Contents: 1. Summary 2. The question 3. How to answer the question 4. An example of an A* answer 5. Context 6. Form 7. Structure 8. Language 9. Imagery & symbolism 10. Themes 11. Character Preparing for the exam You will have no choice in the question. The question will have a part ‘a’ and a part ‘b’. Part ‘a’ is on an extract from the novel. Part ‘b’ is a question which you need to answer about the novel as a WHOLE. EXAMPLE OF A QUESTION: The examiner gives the passage looking at how Miss Caroline interacts with Scout the first time and talks about her father not being able to teach and shows the ineptitude of her teaching etc. a) How does Lee use details in this passage to show the different cultures of Miss Caroline and the children? b) How does Lee present Scout’s education in the novel as a whole? ANOTHER EXAMPLE: The examiner gives the passage looking at Mr Raymond’s discussion with the children outside the court scene. A) How does Lee use details in this passage to show attitudes towards race? B) What is the significance of Dill in the novel as a whole? What could the question be? It could be focused on one of these things so make sure you revise them: The themes: a) Prejudice b) Racism c) Innocence d) Good vs. Evil e) Childhood f) Growing up g) Education h) Justice A character: a) Jem b) Scout c) Atticus d) Dill e) The Ewells f) Calpurnia g) Boo h) The Radleys i) The Black Community j) The White community Etc. Setting Symbolism Motifs Imagery Context What could the extract be on? They normally pick an extract that it is relatively well known (although not always!) They could pick: a) The beginning b) The end c) Descriptions of Boo & their childhood d) Scout’s education e) Atticus’s defence of Tom Robinson against the lynch mob f) The court scene g) Description of the black community h) Description of the Ewells i) The trial j) The build-up towards Bob Ewell’s attack (use of foreboding & gothic conventions) k) Any moment when Scout learns something l) The Tea party What/How to revise: What to revise? a) The book as a whole (you actually need to read it!) b) The plot of the book c) Who all the characters are and their characteristics. You need to create essay plans for each character so that you are prepared for the exam. You need to explain how they link to the themes of the text & what Harper is trying to teach the audience d) The key literary devices (so that you can pick these from the passage) and their effects e) What structure means – how is structure used in the text? f) What form means – how is this used in the text? g) The CONTEXT of the book and how that influences the text & Harper’s message h) Quotations on all the above for part ‘b’ of the question i) Create plans for possible questions: cover all the themes, characters, motifs You will find all this information in the notes I give you and there is lots of helpful stuff in Spark notes. To revise I suggest that you take each of the above and write your own notes, summarising the main points in your own words. Then, revise from your own notes and cut each note down to a smaller summary, so a simple key word lets you remember everything there is to know about a subject. Ie. If you want to revise form: Take the revision page on form. Write your own notes on it in detail. Then read through your notes, turning the page over to see what you can memorise from that. Next, write out the notes again in a more limited summary. See if you can remember all your notes, just from the limited summary. Then, pick out some key words from the summary and see if you can remember all your notes, just from the key words. Mind maps are always useful too if you are a visual learner. I’m very proud of you all and how much you’ve improved over the last two years. I know that as long as you revise, you’ll each reach your potential Your answer There are certain things you need to include in your answer, just to get a ‘C’. These are: form/structure/language/context/themes&messages. To get a ‘B’, you must include in your answer: a) b) c) d) e) - Context, link it to the question and link it to the text, specifically Analyse Language using PETERO, linking to theme/idea/setting/ context/ QUESTION Analyse Structure using PETERO, linking to theme/idea/setting/ context/ QUESTION Analyse the Form using PETERO, linking to theme/idea/setting/ context/ QUESTION Ideas/Attitudes You must use PETERO and link everything you write to the question To get an A*, make sure you fully develop your analysis of language/form/structure. Be imaginative in your interpretations and fully explore your response to the context & Lee’s message. This is what you will be assessed on: (The green boxes are the Assessment Objectives, the blue boxes are my explanation of what they mean) Assessment Objectives: English Literature Unit 1: Section A (Different Cultures prose). AO1: Respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations. •Explore the text, looking at how you reach your interpretations •Use quotations, in detail * Be imaginative AO2: Explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of ideas, themes and settings. * Detailed evaluation of how effective form & structure & language are used to create an EFFECT. (using quotations) * This effect MUST be linked to the message of the novel, themes & setting AO4: Relate texts to their social, cultural and historical contexts. * Link the passage to the context of the text, using QUOTATIONS and full explanations Do not regurgitate the plot. Write something meaningful about structure/form/language straight away. Eg. for structure you could write: • The text is structured in two parts. The first introduces Scout’s early years, which is reflected in her innocent view on the world. The second part focuses on the adult world, culminating on Boo Radley’s porch when Scout has gained an understanding of morality and can ‘walk around’ in other people’s ‘skin.’ The structure is circular and follows Scout’s experiences as she gains a moral education and innocently exists in a world of prejudice and racism. ...But remember, if you are going to use this in the exam you MUST make sure you make it relevant to the question! Overview of your answer: You need to pick at least 1 out of each box and analyse. Make sure it links to the Question Form Structure • Bildungsroman • Chronology: Narrative structure mirrors loss of innocence, carefree childhood • Perspective: 1st replaced by cynical adult story with children person, dual only minor parts. perspective of child and adult • Epigraph • Juxtaposition Context • Circular • Lee’s background • Aspects of plot development • American justice (rising action, climax etc.) • American Civil War • Foreshadowing • Great depression • Recurring Motifs & Symbols • Black civil rights movement Languge • Literary devices • Connotations • Dialect linked to context • Symbolism • Imagery (make sure this links to the Q) Themes: Prejudice Innocence Childhood Education Racism Good vs. Evil Growing Up Justice How to structure your answer: You could do this: 1st paragraph - Introduction: Mention the question straight way and introduce what you are going to explore in your answer Use a quotation Context Refer to form/structure/ language in first few sentences 2nd paragraph – Form: Analyse the form of the text and link it to the Question 3rd Paragraph – Structure: Analyse the structure, linking in to the Question 4th Paragraph – Language: Analyse the language, linking in to the Question 5th Paragraph – explore message & themes: Explore the message Lee is trying to present in reference to the question. Consider other interpretations 6th Paragraph – conclusion: Anything else you want to add? Make a conclusion relating to your interpretations. Bear in mind that you do not need to stick to this. Look at my A* example. I refer to structure in the language paragraph and I mention context in the structure paragraph. For an A* you need to explore the question and you’ll struggle to do so if you stick to the above too rigidly. This is an annotated example of an A* answer: a) How is Atticus presented as a good parent in the text as a whole? Atticus, a responsible parent, lives with his family in a narrow –minded small town in America, during which time there existed widespread prejudice and racism. Lee uses this context to reflect one of her key messages: the tragic consequences of a town that rests on prejudice. The context of the novel predates the era of the American Civil Movement, meaning that the black people were segregated from their white neighbours. However, while the backdrop of the novel reflects this theme, Atticus is used as a vehicle to reflect Lee’s own views: the need to be fair, just and to understand others, which he says won’t happen “until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Atticus tries to teach these views to his children, not in an overly didactic way but allowing them to make their own decisions and learn from mistakes. He is seen as a good parent as he teaches his children key moral messages through the text while not being too authoritative. Lee uses the form of a buldingsroman to follow Scout’s journey from childhood naivety to an appreciation of the need to understand and consider other people. It allows the text to be quite didactic but in a very subtle way as the reader follows Scout’s mistakes and learns from them. Scout first sees