finch. Jeremy Atticus "Jem" Finch is Scout’s older brother. He is protective of his status and often uses his superior age to force Scout to do things his way. He has a rich imagination and an energetic approach to life, but displays difficulty dealing with other people who do not rise to his standard.

Boo Radley. A troubled recluse who lives next door to the Finches (but never leaves the house), Boo Radley is the subject of many rumors. Boo naturally fascinates the Finch children, and displays affection and kindness towards them, ultimately rescuing them from danger.

Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is a Black man who supports his family by working as a field hand despite having a crippled left arm. He is charged with the rape of a white woman, and Atticus defends him.

Major Themes

Maturation. Scout and Jem are frequently confused about the motivations and reasoning of the adults around them. Lee explores the way that growing up and maturing into adults makes the world clearer while also less magical and more difficult, ultimately connecting racism with childish fears that adults ought not to experience.

Prejudice. Lee explores the effects of prejudice of all kinds—racism, classism, and sexism. Lee makes it clear that racism is inextricably linked to economics, politics, and self-image. Sexism is explored in the novel through Scout and her constant battle to engage in behaviors she finds interesting instead of "appropriate" behaviors for a girl.

Justice and Morality. In the earlier parts of the novel, Scout believes that morality and justice are the same thing. Tom Robinson’s trial and her observation of her father’s experiences teach her that there is often a stark difference between what is right and what is legal.

Literary Style

The novel utilizes subtly layered narration; it can be easy to forget that the story is actually being told by the adult Jenna Louise and not the 6-year old Scout. Lee also restricts the point-of-view to Scout's direct observations, creating an air of mystery for the reader that mimics the childish sense of not quite understanding what all the adults are up to.

About the Author

Harper Lee was born in 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama. She published To Kill a Mockingbird in 1960 to instant acclaim, winning the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. She then worked with her friend Truman Capote on what would become Capote’s "nonfiction novel," In Cold Blood . Lee retreated from public life afterwards, granting few interviews and making almost no public appearances—and publishing almost no new material. She passed away in 2016 at the age of 89.

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To kill a mockingbird, common sense media reviewers.

Classic novel examines American racism and justice.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Author Harper Lee offers a snapshot of small-town

Atticus Finch tells Scout, "You never really under

Atticus Finch, Jem and Scout's father, courageousl

A drunk breaks a kid's arm. A man is killed with a

Frequent use of "damn," one "bastard," and one "so

Mr. Raymond drinks Coke (though others think it's

Mrs. Dubose is secretly addicted to morphine. A ma

Parents need to know that Harper Lee's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird addresses the terrible impact of racism in America through a little girl's point of view. The story takes place in Depression-era Alabama, in the fictional town of Maycomb, which Lee patterned after her own hometown of Monroeville. The…

Educational Value

Author Harper Lee offers a snapshot of small-town life in Alabama during the 1930s, including views about race and some information about events taking place in Europe leading up to world War II. Readers will also learn about 1930s gender roles, education, and divisions created by economic status.

Positive Messages

Atticus Finch tells Scout, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view -- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

Positive Role Models

Atticus Finch, Jem and Scout's father, courageously defends Tom Robinson in a town where racial prejudice is firmly entrenched. He risks not only public disapproval but also his own safety to make sure Tom receives as fair a trial as possible. He imparts many lessons to his children verbally, but his actions speak loudest, teaching them empathy, and to judge people by their actions rather than by the color of their skin.

