Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird: Bloom's Guides

by Harold Bloom (Editor)

Published in 1960 and awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1961, To Kill a Mockingbird is required reading for many middle and high school students. The coming-of-age tale of its young narrator, Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, of Maycomb, Alabama, is interwoven with explorations of the issues of prejudice, innocence, compassion, and hypocrisy. This accessible study guide is a compilation of important current criticism on Harper Lee's first and only novel gleaned from key publications.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, High School, Historical Fiction, Literature, School, Classic Literature

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Harold Bloom was an American literary critic and the Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. In 2017, Bloom was called "probably the most famous literary critic in the English-speaking world." After publishing his first book in 1959, Bloom wrote more than 50 books, including over 40 books of literary criticism, several books discussing religion, and one novel. He edited hundreds of anthologies concerning numerous literary and philosophical figures for the Chelsea House publishing firm. Bloom's books have been translated into more than 40 languages. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1995.
Bloom was a defender of the traditional Western canon at a time when literature departments were focusing on what he derided as the "school of resentment" (multiculturalists, feminists, Marxists, and others). He was educated at Yale University, the University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.

Reviews

[Anthony]

Is it possible that everybody who wrote a review for this book thinks they are reviewing Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?
We can all agree that Harold Bloom has enriched the world of English literature with his criticism, anthologies and his consummate influence. However, even Dr. Bloom would agree that the reviews of this book are stealing Ms. Lee's thunder.

Dr. Bloom, you are still a literary Titan. And thank you especially for your prolific Shakespearean criticism, which has helped me muddle through divers lengthy (occasionally drudging) papers on the Bard.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I learned so much form it. Yeah, it was an assingment for a class but i still liked it! I learned not to be racist and many other stuff, u should really read it!

[Kathleen Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give it 10 stars! I appreciated it much more this time than I did years ago and it seems more relevant now than ever before. When a man of great dignity and intelligence methodically and deliberately attempts to right wrongs, those who cannot tolerate the truth, have to try to diminish him.

[Laurie Mazzoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

still one of the best around

[Lesley Fugle · Rating 5 out of 5]

a favorite thst i re read

[4Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would you want to kill a mocking bird? You might think the book To Kill a Mockingbird would help you kill a mocking bird but it doesn't. Several good things exist in this book. The title "To Kill a Mockingbird" works well with the book. Characters in the book will make you like it more. Even though this book deals with serious problems, humor exists throughout the book.

The title "To kill a Mockingbird" makes this book better. "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird. Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mocking bird." Lee wrote these as the only sentences about mockingbirds. After reading the title you will obtain false knowledge. You might think it has information about mocking birds.

Characters in the book improve the story a lot. I can make a comparison between Boo and me because he does not talk to many people. What the kids do will make you laugh like when they go to boo's house and runaway after Boo's brother, Nathan finds out. Jem and Sout's father does nice things for them like how they have permission to call him Atticus.

Harper Lee included humor in his book. Kids get shot at by Nathan while they run away from Boo's house. One kid lost his pants when they got caught on a fence. Sheriff Heck Tate drinks from a brown bag when he drinks soda and gives some to a kid. At the end of the book the sheriff says Bob Ewell died because he tripped over his knife.

Numerous good things Lee included in his book. The title improves the book because it makes you think it has something to do with Mockingbirds. Characters help you to enjoy the story like the things they do. It causes the reader to laugh especially when a kid loses his pants.

[Maureen Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently re-read this novel and enjoyed it even more. I think we sometimes remember a story based on a film, and miss that there is so much more in the novel than just what is going on during the trial in the courtroom. Granted, those events are the climax of the story, and also the conflicting image of this sleepy Southern town and it's inhabitants. But my enjoyment of my last reading centered around the early descriptions of the town, it's people, the children's events, adventures and freedoms. Like in "The book thief", the question is raised, what if you live in these times, but don't agree with the prevailing ideology of that time? Atticus Finch's actions try to answer those questions, even when he can't prevent the tragedy of what occurred to Tom, there are others who help prevent a tragedy that almost happened to Atticus closer to home.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book, plain and simple.

The book transports you back to small town America in the 1930s so beautifully that, you can really feel the time and place seen through 10 year old Scout's eyes. Her hero worship of her father, the admirable Atticus Finch and his sense of what is right is palpable as is her inability to comprehend why the adult world functions as it does.

