...“It is not what an author says, but what she whispers which is most important. In other words, one must read in between the lines to discover the subtler meaning of novels. This is true for To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Understanding of the many themes in To Kill a Mockingbird is attained only by reading in between the lines. A major one of these themes is dignity as Harper Lee presents a clear picture of which characters are dignified. She does not clearly state which characters are dignified, but she utilizes actions to differentiate between the dignified and the undignified. Amongst the poor folk, the Cunninghams have dignity and the Ewells lack it. The Cunninghams pay back everything they borrow. One Cunningham turned the racist mob away from Atticus and Tom Robinson; another almost voted for Tom’s innocence at his trial. This virtuous behavior proves the Cunninghams to be dignified. While the Cunninghams’ good deeds demonstrate their dignity, the Ewells’ actions prove them undignified. They live unhealthily off the town’s welfare and the father, Bob Ewell, selfishly causes the death of an innocent man and tries to kill two innocent children. Of the rich people in Maycomb, Atticus holds dignity while Miss Stephanie lacks it. Miss Stephanie lies, exaggerates, and gossips about the town’s affairs. Harper Lee whispers Miss Stephanie’s dignity deficiency through her undignified actions, but never labels Miss Stephanie as undignified. Although the author does...
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...To Kill a Mockingbird is a book written by Harper Lee about a small town in Alabama named Maycomb. The time period that this book takes place in is the late 1930s, the end of the Great Depression and prejudice is extremely prominent. The story is about a black male, Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell, and is defended by a white attorney, Atticus Finch. Atticus and his children, Scout and Jem, endure tough love from their community, but learn many things from the treatment they received. During the book, as the Harper Lee expresses the themes she uses symbols to interpret them. The major themes in the story are revealed within symbols, such as, a mockingbird, an oak tree, and geraniums. The mockingbird...
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... | |“Despite the efforts of governments, groups and individuals, humankind still finds it difficult to trust based on the soul of a person; | |we are more comfortable making judgements based on skin colour.” | Prejudice, courage and unity… TEXT COMPARISON Are we always champions of tolerance, courage and receptiveness to others? By the very definition of humanity, we must be. Humanity: benevolence, understanding and kindness towards other people. It is, arguably, our very human nature to feel compassion, courage, understanding, unity and empathy towards our fellow man. Unfortunately, prejudice and judgement also cling to the human condition like tumorous stains – traits which society still finds hard to surmount. Despite the efforts of governments, groups and individuals, humankind still finds it difficult to trust based on the soul of a person; we are more comfortable making judgements based on skin colour. Nelle Harper Lee through her 1960 novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ and Boaz Yakin through his 2000 film, ‘Remember the Titans,’ are text composers who tackle the ill-defined paradigms of ‘prejudice, courage and unity’ by painting a picture of the confronting face of racism. Prejudice, courage and unity are notions that are dealt with differently by both composers and, through their use of structural and linguistic features, each composer presents...
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...To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is a critically acclaimed novel narrated by Scout FInch, following an important three years in her life. This novel became an instant best seller, an Academy Award-winning film, and a winner of the Pulitzer Prize. This book in some states are part of the English curriculum to be taught in high schools, while in other states it is banned from school libraries. This book arises much controversy because it is based around white supremacy in the South, and how African Americans were harshly treated. It reveals the ugly truth on how society handled cases in the court and the biased verdicts as the result. It also reveals the existence of good and evil in a small town, and how some adults...
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...Prejudice vs. Friendship as Discussed in “To Kill A Mockingbird” and “The Boy In The Striped Pajamas” According to Harper’s magazine modern version, “literary means not only what is written but what is voiced, what is expressed, what is invented, in whatever form”. In contrast, literature has always been considered to be “written works considered of lasting artistic merit” or most commonly used to refer to works of the “creative imagination, including works of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction”. Literature is considered by many, an essential part of life, which it can be in many senses. One’s thought process or knowledge may grow and evolve through the journey taken by reading literature. Literature is a major part of education. It may seem trivial, but in reality it helps build new perspective and introduce one to new world experiences. Literature is a prominent part of any race, religion, language or people and it represents culture and tradition. Prejudice and discrimination are not new subjects, but nevertheless it does not mean it should not be discussed. This has been an issue for as far back as history has documented between different races or ethnicities. Though racism has mostly ceased, it still reigns around the world. The theme in this essay is friendship, regardless of race or rumors that have been told about Boo Radley in “To Kill A Mockingbird” and Shmuel in “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” friendship overcomes prejudice by the innocence of a child. ...
