To Kill a Mockingbird: Social Context 1930s Alabama

English
Year 9
8 questions
~16 mins
1 views0 downloads

About This Worksheet

A worksheet exploring the social and historical context of 1930s Alabama as depicted in To Kill a Mockingbird, focusing on analysis and annotation skills.

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To Kill a Mockingbird: Social Context 1930s Alabama

Subject: EnglishGrade: Year 9
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Untitled Worksheet

Grade Year 9
A

Scene Summary and Context Guide

In the deep South of 1930s Alabama, racial segregation and economic disparity defined daily life. African Americans faced widespread discrimination, often restricted to segregated facilities and denied basic rights. The Jim Crow laws institutionalised racial inequality, reinforcing social hierarchies that kept white citizens in positions of power. Education was segregated, and justice often favoured white communities, as seen in the infamous cases of racial injustice. The economic struggles of the Great Depression further exacerbated social divides, affecting all classes but hitting African American communities hardest. Harper Lee's novel reflects these realities through the setting of Maycomb, a town representative of many Southern towns during this period. Atticus Finch’s courtroom defence and Scout's observations embody the racial tensions and social expectations of the era. Phrases such as 'the way things are' highlight the acceptance of inequality as a norm. These social practices and attitudes shape characters’ actions and beliefs, making the novel a vital commentary on the injustices of the time.
1.
Summarise the social conditions of Alabama in the 1930s as described in the context guide.
[2 marks]
2.
Identify two key social issues highlighted in the context guide that are reflected in the novel.
[2 marks]
3.
What does the phrase 'the way things are' suggest about societal attitudes at the time?
[2 marks]
4.
Analyse how Harper Lee uses the setting of Maycomb to reflect the social issues of 1930s Alabama.
5.
Identify a literary technique used in the passage ‘the way things are’ and explain its effect.
[2 marks]
6.
Explain how the Great Depression influenced social divisions in Alabama during the 1930s.
[2 marks]
7.
Describe how the courtroom scenes in the novel serve as a commentary on social justice.
8.
Based on the context, how does Harper Lee portray the social hierarchy of Maycomb?
[2 marks]

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Details

Created
12/31/2025
Updated
12/31/2025
Type
worksheet