This document provides context and key details about the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It includes a brief biography of the author Harper Lee and background on the novel's Pulitzer Prize-winning status and film adaptation. The summary also outlines the novel's central themes of racism and maturation, and introduces the main characters including Scout, Jem, Atticus Finch, and Tom Robinson, setting up the racial injustice plot.

1. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Vocabulary Set 1
taciturn vexation
repertoire diminutive
malevolent benign
nebulous benevolence
indigenous infallible

2. Vocab - con’t
placid
asinine
prowess
ascertain
acrimonious

3. AUTHOR - HARPER LEE
„ born in 1926 in Monroeville,
Alabama
„ studied law at the Univ. of
Alabama
„ father was a lawyer ; sister
still practices law

4. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
„ First and only novel written by
Lee. Won Pulitzer Prize in
1961
„ Movie version won three
Academy Awards in 1963
„ Best actor for Gregory Peck

5. „ Novel of maturation. Central
character is taken from a state
of innocence and goes
through experiences and
realizations to prepare for
adulthood.
„ Also is a portrayal of racism in
the deep South.

6. Main Characters
„ Atticus Finch - lawyer in
small southern town
(Maycomb).
„ Scout (Jean Louise Finch) -
Atticus’s daughter and
narrator of story.

7. „ Jem Finch - Scout’s older brother
„ Cal (Calpurnia) - Black cook;
raises the Finch children.
„ Aunt Alexandra - the “proper”
aunt who comes to care for the
children during the trial.
„ Dill (Charles Baker Harris) -
Scout’s friend who comes each
summer.

8. „ Miss Rachael - Dill’s aunt lives
next door
„ Miss Maudie - another neighbor
„ Boo (Mr. Arthur Radley)
mysterious neighbor whom the
children have never seen.
„ Mr. Nathan Radley - Boo’s
brother, stern, seldom speaks
„ Tom Robinson - hard-working
black man accused of a crime.

9. „ Bob Ewell - father of a clan of
children - uses welfare money for
alcohol.
„ Mayella Violet Ewell - daughter of
Bob Ewell - accuses Tom
Robinson of attacking her.

10. Themes
„ Education
„ Superstition
„ Bravery vs. cowardice
„ Racism
„ Social Structure (class system)
„ Maturation