What makes To Kill a Mockingbird a classic?

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To Kill a Mockingbird discussion
Why is To Kill a Mockingbird such a classic?
Is To Kill a Mockingbird a classic?
Why is To Kill a Mockingbird a timeless classic?
When did To Kill a Mockingbird become a classic?

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To Kill a Mockingbird discussion

What makes THIS book a classic?

*Shrug*

The historical content is important, I will say that; the racism and prejudice of the time period, the fallacies of the law and court system at the time, etc. It also has the study of humanity and its failures and triumphs going for it.

I think because it has the genius aspect of capturing these particular events through a child's eyes yet also being able to keep the adult perspective. It makes important points about prejudice and humanity withour clobbering anyone over the head with the idealism of Adicus. The Boo Radley story line hits a chord with many.

A. It is accessible. The story can be enjoyed by almost anyone with the ability to read it.
2. It is deeper than just that. It makes the reader think and question things.
* It is old.
4. A lot of people have read it.

It is the longest explanation of how someone came to break their arm you will ever read :)

It is exquisite in its meter she never loses a beat nor under stresses or over stresses any event. It doesn't have a very happy ending much like Grapes of Wrath, it is true to people's real experiences without being melodramatic.

Well, if running through the woods in a HAM costume wasn't enough - in all seriousness what I think it brilliantly captured in the scenes are those pivotal moments that require sound decisions - when faced with what is truly in front of you. Should I? Shouldn't I?

If that could be defined and formulated and sold in a bottle . . . it would take all the creativity out of creative writing and the entire world of literature would decay into unintelligent, tedious, tasteless pulp.

Or is that already happening?

To answer the question at hand however, I think these are all good answers. There's no definite answer, and that's part of what makes it a classic. Harper Lee, in one fell blow, did what most writers never do. She did so much right, that it can't be comprehensively defined. No recipe for success can be, really, I suppose. There was beauty in the storytelling, brilliance in plot, it had wisdom and entertainment and social relevance; it had everything, and more, a classic needs.

I think it is because a dog dies in the story. Lots of classics have dead dogs.

This post is in jest, but also kind of true.

It's a classic because of its themes, characters, and the writing, but most of all because of Atticus. He has his own code of conduct that he lives by, no matter how others treat him. It's an amazing book because of the portrayal of Atticus-- a character with true nobility.

I agree with Emily, Atticus Finch makes this book a classic.

Daniel wrote: "It is the longest explanation of how someone came to break their arm you will ever read :)"

That's a great way of summarising it!

I am studying Mockingbird with a year 8 class at the moment and some of them are really enjoying it but a couple have found it extremely difficult to get into - they just don't feel like there is enough going on. We have just reached the trial though, which I'm hoping they will enjoy a bit more.

I think it's the novel's message that makes it a classic and also how accessible it is, which is down largely to Scout's narration, I think.

You are all making me want to read it again :)

This book is classic because of the way it presents the segregation of the time period, the 1930s using foreshadowing. It taught us a different perspective as well of the time period through the eyes of a child. Lee's writing skills were one that even I couldn't of thought of.

This is one of my favorite novels. Boo, Scout, the trial. I love everything about it. It makes you think, gives you a glimpse at how the world used to be. It shows us the good and the bad that even a simpler time endured.

What makes this a classic is that the popular majority endorse it.

I found it unremarkable save for the historical/racial messages for which it is known. A good teaching tool perhaps on the pitfalls of racism and the history of civil rights in America, but as a story held against other stories across the millennia, it pales in comparison.

Accessible yes, but not challenging to readers.

It's my favorite book, because most of it is seen through the eyes of children. The courage of a white man to stand up and do what is right for others is inspiring. The message that it is better to get to know people than to make judgements. It is such a beautiful, well-written book. I could read it over and over again.

I've only re-read the book a couple times ... but it always gets my dander up about how closed-minded people can be. Everyone can admire the strength of Atticus standing up for what's right in the face of persecution.

The writing is also a marvel in showing the development of understanding in Scout.

Why would you even question why this is a classic, Katherine? For it so undoubtedly is.

It teaches us that life is hard to digest and that being within your own innocence and sense of justice will pull through and that no one else's persecutions should take away your values and fight for what you believe in.