Atticus in quite a negative light and says to Miss Caroline, “Atticus ain’t got time to teach me anything.” However, Scout sees teaching in a very literal way and what Atticus actually does is much more subtle. Miss Caroline is very troubled that Scout already knows how to read, yet the reader knows this is a very positive thing. The contrast between Atticus’s good teaching and the teaching of Miss Caroline allows the reader to identify the faults in the education system in this context. The ineptitude of Miss Caroline in contrast to Atticus, the good parent, foreshadows the travesty that is presented by the justice system later in the text. This reinforces Lee’s theme of prejudice and inequality. Scout learns the importance of understanding others from Atticus. The children first cast Boo as a monster, with “blood-stained” hands and eyes that “popped.” Lee uses gothic imagery to portray Boo as an evil and malicious figure, making him sound quite like Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankeinstein’. However, by using fantastical language, it reflects their immaturity. Later, we see that Scout has grown-up and learnt Atticus’s moral lesson. By the end she uses more mature language, with no childish embellishment. She sees that Boo “was real nice.” Atticus replies, “Most people are when you finally see them.” This is an important moral lesson, which confirms Atticus’s role as a good parent and through him, the reader learns Lee’s social message also. Atticus is also a great role model. He shows the importance of a conscience, “If I didn't, I couldn't hold up my head in town." He is also presented with a great amount of humility. When he is given the gifts from the black community, "Atticus' eyes filled with tears. He did not speak for a moment.” The short sentences symbolise Atticus’s inability to communicate at this moment as he overcome with emotion. He eventually responds, 'Tell them - tell them never to do it again. Times are too hard...." The ellipsis reinforces this inability to express his feelings at this moment as he is too grateful. The characteristic of humility is an important thing to have as a parent and as a role model. However, some might argue that Atticus actually has too much humility. He fails to protect him children from Ewell as Atticus does not expect him to attack the children – he fails them by having too much faith in Ewell to be a good person. Through the foreshadowing towards the end of the book, the reader anticipates that something will happen, “..QUOTE..” However, Atticus does not. This could suggest that Atticus had failed his children on this occasion. Nevertheless, Atticus does present himself overall as a highly moral parent. Lee uses him as a vehicle to present her ‘mockingbird’ metaphor with the message that we need to protect innocence and those vulnerable. Both Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are likened to mockingbirds, with Tom’s death described as, “the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children.” The extended metaphor across the book allows both the reader and Scout to learn the need for equality and reveals the consequences of prejudice and racism. In some ways, even Atticus could be seen as a mockingbird, his strong belief in mankind makes him vulnerable to disappointment. This is reinforced by his birdlike surname, ‘Finch’. However, this is a great attitude to have and therefore makes him a great role model to his children and thus a fantastic parent. If I had an ‘Atticus’ in my family, I would be nothing but proud. Comment [f1]: Themes Comment [f2]: Context Comment [f3]: Context Comment [f4]: Quote in intro Comment [f5]: Answering Q Comment [f6]: Form Comment [f7]: Exploration Comment [f8]: Link to Question Comment [f9]: Structure Comment [f10]: Theme Comment [f11]: Precise quotation Comment [f12]: Language Comment [f13]: Language Comment [f14]: Link to question Comment [f15]: Deep analysis linked to Question Comment [f16]: Structure Comment [f17]: Alternative interpretation Comment [f18]: Alternative interpretation Comment [f19]: Personal response Context pg 1 Nelle Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926, in Monroeville, Alabama, a sleepy small town similar in many ways to Maycomb, the setting of To Kill a Mockingbird. Like Atticus Finch, Lee’s father was a lawyer. Among Lee’s childhood friends was the future novelist and essayist Truman Capote, from whom she drew inspiration for the character Dill. These personal details notwithstanding, Lee maintains that To Kill a Mockingbirdwas intended to portray not her own childhood home but rather a nonspecific Southern town. “People are people anywhere you put them,” she declared in a 1961 interview. In high school, Lee developed an interest in English literature. After graduating in 1944, she went to the all-female Huntingdon College in Montgomery. Lee stood apart from the other students—she could have cared less about fashion, makeup, or dating. Instead, she focused on her studies and on her writing. Transferring to the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, Lee was known for being a loner and an individualist. She did make a greater attempt at a social life there, joining a sorority for a while. Pursuing her interest in writing, Lee contributed to the school’s newspaper and its humor magazine, the Rammer Jammer. She eventually became the editor of the Rammer Jammer. In her junior year, Lee was accepted into the university’s law school, which allowed students to work on law degrees while still undergraduates. The demands of her law studies forced her to leave her post as editor of the Rammer Jammer. After her first year in the law program, Lee began expressing to her family that writing—not the law—was her true calling. She went to Oxford University in England that summer as an exchange student. Returning to her law studies that fall, Lee dropped out after the first semester. She soon moved to New York City to follow her dreams to become a writer. Context pg 2 No crime in American history-- let alone a crime that never occurred-- produced as many trials, convictions, reversals, and retrials as did an alleged gang rape of two white girls by nine black teenagers on a Southern Railroad freight run on March 25,1931. Harper Lee was five years old when nine young black men were accused of raping two white women near Scottsboro, Alabama. The original nine young black defendants were accused of raping two white women on a freight train, and eight were quickly convicted in a mob atmosphere. The juries were entirely white, and the defense attorneys had little experience in criminal law and no time to prepare their cases. As each of the nine cases successively went to the jury, the next trial was immediately begun. All but one of the defendants were sentenced to death on rape convictions. It was eventually established that the men were all innocent by which time they had served between 6 and 19 years in prison. Many prominent lawyers and other American citizens saw the sentences as spurious and motivated only by racial prejudice. It was also suspected that the women who had accused the men were lying, and in appeal after appeal, their claims became more dubious. There can be little doubt that the Scottsboro Case, as the trials of the nine men came to be called, served as a seed for the trial that stands at the heart of Lee’s novel. The story of the Scottsboro Boys is one of the most shameful examples of injustice America’s history. It makes clear that in the Deep South of the 1930's, jurors were not willing to accord a black charged with raping a white woman the usual presumption of innocence. In fact, one may argue that the presumption seemed reversed: a black was presumed guilty unless he could establish his innocence beyond a reasonable doubt. The cases show that to jurors, black lives didn't count for much. The Scottsboro boys with their lawyer, under guard, 1932. Context pg 3 The American Civil War (1861 – 1865) The American Civil War took place between 1861 and 1865. It occurred when a group of Southern states, including Alabama, formed the Confederate Sates of America and broke away from the main union of states. After four years of bitter fighting they were defeated and rejoined the Union. One of the results of the Civil War was the end to black slavery when the 13th Amendment finally freed all slaves in the Southern states. Although in theory the Negroes were equal to the whites, in fact most of them continued to live separate lives, reluctantly accepting their inferior status. To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the 1930’s, yet by the this time – seventy years since the end of the war – the situation for Negroes had hardly changed. Negroes were still segregated. When Lee wrote the novel in the 1950’s things had begun to change, with civil disturbances and rioting proving that the black people were no longer prepared to put up with their inferior status. Segregation - The policy or practice of separating people of different races, classes, or ethnic groups, as in schools, housing, and public or commercial facilities, especially as a form of discrimination. Context pg 4 The Great Depression • The Wall Street Crash of 1929 caused many shares suddenly to become worthless and poverty swept the country. • The Great Depression lasted from the end of 1929 until the early 1940’s. • In 1933, at the worst point in the Depression, more than 15 million Americans – one-quarter of the nation’s workforce – were unemployed. • President Roosevelt made substantial attempts at economic recovery. After the National Recovery Act, Roosevelt told the people ‘they had nothing to fear but fear itself’. However the strategies he put in place took time to lift the depression. Franklin D. Roosevelt – 32nd president of the United States. In Office from 1933 to 1945 Context pg 5 The Black Civil Rights Movement • The Civil Rights Movement took place in Alabama during the 1950s and 1960s. • Efforts made to guarantee African Americans equal access to public and private transportation, schools, voting booths, economic opportunities, and housing caused tremendous social turmoil all over the South, where legal discrimination against black Americans was most pronounced. • From Alabama emerged two of the leading figures in the struggle. