Fiction has the power to help us understand what human rights mean and why it is important to uphold them. In touching our minds and emotions, fiction can widen our horizons and help us develop the ability to imagine what it might be like to be someone else. This skill is empathy and it is crucial in standing up against intolerance, prejudice and conflict.
Of all 20th century novels, Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird has become a byword for human rights values. Today, many cite it as the most formative book of their teenage years, the novel that had the greatest impact on how they see and interact with the world around them. It is an object lesson in how fiction can inspire a profound understanding of the values that underpin our human rights.
This teaching resource focuses on the human rights at the heart of To Kill a Mockingbird. We hope it will open up new worlds in the classroom and inspire stimulating reflection and debate.