Violence & Scariness

A drunk breaks a kid's arm. A man is killed with a knife. Atticus and his children face down a lynch mob in the middle of the night. Town gossip includes a story about a man stabbing a family member with scissors. A rabid dog is shot in the street. The trial at the center of the story involves a man accused of raping and beating a woman. A prisoner is shot trying to escape.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Frequent use of "damn," one "bastard," and one "son-of-a-bitch." The "N" word and "('N'-word)-lover" is used liberally by some residents of Maycomb as if it's perfectly commonplace, and by others as a weapon.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Mr. Raymond drinks Coke (though others think it's liquor) and gives some to Dill. Jem eats a Tootsie Roll.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Mrs. Dubose is secretly addicted to morphine. A man named Dolphus Raymond is believed to be the town drunk, because he drinks something hidden in a paper bag, but it turns out to be a bottle of Coca-Cola. Bob Ewell is said to spend his relief checks on green whiskey, letting his children go hungry. Scout smells stale whiskey on a man's breath.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Harper Lee 's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird addresses the terrible impact of racism in America through a little girl's point of view. The story takes place in Depression-era Alabama, in the fictional town of Maycomb, which Lee patterned after her own hometown of Monroeville. The narrator, 6-year-old Scout Finch, and her brother Jem and their friend Dill play children's games, but they also have a clear view of the adults in their world. Their youth and innocence contrasts with the prejudice, cruelty, and poverty they often observe. There's some threatened and real violence in this Pulitzer Prize winner: A man breaks a child's arm; a rabid dog is shot and killed; there is a stabbing death; the children and their father, Atticus Finch, confront a lynch mob; and the court case at the center of the novel involves a Black man who's been accused of raping and beating a white woman. Some of this violence is whiskey-fueled, as well. Profanity includes "damn," "bastard," and "son-of-a-bitch." The "N" word and "('N'-word)-lover" is used liberally by some residents of Maycomb as if it's perfectly commonplace, and by others as a weapon. The children in the novel learn powerful lessons about the impact of poverty and prejudice, and the importance of empathy, and so will those who read this classic. The 1962 film version starring Gregory Peck is one of those rare films that truly does justice to the original book. The audiobook read by Sissy Spacek is also note-perfect.

Where to Read

Community reviews.

• Parents say (27)
• Kids say (168)

Based on 27 parent reviews

So many levels to enjoy this book

What's the story.

Growing up in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, Scout Finch -- the narrator of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD -- and her brother, Jem, are being raised by their widowed father, Atticus. Some interesting characters live on their street, both seen and unseen. Dill Harris comes to stay with Scout and Jem's next-door neighbor Rachel Haverford every summer, and the three children develop a close friendship. Elderly Mrs. Dubose shouts insults at the neighbors from her porch. Miss Maudie offers the children friendly advice and baked goods. The young Finches are scared of the Radleys' house, as creepy stories are circulated about Mr. Radley and his sons, especially Arthur, also known as Boo. The children enjoy re-enacting make-believe versions of the stories they've heard about Boo. Scout goes through some growing pains in the story, as her first day of school goes poorly and Jem becomes less willing to play with his little sister. Atticus encourages his daughter to exhibit empathy and patience with others, and he warns both his children that tough times may be coming to their little family; they may hear things that upset them, and he wants them to keep cool. The children learn that Atticus, an attorney, has taken the case of a Black man who has been accused of raping and beating a White woman. The events that unfold surrounding the trial and its aftermath teach the children a lot about their father's inner strength and wisdom, and the effects of racism and poverty on their community.

Is It Any Good?

Told through the eyes of a child, Harper Lee's magnum opus may seem to take a simplistic point of view, but Scout's world is rich and complex. And the author doesn't stint when it comes to the realities Black people face in a racist society -- and the pressures that poverty puts on the Maycomb community. All of that said, Lee's story is about a White family and is told from a White perspective. The reader learns much about the history of the Finch family and very little about Tom Robinson's life other than what's revealed through Scout and her father. This is a beautifully written book, with important lessons to teach, but readers should also be encouraged to read great writing by Black Americans, such as Richard Wright and Toni Morrison .

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the prejudice exhibited by some characters in To Kill a Mockingbird . Could this story take place today? How have American attitudes about race changed since the 1930s? How have they remained the same?

This story is told through the eyes of a little girl. What does the author achieve by making Scout the narrator? How does this affect the way the story unfolds?

What does Boo Radley represent in the story? Why do you think the children enjoy re-creating stories they've heard about him?

