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Classics

A Beginner’s Guide to TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Cassandra Neace

Staff Writer

Cassandra Neace is a high school English teacher in Houston. When she's not in the classroom, she reads books and writes about them. She prides herself on her ability to recommend a book for most any occasion. She can be found on Instagram @read_write_make

This week marked the 53rd anniversary of the publication of Harper Lee’s classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Did you know there’s no official gift for a 53rd anniversary?  The 50th is gold, and the 55th is emerald.  I’ve been trying to figure out something that would be appropriate for the momentous occasion, and all I can come up with is a quick and simple video guide to this, the best book that most of us ever read in high school. Of course, it’s a gift for readers, and not for Ms. Lee, but she seems to like her privacy, so we’ll just leave it at that.  Take a look:

Video Sparknotes: Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Summary

Yeah, I know that Sparknotes have a bad reputation amongst readerly types out there (myself included), but this is a pretty good summary without giving away too much of the beauty of the book. You still have to read the words to get the full effect.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqkohqLvClI[/youtube]

 

Thug Notes – To Kill a Mockingbird 

For those who appreciate a more…um…culturally relevant…take on the classics.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IntI62LWSJA[/youtube]

 

Trailer for the 1962 film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird

Even though the movie all but ignores one of the major plot points of the novel, it is still one of the best movies of its time.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi88P7KfaMA[/youtube]

 

All Men Are Created Equal – Clip from To Kill a Mockingbird 

Gregory Peck will always be who we see when we picture Atticus Finch in our heads, and that is because of moments’s like this one:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x6njs-cGUE[/youtube]

 

AFI chose Peck’s Atticus Finch as the #1 Hero on its list of 100 Years….100 Heroes & Villains.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVVzZjiS8Bo[/youtube]

 

The full-length film is available for rental via YouTube.

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