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...Harper Lee based her novel off of her childhood and her father was a lawyer just like Atticus. As well, Harper Lee never expected To Kill A Mockingbird to become such a success (Lazendorfer). (http://mentalfloss.com/article/62868/11-facts-about-kill-mockingbird). The author of To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper lee, used historical events to establish her novel. Jim Crow, mob mentality, and the issues of racism have relations to the time period. To begin, one similarity between Harper Lee’s novel and history is the Jim Crow laws. Jim Crow was a brutal streak of laws that were contrary to colored people. Many white people believed they were needed as a social control mechanism, to protect white women, and to keep Blacks in structure. A few laws...
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...In Harper Lee’s 1960 novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, and in Robert Mulligan’s 1962 film adaptation of the same name, although there is a lot of similarities and differences, it is still a very good storyline. Even though many things are left out of the 1962 film, the plot is still well developed and has the same effect on the audience. Three main things that were left out of the movie include: Mrs. Dubose being addicted to opiates, Mrs. Maudie’s house burning, and the children role playing the Radley family. These still have the same effect because they are less dramatic than all the other scenes. In the 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Mrs. Dubose is portrayed as being addicted to opiates, yet in the later produced motion picture this information is left out. Mrs. Dubose is a widow who lives in Maycomb, Alabama. She had been addicted for many years and had been told she would not live much longer. Jem has to go read to Mrs. Dubose because he messed up her yard. While Jem reads to her it helps her to forget to take her morphine. Atticus told Jem and Scout “not to hate Mrs. Dubose, because she is a strong woman and it takes courage to quit an addiction.” Although it is in the book to build Jem’s character it is not portrayed in the movie, for in the film Jem’s character is adequately developed through other means like, him being present for the explaining that Tom Robinson had been killed to his family. The understanding of Jem’s character within the book and the film refers to...
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...To Kill A Mocking Bird BY HARPER LEE Novel Analysis I.BACKGROUND IN FORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nelle Harper Lee (born April 28, 1926) is an American author known for her 1960 Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which deals with the issues of racism that were observed by the author as a child in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama. Despite being Lee's only published book, it led to Lee being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom of the United States for her contribution to literature in 2007.Lee has also been the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, but has always declined to make a speech. Other significant contributions of Lee include assisting her close friend, Truman Capote, in his research for the book In Cold Blood. II.INFORMATION ABOUT THE NOVEL Classification- To Kill a Mockingbird is embodied by Atticus Finch, who is virtually unique in the novel in that he has experienced and understood evil without losing his faith in the human capacity for goodness. Atticus understands that, rather than being simply creatures of good or creatures of evil, most people have both good and bad qualities. The important thing is to appreciate the good qualities and understand the bad qualities by treating others with sympathy and trying to see life from their perspective. He tries to teach this ultimate moral lesson to Jem and Scout to show them that it is possible to live with conscience without losing hope or becoming cynical. In this way, Atticus is...
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...Analysis Q’s 1. What is the comparison between Boo and a Mockingbird and why hurting both considered a sin by Scout, Heck Tate, and Atticus When Jem and Scout received air rifles as presents, Atticus told them to only shoot cans. If they must shoot birds, only shoot Bluejays and never Mockingbirds as that would be a sin. It is the only time he ever said anything was a sin. “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,” (Page 119, Chapter 11, Miss Maudie). Heck Tate, though he knew that Boo killed Bob Ewell with a kitchen knife, thought it would be a sin...
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...Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square. Somehow it was hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summers day; bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum." Page 5 Analysis The descriptive detail paints a vivid picture of the town of Maycomb, which provides some insight on Scout's feelings about Maycomb. In addition, the narrator provides the setting for the story and sets the mood for a quiet and somewhat dull town, which sets the stage for the conflict of Tom's trial. Chapter 2 Quotation "'Your father does not know how to teach. You can have a seat now.' I mumbled that I was sorry and retired meditating upon my crime." Page 17 Analysis Scout's first grade teacher makes her feel bad about being able to read, when she should feel proud that she can read and write at such a young age. Scout even apologizes and referred to her ability as a crime. This exchange demonstrates how many people in Maycomb are very small minded in their views. Chapter 3 Quotation "'First of all,' he said, 'If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with...
