...around in it." (Lee 30) In this quote, Atticus Finch explains to Scout Finch how everyone has a different opinion on subjects, and that the only way to understand a person’s opinion is to see the world from his or her perspective. The illustrious Harper Lee challenged racial stereotypes and explored the rough side of life through the eyes of young Scout Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird. Scout, supported by her older brother Jem and father, Atticus, matured from a bigmouthed, boisterous little girl to a compassionate and caring person. Along the way, she pushed the limits of her curiosity with Boo Radley and learned...
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...Andrew Holloman ENG 1101 11/13/12 Compare and Contrast Essay Similarities between Harper Lee’s Childhood Life and Scout Finch’s Childhood Life The To Kill a Mockingbird novel written by Harper Lee is commonly considered one of the twentieth century's most widely read American novels. The vast majority of people that have read the novel are of the belief that the events contained within the novel are based on Harper Lee’s childhood experiences growing up in the South. However, absent of Harper Lee actually confirming the inspirational source for her novel; it’s still an assumption made by the masses. Nonetheless, we all have to agree that there are some very distinct similarities between Harper Lee’s childhood life and the childhood life of Scout Finch’s in the novel. Similarities that exist between Harper Lee’s childhood life and that of Scout Finch in the To Kill a Mockingbird novel were the facts that they were both raised in small rural towns, both of them were tomboys during their childhood years, and they both lived through times of racial prejudice. The first similarity between Harper Lee’s childhood life and Scout Finch’s childhood life is that they were both raised in small rural towns in Alabama. Harper Lee grew up in the small rural town of Monroeville, Alabama that. The town has a small closely knit population where everyone knew their neighbors and knew their neighbor’s business. Aside from this the town of Monroeville is riddled with poverty and racial...
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...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 let her." The fact that Scout quit fighting was an act of great courage not because she used to fight a lot, but because she had promised to her father that she would stop fighting. Scout doesn't want to disappoint her father, so she makes a change. Scout Finch shows advanced maturity for her age, and this allows her to successfully...
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...no surprise that the protagonists of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird are heroes. Of course Montag and Atticus Finch are two very contrasting people, but they both demonstrate strength in times of judgment, an important trait contributing to their heroism. By evaluating both characters from their novels, the reader can conclude that a hero must often possess strength in judgment. Within Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird lies various examples of strength and judgment for the purpose of teaching the importance of strength in the face judgment. Take the instance of Scout removing herself...
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...Mockingbird by Harper Lee speaks tales of courage in society, and what it takes to uphold it.The story embarks with Scout Finch, a young daughter of a lawyer who becomes enveloped in a world of racism, prejudice, and injustice.Through the eyes of Scout, she looks up to her father, a figure of respect among many in Maycomb county, in times where his morals are pushed to the limits. .In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee stems Courage from the struggles of a community, where moral values allow many characters to stand up for themselves and others. Many characters such as Jem, a young boy who learns of world around him through his experiences and Ms. Dubose, a hot-tempered old lady with the hidden secret of fighting her addiction gives meaning to the symbol of about their flowers, Camelias. A character that encompasses these traits is Atticus, a lawyer who was tasked to defend a African man during a time of racism. Atticus became a prominent character who shows his colors during his Town's needs, such as the attack of the Rabid dog. Scout, the main protagonist who learns from these characters, their decisions and values which demonstrate what it means to be courageous. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee distinguishes many characters for their acts of courage, putting them in situations that push their morals and beliefs.After returning from Ms.Dubose's house, Scout questions her father about Ms.Dubose intentions concerning Atticus defending Tom Robinson,an African American...
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...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...
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...found most fascinating displaying an overwhelmingly strong amount of courage in significant ways include Jean Louise Finch (Scout), Jeremy Atticus Finch ( Jem), and Atticus Finch. These three characters are a family which displayed Courage in very unique ways which help amend themselves and others which possibly look up to them (changing opinions for the better). Firstly, Scout demonstrates courage in very momentous ways which include reading to Ms. Dubose, resisting fighting others, and confronting the mob outside of Maycomb jail. Despite the fact that Scout wasn't punished and forced to read to Ms. Dubose; she went there in want of helping her brother out who was punished and forced to read to her ( their thoughts of Ms. Dubose being mean and cruel change when they find out her true desire of dying drug free). Scout's resistance to fight after remembering Atticus's words shows very amazing courage because her favourite thing to do was get into fights with others and show her strength( I drew a bead on him, remembering what Atticus had said, then dropped my fists and walked away, "Scout's a cow- ward!" ringing in my ears. It was the first time I ever walked away from a fight). Another very momentous way scout demonstrates courage is when she stands up to the mob confronting Atticus at Maycomb jail ; despite being told to leave immediately by her father Atticus scout refused and stayed there to help him. Secondly, Jem shows courage in different ways which include running back to...
