VOA标准英语2010年-Influential American Novel Turns 50

It's been 50 years since the classic novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird," was published.

Set in a fictional¹ town in the American South in the 1930s, Mockingbird is one of the best-loved books in the United States. Its story of a failed quest for racial justice still resonates in the town where the novel was written.

When Harper Lee published "To Kill a Mockingbird," on July 11, 1960, the civil rights movement was gaining strength and forcing change in U.S. society. However, in the author 's Southern hometown, laws and customs still kept black and white people separated in almost every facet² of life.

'To Kill a Mockingbird' is the story of a young girl, named Scout³, and her father's legal defense⁴ of a black man wrongfully accused of raping⁵ a white woman.

'It's a sin to kill a mockingbird'

Set in a fictional Alabama town, Mockingbird is the story of a young girl, named Scout, and her father's legal defense of a black man wrongfully accused of raping a white woman.

The book's title comes from Atticus Finch⁶'s warning to his daughter, Scout, and her friend about using an air-rifle.

"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

Their neighbor explains, "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 mockingbird."

And that's the moral of the story, says Melinda Byrd-Murphy. "Be kind to one another. Show human empathy and sympathy." Byrd-Murphy is the head of the Alabama Center for Literary Arts, and a native of Monroeville, Harper Lee's hometown. She's read "To Kill a Mockingbird" four times.

"I think if anything, this book talks about humanity, and the universality of humans and how there's goodness in people and you just have to get to know your neighbors."

That message has resonated with readers and critics over the years. Mockingbird is required reading in English classes around the world, and it's been called a book every adult should read before they die. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Mockingbird has sold over 40 million copies, has been translated into more than 40 languages and was made into an Academy Award-winning movie.

 
VOA - A. Boiko-Weyrauch
The courthouse featured in the book is now a Mockingbird Museum.

A changed town

For the people of Monroeville, Alabama, the story of "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a personal one.

Although the author calls the town where the story takes place, "Maycomb," Lee based the characters on real people she knew growing up.

But Monroeville has changed a lot since Harper Lee was a child. A number of African-Americans now serve in local government. The courthouse that played such a powerful role in the story has been turned into a Mockingbird Museum. Lee's childhood home has been replaced by a small shop and a fast food restaurant called Mel's Dairy Dream.

Resident Keith Cannon⁸'s son just read the book in school. "He's just getting into asking a lot of questions, 'Did that really happen here?' Well, the lady who wrote it is from here, so you don't really know if it's all fiction or based on something in her past," says Cannon. "But, he's really excited about that."

But folks in Monroeville were not very excited about the book when it was first published in 1960.

The movie version of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' won three Academy Awards.

George Thomas Jones was there at that time. He's used to being interviewed about his long-time friend, who he calls by her first name, Nelle.

"The most asked question is what was the effect on the town of the book when it came out. Of course, the answer is there was no effect. People said, 'So Nelle's written a book 'bout⁷ folks in town.' They had no idea it was going to boomerang like it did."

But, Jones says, they paid attention a year later, when Gregory Peck, the lead actor in the movie version of the book, visited Monroeville for research before filming began.

"He was just real down to earth, walked around town by himself talking to people," he recalls. "'Course all the women dressed up in their best clothes and all their jewelry⁹ and their make-up, as if he was going to pay any attention."

Peck used that research in his Oscar-winning portrayal¹⁰ of Atticus Finch. In the lawyer's closing argument, he appeals to the jury to see past the racially motivated lies told to convict his client.

Despite a passionate¹¹ defense, the all-white jury finds the defendant¹² guilty and sentences him to death.

 
VOA - A. Boiko-Weyrauch
Melinda Byrd-Murphy of the Alabama Center for Literary Arts says Harper Lee's compelling writing draws readers to "To Kill a Mockingbird."

A good read

In addition to the moral lessons in the book — racial justice, respect, tolerance¹³ and love — Melinda Byrd-Murphy, at the Alabama Center for Literary Arts, says Lee's writing is what keeps "To Kill a Mockingbird" popular.

"It is just a great book to read and I think that that's why people will continue to read it."

In Monroeville and across the United States this year, people are celebrating the 50th anniversary of "To Kill a Mockingbird" with readings from the book, discussions, movie screenings, music and art inspired by the story as well as southern-style barbecues.

 

1 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。

2 facet   

n.(问题等的)一个方面；(多面体的)面

参考例句：

• He has perfected himself in every facet of his job.他已使自己对工作的各个方面都得心应手。
• Every facet of college life is fascinating.大学生活的每个方面都令人兴奋。

3 scout   

n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索

参考例句：

• He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵，受了重伤。
• The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 raping   

v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的现在分词 )；强奸

参考例句：

• In response, Charles VI sent a punitive expedition to Brittany, raping and killing the populace. 作为报复，查理六世派军讨伐布列塔尼，奸淫杀戮平民。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The conquerors marched on, burning, killing, raping and plundering as they went. 征服者所到之处烧杀奸掠，无所不做。 来自互联网

6 finch   

n.雀科鸣禽(如燕雀，金丝雀等)

参考例句：

• This behaviour is commonly observed among several species of finch.这种行为常常可以在几种雀科鸣禽中看到。
• In Australia,it is predominantly called the Gouldian Finch.在澳大利亚，它主要还是被称之为胡锦雀。

7 bout   

n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛

参考例句：

• I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
• That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。

8 cannon   

n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮

参考例句：

• The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
• The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。

9 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

10 portrayal   

n.饰演；描画

参考例句：

• His novel is a vivid portrayal of life in a mining community.他的小说生动地描绘了矿区的生活。
• The portrayal of the characters in the novel is lifelike.该书中的人物写得有血有肉。

11 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

12 defendant   

n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的

参考例句：

• The judge rejected a bribe from the defendant's family.法官拒收被告家属的贿赂。
• The defendant was borne down by the weight of evidence.有力的证据使被告认输了。

13 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。