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came to prominence here as a spokesman for African Americans seeking equality, while Governor George C. Wallace became the symbol for white resistance to racial integration. • Boycotts, demonstrations, and protest marches by Civil Rights activists provoked sometimes violent responses from whites determined to resist integration. • In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, making it illegal for any American to be discriminated against. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, a black seamstress, was arrested for refusing to obey a Montgomery bus driver's order to give her seat up for a boarding white passenger as required by city ordinance. Some blacks sat at “all white” lunch counters and others rode “freedom” buses through the south where they helped others in the fight for equal rights. Many whites also believed in equality for all. Together, blacks and whites, marched for Civil Rights. Context pg 6 – The Ku Klux Klan (The KKK) Men in an organization called the Ku Klux Klan used terror and cruelty to frighten African Americans. They did not want them to try to be equal in any way. The Ku Klux Klan even used murder as a tool of terror. In August 1955, fourteen-year-old Chicagoan Emmett Till visited relatives in Mississippi. At Bryant's Grocery and Meat Market, a store owned by a white couple, Roy and Carolyn Bryant, Till is said to have whistled at Mrs. Bryant. Several days later, on Aug. 28, Till was kidnapped, brutally beaten, shot, and dumped in the Tallahatchie River. Context 6 1 Context pg 7 The story is set in a small town in the southern state of Alabama. Although the town, Maycomb County, is fictitious, there are references to real places. The state capital, Montgomery, is referred to on several occasions as is reference to the industrialised northern part of the state and the rural southern part, where Maycomb is situated. Maycomb Maycomb is a small town in Alabama. Most of the population and that of the surrounding community are poor. The population has remained virtually unchanged for decades, with the result that newcomers are not accepted easily. Cars are few, cinemas non-existent. The people are very religious, mainly Baptist or Methodist. Everyone knows everyone else and local gossip is rife. The Negroes are segregated and most people want them to remain so. Anyone who does not conform to accepted patterns of normal behaviour, like Boo Radley or Dolphus Raymond, is regarded as an oddity. So little happens that major events such as the rape trial are regarded as a day out for the whole county. Maycomb is a “tired old town” that is long overdue a change. Form You must analyse form in the exam Form is the type/style of a text. There are two things you could write about regarding form, but you MUST make them relevant to the question. Make the examiner really aware you are talking about form ie. “the form of the bildungsroman is used to...” “the form of the two narrative perspectives is used to...” They two comments are: a) Bildungsroman – the text is a ‘coming-of-age’ novel. b) Narrative Perspective: 1st person perspective. Child Perspective vs. Adult perspective What effect do both these features have? Lee uses the form of the bildungsroman to show Scout ‘coming-of-age’. She learns to recognise the importance of empathy and understand the metaphor of “walking around” in other people’s shoes. Yet, as Scout learns, the reader learns also so in this way the novel is quite didactic (instructional.) Lee uses Atticus as a mouthpiece for her views on social morality and prejudice as subtly teaching the reader about small town America and how prejudice is an evil thing. Lee uses the two different narrative perspectives to show Scout as a young girl. She is naive and has no awareness of social issues, unlike the older perspective who is looking back on this time. This allows the text to be didactic as the reader follows Scout’s journey to understanding and learns of the consequences of prejucide, rascism and injustice. By seeing the world through Scout’s eyes we are able to notice things we might not normally do, in a fresh way. As it is written in first person, from Scout’s perspective, we allow for any distortion or exaggeration. The events of the novel take place over several years, and Scout indicates the changes that she and Jem experience in this time. One example is that she begins as a tomboy but later in the novel accepts the need to behave in a more conventionally feminine role. She also learns, mostly from Miss Maudie, that this does not mean she has to give up her independence – that she can compromise in unimportant matters without betraying what she really values. We do, however, see other viewpoints as people speak, so it is possible for the reader to compare them. The novel gives a huge range of such opinions, too many to list here. Sometimes these are predictable and conventional (the spoiled and over delicate ladies of the Missionary circle) while at other times they are quite unconventional (think of Mr. Dolphus Raymond). Some questions to consider are these: As you read the story do you see things from one viewpoint or does the viewpoint change? Does the author manage to show convincingly the viewpoint of characters younger than herself (such as Scout, Jem, Dill and Walter)? How far does the author signal to you, as the reader, which views are ‘right’, and how far does she allow you freedom to make your own judgments? The Structure You must include analysis of structure in the exam. Aspects of structure you could talk about: • • • • • • • • Chronology: Narrative structure mirrors loss of innocence, carefree childhood replaced by cynical adult story with children only minor parts. Epigraph Juxtaposition Circular Aspects of plot development (rising action, climax etc.) Foreshadowing Recurring Motifs & Symbols Chronology: Narrative structure mirrors loss of innocence, carefree childhood replaced by cynical adult story with children only minor parts. In order to get a good mark you need to analyse these in depth and explain how they link to the QUESTION. Chronology: Chap 1-11: shows the children’s childhood and lessons they learn. Boo as the monster. Children’s prejudice in Part 1 foreshadows the more dangerous adult prejudice in Part 2 (link to theme: consequences of prejudice) Chap 12-21: Trial Chap 22-31: Aftermath of Trial, Mr Ewell’s downfall at the hands of Boo Radley. Boo as the saviour. Epigraph ..is a phrase, quotation or poem that is set at the beginning of a text. The epigraph may serve as a preface, as a summary, as a counter-example, or to link the work to a wider literary canon. Can be a brief quote or motto. “Lawyers, I suppose, were children once.” -Charles Lamb An essay by Charles Lamb, an English writer in the late-18th and early-19th century. There is the time-honoured tradition of making fun of lawyers as not quite human (even Shakespeare did this). More to the point, lawyers can seem the opposite of children: while kids are innocent and say just what they feel (no matter how embarrassing), lawyers plot and scheme and say whatever they need to in order to win their case (or so the stereotype goes). Linking lawyers to children suggests these two opposites perhaps aren’t so different after all, and reminds us that lawyers really are people just like everyone else. Structurally Circular: How many readers recall, by the end of the novel, the first sentence (“When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow”)? This statement is soon forgotten, amidst a mass of narrative detail, but this incident, which Scout does not see and Jem cannot recall, is the defining moment or climax of the entire story. The first part of the novel is an account of Scout's early years, taking her first days at school as a starting point. Most of this section is about the search for Arthur “Boo” Radley. The second part shows Scout becoming more able to understand the adult world, which is mirrored by the more serious events that occur at this point in her life. In the conclusion, however, Harper Lee brings the two narratives together - the stories are not separate. While Scout and Jem have been thinking more about the trial and less about Boo Radley, Arthur has not forgotten them. His appearance in the final chapters is almost miraculous - it is plausible (believable in its context) because it is so understated. There is no direct account of Arthur Radley's attack on Bob Ewell. It is inferred from the sounds Scout hears and what Heck Tate discovers at the scene. Aspects of plot development Major Conflict: Childhood innocence threatened by evil side of human nature Struggle to maintain faith in human goodness Rising Action: Encounters with Boo Atticus defends Tom Robinson Climax: jury finds Tom guilty Scout & Jem realise morals that Atticus teaches are not in reality Falling Action: Tom shooting = injustice Ewell’s threats Assaults Sherriff protecting Boo Episodic: • A long episodic novel can easily lose its way, but Harper Lee has a very organic sense of a single story with a unifying or central theme (the mockingbird theme) which is illustrated by the examples of Arthur Radley and Tom Robinson. Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is when the writer provides hints at what will happen later in the book. • Oak tree – foreshadows Boo’s goodness • The shooting of the dog foreshadows the death of Ewell. Ie. Putting down an inherently evil thing/ person with no possible for redemption • Miss Caroline’s ineptitude in education foreshadows the ineptitude of the court scene • Mr Raymond: outside the court – he doesn’t fit in with the rest of the white community: foreshadows Atticus’s views • END: Foreshadowing used A LOT to increase tense gothic atmosphere Juxtaposition When two things are put next to each other to show they are similar or different. Try to mention structure in the beginning: Eg. The text is structured in two parts. The first introduces Scout’s early years, which is reflected in her innocent view on the world. The second part focuses on the adult world, culminating on Boo Radley’s porch when Scout has gained an understanding of morality and can ‘walk around in other people’s skin.’ The structure is circular and follows Scout’s experiences as she gains a moral education and innocently exists in a world of prejudice and racism. - This is a general example, without a question in mind. Make sure your response links to the question Language You need to analyse the language of the quotes you pick. Ie. Use PETERO What does the literary device add to the text? How does it link to the Theme/Idea/Question? A good way of analysing language is to talk about the connotations of words used and what effect they have (linking to theme/question. Another way is to look at imagery & symbolism. Or... you can comment on any of the below: Adjective a descriptive word It was a hot summer Adverb a word which provides more information about a verb, an adjective or another adverb I always have toast It was a very hot summer Alliteration the use of a number of words close together starting with the same letter or sound, to create a particular effect A mountain of moving muck Assonance the use of a number of similar vowel sounds close together She'll have to go home alone Autobiography the story of the writer's own life Dramatic irony the audience is aware of the fate of a character whilst the character themselves displays ignorance of their fate Euphemism a figure of speech by which a harsh or unpleasant fact is given a milder or more gentle expression He passed away Hyperbole exaggeration for the sake of emphasis, but without intending to deceive A thousand, thousand thanks for your help Image a picture formed in the reader's mind by the writer's use of language, often with the help of special literary devices such as metaphor, personification and simile Irony the writer says the opposite of what he means, in order to make the real meaning more emphatic What a clever boy you are (when the writer means 'you aren't very bright!') Metonym a figure of speech whereby a part of an object or an idea is used to represent or suggest the whole The crown represents the whole of the monarchy No 10 Downing Street represents the government Metaphor an image in which the writer refers to one thing as being another The moon is a balloon Mood the sort of emotions and atmosphere evoked by a piece of writing Happy, sad, tense Narrative the story as told by the writer Narrator the voice telling a story. Either the writer telling the story in the third person or a character speaking in the first person Noun the name of something Either a proper noun Fleet Street, Christmas Day or a common noun dog, tree Onomatopoeia words that sound like their meaning Snap, snip, crackle, spit Paradox a statement that is superficially self-contradictory or non-sensical, but on closer inspection says something of sense or wisdom The child is father of the man Personification giving an object human characteristics The sound of the stream chattering away to itself Plot all the events in a story or drama in a logical sequence Poetry writing which is set out in separate lines, and often verses, with particular importance given to rhythm and to the effect of word order, and sometimes using rhyme Pronoun a word which stands for a person's name or a noun I, me, he, she, they, it, them, us Prose continuous writing, not structured in separate lines like poetry, and usually divided into paragraphs Pun A play on words where two words have a similar sound but different meanings, usually for comic effect. In what place will I find the plaice Shakespeare used them a lot! Rhetorical question a question asked for effect only, not requiring an answer Are we downhearted? Rhyme the use of the same or similar sounds in equivalent positions, usually at the ends of lines of poetry A birdie with a yellow bill, Hopped upon my window sill Rhythm the movement of the sound of words, especially important in poetry Sarcasm the use of mocking or contemptuous language to wound or hurt You ought to live in a pigsty. Your manners would be perfect there. Setting the time and place in which the events of a story or drama take place Simile describing one thing as being like another The moon is like a balloon Structure the way a piece of writing is organised and constructed Style the approach a writer uses to produce a particular effect Images, descriptive language, suspense Tense the way a verb is formed to show when something takes place He kicked the ball She will go to the cinema I go shopping Theme the general subject/s that a piece of writing is about Tone the attitude in which a text is written Angry, formal, humorous Verse one of the sections into which a poem is divided, consisting of a number of lines also known as a stanza. Verse can also mean poetry in general, as opposed to prose. IMAGERY AND SYMBOLISM IN "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD." Character is established through imagery. The description of Bob Ewell ("A little bantam cock of a man rose and strutted to the stand") precisely conveys his cockiness; Mayella's underlying nervousness is conveyed by the description of her as, “a steady-eyed cat with a twitchy tail." Dill is described as," a pocket Merlin" while Walter Cunningham's poverty is emphasised by the phrase, “He looked as if he has been raised on fish food." Scout's disgust of Mrs Dubose is conveyed through vivid imagery," Her face was the colour of a dirty pillow-case, and the corners of her mouth glistened with wet, which inched like a glacier down the deep grooves enclosing her chin." The mockingbird is the most significant symbol in the novel. This repeated image and its key symbol of an innocent creature make it a strong image. The mockingbird first appears in chapter 10 when Atticus is telling the children how to use their shotguns, “Shoot all the bluejays you want, .. but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Miss Maudie explains that this is because mockingbirds are neither harmful nor destructive and only make beautiful music for people to enjoy. Thus these birds are symbols of innocence and goodness. The symbol for Boo Radley and Tom Robinson is not drawn together until Scout's comment at the end when she recognises that the public exposure of Boo Radley would be,"sort of like shootin' a mockingbird." Both characters have mockingbird traits: • They both show kindness - Boo to the children; Tom to Mayella. • They are both innocent - Boo of the evil persona with which he is associated and Tom of the crime of rape. • Both are victims of prejudice. • Both are imprisoned and potentially vulnerable - Boo is imprisoned in a separate world to protect him from people's prejudice if exposed. Tom is imprisoned and later killed as the result of people's prejudice. Atticus is a mockingbird also. Atticus does not shoot, even though he is the best shot in Maycomb county because he thinks his skill with a gun gives him an unfair advantage over other people. Atticus has also sung Tom's song of truth to the people of Maycomb but has not been heard. His humanity and acceptance of others epitomises the mockingbird theme. The children learn the importance of not killing innocent creatures shown in the way that Jem tells Scout not to squash an insect. This theme is kept alive throughout the novel, constantly reminding the reader of its importance: • After the mad dog incident • When waiting for the jury's verdict, "when the mockingbirds were still." • In Mr Underwood's article about Tom's death, "The senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children." This imagery develops the theme of heartlessness and inhumanity in Maycomb county. • When Scout and Jem