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...Teacher and Author: Teaching Middle and High School Using Literature Sandra Coleman Grand Canyon University RGD 545 Professor Karen Foster February 27, 2008 Teaching Middle and High School Student Using Literature Outline: I. Short Stories a) Activating Prior Knowledge b) Responding to the Selection c) Short Story Selections 1. Suggested Activities to use with Various Groups II. Oral Tradition Literature – Tall Tales and Folktales a) Analyze characteristics and plots of Folktales and Tall Tales b) Understanding Hyperbole c) Writing a Tall Tale d) Selections of Oral Tradition Literature III. Novel Studies a) Previewing the novel b) Defining and Understanding Elements of c) Character Analysis d) Problems and Solutions of the story IV. Historical Fiction a) Activating background/prior knowledge b) Setting a purpose for reading c) Writing about historical fiction V. Realistic Fiction a) Evaluating Realistic Fiction b) Responding to the selection c) Distinguishing between Fact and Opinion d) Summarizing the Story Chapter 1 – Short Stories: A short story is, like the name...
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...How Representation of James Bond characters has changed since October 5th 1962 ‘007 licenced to kill, HM Secret Service agent’ ‘The description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way.’ (Wikipedia descriptions) The above description defines the word ‘representation’ in a way in which can be understood by anyone. The term has a whole new level of meanings that would take more than twelve words to describe and that which I plan to go into in-depth detail about. This case study will map out why the term ‘representation’ is so prominent in the ongoing fifty-year old thriller sequel, James Bond, how influential it can be on a persons opinion, and the way in which it shapes a whole film. Representation may or may not have shaped not only the way we see the characters but the way in which we look at features after the film has been made, for example, do we view stockbrokers on Wall Street the same now as we did before the Oscar winning film ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ was produced? Or do we assume that every secret agent is just like James Bond? Michael Wilson, producer of Skyfall and screenwriter of many of the 007 films, says: ‘the film character of James Bond is always dependent on the actor who plays him and the time at which the film is made because Bond always lives in the contemporary time the films are made.’ The representation of characters in films is vital to how we view a film and whether we take an instant like or dislike to the character....
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...AS/A2 English Literature B Student Guide A-LEVEL STUDENT HANDBOOK CONTENTS PAGE | | | |What we Expect of A-Level Students |3 | |Overview of the AS and A2 Course |4 | |Assessment Objectives |5 | |AS Marking Criteria |6 | |A2 Marking Criteria |7 | |Selecting and Studying Texts |8 | |Approaching Essays – coursework |9 | |Punctuation Guide |11 | |Glossary of Literary Terms |12 | |Reading List ...
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...GCSE English Literature Specimen Assessment Materials 1 For assessment from 2013 GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE SPECIMEN ASSESSMENT MATERIALS GCSE English Literature Specimen Assessment Materials 3 Contents Page Question Papers English Literature Unit 1 (H.T.) English Literature Unit 2 a and b (H.T.) English Literature Unit 1 (F.T.) English Literature Unit 2 a and b (F.T.) 5 Mark Schemes English Literature Unit 1 (H.T.) English Literature Unit 2 a and b (H.T.) English Literature Unit 1 (F.T.) English Literature Unit 2 a and b (F.T.) 93 GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE Higher Tier UNIT 1 Specimen Assessment Materials 2 hours SECTION A Question 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Of Mice and Men Anita and Me To Kill a Mockingbird I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Chanda’s Secrets SECTION B 6. Poetry 12 Pages 2-3 4-5 6-7 8-9 10 - 11 ADDITIONAL MATERIALS Twelve page answer booklet. INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES Answer both Section A and Section B. Answer one question in Section A and the question in Section B. INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES The number of marks is given in brackets after each question or part-question. You are reminded that assessment will take into account the quality of written communication used in your answers. JD*(S-2011 Higher) Turn over. 2 SECTION A 1. Of Mice and Men Answer part (a) and either part (b) or part (c). You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c). (a) Read the extract on the opposite...
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...[pic] JPPSS ELA COURSE GUIDE 2011-2012 ENGLISH I The JPPSS Instructional Sequence Guides are aligned with the LA Comprehensive Curriculum. JPPSS Implementation of Activities in the Classroom Incorporation of activities into lesson plans is critical to the successful implementation of the Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum. The Comprehensive Curriculum indicates one way to align instruction with Louisiana standards, benchmarks, and grade-level expectations. The curriculum is aligned with state content standards, as defined by grade-level expectations (GLEs), and organized into coherent, time-bound units with sample activities and classroom assessments to guide teaching and learning. The units in the curriculum have been arranged so that the content to be assessed will be taught before the state testing dates. While teachers may substitute equivalent activities and assessments based on the instructional needs, learning styles, and interests of their students, the Comprehensive Curriculum should be a primary resource when planning instruction. Grade level expectations—not the textbook—should determine the content to be taught. Textbooks and other instructional materials should be used as resource in teaching the grade level expectations...
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