Tkam background pp
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The document provides background information on author Harper Lee, including that she was born in 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama and was childhood friends with writer Truman Capote. It details that Lee attended law school but quit before graduating to pursue a career in writing. Her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960, won the Pulitzer Prize. The summary also gives historical context about the 1930s setting of the novel, including the Depression, segregation, and civil rights issues. It discusses some famous court cases and people that were influences or unfolding during the time Lee was writing.
Tkam background pp
- 1. Harper Lee
- 2. Background Information Born : Nelle Harper Lee April 28, 1926 Monroeville, Alabama Mother : Frances Finch Father : Amasa Lee
- 3. Lee was childhood friend of Truman Capote (famous writer)
- 4. Father and sister were both lawyers Harper went to law school Quit 6 months before she graduated. Went to New York to write Worked on TKAM from 1957-1960 Started out as short story Won Pulitzer Prize in 1960
- 5. Harper Lee never wrote anything again that was published. She never gives interviews or talks about her book. Lives in Monroeville, Alabama and New York City
- 6. Historical Background of 1930’s and TKAM Story set in Maycomb, Alabama, 1930’s Depression time Stock Market had crashed in 1929 In 1932, 13 million people were out of jobs. Farmers lost their land. Banks stopped making loans.
- 7. FDR is President 1929 – Annual income in South: $372 Other states : $797 People competed for jobs and caused problems between the races. FDR becomes president in 1933. Creates new jobs through government program called New Deal. (“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”)
- 9. Social Problems Blacks considered second class citizens. Absolute segregation between blacks and whites. Blacks were given menial jobs. Blacks suffered harsh and brutal indignities at hands of “superior” whites. A white man or woman’s word was never questioned.
- 10. Segregation
- 12. Segregation cont. Little Rock, AR 1957
- 13. Themes of TKAM Coming of age – growing up Prejudice Racial – black vs. white Socio-economic Gender Superstition Education
- 14. Scottsboro Trial
- 15. Scottsboro Trials Famous court case in 1931. Case inspired Lee’s court case in the book. Nine black men accused of raping two white women. Women were prostitutes were hopped train and were arrested. Yelled rape to take attention off their hopping train.
- 16. Scottsboro trial cont. Several people said men did not commit crime. Jury found them guilty. 8 got death sentence, but all overturned. Not released until 1950. One was shot trying to escape.
- 17. Civil Rights Movement Lee writing during 1950’s when Civil Rights movement was unfolding. Rosa Parks – Dec., 1955: Did not give up seat to white man. 1957 – Schools in Little Rock, Arkansas ordered to desegregate (Segregation=separation)
- 18. Rosa Parks
- 19. Civil Rights cont. 1954 – Brown vs. Brown: Segregation ruled unconstitutional in public schools. 1960’s – Martin Luther King Born: Jan. 15, 1929 Black preacher Led peaceful protest marches Killed April 4, 1968
- 20. Civil Rights cont. Martin Luther King cont. - Killed in Memphis, Tenn. - Won Nobel Peace Prize 1964
- 22. Actors and Actresses – 1930’s Marx Brothers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers WC Fields and Margaret Hamilton Clark Gable Charlie Chaplin Shirley Temple
- 23. Marx Brothers
- 24. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
- 25. W.C. Fields and Margaret Hamilton
- 26. Margaret Hamilton was the original…
- 27. Wicked Witch of the West!
- 28. Clark Gable – What famous movie was he in?
- 29. Gone with the Wind !
- 30. Charlie Chaplin
- 31. Shirley Temple – The Good Ship Lollypop