are on their way to the pageant "High above us in the darkness a solitary mocker poured out his repertoire in blissful unawareness of whose tree he sat in."The mocker in the oak tree as Jem and Scout pass the Radley lot in chapter 28 represents Boo who could be said to sing his heart out for "his children" when they need him. Harper Lee invites the reader to consider the word "mocking" and all its associations: • The children mock Boo's life as they make fun of and imitate it. • Mayella accuses Atticus of mocking her • The trial is a mockery of justice • The missionary tea ladies' hypocrisy is a mockery of the Christian life they pretend • Human values are mocked Other symbols: Symbolism is evident in the novel in a less obvious way also.: • The Radley house with its closed doors and shutters and austere front presents the privacy, isolation and unfriendliness of the Radley place. The closed shutters become symbolic of the Radley's closed minds and intolerance. Boo moving the shutters to watch the children symbolises Boo wanting to break through the imprisoning attitudes of his family. • The oak tree beside the Radley place represents Boo's character and his desire to communicate when presents are left in the tree. When the children stand near the tree, Boo establishes contact again by delicately placing a blanket on Scout's shoulders without her realising. • Boo saves the children's lives under the oak tree and Bob Ewell is found dead under the tree. • Scout and Jem's snowman represents how superficial skin colour is to the essence of a human being. • Mrs Dubose's camellias represent the prejudices which cannot be brushed off easily. They have to be tugged by their roots. The fact that Mrs Dubose leaves a camellia for Jem after her death is so as to remind him of courage and tolerance. THEMES IN TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD A theme is a central idea in the text which are linked to the writer’s message. The novel is concerned with many themes which are presented through the moral landscape of a small town. The key themes in the novel are: • • • • • • • • • • • • Growing up Courage Prejudice Parents and children Man's inhumanity to man Justice Education Innocence Good vs. Evil Childhood Growing Up Racism There are also other themes highlighted throughout the novel, which make this novel so absorbing and real. These include: religious bigotry, loneliness, society, family life. Although all of these ideas can be looked at separately, all of the themes work together to present Harper Lee's firm convictions. Courage Two major types of courage are emphasised in the novel: "real courage" when you continue what you are doing even though you are fighting a losing battle ( e.g Mrs Dubose's battle with her morphine addiction, Atticus' decision to defend Tom Robinson.) The other type is about fighting against evil and prejudice. Act of bravery are needed to override prejudice. Example are: Mr Underwood's article about Tom Robinson, Boo Radley's heroic act when he rescues Jem from Bob Ewell, Atticus' stand against prejudice and hypocrisy in the Maycomb community. Look at how Jem rescues his trousers at night from the Radley place, Little Chuck standing up to Burris Ewell in class, Miss Maudie's optimism after her house has burnt down, the way that Mr Link Deas speaks out for the Robinsons. Growing up The main focus of growing up is on Scout and Jem. They become aware of changes within themselves. Some changes are physical, as in Jem's adolescent growth, and some are to do with understanding other people and a growth in social and moral awareness. The children have to learn about the prejudice that is "as much Maycomb as missionary teas" and they discover "the simple hell people give other people." In the process of growing up the children learn the value of self-control, tolerance and respect. The story is narrated by Scout. Her naivety and childish view of the world is highlighted by the reader, often understanding events better than Scout herself. Over the course of the novel, Scout learns various lessons: • From Calpurnia that politeness should be shown to all people even if their manners differ from your own. • From Atticus to control her hotheaded rashness and to appreciate the various meanings of courage • From Atticus to learn tolerance and to be able to turn the other cheek • From Aunt Alexandra the value of being a lady • From Heck Tate and Atticus, the destructive implications of society's prejudice At the end of the novel, Scout has successfully managed to take on Atticus' key lesson - that of seeing another person's point of view. Her behaviour with Boo has dramatically transformed from that at the beginning. (compare her earlier fears born out of ignorance and superstition with what reality now presents to her ) Jem's growing up is quicker and radical. At the beginning of the novel, Jem likes to play superstitious games about Boo Radley with Scout and Dill. The start of Jem's period of maturing is marked when: • Jem goes to get his trousers and Scout comments,"Jem and I first began to part • Jem begins to recognise Boo's human side and the childish games discontinue. He weeps for Boo when he realises what Boo's life must be like. company." Jem becomes more separate from Scout and Dill, particularly after his punishment involving Mrs Dubose. He breaks "the remaining code of our childhood" by telling Atticus that Dill the runaway is in the house. Jem is also proud of showing Scout his first signs of physical maturity and he suffers teenage angst in his response to the injustices of the trial. Although not a child anymore, he has problems in coming to terms with the adult world, which poses a number of contradictions to him. It is through emulating Atticus' fine example that Jem comes through this painful period. He has learned from Atticus' example when he tries to comfort Scout about her mistake after the pageant."Jem was becoming almost as good as Atticus at making you feel right when things went wrong." Prejudice This is arguably the most prominent theme. Prejudice is directed towards groups and individuals in the Maycomb community. (1) Racial prejudice: Look at the trial of Tom Robinson, Aunt Alexandra's attitude to Calpurnia, The Missionary tea ladies, black and white segregation in Maycomb,the lynch mob, attitudes to black people in general.... (2) Class and family prejudice: a) Look at Jem's comments about family,, Tom's sympathy for Mayella, treatment of the Cunninghams, Aunt Alexandra's snobbish obsession with educating the children about their superior family background, how the Finches are treated.... b) The Radleys and the Ewells. The Ewells are seen as the lowest class of whites; the Radleys are misunderstood - why? c) Prejudice against girls / women:- Look at Jem's comments to / treatment of Scout Atticus' views, Scout's education of a woman's position in society ( Miss Maudie - religion - chap 5, Atticus - law of all male jury -chap 23, Aunt Alex - conduct and dress code -look for a sense of inequality ' abuse of women ( Mayella ) Individuals: (4) Boo Radley: Look at how prejudice is fed by fear, rumour, superstition, ignorance) Consider the devastating effect of prejudice on Boo's childhood / adulthood. Contemplate the general attitude towards Boo, Scout's fear, the way Nathan treats his brother, etc... (5) Tom Robinson: Look at his treatment before and during the trial; consider the aftermath and his death, particularly Maycomb's reactions. Tom is disadvantaged not only by his skin - colour, but also by his class and gender. Note how Harper Lee wants us to perceive him (as an honest, hardworking, honourable man ) in comparison with the distorted misrepresentations that he has to suffer. (6) Those who challenge prejudice and stereotypes: Look at how Atticus directly challenges prejudice; consider his maxims ( standing in another's shoes, tolerance, sympathy, courage to stand up for what you believe in, preserve justice ) How far does Atticus actually challenge prejudice, given the verbal attacks he received for defending a black man? Parents and children Atticus shows his children love and respect. He does his best to bring them up to be rational, tolerant and sensitive. Aunt Alexandra criticises his parenting; her attitudes to parenting are in sharp contrast to those that Atticus adopts. Calpurnia is also a mother figure in the childrens' lives: Atticus is grateful to her for this role and he trusts her implicitly. Scout and Jem are fortunate in the adults who care for them. They learn something form each, and know that they are loved. What sort of parents are Tom and Helen Robinson? Other children have less happy experiences. Bob Ewell is not a good parent. His children are filthy, unhealthy and uneducated. There is a hint that he has molested Mayella and there is clear evidence of physical violence within the household, directed at his children. Mayella's pathetic and dangerous attempt for some affection shows how damage Bob Ewell has inflicted. She lives out of fear of her father who cares little for his parental responsibilities. Dill and Boo Radley are also damaged children. Dill suffers from his parents' indifference and finds a substitute parent in Atticus. Dill is starved of love making him only able to live in the world of dreams and fantasies. Boo is the victim of a bigoted father who sacrifices