Arakin 4 kurs new 001 176. indd

XV.
Discuss the style of Text One in pairs.
13. Read the summary. Point out all typical features of a summary
In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, the scene is 
laid in a small American town in Alabama. The given extract depicts 
a trial of Tom Robinson, a Negro, who is in the criminal dock on a 
capital charge of assaulting a white girl. His defending counsel At-
ticus Finch is an experienced lawyer and a progressive-minded man 
known for his humane views. His taking up the case was an act of 
courage in the American world of prejudice.
The story is told by Jean Louise, Atticus’s daughter who watches 
the progress of the trial and being a lawyer’s daughter doesn’t fail to 
feel the atmosphere in the court-room and sees the futility of her fa-
ther’s efforts to win the case.
It is Atticus’s speech to the jury that takes up the best part of 
the text. Moved by his sympathy for the Negro and desire to stand 
for his rights Atticus speaks most convincingly and with a great 
emotional force. He points it out to the jury that the case is simple 
enough. Having thoroughly considered every piece of the evidence 
submitted Atticus exposes the false testimony of the witnesses and 
proves that the defendant is innocent while the guilt lies with the 
white girl, the chief witness for the state. It is she who has tempt-
ed the Negro thus breaking the code of the society she lives in. 
Next she throws the blame on Tom Robinson thus putting his life 
at stake. Atticus condemns Tom Robinson’s accusers for their 
hypocrisy in that they count on the prejudiced attitude towards 
the Negroes. He characterizes the assumption that the Negroes are 
basically immoral as a groundless and deliberate lie and claims 
there is no such thing as moral superiority of one race over an-
other. Then he refers to the notorious statement of Thomas Jef-
ferson about all men being created equal. He cautions against 
using the statement out of the context and underlines that no 
matter how very different people might be considering their inborn 

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qualities, their education or their station in life they ought to be 
equal before the law. In conclusion Atticus emphasizes the great 
moral responsibility of the jury.