...One of the most present figure of speech in this passage is repetition.For instance the name Atticus is repeated twelve times, since his characterisation is one of the main themes of the extract, and when his name is not quoted, there are other references to him as simply ‘he’, ‘our father’ and ‘your father’. There is also a lot of repetitions of the world ‘old’, or references to oldness, both of Atticus and the people in their neighbourhood. For example Scout refers to Atticus as ‘feeble’, ‘nearly fifty’ and ‘nearly blind’, which can all be associated with agedness. Miss Maudie also talks about ‘your father’s age’, because he is older than other father’s in town. The neighbourhood and its habitants are also portrayed as quite aged: ‘old’ and ‘settled’ neighbourhood, ‘the folks on our street are all old’, ‘Mrs Dubose is close to a hundred’, ‘Miss Rachel’s old’, and Miss Maudie says she is not ‘being wheeled around yet’...
Words: 675 - Pages: 3
...Elizabeth Gaskell once said, “How easy it is to judge rightly after one sees what evil comes from judging wrongly!” In Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mocking Bird”, the story is told through a young girl named Scout. Her and her family go through many adventures that teach them the ways of life and how to treat certain people. Eventually, Scout would soon see that not everyone was treated equally with her father saying, “You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.” Through symbolism and imagery, Harper Lee shows that you don’t judge a book by its cover. Symbolism proves that to know someone, you actually have to know what they are feeling and how they live. In Atticus Finch’s closing statement, he states that,...
Words: 312 - Pages: 2
...place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama, a prejudiced society where African Americans are oppressed by its white civilians. The novel is narrated by Scout Finch, a young girl who is deprived of her innocence as she comes into contact with the racial injustice in her town. Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer who opposes the bigoted views of Maycomb. Atticus values the equality of every human being, including African-Americans, a group that is heavily despised by the majority of Maycomb. Throughout the novel, Finch repeatedly demonstrates justice by sticking to his moral beliefs. For...
Words: 1385 - Pages: 6
...Scout Finch. III. 1) The setting of the novel is in a small southern old town in Alabama named Maycomb, during a time in which there wasn’t much to do since there was not much money,and where racism and segregation were still in practice in the communities. 2.) Lee uses imagery when she describes about Maycomb. “In rainy whether the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square.” IV. 1) The protagonist in story is Scout Finch. 2.) In the story beginning of the story Scout seemed as if she was trying to establish a friendship. She didn’t have many friends, but later on establishes a friendship with Dill....
Words: 547 - Pages: 3
...Symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird Whether it is in literature or even shown in pictures, when people use things to represent something with a deeper meaning, it is called symbolism. By doing this, the reader is able to obtain a better and deeper sense of what a writer is trying to convey. In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, different symbols are used that are reflective throughout the book relating to equality either directly or indirectly. Often, the symbols that she uses are tied to the ultimate theme of the book, which is being able to understand someone from his or her point of view. The most apparent reoccurring theme is equality that is symbolized through the people, the birds, and even the inanimate objects that...
Words: 881 - Pages: 4
...Thesis: Lee’s philosophies of hypocrisy, the difference between right and wrong, and the symbolism of the mockingbird is shown by the use of dialogue, and characterization. In the novel, Lee expresses hypocrisy within the Society through the use of three characters. Lee shows hypocrisy with the use of Miss Gates, Scout’s third grade teacher. Miss Gates teaches the class about all the evil things Hitler does to the Jews in Germany. Showing her students why she disagrees with Hitler, Miss Gates tells the class that “over here we don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced” (208-209). However, while at the Missionary Society meeting Scout overhears Miss Gates talking about how Tom Robinson's conviction...
