Elements of the Novel, To Kill a Mocking Bird

Elements of the Novel (To Kill a Mocking Bird)

Element

Questions

Evidence

Character

1. Name the various persons we encounter in TKAM.

Scout, Jem, Atticus, Arthur Boo Radley, Calpurnia, Miss Maudie

Atkinson, Mrs Dubose, Cunninghams, Ewells, Tom Robinson

2. How do we evaluate these characters?

a. by their speech

b. by their actions?

We evaluate the characters by both their speech and their actions.

What they say suggests how each one of them are thinking and the tone

in which they say, illustrates their attitudes. Minor actions on their

part also review their character s and attitudes.

E.g. (speech) Atticus,” You never really understand a person until

you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his

skin and walk around it.” (chapter 3) This piece of evidence shows

that Atticus is understanding towards everyone as he would always try

to see things from the other point of view.

(actions) When Mr Ewell approached him, cursed him, and threatened to

kill him, he just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face. He

understood how Mr Ewell felt as he destroyed his last shred of

credibility at that trial and felt that Mr Ewell, spitting on his face

and threatening him could save Mayella one extra beating. He

understood how they feel and did nothing to aggravate them.

E.g.

3. Do we have privileged access to all the characters’ most private

thoughts?

No. We only have access to Scout’s most private thoughts as she is the

narrator of the story. Her voice and viewpoint offer a glimpse of

local events and personalities through the lens of childhood.

Everything that happens is seen through her eyes. Everything that

happens must be known to her. But,, we can never see “inside the

heads” of other characters in the story. Only if the story is told in

the third person, it would be different. We would probably know why

exactly Jem cried, why Atticus took Tom’s case and what fears and

doubts he may have had.

E.g. Scout witnessed how Aunt Alexandra’s reaction to the bad news of

Tom Robinson’s death. She was truly upset but she still put on a brave

front and looked as happy as she could to join the other ladies. She

thought that Aunt Alexandra was strong and wanted to be like her. So

with her best company manners, she served them, thinking that after

all, if Aunt Alexandra could be a lady at time like this, so could I.

(access to Scout’s thoughts)

E.g. Jem was moody and silent for a week after the incident which he

left his pants on the wire and he went back to take it. We are unable