Introduction:
As we begin to read the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, we are embarking on a journey to the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama. The main character Atticus Finch defends a black man charged with the rape of a white woman. We will look at the trial and the accompanying drama from the perspective of two young children, Jem and Scout Finch. We will look at the different attitudes that are present in a small southern town as it wrestles with issues that have plagued Americans since the Civil War. We will look at the issues of prejudice, hypocrisy, and social justice as we explore this timeless book. The best way to begin such a journey is to understand the historical context in which the novel was written as well as a little bit about the author.
Task:
Your task is to visit several websites that I have already identified for you in order to research the background information for the novel. Each website has several questions that you need to answer. You will read the information on the website to help you answer the questions. These websites should give you a feel for the time in which the story is set as well as the trial that serves as the inspiration for this story.
Questions:
You should answer all questions thoroughly. You have ample time to complete ALL questions; so be sure to SPEND YOUR TIME WISELY. The questions will be graded for correctness!
The Process:
You will visit each of the following websites, answer the questions listed below.
Conclusion:
After completing this activity, you should have learned the following:
_ Biographical information about Harper Lee
_ Historical background of the setting of the novel
_ An understanding of some of the events in the novel
Website #1 – The History of Jim Crow
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/index.html
http://www.nps.gov/malu/forteachers/jim_crow_laws.htm
1. Where did the term, "Jim Crow," originate from?
2. Give some examples of laws that were a part of this system.
3. Read at least 2 of the personal narratives from this time period found on this page. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_narratives.html
Website #2 – The Scottsboro Boys
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_scotts.html
4. What were The Scottsboro Boys known for? Who were they? What did they do? How did they get in so much trouble?
5. Were The Scottsboro Boys ever pardoned of their wrongful convictions?
Website #3 – Harper Lee http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/harperle.htm
6. What work is Harper Lee most famous for writing?
7. What famous Civil War general is Harper Lee related to?
8. Where and during what time is Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, set?
Website #4 – Maycomb County Map http://zsp417.tripod.com/id4.html
9. Based on the Maycomb County map, the Finch’s live next door to whom?
10. Whose house is the oak tree next to?
Websites and Questions adapted from a non-copywrited webquest found on the Internet.