Words: 1076 - Pages: 5
...child it has non-judgemental views. Therefore, because of the child narrator, and the other main characters being children, this shows that childhood in ‘‘‘To Kill a Mockingbird’’’ is important and crucial. In the chapters 1 to 12, childhood is presented by friendship, gullibility, pride, questioning and fear. The fear element, is a major part through ‘‘To Kill a Mockingbird’’, because at different stages of the novel at least one of the main characters is scared. The Finch children first experience real friendship in ‘‘‘To Kill a Mockingbird’’’, when they meet Charles Baker Harris – Dill. Before Dill has passed the ‘Jem test’, Dill boasts to Scout and Jem that he can read. Which was not usually common in Maycomb at the time, but Jem and Scout could both read, which meant that they thought Dill was showing off and they wouldn’t want to be friends with him. Also what makes Dill become an issue about friendship, is how he introduces himself. He recites his entire name, and makes fun of Jem’s name (Jeremy Atticus Finch), which therefore causes Jem to dislike him. However when Dill, tells about Dracula, he is accepted in Jem and Scout’s inner friendship circle. All of these actions the boasting, the story telling, and the unnecessary argument with Jem about their names represents Harper Lee’s idea about friendship and childhood in ‘‘‘To Kill a Mockingbird’’’. All three of the...
Words: 1258 - Pages: 6
...Choose any 3 characters from the first half of the novel and discuss how they have a positive influence in Maycomb. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee portrays a very distinct difference in the character that are “good” and those that are “bad” this often comes over in the way Scout or Atticus view a certain character. There are many positive influences in Maycomb and one of them is Calpurnia. Although Atticus does not see her as a motherly figure, I believe that she views herself as the womanly influence in their lives as she is loving towards the children, but often, can be strict and firm to teach them what is right or wrong. She has always been there for both children, especially Scout because they lost their mother early in their lives and because of this I feel that Scout and Jem do not Calpurnia as either black or white and this means that they respect her and love her a lot. An example of this is in Chapter twelve when Calpurnia is taking the children to church with her and she refers to them as “my children” and wants people to know that she looks after them. She also makes sure that they are clean before church however, this is partly showing self interest as she wants to be seen as motherly towards the children and if they look nice, it will reflect well on her peers. Another example of Calpurnia showing her love for the children is when there is a “mad dog” and she tells them to go inside because she is worried about them and wants them to be safe. Calpurnia...
Words: 875 - Pages: 4
...Jean Louise “Scout” Finch - The narrator and protagonist of the story. Scout lives with her father, Atticus, her brother, Jem, and their black cook, Calpurnia, in Maycomb. She is intelligent and, by the standards of her time and place, a tomboy. Scout has a combative streak and a basic faith in the goodness of the people in her community. As the novel progresses, this faith is tested by the hatred and prejudice that emerge during Tom Robinson’s trial. Scout eventually develops a more grown-up perspective that enables her to appreciate human goodness without ignoring human evil. Atticus Finch - Scout and Jem’s father, a lawyer in Maycomb descended from an old local family. A widower with a dry sense of humor, Atticus has instilled in his children his strong sense of morality and justice. He is one of the few residents of Maycomb committed to racial equality. When he agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man charged with raping a white woman, he exposes himself and his family to the anger of the white community. With his strongly held convictions, wisdom, and empathy, Atticus functions as the novel’s moral backbone. Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch - Scout’s brother and constant playmate at the beginning of the story. Jem is something of a typical American boy, refusing to back down from dares and fantasizing about playing football. Four years older than Scout, he gradually separates himself from her games, but he remains her close companion and protector throughout the novel. Jem...
Words: 2836 - Pages: 12
...‘Explore how Harper Lee describes the character of Miss Maudie’ The first time Harper Lee introduces Miss Maudie to the reader, Scout says that she spent the rest of her remaining twilights with her. This at once shows us that Miss Maudie isn’t like most adults in the book, who treat Scout like a child, because she is one whom Scout likes to be with and talk to. ‘I spent most of the remaining twilights that summer sitting with Miss Maudie.’ This shows us that Scout, who is quite an adventures child, is very comfortable with Miss Maudie, and Miss Maudie instead of treating Scout like a child treats her more like a friend. She is given off as an auntie figure to the children and it is shown within the book that she is very fond of them as they are of her. Harper Lee shows through a metaphor that Miss Maudie is very adaptable to her surroundings. ‘A chameleon lady who worked in her flower beds in an old straw hat and men’s coveralls, but after her five o’clock bath she would appear on the porch and reign over the street in her magisterial beauty.’ The word ‘magisterial’ Harper Lee uses to describe Miss Maudie once changed from her worker appearance to her more feminine appearance makes me think of how royal she would have looked and how the sudden change would appear to everyone else within the town who saw her. Miss Maudie takes pride in the appearance of her garden as well and it seems to me that because she has no children she treats her plants like children by devoting...
