Historical Background of To Kill A Mockingbird

1)Why is it necessary to understand the historical and cultural context of the novel?

I feel that it is necessary because there was a large difference between the present and the past. For example, in To Kill A Mockingbird, looking down on blacks was seen as the right thing to do
as blacks were not of the same status as whites. We cannot assume that the past was like the present, where whites and blacks are equal, and say that the racists in To Kill A Mockingbird were callous and evil, as it was seen as the right thing to do at the time. Therefore, we must understand the context of the novel and approach it in an objective manner.

2) How does it help to understand the author's background? Is it necessary to learn about the author's background?

It helps to understand the authors background because it shows what the authors point of view is. The authors education, family, race, religion and even friends could have an impact on the authors point of view. Understanding the authors point of view would then allow us to identify themes in the story. I think that it is better to know about the authors background but not necessary as I have enjoyed many stories without understanding the author at all.

3) Is it possible to appreciate the text without pre-reading about the historical and cultural context of the novel / background of the novel?

Yes it is possible but only on a shallow level, as understanding the context/background of the novel would give a deeper understanding of the text, such as why blacks are looked down upon, and why Scout's father was shunned when he defended a black. I think that understanding these points would make the story more enjoyable as some of the themes (eg.racism) would become clearer to us.