...To Kill a Mockingbird Seminar Essay Guiding Question 2 In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee explains Scout’s coming of age story through a point of view lesson and a lesson about society. After Scout’s first day of school, Atticus justifies Miss Caroline’s extreme behavior regarding Scout’s early reading skills by claiming “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view(Lee 39)”. At this point in the novel, Scout thinks little of what Atticus says and refuses to believe any justification for how Miss Caroline treated her earlier in the day. However, Scout quickly becomes reminded of this lesson time and time again. At the climax of the novel, Atticus justifies Bob Ewell’s reaction of the court proceedings as “some kind of comeback(Lee 292)” when putting himself in Ewell’s shoes. Scout begins to relax, but is not reassured completely by Atticus’ explanation of Bob Ewell’s bland threats. Scout finally truly understands this coming of age lesson when putting herself in Boo Radley’s...
Words: 1354 - Pages: 6
...To Kill A Mockingbird Argumentative Essay In life, people lie to save themselves. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, an african american man is falsely accused of rape, later in jail he is murdered. Mayella Ewell is responsible for Tom Robinson’s death whether on accident, or on purpose in many ways. Mayella is lying in court, if she told the truth then Tom Robinson wouldn’t be dead. In the novel it states, “No, I didn’t recollect if he hit me, I mean yes I do, he hit me,” (Lee, 248). Mayella is lying about Tom hitting her, she clearly forgot to lie in the sentence above. Also, it states, “Or didn’t you scream until you saw your father in the window? You didn’t think to scream until then, did you?”...
Words: 506 - Pages: 3
...English Essay Describe at least one idea that was relevant to people in today’s society in the written text. Explain why the idea is relevant to people in today’s society. In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, an idea which is still relevant to people in today’s society is prejudice. The idea of prejudice was shown throughout the novel, most prominently by Tom Robinson’s trial, and the character Arthur “Boo” Radley. Tom’s trial highlighted the idea of racial prejudice and the character Boo Radley, who is a victim of speculation and rumours, helped us better understand social prejudice. Racial and social prejudice are still prevalent and are experienced in our society today despite our seemingly enlightened and tolerant mind-set. Prejudice and the negative mind-set that it induces is influenced by our surrounding family, friends and media. Even though all humans are born with a strong moral conscience, we are bombarded with pictures and people that influence our first impressions of people and make us judgemental, unconsciously or not. The dictionary defines prejudice as a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience, which is clearly the case in Alabama in the 1930’s. The 1930’s was the time of the Great Depression and was before the Black Civil Rights movement took place. People of colour or a different race suffered majorly due to discrimination and prejudice against them. People in small towns during this time period were often...
Words: 1339 - Pages: 6
...Many people wonder why people are racist, In to kill a mockingbird people are racist they are calling the Finch family n-word lovers because Atticus took the Tom robinson case and is defending him instead of being on the Ewells side. In this essay I will be talking about the Tree that they always pass to get to their house, Jem and Scouts aunt that moved in with them, and the Tom Robinson's case that Atticus took. On the way to and from school Jem and Scout passes by this tree that has a knot hole in it, One day while Scout was walking past it she saw something inside it so she reached up and grabbed it, it was a piece of gum that had its wrapper so she took it and started chewing on it when Jem got home he told her spit it out. The next things they find in the knot hole are grey twine, a girl and boy carved out of soap, a medal, a watch and pennies, After they took the stuff that was in the tree they watched as Mr. Radley fill in the trees knot hole with cement he told Scout that he was filling it with cement because the tree is dying. The children in maycomb are afraid that Boo Radley is some kind of monster and the trees around his house are poisoned....
Words: 638 - Pages: 3
...McKenzie Lynch College English Final Essay The novel “How to Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee has a view of how things were like in the South in the 1930’s. The book is written in the eyes of two characters Scout and Jem Finch. Scout is a young girl who is growing up around different races due to her father’s Atticus Finch’s defendant. Atticus Finch is helping a black man named Tom Robinson with the charge of raping a white girl. These two lives changed from the racism involved with their everyday activities. The jury at Tom Robinson's trial shows racism because all the evidence indicates that Tom is innocent but all the jury members plead him as guilty.Helen Robinson Tom’s wife faces prejudice due to her husband supposively raping Mayella therefore it becomes very difficult for her to find a job and get hired. Tom Robinson the defendant of this case faces racism from Bob Ewell Mayella’s...
Words: 507 - Pages: 3
...To Kill a Mockingbird: Essay Explore the growth to maturity of Scout in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Maturation is one of the most important themes in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, and one of the characters to whom this theme applies the most is Scout Finch, the narrator. Starting out as a young, tomboy character who is naïve and immature, over the years in which the novel is set a change in her behaviour becomes prominent, as she acquires more grown up behaviours and beliefs. Arguably the most important change in Scout’s character is her learning to understand other people and their desires and needs, rather than just her own. A notable example of this is her treatment of Boo Radley. At the beginning of the novel, the children’s games concerning his lifestyle and family history demonstrated childish and immature fantasies and, ultimately, a selfish obsession with him, revealing no thought of Boo’s feelings or point of view. Atticus advises them against this habit, telling the children to “stop tormenting that man”. The Radley games is also the one of the first times in the novel when Atticus uses one of his commonest pieces of advice: to “climb into his skin and walk around in it”. However, as the novel progresses, it is obvious that Scout and Jem do become more thoughtful of Boo Radley, stopping their constant annoyance of him, and starting to realise Boo’s sentiments as well. This is shown when Jem has an epiphany that the reason “Boo Radley’s stayed shut...