Every time I read this book, I never fail to cry when Atticus says "Thank you for my children, Arthur."

For this reason, I will not be reading the recently published "Go Set a Watchman". Anything which interferes with the Atticus I know and love, from this book, cannot be borne.....

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite all-time books and I just had the privilege to re-read it again. It is so poignant and beautifully written. I love all of the characters...especially Atticus. He has a calm about him while dealing with circumstances that demand both intellect and a strong sense of right. Wish I could parent more like him! I love the insights of Scout, who though a child, has perspective that is well beyond child-like. I plan on making this a read aloud to my children when they get a bit older and can somewhat fathom the issues that are dealt with in this wonderful book.

[Colleen Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a child over and over again. I really loved it. I was 10 or 11 the first time I read it. I didn't know it was a social commentary on race at the time I read it, I just loved the kids and really identified with them.

I read it again years later as an adult and was blown away again but he subtext that I did not consciously pick up on as a child.

I definitely recommend it to everyone.

[Hubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only wished it were longer! A nice collection of well-written essays that range from analyses of the legal situations that occur in all points of the book, to feminist interpretations to comparisons with the movie. A detailed listing of letters against or in support of the ban on the book in Hanover County Virginia in 1965.

[Sonya Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in high school. The unfortunate thing is I didn't know how 'true to life's this story was until decades after (not American). It captured the essence of the issues of that time and the change they wanted to make as many blacks were not given the privilege of the justice system but given over to angry mobs to be hung.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book in high school and loved it. My daughter and I do a mother/daughter reading group together and chose this book as well as the Harper Lee biography "Mockingbird" Still an amazing book!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I started it on a road trip to Texas in audio form with Sissy Spacek as the reader then finished it at home reading it. After seeing the movie and the play (and problaby reading it many years ago)I loved listening to it on cd!

[Denise Hartzler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true literary classic. Aside from the characters, what I love most about this book is that you can't separate the characters from the place or from the outcome - it is that tightly woven. A true masterpiece and a yearly re-read for me.

[Deb Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-reading this book as an adult, I loved it more than I did when I was in school. It's timeless. If you've read it, read it again. The book pictured here is not the right book . This is a commentary on To Kill A Mockingbird. I read the book not the commentary.

[Saud Altamimi]

جميع المقالات لا بأس بها، لكن المقالتان الأخيرتان جيدتان بشكل مدهش:

Kathryn Lee Seidel on Scout's identity
Challenge and evolution in the novel

و

Jacqueline Tavernier-Courbin on the use of humor in the trial

كذلك فإن الخلفية التاريخية المعدّة عن الرواية مهمة. و مقدمة Harold Bloom شاملة و رصينة.

[Jiv Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book ages so badly and is almost always taught in schools as almost a chore. it is a chore to read this book. none of the characters are worth a shit except Atticus. the book is worth reading almost entirely just so u can see Atticus be a chad

[Jeancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read it just because i had to, and it's kind of boring to me.

[Andrew]

I have to read this book for my English class and so far I have gotten into it and would like to continue reading...Just no more homework for me!

[Bradleka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a favorite of mine when I read in middle school and it still resonates 15 years later when I read it again.

[Susan Claypool · Rating 5 out of 5]

I now know why this is my sister's favorite book of all time.

[tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jangan remehkan sudut pandang gadis kecil.Dia bisa lebih bijaksana dari orang (yang mengaku) dewasa. :)

[Laurel Bradshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary and analysis of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, with biographical sketch, and annotated bibliography. Read because my bookclub is reading this novel.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read the book numerous times and it is still one of my all time favorites. Harper Lee did an exceptional job.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this more times than I can say because I have taught it. I love this book and its' timeless lessons.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to recently re-read with my son and enjoyed every word. A classic about human decency and integrity that will be special to me forever.

[C.J. Prince · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a rare treat to return to a book. This classic is better with each reading. Suggestion to book groups: reqad "The Help" next.

[Windy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite classic books. It is one of the books in which the movie is just as good. If you want to read a classic book I would recommend this one.

[Vinny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad, I became very sad at the ending and I'm not sure why.