...Analysis of Symbolism in To Kill A Mockingbird Most people would think of love when they look at the symbol ‘heart’. A symbol is an important literacy feature that is used to represent larger or abstract ideas. Symbols are often used by authors to deepen and further extend themes. In Harper Lee’s novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, her effective use of symbols and their deep meanings contribute towards the development of some important themes. The uses of symbols, a mockingbird and blue jay, significantly develop the key theme that the coexistence of the good and evil always remain. A mockingbird and blue jay prove that the good and evil coexist by utilizing two characters, Bob Ewell and Boo Radley. First, Bob Ewell...
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...To kill a mockingbird is a novel that that draws attention to the existence of social inequality. In to kill a mockingbird it tells a story about Scout Finch, her brother Jem and their father Atticus Finch in the town of Maycomb in Alabama, Maycomb is suffering through the great depression, atticus is a lawyer and his family is suitably better than the other families scattered across Maycomb, later in the novel atticus accepts the task to defend a black man named Tom robinson. During the trial tom robinson is accused of rape but atticus provides evidence that the defendants Bob Ewell and Mayella are lying and Mayella actually propositioned tom robinson then her father caught her and beat her but in court Mayella is just trying to hide the shame and guilt so she accuses tom robinson. Mr Ewell felt rage and swore revenge for atticus making a fool of him in court so Bob Ewell attacks jem and when that happens boo radley saves and stabs Bob Ewell and carries jem back to the finch house and in order to protect boo the sheriff insists that Bob Ewell tripped over a tree root and fell on his own knife. After watching the kids boo once again disappears once again into the radley house. In the end Two themes that can be found throughout the story are the...
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...A mockingbird is a harmless bird that makes the world more pleasant. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the mockingbird symbolizes Boo Radley, Atticus Finch and Tom Robinson, who were peaceful people who never did any harm. To kill or harm them would be a sin. Scout's father, Atticus, tells Scout and Jem, “Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." Atticus is portraying that they are innocent and to harm them would be a sin. The mockingbird symbolizes these three characters because it does not have its own song, the mockingbird only sings other birds' songs and is seen through the other bird’s voices. The people of Maycomb only knew Boo, Atticus and Tom by what others said about them. These characters do not really have their own voice or song, they are only known for what others say about them. Atticus is a lawyer in Maycomb, a typical southern town where racial discrimination is the normal behavior. When he decides to defend Tom Robinson a black man, the people in the town were threatening him for doing so. Though Atticus never showed any sign that he doubted what he was doing. Atticus saw the evil in his world and was only trying to protect his children from it. He simply denied the natural behavior to colored people and fought against it. Atticus took the hatred, pushed it aside, kept his head high and stayed true to himself. He never hurt a soul and was just as innocent as a mockingbird. Boo Radley went through...
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...Influential Themes in the book To Kill a Mockingbird The history of the world has lots of social problems that still exist in the world today. We deal with an extensive amount of racism all around the world; therefore, it is still a struggle for the world to learn how to live in peace and harmony. Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird, captures many themes, but the most influential life lessons deal with racism, perspective, and morality. Racism is one of the most influential themes in the book. Lee explains very well about the problems of racism in the south; in other words, the theme of racism in the book teaches an important message that all people need to learn. Atticus says, “Remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” That was the...
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...Have you ever wondered what a short story is? Well let me tell you. A short story is when you stereotype someone or something based on a story or stories. It is like hearing that broccoli tastes bad from the internet so you never eat broccoli, even though you have never tried it. You don’t truly understand something until you try it or understand someone unless you walk in their shoes. Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, the theme of a single story is shown through Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and Dolphus Raymond. A single story is first shown with Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird. He is a man that is feared by the whole town of Maycomb. People think of him as the monster of town. A short story is first shown when the kids, Jem, Scout, and Dill, are talking about what Boo Radley looks like. Dill says that he looks like a monster and that if you see him, it will give you nightmares. Dill spoke with fear, “Boo was about six and a half feet...