Words: 900 - Pages: 4
...To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming-of-age novel that is set in the early 1930s in a small and sleepy Southern town called Maycomb. It was written by Harper Lee and published in 1960. The novel deals with childhood innocence and the conflict between good and evil in many different situations. Throughout the novel, the reader follows the childhood of a young girl called Jean Louise "Scout" Finch who lived with her family that included her father, Atticus, her brother, Jem, and their black cook, Calpurnia. Scout is the narrator and the protagonist of the novel and the reader is able to perceive, through her narration, a child's perspective of the world and the prejudice that exists within it. One of the themes that is prominent in the novel is black racism. The writer made that notable through the lifestyle of Maycomb, its citizens' notions and the case of Tom Robinson. These cases helped to shape Scout's opinion of the real world and her understanding of the dark and cruel sides of it. The theme also plays an important role in understanding and analyzing the novel as a whole. As the novel is a depiction of the writer's childhood, it elaborates to the reader the various aspects of real life in the United States of America during the 1930s and helps them get a view of the racial discrimination that shaped the American society at that time. That...
Words: 906 - Pages: 4
...Lee, one consistent theme is based around how Atticus Finch positively impacted the town of Maycomb. The location was Alabama during the 1930’s. During this time period, citizens of Maycomb showed extreme chauvinism towards one another. For people to not give into this way of life truly must have been very audacious. One person that proved to be able to show such audacious acts was a man named Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch willingly defended an African American which in the time period was perceived as very taboo. Out of all the characters in the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper lee a man named Atticus Finch proved to have the most courage and by the end of the book the most moral growth. The fact that he went against the normal way of life in his town, and willingly defend an African american by...
Words: 553 - Pages: 3
...Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird is considered a modern-day hero for his intolerance towards racism, especially in that time period. His disapproval towards racism is most apparent when he fought for Tom Robinson. Fighting for an African-American man in the 1930’s was unspeakable but not only did he defend him, he gave it all he had. Atticus knew he would never be able to win this case yet he still tried which is more than any other white lawyer would have done for anyone in the black community. Atticus even has a reputation for being the same in courtrooms as in the streets as opposed to the only other lawyer in the book, Mr. Gilmer. As Atticus states, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for...
Words: 647 - Pages: 3
...Alabama many individuals make judgements about Boo Radley and Tom Robinson before they know the truth. Scout Finch is a rare breed in this time, with her father defending Tom Robinson and her brother Jem and her interested in finding more about Boo Radley she constantly gets a chance to make unprejudiced judgements on people. Harper Lee helps the reader better understand prejudice using symbolism , imagery, and metaphors throughout the story. Prejudice was common throughout the story To Kill a Mockingbird, this could be seen through symbolism. It is a sin to kill a mockingbird, this is explained when Miss Maudie says “they don’t do one thing...
Words: 569 - Pages: 3
...Near the beginning Atticus had asked Heck Tate what side the bruises were on Mayella’s face. Heck Tate responded with "Oh yes, that'd make it her right. It was her right eye, Mr. Finch. I remember now, she was bunged up on that side of her face...." (Lee). This was a key part of the trial because shortly after this Atticus called Tom Robinson up to the stand and Tom could barely put his left hand on the bible. One of the first questions that Atticus asked Tom was what happened to his left arm. Tom’s response was "I got it caught in a cotton gin, caught it in Mr. Dolphus Raymond's cotton gin when I was a boy, it tore all the muscles loose from my bones" (Lee 186). This should have shown the jury that it would have been very hard for Tom to have hit Mayella on the right side of the face because his left arm was destroyed. Even though there was clear evidence that Tom Robinson did not commit the crime, the jury still charged him with the rape of Mayella Ewell. In conclusion...
Words: 556 - Pages: 3
