Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, touches upon a wide variety of issues and themes: race, class, prejudice, identity, and more. Before we begin reading To Kill a Mockingbird, we are going to do some background research into some of these topics. Using the handout given to you by your English teacher, visit each of the resources below and answer the questions on your worksheet: you will turn in this worksheet to your teacher once you have completed the webquest assignment.
"Strange Fruit" by Billie Holiday
"Strange Fruit" Performance Video
Billie Holiday/Abel Meeropol
A live performance video of Billie Holiday, singing the song "Strange Fruit" (written by Abel Meeropol).
Click on the picture to the left for the hyperlink to a live recording of the song on YouTube, which can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs.
Billie Holiday/Abel Meeropol
A live performance video of Billie Holiday, singing the song "Strange Fruit" (written by Abel Meeropol).
Click on the picture to the left for the hyperlink to a live recording of the song on YouTube, which can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs.
"The Story of the Man Behind 'Strange Fruit'" by Elizabeth Blair
"The Story of the Man Behind 'Strange Fruit'"
Elizabeth Blair/National Public Radio
A news story from National Public Radio about Abel Meeropol, the man who wrote the song "Strange Fruit" (most famously performed by Billie Holiday).
Click on the picture to the left for a hyperlink to the NPR article, which can be found at http://www.npr.org/2012/09/05/158933012/the-strange-story-of-the-man-behind-strange-fruit.
Elizabeth Blair/National Public Radio
A news story from National Public Radio about Abel Meeropol, the man who wrote the song "Strange Fruit" (most famously performed by Billie Holiday).
Click on the picture to the left for a hyperlink to the NPR article, which can be found at http://www.npr.org/2012/09/05/158933012/the-strange-story-of-the-man-behind-strange-fruit.
Lynching Interactive Map
"Lynching by State and Race 1882-1968"
Public Broadcasting Service
An interactive map that illustrates the number of lynchings in each state from the Reconstruction era through the year that MLK was assassinated (1968).
Click on the picture to the left for the hyperlink to the Public Broadcasting Service's interactive map, which can be found at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/themap/index.html.
Public Broadcasting Service
An interactive map that illustrates the number of lynchings in each state from the Reconstruction era through the year that MLK was assassinated (1968).
Click on the picture to the left for the hyperlink to the Public Broadcasting Service's interactive map, which can be found at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/themap/index.html.
"The Negro Speaks of Rivers" by Langston Hughes
"The Negro Speaks of Rivers"
Langston Hughes/ Academy of American Poets
The text of "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" by Langston Hughes, accompanied by an audio recording of Hughes reading the poem and explaining its origin.
Click on the picture to the left for the hyperlink to the Academy of American Poets multimedia page for the poem, which can be found at http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15722.
Langston Hughes/ Academy of American Poets
The text of "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" by Langston Hughes, accompanied by an audio recording of Hughes reading the poem and explaining its origin.
Click on the picture to the left for the hyperlink to the Academy of American Poets multimedia page for the poem, which can be found at http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15722.
"Without Sanctuary" Photographs
"Without Sanctuary" Photograph Collection
James Allen and John Littlefield/WithoutSanctuary.org
A collection of photographs and postcards from real lynchings in American history.
Click on the picture to the left for a hyperlink to the website, which can be found at http://withoutsanctuary.org/main.html.
James Allen and John Littlefield/WithoutSanctuary.org
A collection of photographs and postcards from real lynchings in American history.
Click on the picture to the left for a hyperlink to the website, which can be found at http://withoutsanctuary.org/main.html.
"Only a N-----" by Mark Twain
"Only a N-----" Newspaper Article
Mark Twain/Buffalo Express
A newspaper article, written by Mark Twain for The Buffalo Express, about a lynching that occurred in Memphis in 1869.
Click on the picture to the left for a hyperlink to the article, which can be found at http://thunderbird.k12.ar.us/The%20Classics%20Library/American%20Literature/T/twain/Only%20a%20Nigger.htm.
Mark Twain/Buffalo Express
A newspaper article, written by Mark Twain for The Buffalo Express, about a lynching that occurred in Memphis in 1869.
Click on the picture to the left for a hyperlink to the article, which can be found at http://thunderbird.k12.ar.us/The%20Classics%20Library/American%20Literature/T/twain/Only%20a%20Nigger.htm.
To Kill a Mockingbird Movie Trailer
To Kill a Mockingbird Movie Trailer
Universal-International/MCA Home Video
The official movie trailer for the film adaptation of Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.
Click on the picture to the left for the hyperlink to the Internet Movie Database's video of the film's trailer, which can be found at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1222941977/.
Universal-International/MCA Home Video
The official movie trailer for the film adaptation of Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.
Click on the picture to the left for the hyperlink to the Internet Movie Database's video of the film's trailer, which can be found at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1222941977/.
"Harper Lee Mini-Biography" by Biography.com
"Harper Lee Mini-Biography" Documentary Video
Biography.com/A&E Television Networks, LLC
The condensed version of the A&E "Biography" episode on Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird.
Click on the picture to the left for the hyperlink to the Biography.com video, which can be found at http://www.biography.com/people/harper-lee-9377021/videos/harper-lee-mini-biography-2174101417.
Biography.com/A&E Television Networks, LLC
The condensed version of the A&E "Biography" episode on Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird.
Click on the picture to the left for the hyperlink to the Biography.com video, which can be found at http://www.biography.com/people/harper-lee-9377021/videos/harper-lee-mini-biography-2174101417.
Teacher Resources:
The following resources might prove helpful for teachers utilizing this To Kill a Mockingbird webquest assignment:
California English Language Arts Standards addressed by this assignment:
2.2 Write responses to literature:
2.6 Deliver multimedia presentations:
California English Language Arts Standards addressed by this assignment:
2.2 Write responses to literature:
- a. Demonstrate a comprehensive grasp of the significant ideas of literary works.
- b. Support important ideas and viewpoints through accurate and detailed references to the text or to other works.
- c. Demonstrate awareness of the author's use of stylistic devices and an appreciation of the effects created.
- d. Identify and assess the impact of perceived ambiguities, nuances, and complexities within the text.
2.6 Deliver multimedia presentations:
- a. Combine text, images, and sound and draw information from many sources (e.g., television broadcasts, videos, films, newspapers, magazines, CD-ROMs, the Internet, electronic media-generated images).
- b. Select an appropriate medium for each element of the presentation.
- c. Use the selected media skillfully, editing appropriately and monitoring for quality.
- d. Test the audience's response and revise the presentation accordingly.
And after you've finished reading the novel, check out the following:
To Kill a Mockingbird Video by Sparknotes
To Kill a Mockingbird Sparknotes Video
Sparknotes/John Crowther/Marc Bain/Cannaday Chapman
An animated retelling of Harper Lee's novel, utilizing illustrations and a cursory overview of the entire book.
Click on the picture to the left for the Sparknotes animated summary for the novel, which can be found at http://www.sparknotes.com/sparknotes/video/mocking.
Sparknotes/John Crowther/Marc Bain/Cannaday Chapman
An animated retelling of Harper Lee's novel, utilizing illustrations and a cursory overview of the entire book.
Click on the picture to the left for the Sparknotes animated summary for the novel, which can be found at http://www.sparknotes.com/sparknotes/video/mocking.