Book Details

• Author : Harper Lee
• Genre : Literary Fiction
• Topics : Activism , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Time Warner Books
• Publication date : July 11, 1960
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 11 - 18
• Number of pages : 281
• Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
• Last updated : August 11, 2020

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

The Bluest Eye

The Color Purple

Books about racism and social justice, tv about racism and social justice, related topics.

• Brothers and Sisters
• Great Boy Role Models
• Great Girl Role Models

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — To Kill a Mockingbird — A Book Report for To Kill a Mockingbird

A Book Report for to Kill a Mockingbird

• Categories: To Kill a Mockingbird

About this sample

Words: 665 |

Published: Jun 13, 2024

Words: 665 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Themes of racial injustice and morality, character development and loss of innocence, narrative style and symbolism, bibliography.

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Related Essays on To Kill a Mockingbird

In Harper Lee's classic novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," the story follows young Scout Finch as she navigates the complexities of race, class, and morality in the segregated American South. The novel's themes of justice, empathy, [...]

Moreover, the character of Calpurnia, the Finch family's African American housekeeper, provides another perspective on racism in the novel. Calpurnia serves as a surrogate mother to Scout and Jem, yet she is still treated as [...]

In Harper Lee's classic novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird," the Cunninghams are a prominent family in the town of Maycomb. While they may not be the wealthiest or most educated family, they play a significant role in the story, [...]

Tom Robinson is a character in Harper Lee's classic novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird," who is a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman in the racially charged southern United States of the 1930s. In this essay, we will [...]

When autumn turns into winter in Maycomb County, Scout and Jem plan to create a snowman. This is an example of how their innocence is retained towards the beginning. Jem and Scout shape the snowman: “Jem glanced at me, his eyes [...]

As a youthful and curious child, the small town that Scout Finch lived in seemed like the world. Since the book To Kill a Mockingbird was set in the south during the course of the 1930s, where she lived included a lot of [...]

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Harper Lee, “To Kill a Mockingbird”

First published in 1960, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is considered an American classic and won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature. Based loosely on Lee’s own childhood experiences, the novel takes place in the Deep South during the Great Depression. It is a coming-of-age story for the protagonist Scout Finch, a intelligent and tomboy who is six years old at the start of the novel. The two themes most central to the novel are racial inequality and the loss of innocence. The pivotal event of the novel is the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man who is accused of raping a white girl. Scout’s lawyer father Atticus is assigned to defend Tom Robinson. Despite providing ample reasoning and evidence that Robinson is innocent, Atticus loses the case and Robinson is shot dead while trying to escape jail. The novel’s title comes from a conversation between Atticus and Scout where Atticus states that “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” because they simply sing their song and never harm others. The mockingbird is used as a symbol for Robinson, who was innocent and never hurt anyone, yet was shot dead. This analogy is also used to describe Boo Radley, a recluse that befriends Scout and her brother Jem and later saves their lives.

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most frequently challenged books in the US due to its themes of rape and use of profanity and racial slurs. While numerous attempts have been made to ban the novel since its publication, two successful cases of banning have occurred within the past three years. In 2017, the novel was removed from 8th-grade classrooms in Biloxi, Mississippi due to a complaint from a parent citing the use of the N-word and the fear that the class’ reaction to the word may negatively affect her daughter. After protests from free speech advocates, the novel was re-added to the list of optional readings. However, parental permission was required to read it. The second case occurred in 2018 at schools in Duluth, Minnesota, where copies of both To Kill a Mockingbird and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn were removed from the classroom. Unlike the previous case, the book was banned due to the accumulation of complaints over the years. Free speech groups are calling for the restoration of both novels but no changes have yet occurred.

About the Author

Harper Lee was an American novelist best known for her work, To Kill a Mockingbird , where Lee’s own experiences growing up in the Deep South heavily inspired the events of the novel. Despite the enormous success of her first work, Lee did not publish any further works for years and remained largely hidden from the public eye. It was not until 2015 that To a Set a Watchman , a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird , and the original manuscript for it, was published. Lee died February 19, 2016, at the age of 89.