Harper Lee not only captured the conflict of the times, she also painted vivid pictures in the imaginations of her readers.

Isn't that the least any author can do? Devil's advocate here. It seems a lot of the praise for this book is the baseline standard by which all books are judged. She accomplished the basics, sure. Worthy of praise? I think the bar set is too low.

Eliza wrote: "*Shrug*

The historical content is important, I will say that; the racism and prejudice of the time period, the fallacies of the law and court system at the time, etc. It also has the study of huma..."

I absolutely agree with you!

It withstands the test of time.

It's brilliant. Southern Gothic meets courtroom drama meets coming-of-age story, told from the POV of a child. Lee does it with balance, compassion, humor, and estimable skill.

Maycomb's crisis of conscience is America's and the world's crisis of conscience.

it's simply brilliant and has remained so through the years.
It may be the most perfect book I've ever read. Combine the readability, the great writing and great story, with brilliant and clever characters and you end up with a classic.

It's a classic because you can read it once every 5-10 years and find something new in it each time. I first read and loved it in high school. Read it again in my 20s and was amazed how much I had missed. Deceptively simple, it continues to delight after 6 or 7 readings.

probably because it's old and stood the test of time.

I think it's a classic because it has value by the lessons of racism it teaches. That, and because it's had a significant amount of time to mature.

You wouldn't consider a 2013 model car to be a classic no matter how great it is. Not until it has been around for decades and proven itself does it deserve the classification of a classic.

It's a classic because despite text, twitter, and shortened attention spans, when we read the book in my class, my students still love it.

I mean, love it.

Shelley
http://dustbowlstory.wordpress.com

Shelley wrote: "It's a classic because despite text, twitter, and shortened attention spans, when we read the book in my class, my students still love it.

I mean, love it.

Shelley
http://dustbowlstory.wordpress.com"

Shelley: I hear ya! My students love it; sometimes five or ten years later they come back to visit and tell me how "life-changing" the book was, and even, for some of them, how it's still their favorite. And what's more, I don't get tired of teaching it.

Lynne wrote: "Shelley: I hear ya! My students love it; sometimes five or ten years later they come back to visit and tell me how "life-changing" the book was, and even, for some of them, how it's still their favorite. And what's more, I don't get tired of teaching it. "

This is the key. What makes a book a classic is one that withstands the test of time. No matter it's merits, you have to admit this book has done that.

A lot of people are relying"because it withstood the test of time". In your opinion, what made it with stand the tests of time? Is it the characters, the plot, the moral? I love this book as much as anyone, but why has it stayed as popular throughout time?

I am sure its different for different people, but you can't argue that it has withstood the test of time. So many years after it was written it is still generally considered a classic and people are talking about it...

It stands the test of time because it is a timeless story. A man who not only does honorable things -- he _is_ honorable. A daughter who sees honor and decency in her father, but comes to understand how rare they are, and grows up a little in the process. Change the time or the setting and you can tell the same story, and people would still understand and be moved by it. Lee did not just tell a story of the Old South; she captured something about all people, all cultures, everywhere.

Everyone's definition of a classic book is different but I love the characters and the book is just brilliantly written. It's one of the best books I have ever read. I can see why Harper Lee only wrote one book. This one was so good she didn't need to write another one.

The fact that it deserves it. Now read it and do your own homework. It is worth it.

perfect answer...it stands the test of time...

Try and read Charles Dickens in this age...I love his to read his prose...lovely as it is, it takes me time to absorb, to get the rhythm and melody of the prose...

When I read TKAM, it doesn't matter where I am reading it, I am in Maycomb, on that street with Scout, Jem and Dill, peeking into Boo's yard, and sitting in the courthouse watching Atticus Finch...the writing is simple and profound at once... perhaps a few of the idioms that the characters use such as Scout's continual use of "nome" might hinder it for future generations but my guess is that people will still want to read it especially after they view the film...

I'm fairly certain it is because of the fact that people can relate to it today. If people aren't able to relate to a book years later, then people won't remember it. The Catcher In The Rye is remembered today because people can still relate to it, even if not as much as they were able to years ago. Like others have said, this book truly stands the test of time

I agree with what Swolemaster said. Some books are not remembered, such as The War Of The Worlds. While it is considered a classic, not as many people know about it than know about TWOTW because it is not as down-to-earth with the characters as this book is.

