Karin+-+To+Kill+a+Mockingbird

= = == =To Kill a Mockingbird= =Harper Lee=

//"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy ... That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" (Lee 103)//.

=Harper Lee= Much like the main character of her novel, Nelle Harper Lee was born in a small town of Alabama in 1926. She was the youngest of four children. Lee considered herself a tomboy and treasured her love of books. At 18 years old, Lee pursued a career in law first at [|Huntingdon University], then at the [|University of Alabama], following in her father's footsteps. In 1958, Lee began writing her only novel, __To Kill a Mockingbird__. She based many of the book's characters after her close friends and relatives. After two years, in 1960, the book was finally published. It received many mixed reviews, but was extremely popular with the public. One year after its publication, __To Kill a Mockingbird__ won the [|Pulitzer Prize]. The cherished story eventually was brought to the big screen, and won four major awards. In more recent years, Lee started to write several different works, but chose never to finish them. She currently divides her time between New York City and her hometown of Monroeville. She keeps her life private and quiet, and spends the majority of her spare time helping her community and church.

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Watch the trailer to the award-winning movie, __To Kill a Mockingbird__ here!
=Lee's __To Kill a Mockingbird__= The story is set in Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Maycomb is a small town, much like the one Lee grew up in as a child. When the book begins, Jean Louise Finch (otherwise known as Scout) is an imaginative, tomboy-ish six-year-old. She has an older brother, Jem, and a close friend, Dill. Together, the trio play games and make mischeif, just like any other group of children. Calpurnia is the Finch's negro housekeeper who frequently looks after Scout and Jem while their father, Atticus, is away. The book intertwines the childish adventures of Scout, Jem, and Dill with the more mature issue of racism in the court. Immediately, the reader is introduced to Boo Radley - the Finch's spooky, private neighbor. Legend has it that Boo was a troublemaker - he was put in the county jail as a youth and later tried to stab his parents. After that incident, Boo stays cooped up in his house, known as the //Radley Place.// This tale gets passed on from child to child, growing in exaggeration each time it is repeated. Scout has never seen Boo - only his creepy older brother and their eerie home. Naturally, her imaginatioin runs wild, and she dreams up all sorts of unpleasant traits this man has - especially after hearing Calpurnia call him the "meanest man ever God blew breath into" (Lee 13). Scout, Jem, and Dill enjoy playing games of mockery towards the man, and on several occasions, even try sneaking into his house.

The children's father, Atticus, is constantly telling Scout and Jem to give the old man a break. It is apparent to the reader that Atticus is a considerate, wise man - it comes as no surprise to find out that he is a lawyer. Perhaps Atticus' best advice comes when he is advising Jem on how to use an air-rifle. He says, "I'd rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" (Lee 103). Calpurnia further explains this by saying "Your father's right. Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" (Lee 103). The title of the book is derived from this passage, giving it significant meaning. Atticus is not only referring to the air-rifles here - he is teaching his children the importance of tolerance and justice.

This central theme of tolerance and justice can be seen in the second conflict in the novel. Mayella Ewell is a young woman of Maycomb; the oldest of many children. She comes from a poor, dirty family and is often given many home responsibilities. One day she asked Tom Robinson, a strong negro of Maycomb, to help her "bust up a [|chiffarobe]" (Lee 224). After finishing with the chiffarobe, Mayella claims Tom raped her. Atticus is appointed to be Tom's lawyer, and the battle for justice begins.

As the trial wears on, Scout and Jem get older. They become more exposed to the adult life of pain and injustice, especially after sitting in the court. Atticus' original advice about the mockingbird begins to make more sense.

Harper Lee does a fantastic job combining the innocence of youth with more controversial subjects, such as racism and crime. She explores these subjects carefully, and overall gives the reader an insight as to what racism was like nearly eighty years ago. Choosing to use Scout as a narrator has it's advantages and disadvantages. While Scout has the innocence of a child, that also means that Lee cannot discuss things as maturely as she might like. At some points, the book even becomes less believable because Scout takes on a more adult-like approach.

Overall, this novel is wonderfully told. Basing it off Lee's own experiences gives it a unique, believable tone. (To learn about another novel based off the author's personal story, click here.) Another factor contributing to the book's believability is the genre it falls into - realistic fiction.

All things considered, __To Kill a Mockingbird__ is an outstanding book. It leaves the reader with something to contemplate, as well as a life lesson that can be applied to everyday situations.

=Works Cited=

"Biography of Harper Lee". __Grade Saver.__ 2009. 25 Mar 2009. http://www.gradesaver.com/author/harper-lee/

"Chifforobe". __Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)__. Random House, Inc. 25 Mar. 2009. Dictionary.com []

"Harper Lee". __Swisseduc.Ch.__ 21 Dec 2008. 25 Mar 2009. http://www.swisseduc.ch/english/readinglist/lee_harper/

"Harper Lee Biography". __Bio - True Story.__ 2008. 25 Mar 2009. http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9377021&part=1

__Huntingdon College.__ 25 Mar 2009. http://www.huntingdon.edu/index

Lee, Harper. __To Kill a Mockingbird.__ New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1960.

__The Pulitzer Prizes.__ 2009. 25 Mar 2009. http://www.pulitzer.org/

"Tkambdanc's Blog". __Word Press.__ 16 Jan 2009. 25 Mar 2009. http://tkambdanc.wordpress.com/2009/01/16/index/

__University of Alabama.__ 2009. 25 Mar 2009. http://www.ua.edu/