Words: 1231 - Pages: 5
...In this essay I will introduce you to the two main characters in Harper Lee's book "To kill a mockingbird", comparing them in their attitudes and actions. Atticus Finch is a single father raising two children in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus works as a lawyer believing in equal justice for all Americans regardless of race or religion. Bob Ewell is also a single father raising eight children who also lives in Maycomb. Bob is unemployed collecting welfare who believes in racial segregation. He believes in different modes of justice for blacks and whites. Atticus is very compassionate while talking to his thirteen-year-old son Jem. Atticus was explaining to him that he would do anything just for Bob to stop beating his kids. As he said, "So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella one extra beating, that's something I'll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I'd rather it be me than that houseful of children out there."(Pg. 221) In addition Atticus explains to Jem that he had to do what he had to do because he destroyed Bob's last shred of credibility, whereas Bob is a coward who doesn't deal with the matter but makes things worse. Bob proves himself to be very cowardly. He doesn't think before making his actions. As a result of this he tried to kill Atticus' children, Jem and Scout. As they were walking home from the Halloween pageant, Bob came out and tried to kill them. Bob got what he deserved when Boo Radley, a neighbor...
Words: 639 - Pages: 3
...In this essay I will introduce you to the two main characters in Harper Lee's book "To kill a mockingbird", comparing them in their attitudes and actions. Atticus Finch is a single father raising two children in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus works as a lawyer believing in equal justice for all Americans regardless of race or religion. Bob Ewell is also a single father raising eight children who also lives in Maycomb. Bob is unemployed collecting welfare who believes in racial segregation. He believes in different modes of justice for blacks and whites. Atticus is very compassionate while talking to his thirteen-year-old son Jem. Atticus was explaining to him that he would do anything just for Bob to stop beating his kids. As he said, "So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella one extra beating, that's something I'll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I'd rather it be me than that houseful of children out there."(Pg. 221) In addition Atticus explains to Jem that he had to do what he had to do because he destroyed Bob's last shred of credibility, whereas Bob is a coward who doesn't deal with the matter but makes things worse. Bob proves himself to be very cowardly. He doesn't think before making his actions. As a result of this he tried to kill Atticus' children, Jem and Scout. As they were walking home from the Halloween pageant, Bob came out and tried to kill them. Bob got what he deserved when Boo Radley, a neighbor...
Words: 639 - Pages: 3
...To Kill a Mockingbird Final Project – Test Lance Moyes Period – 2nd 1. Why did Atticus save money? a. To buy a new car b. To put his brother through medical school c. To buy his wife a new dress d. To go on vacation 2. When summer ends, where does Dill go? e. To his uncle’s house f. To Cincinnati g. Home to Meridian h. College 3. What does Scout say to Atticus about going to school? i. That she wishes he would drive her to school every day j. That she loves school k. That she doesn’t want to get coodies l. That she doesn’t need to go to school 4. What does Miss. Maudie send home with Scout m. Flowers n. Homework o. Pound cake p. Reading Books 5. What did Jem leave when they dove under the fence? q. Scout’s tennis shoe r. A school book s. Jem’s toy airplane t. Jem’s pants 6. What do they see in the knothole tree? u. A kite v. A kick ball w. A ball of twine x. A birds nest 7. Why is Scout terrified when she wakes up on morning? y. She sees snow z. Someone is in her room {. A dog jumped on her |. A spider is on her pillow 8. Who is Atticus’ client? }. Reverend Sykes ~. Caroline Fisher . Thomas Robinson . Harper Lee 9. Who gave Scout and Jem shooting lessons with their air rifles? . Atticus . Uncle Jack . Dill . Miss Maudie 10. What does...
Words: 969 - Pages: 4
...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 instance, he autonomously agrees to defend Tom Robinson, an African-American man accused of raping a white girl, in court. When the trial commences, Atticus gives his best effort to prove Tom Robinson’s innocence, even though he knows that he cannot win the trial. Through the characterization of Atticus, Lee argues that taking an ethical road may not always be easy, but in order for justice to prevail, someone must be willing to travel that road. Atticus Finch expresses the idea that an individual conscience guides one to justice and morality. When Scout assumes that Atticus’s view on the Tom Robinson case is wrong due to Maycomb’s prejudiced opinions, Atticus explains that adhering to his moral compass is produces a better effect than the notions created by society: “‘They’re certainly entitled to think that, and they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions…but before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s consciousness,’” (Lee 139-140). Atticus alludes to the inequitable...
