Reading Harper Lee
Understanding To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman
- 192 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
The first book-length study of Harper Lee's two novels, this is the ultimate reference for those interested in Harper Lee's writing, most notably as it considers race, class, and gender. To Kill a Mockingbird is timeless, continuing to be a favorite among both students and adults. One million copies are sold every year, and it remains one of the books most often taught in school. This companion guide helps students to better understand the complex themes of race, class, and gender that were first introduced in To Kill a Mockingbird and remain relevant in Go Set a Watchman, which both challenges and mirrors the topics discussed in Lee's first novel. A literary scholar and a friend of Harper Lee herself, author Claudia Durst Johnson brings a unique perspective to Lee's texts. The book provides a historical background of the Great Depression and the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement as well as an analysis of the widespread censorship of Lee's works. Chapters provide important context for topics such as racial issues, women's issues, and class divisions in the Deep South and serve as discussion points that give students a starting point for their research; similarly, teachers who struggle with how to introduce students to these challenging but timely topics will appreciate the wealth of knowledge this companion guide will deliver.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover page
- Halftitle page
- Title page
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Introduction
- chapter one Harper Lee: Life of a Writer
- chapter two Historical Context of To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman
- chapter three Literary Structure and Themes of To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman
- chapter four Race Relations in Harper Lee’s Works
- chapter five Women’s Issues and Gender
- chapter six The Question of Social Class
- chapter seven The South
- chapter eight The Hero: Atticus Finch
- chapter nine Impact and Censorship
- chapter ten Relevance Today of Issues in Harper Lee’s Novels
- Chronology
- Notes on Sources
- Index
- About the Author