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...Colleen Stablein Section 22 Book Report Harper Lees’ novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is an inspiring, lesson filled story of two children who spend their free time spying on a very reclusive and mysterious neighbor, while their father defends a black man against rape charges. The story takes place in the 1930’s, in a very small town in Alabama, called Maycomb. Atticus Finch, a widower, raises his two children Scout and Jem Finch by himself. They live in a very close-knit town but one neighbor, Boo Radley, seems to puzzle the children because of the fact that he never leaves the house. At the beginning of the book, the children begin a long and obsessive quest to lure Boo outside. For three years, the children try countless different ideas to try to see Boo Radley, until they finally do when he saves them from death at the end of the book. During the three years that the children are committed to this mission, their father is the lawyer of Tom Robinson, a black man, who is being accused of raping and beating a white woman. Atticus, Scout, and Jem face lots of racial slurs and insults because of Atticus’ role in the trial. Tom ends up being convicted of rape, even though Atticus proves to the court that Tom could not have possibly committed the crime of which he was accused. Throughout the book, Lee is trying to teach a lesson about doing what you think is right versus what everybody else thinks is right, and also about judging people before you get to know them. This novel is...
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...An Act of Heroism Do you have the strength to protect and serve for the cause of freedom, safety, and liberty? Would you sacrifice yourself for others? You may think you know, giving your only piece of pizza to your friend is an act of bravery to sacrifice. Each Individual including you; can make choices. It depends on where the mind and heart set is. In the Novel by Harper Lee, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, she brings us in the 1960s, it took place in Maycomb Alabama where the narrator Scout illustrate her two years of events that took place during her childhood. Throughout the novel, It talked about the hierarchy between “White” and “Black” people. “White” people are superior while the “black” people are the inferior or the servants. These two race cannot be integrated and unfortunately, the inferior population suffers. However, they are some people in the story that shows courage. An example of Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch and Dolphus Raymond which I am going to explicate their concept of courage. Among by the novel, Tom Robinson is one of the black people who undergo the test of Maycomb’s racism. Tom was accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Mayella is lonely and unhappy. She has never had any friends, nor any love or affection in her life, and the only person who...
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...in Jean Louise “Scout” Finch’s childhood, featuring her experiences and the lessons that she learns growing up in the 1930s. Scout and her brother, Jeremy “Jem” Finch, mature in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, in a one-parent home. Their father and aunt, Atticus and Alexandra, raise them with help from Calpurnia, their African American maid. Harper Lee weaves several different themes throughout the novel, but some are more prominent than others. Lee develops the main themes of growth, protection of innocence, and perception throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, disguised in the form of lessons learned during the narrator’s childhood. Harper Lee reveals her theme of growth...
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...reference to physical courage and omit instances of inner strength. Three commonly used dictionaries agree closely on the definition although they differ in the order of importance. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes courage as "an attitude of facing and dealing with anything recognized as dangerous, difficult or painful, instead of withdrawing from it," and the American Heritage Dictionary gives a similar explanation. While the Oxford Dictionary affiliates with this meaning, it states that the primary definition is "spirit, mind, or disposition." Courage is a state of mind: that enables a person to overcome fear, pain, danger, or hardship. Although different from one another, all aspects of courage involve taking risks. Physical courage is linked to every human body. Courage is not just found in the soldiers who can display shiny medals or in the detectives who bravely risks their life for justice as portrayed on television. It is not an elementary school girl who agrees to fight, but she who can stand up against it. A six year old boy who ventures out on his bicycle for the first time displays as much courage as a young man who witnesses a murder and volunteers to testify in court. It is the everyday person who goes out of their way to save someone, not because it is their job. Society often forgets as humans we have feelings. The perception of how a message is conveyed. Mental courage, having the inner strength to do what...
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...Mockingbird show courage in their own way. Courage can come in many different forms, it can come both in a physical and mental form. Through the eyes of Scout Finch, a bright and intelligent little girl, the theme of courage is explored in a great sense. Courage plays a big part in To Kill a Mockingbird, and evidently, Atticus Finch displays this theme by encountering threatening incidents and protecting his family and the people he cares about. Atticus illustrates courage many times throughout the book and taught numerous lessons on it. He shows true bravery when he went against Maycomb to defend Tom Robinson. He...
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...Characters can change in a multitude of ways. Whether it is physically, mentally, their mannerisms, their weakness, or even their strengths. At the beginning of a book or movie a character could be a shrimp that is socially awkward and does not know about to act around women and would rather stay inside all day and study then go out and party. Different chains of events that occur in the the book or movie may allow the character to become a ripped jock who turns out to be a lady killer and parties so much he is close to flunking out of school. Character development is all determined on what the author wants the character wants to become. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Lee had a very specific view for Scout Finch. It seemed that Lee’s...
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...mentors, and memories. The adventurer’s early findings are their foundation. From there, all discoveries build on that foundation opening the door to make the transition from adolescence to a less innocent status. Scout and Jem Finch, two of the protagonists in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, must endure this evolution with the help of their father. Atticus, an honest and righteous...
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...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...
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