Seeking Justice: To Kill a Mockingbird (2020)

Lesson 19
icon/ela/white

ELA

Unit 6

8th Grade

Lesson 19 of 35

Objective


Analyze the extent to which the filmmakers have stayed faithful to or departed from the original text of To Kill a Mockingbird by comparing and contrasting text and film.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee  — chapter 20

  • Movie: To Kill a Mockingbird  — 01:32:25–01:42:48

Fishtank Plus

Unlock features to optimize your prep time, plan engaging lessons, and monitor student progress.

Target Task


Writing Prompt

To what degree have the filmmaker stayed faithful to the original text? Compare the scene where the verdict is given in the text (pages 240–241) to the film version (01:39:41–01:42:48). Think about timeline, plot events, dialogue, and character actions. Provide at least three specific details that demonstrate how the film stayed faithful to or departed from the text.

Sample Response

Create a free account or sign in to view Sample Response

Key Questions


  • To what degree has the filmmaker stayed faithful to the original text? Compare Atticus’s closing arguments in the text (pages 230–234) to the film version (01:32:25–01:39:41). Think about timeline, plot events, dialogue, and character actions. Provide at least three specific details that demonstrate how film stayed faithful to or departed from the text.
  • What significant event(s) from chapter 21 have been omitted from the film? What was most likely the filmmaker’s motivation in removing these events?
  • Discussion: In the text To Kill a Mockingbird, the narrator is Scout, a character in the text. How is the experience of watching the film —which does not have a narrator (at least not in the same way a book does)—different when you are not seeing the world just through Scout’s eyes?

Lesson Guidance


Notes

  • Because it will take significant time to play the film in today’s lesson, there are only two key questions. You may wish to have students read through the key questions and target task, then play the scene through from beginning to end and then replay specific sections or pause at different sections during the first viewing.

Common Core Standards


  • RL.8.7 — Analyze the extent to which a filmed or live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating the choices made by the director or actors.
icon/arrow/right/large copy

Lesson 18

icon/arrow/right/large

Lesson 20

Lesson Map

A7CB09C2-D12F-4F55-80DB-37298FF0A765

Request a Demo

See all of the features of Fishtank in action and begin the conversation about adoption.

Learn more about Fishtank Learning School Adoption.

Contact Information

School Information

What courses are you interested in?

ELA

Math

Are you interested in onboarding professional learning for your teachers and instructional leaders?

Yes

No

Any other information you would like to provide about your school?

Effective Instruction Made Easy

Effective Instruction Made Easy

Access rigorous, relevant, and adaptable ELA lesson plans for free