his son's emotional and physical health to his own prejudices. This family, with its secrets and its closed shutters, demonstrates the damage that can be done when human beings are deprived of the emotional environment they need to grow to their full potential. His confinement and stunted development leave him a broken shell, unable to cope in the outside world. The Coexistence of Good and Evil The most important theme of To Kill a Mockingbird is the book’s exploration of the moral nature of human beings—that is, whether people are essentially good or essentially evil. The novel approaches this question by dramatizing Scout and Jem’s transition from a perspective of childhood innocence, in which they assume that people are good because they have never seen evil, to a more adult perspective, in which they have confronted evil and must incorporate it into their understanding of the world. As a result of this portrayal of the transition from innocence to experience, one of the book’s important subthemes involves the threat that hatred, prejudice, and ignorance pose to the innocent: people such as Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are not prepared for the evil that they encounter, and, as a result, they are destroyed. Even Jem is victimized to an extent by his discovery of the evil of racism during and after the trial. Whereas Scout is able to maintain her basic faith in human nature despite Tom’s conviction, Jem’s faith in justice and in humanity is badly damaged, and he retreats into a state of disillusionment. The moral voice of 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 able to admire Mrs. Dubose’s courage even while deploring her racism. Scout’s progress as a character in the novel is defined by her gradual development toward understanding Atticus’s lessons, culminating when, in the final chapters, Scout at last sees Boo Radley as a human being. Her newfound ability to view the world from his perspective ensures that she will not become jaded as she loses her innocence. The Importance of Moral Education Because exploration of the novel’s larger moral questions takes place within the perspective of children, the education of children is necessarily involved in the development of all of the novel’s themes. In a sense, the plot of the story charts Scout’s moral education, and the theme of how children are educated—how they are taught to move from innocence to adulthood—recurs throughout the novel (at the end of the book, Scout even says that she has learned practically everything except algebra). This theme is explored most powerfully through the relationship between Atticus and his children, as he devotes himself to instilling a social conscience in Jem and Scout. The scenes at school provide a direct counterpoint to Atticus’s effective education of his children: Scout is frequently confronted with teachers who are either frustratingly unsympathetic to children’s needs or morally hypocritical. As is true of To Kill a Mockingbird’s other moral themes, the novel’s conclusion about education is that the most important lessons are those of sympathy and understanding, and that a sympathetic, understanding approach is the best way to teach these lessons. In this way, Atticus’s ability to put himself in his children’s shoes makes him an excellent teacher, while Miss Caroline’s rigid commitment to the educational techniques that she learned in college makes her ineffective and even dangerous. The Existence of Social Inequality Differences in social status are explored largely through the overcomplicated social hierarchy of Maycomb, the ins and outs of which constantly baffle the children. The relatively well-off Finches stand near the top of Maycomb’s social hierarchy, with most of the townspeople beneath them. Ignorant country farmers like the Cunninghams lie below the townspeople, and the white trash Ewells rest below the Cunninghams. But the black community in Maycomb, despite its abundance of admirable qualities, squats below even the Ewells, enabling Bob Ewell to make up for his own lack of importance by persecuting Tom Robinson. These rigid social divisions that make up so much of the adult world are revealed in the book to be both irrational and destructive. For example, Scout cannot understand why Aunt Alexandra refuses to let her consort with young Walter Cunningham. Lee uses the children’s perplexity at the unpleasant layering of Maycomb society to critique the role of class status and, ultimately, prejudice in human interaction. Man's inhumanity to man Dolphus Raymond's remark epitomises what happens within the closed society of Maycomb. There are many examples of the "hell" of isolation, of being outcast, of being denied what is necessary to sustain human happiness. • The negroes have no education and are by and large illiterate • Black people receive pitiful wages and have no job prospects yet they are expected to be grateful for any mercies. • Black people are derided and insulted. At best they are referred to as "niggers"; at worst they are seen to be immoral and criminal. • The casual way in which Nathan shoots at black people demonstrates a society who totally disregard black people as human beings with rights. • Miss Maudie doesn't treat the black people as outcasts. Indeed, she challenges such prejudice, along with Atticus. • Children are emotionally and physically abused within the loose family structure ( Mayella, Boo Radley ) • Parents mistreat or ignore their children (Dill) • There is also the hell of class consciousness which keeps sections of the community in isolation from one another. Look at how Scout tells Cal that Walter is not "company" as he is a Cunningham. Later she learns from her mistake and is deeply upset that Aunt Alex refers to Walter as "trash." • Aunt Alexandra tries to reinforce class divisions by showing her horror that Calpurnia took the children to church. • The injustice of the trial. Tom is imprisoned and later killed as a result of people's prejudice. • The trial is a mockery of justice. • The missionary tea ladies speak out against prejudice and yet mistreat their fellow human beings. Character Grid – use this to focus your notes (you may need much more space!) What are they like / general information? Atticus Calpurnia Scout Jem Dill Miss Maudie Boo Radley What others think of them? Role in the novel? Key quotes / page references. SCOUT Scout is a very unusual little girl, both in her own qualities and in her social position. She is unusually intelligent (she learns to read before beginning school), unusually confident (she fights boys without fear), unusually thoughtful (she worries about the essential goodness and evil of mankind), and unusually good (she always acts with the best intentions). In terms of her social identity, she is unusual for being a tomboy in the prim and proper Southern world of Maycomb. One quickly realizes when reading To Kill a Mockingbird that Scout is who she is because of the way Atticus has raised her. He has nurtured her mind, conscience, and individuality without bogging her down in fussy social hypocrisies and notions of propriety. While most girls in Scout’s position would be wearing dresses and learning manners, Scout, thanks to Atticus’s hands-off parenting style, wears overalls and learns to climb trees with Jem and Dill. She does not always grasp social niceties (she tells her teacher that one of her fellow students is too poor to pay her back for lunch), and human behavior often baffles her (as when one of her teachers criticizes Hitler’s prejudice against Jews while indulging in her own prejudice against blacks), but Atticus’s protection of Scout from hypocrisy and social pressure has rendered her open, forthright, and well meaning. At the beginning of the novel, Scout is an innocent, good-hearted five-year-old child who has no experience with the evils of the world. As the novel progresses, Scout has her first contact with evil in the form of racial prejudice, and the basic development of her character is governed by the question of whether she will emerge from that contact with her conscience and optimism intact or whether she will be bruised, hurt, or destroyed like Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. Thanks to Atticus’s wisdom, Scout learns that though humanity has a great capacity for evil, it also has a great capacity for good, and that the evil can often be mitigated if one approaches others with an outlook of sympathy and understanding. Scout’s development into a person capable of assuming that outlook marks the culmination of the novel and indicates that, whatever evil she encounters, she will retain her conscience without becoming cynical or jaded. Though she is still a child at the end of the book, Scout’s perspective on life develops from that of an innocent child into that of a near grown-up. SCOUT AND ADULTS CALPURNIA ATTICUS " Calpurnia was all angles and bones... her hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard." "Jem and I found our father satisfactory; he played with us, read to us, with courteous detachment." " Our battles were epic and one-sided. Calpurnia always won. "Atticus always took her side." "I felt her tyrannical presence as long as I could remember. " " We looked at her in surprise for Calpurnia rarely commented on the ways of white people." " In Calpurnia's teaching, there was no sentimentality; I seldom pleased her and she seldom rewarded me." " Calpurnia sent me through the swinging door with a stinging smack. I told Calpurnia to just wait: I'd fix her..."Hush your fussin'" she said." " Atticus never talked much about the Radley's." " Atticus's only answer was for him to mind his own business and let the Radley's mind theirs, they had a right to.; but when it happened, Jem said Atticus shook his head and said,"Mm, mm, mm." " Atticus shook his head at me again." " I've no intention of getting rid of her, now or never. You think about how much Cal does for you, and you mind her, you hear now?" Questions 1. How does Scout regard Calpurnia? How does she see her? 2. What role does Calpurnia play in their lives? Is she more than just a cook? 3. What do Scout's reactions to the way Calpurnia treats her show about Scout's character? (i.e when she says "I'd fix her." ) 4. What sort of relationship does Scout have with her father? 