Further Readings

National Endowment for the Arts page on the novel and Harper Lee https://www.arts.gov/national-initiatives/nea-big-read/to-kill-a-mockingbird

ALA’s list of challenged books, including information on To Kill a Mockingbird http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics

Washington Post article on the 2017 Biloxi banning https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/10/15/the-ironic-enduring-legacy-of-banning-to-kill-a-mockingbird-for-racist-language/

Independent article on the 2018 Duluth banning https://www.independent.co.uk/schools-us-ban-books-kill-mockingbird-huckleberry-finn-minnestota-district-racial-slurs-a8201416.html

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Book Report: To kill a Mockingbird

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https://post45.org/2018/06/parent-to-mockingbird-harper-lee-and-a-novel-deferred/

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In this paper the author argues for a “re-visioning” of two young adult literature texts by examine the ways in which race is constructed/deconstructed within To Kill a Mockingbird and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. The piece begins by examining how the books are perceived in mass culture, then leads into an analysis of how race is (de)constructed through key scenes related to family, history and land ownership. By examining the two pieces of literature in tandem, differing ideologies become apparent. Implications for the teaching of these texts in light of these ideologies, the selective tradition, and authenticity in the selection of multicultural texts conclude this piece. See http://journals.shareok.org/index.php/studyandscrutiny/issue/view/19

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird : New essays

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Meyer, M. J. (Ed.). (2010). Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird : New essays. Scarecrow Press.

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This article combines frameworks of new racism and critical literature pedagogy to provide ideas and strategies for critically engaging, teaching, and reading with To Kill a Mockingbird.

Isaac Machuka

Description In the file named Topic_Sentences, the topic sentences are written in and underlined. Make sure to begin each paragraph as the outline states. so the research paper has to be about the exploration of the devastating consequences of social, gender, and racial prejudice during the Great Depression era in small-town Alabama. Oh okay gotcha! And yes, the book to kill a mockingbird is the primary source. the paper should have 4 sources total MINIMUM

David S Anthony

To Kill a Mockingbird is often described as "the American story." The film was released in 1962, and it seemed to inaugurate a new genre of race film. Its admirable effort to avoid many of the racist caricatures from earlier decades helped To Kill a Mockingbird reach a wide audience. The hero of the story is Atticus Finch, a lawyer and widower played with cloying intensity by

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To Kill A Mockingbird - Jury Deliberation Activity

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Visual aid/Display

Last updated

21 June 2024

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Dive deep into the complex themes of Harper Lee’s classic novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” with this engaging and thought-provoking lesson plan focused on the jury deliberations in the Tom Robinson trial. This comprehensive resource is designed to help students explore the intricacies of the trial, the characters involved, and the broader social and moral implications of the verdict.

(Product includes 1 x PDF and 1x PPT version of the lesson)

Product Includes:

Introduction: A detailed explanation of the lesson’s objectives, emphasizing the importance of understanding different perspectives and the complexities of human nature.

Imaginary Jury Roles: Descriptions of 14 diverse fictional jurors, each with unique backgrounds and viewpoints, to help students immerse themselves in the deliberation process.

Group Activity Instructions: Step-by-step guidance on how to assign roles, facilitate group discussions, and encourage students to argue their viewpoints as if they were the actual jurors deliberating Tom Robinson’s fate.

Discussion Prompts: Key questions and prompts to help students consider the reasons behind the conviction and possible motives for both convicting and acquitting Tom Robinson.

Classroom Debrief: Instructions for students to share their discoveries and insights with the rest of the class, fostering a collaborative and reflective learning environment.

Analysis of Jury Deliberation Time: Insights into the significance of the six-hour jury deliberation in the novel, exploring themes such as doubt, conflict, racial prejudice, and the impact of Atticus Finch’s defense.

Learning Outcomes:

Develop critical thinking and empathy by considering multiple perspectives.