There are several different definitions of "classic". Some people view it as a book they like. Or a book that stands the test of time. A book that it important for some reason. A book with high artistic content. Historical or cultural significance. A dusty old book that you ought to read. A book with a dead dog in it.

TKAM fulfills the brief however you craft the definition.

Mind you, so do several of the books that have been dissed in this thread, including Dickens and War of the Worlds. They're still classics, they're still being read today and are still relevant to people today.

I think we need to draw a distinction between "I didn't like it" and "it's not a classic". Other people have different views to yours.

Chicken Wings :)

Chicken wrote: "Chicken Wings :)" Agreed

how old the book is makes it a classic

Lori wrote: "Eliza wrote: "*Shrug*

The historical content is important, I will say that; the racism and prejudice of the time period, the fallacies of the law and court system at the time, etc. It also has the..."

mix me

DabDaddy9.5 wrote: "how old the book is makes it a classic"

What...George you make no sense.

I see lists of "classic" books that are pretty silly. To me a classic is one that you can pick up 50, 100, 150, or 200 years later and it still has something to say. A lot of books (perhaps 90% of them) on those "classics" lists will be lost and unmourned in 50 years and have very little to say. I will add that not so rarely a book is forgotten but still has something to say, and when I read such a title, I can hear it crying out "I still have something to say! I still have something to say! Listen!" There is a book that I like to bring up when conversations drift to that area: The Horse's Mouth, by Joyce Cary. Published in 1949, it is a masterpiece and will be so recognized by many who read it. Of course, books can say different things to different people, and I guess that's where taste becomes an influence. For instance, Joyce's Ulysses says to me "Look how clever I am! I made all these cryptic and mythological references so you would have to try and figure them out before you can appreciate what I have written. And besides, this book is an emotional and neurotic outburst designed to puzzle all of you as part of my revenge." Well, maybe I don't want to do a crossword puzzle to figure out a book. Maybe I want to be swept away by the writing. If you want to give me an allegory, make it less of a maze and more of a tale. If I was someone else, I might not say that; I might enjoy puzzling through the text; I might even miss the points Joyce was trying to hide and just read it on another level. And maybe I might myself read Joyce again with a different mindset and revise my opinion. So there it is; how can you not expect a nebulous and varied set of answers to something as personal as reaction to literature? And I'm afraid that's as far as I can go.

I believe that this book because of its subject matter, characters that fit the time period makes this a classic. A book that is never dated but is relevant to any reader in any era.

message 47: by Mark (new)

I believe that this book is a classic because it was able to last time. The book is capable of making people feel things, and had a large impact on people during this time period. Thanks to this book, people of our generation are now able to grow up to feel equal to their peers, although there are still large steps needed to be taken to have equality for all.

message 48: by Cash (new)

Katherine wrote: "A lot of people are relying"because it withstood the test of time". In your opinion, what made it with stand the tests of time? Is it the characters, the plot, the moral? I love this book as much a..."

Well, watch this video to find out the real reason why To Kill a Mockingbird has withstood the test of time.

Watch this video for a possible reason why To kill a Mockingbird has withstood the "test of time."

https://www.vox.com/2017/9/13/.../to-...

Beautiful book. The first classic book I ever read. And I was moved to tears. We have come a long way from the racist issues discussed in the book but we still have a very long way to go. Racism is still prevalent in our societies and the books is still relevant to the problems we face as a result of it.

I think because it's ageless.

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Why is To Kill a Mockingbird such a classic?

Is To Kill a Mockingbird a classic?

To Kill a Mockingbird has become a classic of modern American literature, winning the Pulitzer Prize. The plot and characters are loosely based on Lee's observations of her family, her neighbors and an event that occurred near her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, in 1936, when she was ten.

Why is To Kill a Mockingbird a timeless classic?

To Kill A Mockingbird is undeniably considered a timeless classic because it conveys an important theme connected to the racism that appears in the novel and includes a significant conflict that ties the setting and characters together.

When did To Kill a Mockingbird become a classic?

But how did this novel gain enough fame to become one of the most influential high school English books, beloved by students and adults alike? There might be more to its success story than meets the eye. To Kill a Mockingbird did well when it was published in 1960, getting good reviews and selling millions of copies.