TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Chapter 1
The story you are about to read is not the original version of “To Kill a Mockingbird”. This version has been specially edited for beginner learners of English. The level of English is at a CEFR A2 level. The story is the same, but the language has been adapted to make it easier and more enjoyable to read. Make sure you visit the Essential English website to get access to the full text. The link is in the description below. Enjoy the story!
Chapter 1
Scout Finch is six when the novel begins. She’s nine when it ends. Scout has a big brother named Jem. Jem is four years older than Scout. Their father’s name is Atticus. Atticus is a lawyer. Scout and Jem have a friend named Dill. Dill comes to visit every summer. He stays with his Aunt Rachel. He plays with Scout and Jem every day.
Scout and Jem live in a small town called Maycomb. It is in the state of Alabama, in the south of the United States. It is the 1930s. Things are different then. More on that later.
Maycomb has a scary house. It is the Radley house. A man named Boo Radley lives there. The children never see Boo. He never comes out. They think he is a scary man. But they don't really know Boo.
The kids like to play outside. They like to make up stories about Boo. They think he is a ghost. They dare each other to touch the Radley house. It is a fun game for them. Their father, Atticus, doesn't like the Boo game. He says it's not nice. He thinks they should let Boo be. But the kids are curious. They want to know more about Boo.
The Finch family has lived in Maycomb a long time. They are proud of that. They are respected. They made their money on a farm. They still have the farm. It’s called Finch Landing.
Atticus went to the city. He became a lawyer. His brother became a doctor. Atticus is the head of the family. Scout and Jem love their town. It's a small, quiet town with a big mystery. They are all happy… until it begins.
More about the story
To Kill a Mockingbird is a famous American story written by author Harper Lee. The story takes place in fictitious town in the southern part of the United States in the 1930s. The main characters are Scout, her brother Jem, and their father Atticus Finch.
The story talks about growing up, family, and learning about the world. A very important theme is justice and fairness. Atticus is a lawyer who must defend a Black man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of a crime he did not do. This shows the theme of racism and how people can be treated unfairly because of the color of their skin.
Another theme is courage. Atticus teaches his children to be brave and to stand for what is right, even if other people do not agree. Scout and Jem also learn about empathy, which means trying to understand other people’s feelings.
The title "to kill a mockingbird" is also a theme. A mockingbird is a bird that does no harm and only sings. Killing one is like hurting an innocent person. This idea is important in the story because it shows that people should protect the innocent.
To Kill a Mockingbird is an important story in American culture because it talks about problems that were, and still are, very real in the United States. The book shows how racism and unfair treatment were strong in the 1930s, especially in the southern states. It makes people think about justice, equality, and human rights.
The character of Atticus Finch became a symbol of honesty and fairness. Many Americans see him as an example of a good person who stands up for what is right, even when it is difficult.