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...It’s A Sin To Kill A Mockingbird Life isn’t fair. Everyone has heard this phrase at least one time, and most absolutely agree. Our world is far from perfect, it always has and always will. Harper Lee’s, To Kill A Mockingbird, is a great example of this. This is an amazing story of a small-town girl named Scout Finch back in the 1930’s. She lives with her older brother (Jem), her father (Atticus), and her black maid (Calpurnia). Atticus is a well known and respected lawyer, who is appointed to a case he takes personally. A black man named Tom Robinson is accused of rape. A white racist man named Bob Ewell claims he raped his daughter. The case has gotten the whole town’s attention, and the Finch’s who are one of the most respected families...
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...“Mockingbirds don't do one thing but...sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” What is a mockingbird, Is it an animal that means no harm, or a name someone will base you on because of your actions? A mockingbird is known for being friendly, humble, and natural contributors. In a small town in Alabama called Maycomb the characters Jean finch and her older brother Jem go to visit there aunt for the summer like they have been doing for the past couple of years, but are later terrified by the rumors they hear about there outcasted neighbor Boo Radley. Tom Robinson a civil and kind african american and Arthur “Boo” Radley a very kind and good person injured by the evil of mankind and those around him are considered...
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...“This case is as simple as black and white”. It is referring to the racial aspect of the case,, as well as Tom's obvious innocence. And Atticus realizes that he is defending Tom in front of a prejudiced jury and that the lack of evidence has no bearing on the outcome of the trial. The universal message in To Kill a Mockingbird is the Coexistence of Good and Evil. Since they are raised in a loving and kind environment by an educated and good man of sterling values, Jeremy and Jean Louise Finch grow up believing in the innate goodness of mankind. Having a more mature perspective, their father believes that good and evil both surely exist, but he feels that what is good prevails in most people. They are 3 things that make the up the theme...
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...The differences between Harper Lee’s novels To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman shares a generalized statement about how growing up helps one realize that there is more than just strictly good and evil people in the world and they may obtain their own personal opinions that others may not agree with. More specifically, when Jean Louis felt as if she had been betrayed by the actions of her father, it was only her starting to think of her father as a human being opposed to being a perfect figure. Atticus’ brother helped Jean Louis realize this by telling her that her father's intentions were to make her “.. reduce him to the status of a human being.” In To Kill a Mockingbird, Jean Louis obtained majorly childish perspectives with...
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...Every individual matures throughout his or her life, some much quicker than others. Maturity greatly relies on the environment children are raised in and the people around them, every aspect affecting their development. As children mature they typically learn about negative traits and how to develop good ones. They learn from others and create a pathway for their own individuality in order to become an adult. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, Scout begins as an innocent child protected from the evils of society, but later matures and develops to become an understanding individual. Innocence from the world’s evils is usually interpreted as a positive trait, however, the opposite occurs in To Kill a Mockingbird because...
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...Sharon Shut Mr. Butler Literature- Period 8 3 March 2011 Innocence is Brilliant By: Sharon Shut To Kill a Mockingbird was written by Harper Lee. Harper Lee’s intention in writing this book was to shed light on the fact that there is an evil that exists in all of the characters. This evil is what prevents the possibility of humans creating a perfect world or 'utopia'. This is emphasized by racism, the gossip and legends that spread around town, especially about Boo Radley, that even those who seem like they are good, still have evil in themselves, this is emphasized through Atticus, when he shoots the dog, and mainly how people loose innocence over time, like Jem and Scout. One of the key themes is definitely innocence and how even the most unexpected things can be innocent. In the beginning of the book examples of innocence are stated when Scout tries to explain to her teacher that she is embarrassing Walter Cunningham by offering him something that he won't be able to pay back. Scout realizes that because her teacher isn't a local, she won't know that about the Cunninghams, but Scout's explanation gets her into trouble. She wasn't trying to be insulting, but Miss Caroline mistook her frank and innocent explanation as condescension or rudeness and punished her for it. Another example is when Scout is too young to understand the social graces of Southern hospitality that say that you always make people feel at home and welcome no matter how unusual their habits...