Engage in meaningful discussions about justice, prejudice, and morality.

Enhance understanding of key themes and characters in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Practice argumentation and debate skills in a structured, supportive setting.

This lesson plan is ideal for senior and high school English teachers looking to deepen their students’ understanding of “To Kill a Mockingbird” and its powerful themes. Perfect for literature classes, book clubs, or social studies lessons focusing on historical and social justice issues.

Equip your students with the tools to think critically and empathetically about one of the most enduring and relevant novels of our time. Purchase this lesson plan today and bring the courtroom drama of “To Kill a Mockingbird” to life in your classroom!

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Iowa's book ban battle: How public schools pulled thousands of books because of a new law

The des moines register surveyed all 325 iowa school districts using the open-records act for an exclusive report on the thousands of books taken off school shelves..

In 2023, a Republican-dominated Iowa Legislature pushed through one of the most sweeping book bans in the nation, requiring Iowa schools to remove any book depicting or describing sex acts as defined by law .

The Des Moines Register surveyed all 325 Iowa school districts using the open-records act and found that nearly 3,400 books were subsequently removed because of the ban before a federal injunction halted enforcement .

While some districts have restored the pulled books to their shelves, some 2,000 books remained unavailable to students, including classics such as "The Handmaid's Tale," "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and "Slaughterhouse-Five."

Read the Register's exclusive reporting:

Iowa book ban's toll: 3,400 pulled books, including '1984' and 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

• A Des Moines Register survey found nearly 1,000 unique titles were removed from Iowa public schools.
• Classics such as “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “1984” were among the books removed.
• Despite an injunction staying parts of Senate File 496, about 2,000 books remain unshelved.

Read the story here .

These 5 graphics show the significant impact of 3,400 books banned from Iowa schools

• The Register surveyed each of Iowa's school districts to find out what books, if any, they had removed due to the passage of Senate File 496.
• About 40% of the schools that responded said they had removed books. Districts that did remove books typically pulled about two dozen or fewer.
• Books that were removed included works by authors such as George Orwell and Stephen King.

Often-cited 'Gender Queer,' 'All Boys Aren't Blue' for book ban were seldom in Iowa schools

Lawmakers cited "Gender Queer" and "All Boys Aren't Blue" as reasons to ban books in Iowa public schools. They were in less than 10% of districts.

Iowa schools have removed Holocaust, World War II classics under state's book ban law

Holocaust books are among those caught up in an Iowa book ban law. Meanwhile, schools are now required to teach about the Holocaust in social studies.

'Nineteen Minutes,' 'The Handmaid's Tale,' 'Crank' among the 10 most banned books in Iowa

Has your favorite book been banned in Iowa's schools? Here's a list of the 10 most banned books, according to an exclusive Register analysis.

John Green, Toni Morrison, Jodi Picoult, Colleen Hoover among most banned authors in Iowa

Ten writers hold the dubious distinction of having the most banned books in Iowa, including John Green, Toni Morrison, Jodi Picoult and Colleen Hoover.

Register exclusive database of books removed from Iowa schools

Use this searchable database to see what books have been removed from your school district under Senate File 496 — and whether they've since been reshelved.

'It's going to hurt so many people': Iowa book ban law draws lawsuits from students, families

The students suing Iowa over its book ban law call it harmful and discriminatory toward the LGBTQ community and their own families.

In 3 years, 60 books have been challenged in Iowa schools. A new law could ban far more

School book challenges have been rare in the past three years in Iowa, an exclusive Des Moines Register investigation finds. Few books have been removed.

What to know about the 9 most challenged books in Iowa schools, from 'Tricks' to 'Lawn Boy'

Out of 60 books challenged in Iowa schools in the past three years, nine came up most often. Here's a summary of each and whether they were kept or removed.

Iowa Poll: Half say new law requiring schools to ban books depicting sex acts goes too far

Iowans with children under 18 are split on the book ban law: 39% say it goes too far, 40% say it is about right, and 16% it doesn't go far enough.