5. What sort of a father is Atticus to the children? Do you think that Scout would like a different sort of dad? If so, what kind? ATTICUS Atticus stands for all Harper Lee admires in a father, citizen, a lawyer, a Southern gentleman and a Christian. He has a wisdom and a perspective that make him the conscience of his town. Atticus embodies the humanitarian values Harper Lee wishes to present, the tolerance and understanding she sees as essential for life in a civilised society. In many ways he is an idealised character but this is no doubt why Scout admires her father so much. His humanitarian principles are summed up in his statement that you cannot understand another person,"Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." At every opportunity he demonstrates to his children how important this "Simple trick" is. Eventually Jem and Scout come to follow his example and they come to understand not only their father, but Mrs Dubose, Mayella Ewell and Boo Radley. These experiences form an important part of their moral education. Yet he allows the children to learn from their own experiences as far as possible, rather than playing a heavy-handed father figure. He is a conscientious father. He is a contrast to the way that Mr Ewell and Mr Radley treat their children, He is honest and straightforward with them. He is always there as a reassuring presence. He always listens to their opinions and deals with their questions, even embarrassing ones. When Atticus sends Jem off to apologise to Mrs Dubose, Scout says that she hates him for putting Jem in danger. She soon ends up in Atticus' arms, getting the reassuring explanation that she needs. Atticus always does what is best for his children, despite others attacking him for his parental style, notably Aunt Alexander. As a citizen he is highly respected and he has a highly developed sense of responsibility. He was elected unopposed to the state legislature and is the only man considered by the judge to be capable of defending Tom Robinson. Even though he knows that he probably will not win his case, his reasoning is testimony to the high morals of the man," Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win." For Atticus it is a matter of what is right. He believes in defending the truth and will not be swayed from doing so, despite threats from ignorant townsfolk. He feels it is his duty to break down prejudice and even though Scout questions his involvement in the trial, for him it is a matter of conscience. "If I didn't, I couldn't hold up my head in town." Atticus is also a Christian in the true sense of the word. His attitudes throw into relief the kind of Christianity that can condemn and execute an innocent man. His character exposes the hypocrisy of Maycomb and societies within the town that profess to stand for Christianity. The white ladies of Maycomb embody the narrow-minded attitudes which Atticus is trying to overcome. Miss Maudie recognises Atticus as a truly religious man, "We're so rarely called on to be Christians, but when we are, we've got men like Atticus to go for us," a statement which again suggests the christ-like position of Atticus in the novel. Only through his own suffering can he hope to "redeem" his town. When Miss Maudie says," We're paying the highest tribute we can pay a man. We trust him to do right. It's that simple," she echoes what Harper Lee is trying to promote. Lee expresses her moral philosophy through Atticus integrity and courage. Atticus is also portrayed as the author's idea of the perfect Southern gentleman. He is courteous to all, treating the abusive Mrs Dubose with great politeness and patience. His children are embarrassed by his seeming lack of "manly" virtues but Atticus faces a mad dog, risks his life protecting Tom from the lynch mob which he does so without fuss. It is also Atticus who rescues Miss Maudie's favourite chair from the fire. " I thought it sensible of him to save what she valued most." Typical of a man who is thoughtful, sensitive and perceptive. Is he weak at any point? Some argue that he takes undue risk with the lives of himself and his children. He must have known what Bob Ewell was capable of, especially when Bob spits in his face saying he'd get his revenge. In chapter 23 Atticus asks his children to," stand in Bob Ewell's shoes a minute. " and continued to reassure them that," We don't have anything to fear." Atticus seems too optimistic in his view of people. Indeed he ends the novel in response to Scout's assertion that Boo " was real nice" professing ," Most people are when you finally see them." Is this naive and unrealistic or an example of his generous heart and optimistic view of human nature. His stance is to find the best in people and see people for what they really are. He is not a paragon or an ideal but in many ways is simply a lovable man whom we watch suffer for what he believes in. Behind his service to others, lies a deep humility of spirit, "Atticus' eyes filled with tears. He did not speak for a moment. ' Tell them I'm very grateful,' he said. 'Tell them - tell them never to do it again. Times are too hard...." Atticus' response to being given lots of food from the poor black community, grateful for what he did for Tom Robinson. His only interest was in truth and justice, not what he could personally gain from the trial. A man had needlessly lost his life due to the unrelenting prejudice and racism in Maycomb. Rather than the novel ending on a bleak note, it is a hopeful and enduring one of a father who is there for his children, protective over their well-being, always doing what is right, upholding truth and morality, despite the constant threats and conflicts from society. What people say about him These are Miss Maudie Atkinson’s comments about Atticus: ‘He’s the same in the courtroom as he is on the public streets’ Chapter 19 ‘There are some men in the world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them.’ Chapter 22 ‘Did it ever strike you that Judge Taylor naming Atticus to defend that boy was no accident?’ Chapter 22 Atticus as a father Atticus treats his children as intelligent young adults – he speaks in a clear matter-of fact way, and answers questions directly (including those about technical points of law and definitions of rape). He is very fair – he tries to hear both sides of an argument. He does not beat his children, but is firm in some matters – such as when he insists that Jem read to Mrs. Dubose, or makes them obey Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra. He does not stereotype people – he is quite happy for Scout to be a tomboy. He sees that the children need a mother figure, and recognizes that Calpurnia is far better able than he is to be a homemaker. Atticus’s diplomacy Atticus is frequently criticized by other people. He does not take advantage of his social standing to retaliate or rebuke them. Atticus remains calm when provoked directly – look, for example, at how he handles Bob Ewell’s challenge: ‘“Too proud to fight?” “No,” says Atticus, “too old”’ (Think about the ambiguity – on the surface it seems to mean that Atticus is no longer strong and fit enough to fight; but also it might mean that fighting is not something that adults should do – which could imply that Bob has not grown up). Atticus understands the importance of allowing people to pay for his services, even though he has no need of their gifts – as when he accepts payment in kind from the Cunninghams, or gifts from the black people of Maycomb after Tom’s trial. Atticus’s sympathy Atticus shows an interest in Walter Cunningham’s home life, and asks him about farming – he allows Walter, who may not be very good at school work, to speak as an expert. Atticus always shows admiration for Mrs. Dubose – even though she abuses him and is a racist. At the end of the novel Atticus understands Boo’s shyness – he does not try to make him sit down in the light, and addresses him courteously as ‘Arthur’. When he learns of Bob Ewell’s attack, he thinks it must be caused by a loss of sanity (like ‘diminished responsibility’ in English law). He is very reluctant to see what Heck Tate (and the reader) knows is the real cause of the attack, that Bob Ewell is an evil man. Atticus’s integrity Atticus tries always to do what he sees is right: he does not WANT to take Tom’s case, but sees this as his duty. Where some lawyers would go through the motions, seeing