Group 1: About the Author
Group 1,
Your job is to become an expert on Harper (Nelle) Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird. Click on the links below to read about her biography and other important information about her life and motivation to write this story. When you are finished, answer the questions provided to you. Be sure to read carefully because you will be teaching your classmates everything you know about her.
Links:
http://www.biography.com/people/harper-lee-9377021
http://www.duluth.lib.mn.us/Programs/Mockingbird/LeeBio.html
http://neabigread.org/books/mockingbird/mockingbird04.php
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/14666-harper-lee-wins-presidential-medal-of-freedom.html
Questions:
1. When and where was Harper Lee born? What was her family like? What was she like as a child?
2. Who was her childhood best friend? Describe their friendship.
3. What did she study in college? Did she participate in any extra-curricular activities? Why might this be important to consider while reading To Kill A Mockingbird?
4. What are some similarities between Harper Lee and Scout Finch's (the novel's main character) childhood?
5. How did Harper Lee almost destroy her chances of ever publishing her novel? Why do you think she struggled so much with the writing of her novel and why did she never publish another book again?
6. Why was Harper Lee awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
7. 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?
Your job is to become an expert on Harper (Nelle) Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird. Click on the links below to read about her biography and other important information about her life and motivation to write this story. When you are finished, answer the questions provided to you. Be sure to read carefully because you will be teaching your classmates everything you know about her.
Links:
http://www.biography.com/people/harper-lee-9377021
http://www.duluth.lib.mn.us/Programs/Mockingbird/LeeBio.html
http://neabigread.org/books/mockingbird/mockingbird04.php
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/14666-harper-lee-wins-presidential-medal-of-freedom.html
Questions:
1. When and where was Harper Lee born? What was her family like? What was she like as a child?
2. Who was her childhood best friend? Describe their friendship.
3. What did she study in college? Did she participate in any extra-curricular activities? Why might this be important to consider while reading To Kill A Mockingbird?
4. What are some similarities between Harper Lee and Scout Finch's (the novel's main character) childhood?
5. How did Harper Lee almost destroy her chances of ever publishing her novel? Why do you think she struggled so much with the writing of her novel and why did she never publish another book again?
6. Why was Harper Lee awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
7. 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?