Words: 1385 - Pages: 6
...To Kill a Mockingbird: Prejudice Essay Prejudices are all around. Race, gender, religion. There really is no way of making this stop, but there are ways of making them more obvious, so the people can see how bad they can be. One way is through literature. Harper Lee did this very well in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird which is told by Scout, a six-year-old girl, and her life through a few years when racism was at its peak. Scout's father is a lawyer who supports most everyone and causes much controversy when he accepts a case where he must defend a black man. Racism is the most emphasized prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird because of the time that this book was set in. That was the norm. Some examples are when Aunt Alexandra wouldn't let Scout visit her housekeeper's house only because she was black. Another example is when Tom Robinson, the black man Atticus is defending, is in the Maycomb City jail. There was an angry mob of white men outside of his cell wanting to kill him. Some may say that gender is the most emphasized prejudice in this novel. While it is brought up a lot,...
Words: 827 - Pages: 4
...Innocence Essay By Kori Duperron “That’s what it takes to be a hero, a little gem of innocence inside you that makes you want to believe that there still exists a right and wrong, that decency will somehow triumph in the end.” Harper Lee's novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” shows how courage can be shown in different ways and that even the most subtle act of courage makes a difference. According to Atticus Finch, an honest lawyer in Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" teaches the children that courage can be portrayed as both physical bravery and strength, but fighting for what is right regardless of whether you win or lose takes more strength in character, and that is ultimately more courageous. Many characters show real courage in Maycomb, such as Scout, Atticus, and Tom Robinson. Courage is shown in different ways. Early in the novel, Scout illustrates the courage she is full with. On her first day of school, Scout acts as a leader for the entire class and takes the duty of informing Miss Caroline of Walter Cunningham's situation. Miss Caroline had just scolded Scout for her ability to read, however, Scout still feels the class is in need of leadership. This is courageous because most children at her age would fear speaking to the teacher is such a bold fashion. A very good example of courage is when Atticus asked Scout not to fight anymore. "When I committed myself to a policy of cowardice. Word got around that Scout Finch wouldn't fight anymore, her daddy wouldn't...
Words: 1131 - Pages: 5
...Kim Huynh – 10 Catherine Year 10 English To Kill A Mocking Bird –Essay “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…” Discuss how Atticus posses the ability to do this, and how Scout develops this skill throughout the text. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mocking Bird, Scout narrates the story from her perspective as a young child. During the course of the story, Scout finds it difficult to understand different people and their motivations. Atticus, Scouts moral adviser teaches her a valuable lesson on how “you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”(Ch. 3 p.33) Throughout the course of the novel, Atticus conveys his ability to do this and Scouts learns to put his advice into practice with the events of Mrs. Dubose, Mayella Ewell and Arthur Radely. Atticus is able to apply this notion to his children Scout and Jem through the events that occurred involving Mrs. Dubose. She is known in the neighborhood as the ‘meanest old woman who ever lived’ (Ch. 4, p. 39). After being verbally attacked by Mrs. Dubose on several occasions about Atticus “lawing for niggers”(Ch. 11, p. 112) Jem finally loses his temper and beheads her camellias. As a result Jem and Scout have to go read to her daily. Scout never really understood the reason for this particular type of punishment however everything came out into the light following the death of Mrs...
Words: 1007 - Pages: 5
...Mara Arisman 8A Literature March 06,18 To Kill A Mockingbird Essay To Kill a Mockingbird was written by Harper Lee. This novel is set in Maycomb, Alabama around 1933. Scout, the narrator, Jem, her brother, and her father, Atticus Finch, have to help a black man, Tom Robinson, who was convicted of rape. Along the way, they meet many new people and learn a lot of valuable lessons like never kill a mockingbird. To Kill a Mockingbird is set in a “sleepy town” called Maycomb, Alabama around 1933 during the Great Depression. Scout said that Maycomb is a “tired old town” where “people seem to move slower” (6 Lee). This is s small town so everyone knows everything about everybody. Southern Alabama has “summers that drift into autumn, and autumn...
Words: 1224 - Pages: 5
...THE GLENCOE LITERATURE LIBRARY Study Guide for To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee i Meet Harper Lee at the same university. In 1949, however, she withdrew and moved to New York City with the goal of becoming a writer. While working at other jobs, Lee submitted stories and essays to publishers. All were rejected. An agent, however, took an interest in one of her short stories and suggested she expand it into a novel. By 1957 she had finished a draft of To Kill a Mockingbird. A publisher to whom she sent the novel saw its potential but thought it needed reworking. With her editor, Lee spent two and a half more years revising the manuscript. By 1960 the novel was published. In a 1961 interview with Newsweek magazine, Lee commented: Writing is the hardest thing in the world, . . . but writing is the only thing that has made me completely happy. To Kill a Mockingbird was an immediate and widespread success. Within a year, the novel sold half a million copies and received the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Within two years, it was turned into a highly acclaimed film. Readers admire the novel’s sensitive and probing treatment of race relations. But, equally, they enjoy its vivid account of childhood in a small rural town. Summing up the novel’s enduring impact in a 1974 review, R. A. Dave called To Kill a Mockingbird . . . a movingly human drama of the jostling worlds—of children and adults, of innocence and experience, of kindness and cruelty, of love and hatred, of humor...
Words: 4484 - Pages: 18