the case as a lost cause, Atticus believes that he should still try to save Tom. Atticus will not try to spare his own family from the consequences of their actions. When he thinks (wrongly) that Jem has killed Bob Ewell, he insists that the ‘best way to clear the air is to have it all out in the open’. Atticus’s lack of prejudice Today we might not see this as remarkable, but Atticus lives in a racist and sexist society, yet shares neither prejudice. He respects people of colour – he gives Calpurnia complete discretion in running his house. Atticus respects women – he extends this respect to Mayella Ewell, whom Scout depicts as pathetic and friendless. Atticus’s ideal of courage Atticus shows some physical courage in facing a rabid dog, but he does not value this highly. Atticus shows courage in keeping guard outside the jail (Chapter 15), and stays calm outwardly when the lynch mob arrives. In defending Tom and being ready to accept the label of ‘nigger-lover’ Atticus shows moral courage. Atticus’s ideal is Mrs. Dubose: ‘...when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what’. Is this a fair description of Atticus’s own courage in trying to save Tom? Atticus’s two errors Atticus makes two errors of judgement: trusting the Old Sarum mob not to try to lynch Tom. Chapter 15 trusting Bob Ewell not to carry out his threats of revenge. Chapter 23 What do these errors tell us about Atticus? Boo Radley Overview Arthur Radley does not appear to Scout directly until the final chapters of the novel, but his presence is felt throughout the narrative. He is a silent witness of the children’s actions. He is always vigilant and he sees the danger Atticus has overlooked when he saves the lives of Scout and Jem. In the first chapter of the novel Scout considers the different starting points in a chain of events which form the plot of the novel. Jem maintains that ‘it began...when Dill first gave us the idea of making Boo Radley come out’. What began then we do not fully learn until the end of the novel, though we will soon learn more about Boo – much of it misleading or inaccurate. At the end of the novel Scout summarizes the events Arthur has witnessed (and in which he has sometimes taken part), leading up to his emerging from confinement when the children’s lives are in danger. At the start of the novel the brief reference to Boo arouses the reader’s interest. Scout learns more from a variety of sources. Most of this information comes from Jem, who has heard it, in turn, from Miss Stephanie Crawford – and she is known to exaggerate or invent things. Boo’s background It seems that Arthur was not very successful at school (though he may have won a spelling medal). In his teens he joined with some of the Cunninghams in joyriding around Maycomb’s square and locking an elderly official (Mr. Conner) in the court outhouse. While the other boys went to a state industrial school, Arthur was shut up at home by his parents. Fifteen years later Arthur, now aged thirty-three, attacked his father with a pair of scissors. His father (‘the meanest man ever God blew breath into’, according to Calpurnia) opposed sending him to a psychiatric hospital, and eventually took him home. When his father died, Arthur became the ward of his brother, Nathan Radley. Though less severe than his father, he still kept Arthur more or less imprisoned in the family home. By the time of the events in the novel it is no longer clear how far Arthur is forced to stay in, and how far this is his own wish. What some people say about Arthur To form your own idea of what Arthur is like you might consider what other people say about him, and decide how reliable their opinions are: Jem says he is ‘six and a half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch...There was a long...scar that ran across his face...his eyes popped and he drooled most of the time.’ Miss Stephanie claims that she once woke up to see Boo at her window. Miss Maudie (Chapter 5) says that the legends about Boo are ‘three fourths coloured folk and one fourth Stephanie Crawford’ and that she knew Arthur as a boy: ‘He always spoke nicely to me, no matter what folks said he did’. She also explains that Arthur’s family hold very severe religious beliefs, which have affected the way they treat Boo. Boo in the first part of the novel Scout tells the reader a lot about Boo in the early part of the novel, but he disappears from the narrative for most of the middle and later chapters, which are concerned with the story of the trial and its sequel. Early in the story, the children try to persuade Boo to come out, but it seems that they miss the occasions when he does do this. Consider these clues: The children receive a series of mysterious presents which are left in the knot-hole of an oak tree by the Radley’s house: two pieces of chewing gum, two Indian-head coins, two figures carved out of soap, a packet of gum, a spelling medal and a broken pocket watch. Are these random gifts, or do they tell you anything about the giver? When Jem snags his trousers on the fence wire, he leaves them. When he goes to retrieve them, he sees that they have been mended, inexpertly. What do you suppose is the explanation? When Miss Maudie’s house is burned, someone places a blanket over Scout’s shoulders. Atticus sees this but does not tell Scout when it happens. Comment on what you think is the explanation. Although Jem does not see Arthur on any of these occasions, he begins to understand what is happening. When Nathan Radley stops up the knot-hole, it is a fairly clear sign that he knows what Arthur has been doing and wants to stop it. And when Scout thinks she hears laughter from inside the Radley house, she finds this sinister – but the reader comes to see that this is the innocent laughter of Boo Radley, who is amused by the children at play. Boo in the final chapters of the novel Arthur’s saving of the children’s lives is presented in an unusual way. Scout sees nothing and Jem remembers nothing. She also does not recognize the stranger in her house until Atticus makes this clear to her. Arthur has taken a kitchen knife – the only weapon he can find, evidently – and stabbed Bob Ewell, as he attacks the children. Heck Tate works out what has happened, and conceals Bob Ewell’s flick-knife, in order to maintain that the kitchen knife was Ewell’s weapon, on which he fell. This means that Arthur will not have to face an inquest, or any further public exposure. Although Arthur is shy, he forgets about himself while he attends to Jem’s injury and takes him home. He does nothing to conceal what he has done to Bob Ewell. We see this shyness as he stands out of the light, as he hesitates before stroking Jem’s hair, and as he speaks, in a whisper, only to ask Scout to see him home. Boo as an outsider Harper Lee explores a familiar theme in her depiction of Boo Radley – that of the misfit or outsider who is misunderstood. We see this in Beauty and the Beast (with a happy ending) or The Hunchback of Notre Dame (with a tragic ending). It is common in modern feature films, such as The Elephant Man, Edward Scissorhands or Babe. This portrayal is notable for the way in which the author presents Arthur Radley sensitively and with dignity. Finally, it is only when she literally stands in a new position, on the Radley porch, that Scout understands Atticus’s earlier remark (Chapter 3) about the need to put yourself in another person’s place (‘...climb into his skin and walk around in it’) before you can really know him or her. Jem If Scout is an innocent girl who is exposed to evil at an early age and forced to develop an adult moral outlook, Jem finds himself in an even more turbulent situation. His shattering experience at Tom Robinson’s trial occurs just as he is entering puberty, a time when life is complicated and traumatic enough. His disillusionment upon seeing that justice does not always prevail leaves him vulnerable and confused at a critical, formative point in his life. Nevertheless, he admirably upholds the commitment to justice that Atticus instilled in him and maintains it with deep conviction throughout the novel. Unlike the jaded Mr. Raymond, Jem is not without hope: Atticus tells Scout that Jem simply needs time to process what he has learned. The strong presence of Atticus in Jem’s life seems to promise that he will recover his equilibrium. Later in his life, Jem is able to see that Boo Radley’s unexpected aid indicates there is good in people. Even before the end of the novel, Jem shows signs of having learned a positive lesson from the trial; for instance, at the beginning of Chapter 25, he refuses to allow Scout to squash a roly-poly bug because it has done nothing to harm her. After seeing the unfair destruction of Tom Robinson, Jem now wants to protect the fragile and harmless. The idea that Jem resolves his cynicism and moves toward a happier life is supported by the beginning of the novel, in which a grown-up Scout remembers talking to Jem about the events that make up the novel’s plot. Scout says that Jem pinpointed the children’s initial interest in Boo Radley at the beginning of the story, strongly implying that he understood what Boo represented to them and, like Scout, managed to shed his innocence without losing his hope. Other characters: research on the internet
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