To Kill A Mockingbird

History impacts fiction and the same is true in To Kill a Mockingbird. This webquest is designed to help you understand the themes of the novel by reading supporting articles from historical sources.

Prior knowledge is an absolutely essential component of a reader's comprehension. Gaining an understanding of the background knowledge will help you better understand character motivation and action, author's point of view, and the important themes in the novel.

Prediction is also an essential component of comprehension and each task will ask you to make a prediction about To Kill a Mockingbird based on the knowledge you gain from the articles.

Read the questions provided and use Google to search and find the answers. 

About the Author

Question:

1.When and where was Harper Lee born?

2. What was her family like?

3. How did her decision to move to New York make To Kill A Mockingbird a reality?

4. Harper Lee's real life influenced many of the characters and events in To Kill A Mockingbird. Given what have you learned about her life (including personality traits, friends, family, experiences) make a prediction about what kinds of issues might surface in the book. Do you think that your knowledge about Harper Lee will influence your reading of the book? Should it influence your reading of the book? Why or why not?

Scottsboro Trials

Question:

1. Who were the Scottsboro Boys? How did they get into so much trouble? 2. The Communist Party came to the aid of the Scottsboro Boys. How did the South perceive the Communist Party, and how was it similar to the perception of blacks? What was the Communist Party's hidden agenda in providing aid to the Scottsboro Boys?

3. The Scottosboro Boys' trial took place during the childhood of To Kill A Mockingbird's author, Harper Lee. Make a prediction about how this trial might be important to the book.

The Great Depression

Question:

1.What were a few of the racial issues during the Great Depression?

2. Which President inspired Black Americans during the Great Depression? List 2-3 examples to explain why many looked up to him.

3. Given what you learned about the Great Depression, make a prediction about what you think the racial issues may be in Kill A Mockingbird.

Addiction

Question:

1. Explain five characteristics of a typical 1920's typical morphine addict.

2. Why were addictive drugs such a temptation for women?

3. Predict Mrs. Dubose's role as a typical morphine addict in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Lynching

Question:

1. What does Mark Twain say is man's weakness?

2. What groups of people does the Association call upon to stand against the lynching-mobs?

3. Predict how lynching and mob anarchy will affect the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird. Do you think anyone will stand up and, like Mark Twain said, be brave against the anger of a mob? Explain.

Answers will be graded by their correctness and attention to detail. 

You're answering these questions to show the historical background that impacted the writing of To Kill A Mockingbird. Keep this in mind when you real the novel.