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...To Kill A Mockingbird If there was a book that easily tackles topics and a must-read for young readers then To Kill A Mockingbird would fit it. Harper Lee created To Kill A Mockingbird in the 1960s, The book is set in the 1930s in the Great Depression through the eyes of a child. The book has a lot of themes throughout the story using literary elements but how the author uses these literary elements like juxtaposition, motifs, and imagery to prove themes like humbleness, innocent of people and how unjust the society is will be explained. Harper Lee is great using literary elements to make themes like using juxtaposition to build a theme of humbleness. In chapter 12, after Calpurnia brings them to her church she says how “folks don’t like to have somebody around known more than they do, It aggravates’em” (Lee 167). Even after the fact she one of four people in her church who are literate Calpurnia knows being modest is better than bragging about it. Someone who isn’t would be Aunt Alexandra. In chapter 13, it talks about Aunt Alexandra and how “she never let a chance escape...
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...To kill a Mockingbird essay is written to explore and analyze the message given out by novel To kill a Mocking Bird. This novel was written by Harper Lee and published in 1960. It portrays the time period of 1930's in Albama. It shows dominance of white people in the society during that period. The narrator of the story is Scout Flinch. Her father Atticus Finch is a lawyer who has high ethical values and respect for humanity. He is very optimistic. Atticus stood to his character when he defends Tom Robinson, a black man on trial for the rape of a white woman. He sets up example for society and his children to stand up by his values, even when he faces the roughest time of his life in the course of defending Tom. Mockingbird is a long-tailed gray-and-white songbird which does not harm anyone. Author tries to relate the trial of Tom with killing a mockingbird. Our company is equipped with a team of professional writers who are skilled in writing essays related to every field. This kind of work requires an in depth knowledge of literature and expert skills in essay writing. The writer must be able to comprehend the view of the author so that the readers of the essay can associate themselves. Our company ensures that the essay writers strictly follow all the standard guidelines of MLA essay format for the perfect presentation of the literary essays. "To kill a mockingbird" essay should necessarily cover the following points to get a good grade in essay rubric: - Social...
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...The evil nature and intentions of people can either hurt or harm individuals or it can bring about resilience and determination. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee revealed that humans often have other motives in life; some are born to be evil in nature, some are naturally innocent and then there are some that are born to protect the innocent. Are humans decidedly cruel or is there some moral good in each of us? In Lord of the Flies, William Golding presents a different view of the individual, specifically that within each person there is a struggle between right and wrong, but that evil will end up winning in the end. Initially, the boys listen to their consciences and act according to the moral code they were taught during their...
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...Minh-Thi Nguyen Mrs. Smith English 1 Honors/ Period 4 November 14, 2013 To Kill a Mockingbird Purpose Passage Questions “Atticus reached down and picked up the candy box. He handed it to Jem. Jem opened the box. Inside, surrounded by wads of damp cotton, was a white, perfect camellia It was a Snow-on –the-Mountain… ‘Old hell-devil, old hell-devil. Why can’t she leave me alone?’ …Jem picked up the candy box and threw it in the fire. He picked up the camellia, and when I went off to bed I saw him fingering the wide petals” (148). Questions: 1. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, why does Mrs. Dubose give Jem the perfect white camellia? What does its color symbolize and how is it significant to the novel? 2. The “Snow-on-the-Mountain” camellia in the candy box is cut and does not have any roots. Moreover, Mrs. Dubose only gave the camellia to Jem. What does this symbolize and what was the message that Mrs. Dubose was trying to convey? 3. Why does Harper Lee end Part One of the novel with Jem’s decision of keeping the camellia? 1. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, why does Mrs. Dubose give Jem the perfect white camellia? What does it symbolize and how is it significant to the novel? In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, when Mrs. Dubose criticizes Atticus as a “nigger-lover” and taunts the children for their father’s decision to defend an African American in court, Jem deliberately destroys every one of her precious camellias...
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