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Literary analysis essay for to kill a mockingbird
Literary Analysis of To Kill A Mockingbird Essay
Literary analysis for to kill a mocking bird
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In Harper Lee’s vastly successful novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, the author uses the knot-hole in the tree to symbolize the theme of communication between Arthur Radley (Boo Radley) and the kids. Throughout the book, Scout and Jem find items in the knothole of an oak tree at the edge of the Radley lot. They find a variety of items in the knot-hole ranging from a pack of gum to a ball of twine. The knot-hole represents Boo Radley's only way of communicating with the outside world, as Boo “stayed shut up in the house” due to his overly strict and firm Father and uncle. Thus Boo places these gifts in the knot-hole when no one is around such as on school days when the children are at school; this ensures that he will not be seen and that the kids
one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it is a sin to
Despite being from the same family, brothers Boo and Nathan Radley are character foils. Though greatly contrasting from one another, like brothers, Boo and Nathan also have some resemblance. Because Nathan appears as a solemn and conservative character, it seems that, perhaps, his corrupt family also damaged his well-being, as they had done with Boo. Though Mr. Nathan does indeed make more appearances outside from the Radley estate, he remains just as isolated as Boo from the people of Maycomb and, for that reason, is just as mysterious. Within the novel, several differences between the two brothers are also present. For instance, while Boo tries to socialize with Maycombers, Nathan desires no contact with the outside world and his territorial behaviour prevents his brother from as well. The knothole in the Radley’s tree is an example conveying this contrast. Boo attempts to befriend Jem and Scout by bearing gifts to them by placing them in the knothole of the tree; J...
/ no. think we’re almost to the tree now’ the fact Jem says ‘no’ then backs it up with a reasoning that they are nearing the tree shows that he feels safer by it, and that it offers them some potential protection, thus Bob Ewell is later found dead underneath it which further indicates how the tree, and Boo, were symbols of safety and a sort of friendship to the children. The whole town of Maycomb regards the Radley house with caution, ‘A Negro would not pass the Radley Place at night, he would cut across to the sidewalk opposite and whistle as he walked’, especially during the night which indicates that there is something sinister about the house which is why the children think that ‘Radley pecans would kill you’, yet when there is a fire the children regard the Radley place as a vantage point, offering safety from he crowds; ‘we stood by the gate away from everybody’ the fact that they were the only ones stood by the gate shows that they felt safer than other people did there and allowed them to open up communication with boo again as he puts the blanket around scout’s shoulders without her noticing, ‘you were so busy
In the book, the mockingbird symbolizes Arthur ?Boo? Radley in the novel. Both Boo and the mockingbird do no harm and are never anything but pleasant to others. Boo left gifts for Jem and Scout in the tree, such as gum, two indian head pennies, two carved soap figurines, and a pocketwatch. He also mended J...
In Celia, A Slave, a slave named Celia was sent to court because she committed homicide. However, the murder was justified, because she was trying to defend herself from her slave owner, Robert Newsom, who was attempting to rape her once again. This time around, Celia attempted to protect herself by striking Newsom, just in order to daze him for a bit. She did not intend to kill the man, but simply keep him away from her. Unfortunately, in Missouri in 1850, the only person that would be protected by law would be the slave owner, when it came to the rape of a slave. The slave owner would be allowed to immediately punish a rapist for trespassing on their property, which in this case, would be the slave. Celia, A Slave is a story that
It is illustrated in the story about how Arthur hides trinkets in a tree for Jem and Scout, “As we came to the live oaks at the Radley Place, I raised my finger to point for the hundreth time to the knot hole where I had found the chewing gum, trying to make Jem believe I had found it there and found myself pointing at another piece of tinfoil” (Lee 34); which shows that, even though Arthur is confined in his house, he still believes that making a friend is worth the risk of leaving his home. Arthur also displays his courage when he folds Jem’s pants after they get caught in the fence because, after his father pulled out his shotgun, there is no doubt that people’s eyes wandered over there every now and then: “When I went back, they were folded across the fence...like they were expectin’ me” (Lee 58). He even puts a blanket around Scout, jeopardizing his life by being so close to, not only a crowd, but Jem and Scout themselves: ‘“Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you”’ (Lee 72). He even saves Jem and Scout’s lives by putting the children’s safety before his own and murdering Bob Ewell: ‘“[Bob’s] dead alright. He’s good and dead. He won’t hurt these children again”’ (Lee 267); which shows that Arthur has compassion for the children and will do whatever it takes to make sure that they are guarded. Arthur Radley is a very courageous man because, even though he is seen as someone who is different, he goes out with the fear of someone seeing him so that he can help two
they both explained that there was a ‘..long jagged scar that ran across his face; what yellow teeth he had were yellow and were rotten his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time.”(Lee,13) Boo Radley and is a shy man that does not like getting out much but he always wanted to have friends, but he was to afraid to talk to be people, but scout and jem are two people that caught his attention to be friends with, so to give them hints Boo Radley leaves them little presents in a tree so they both can find them so he can show that he wants to reach out to them so they can have a friendship this can relate back to the Mockingbird because the mockingbird has the qualities like Boo Radley. In the book To kill a Mockingbird ...”mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy they don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.”(Lee,90) Boo Radley is similar to these qualities because he also keeps to himself and does not bother any body. He also likes to bring joy by the gifts he gives to Jem and scout.
Another very crucial point to the overall story is the mutual fascination between the children and Boo Radley (Arthur Radley). Boo constantly leaves objects (a watch, two soap dolls, a knife…etc) in the hollow of a tree on his property. Just as Boo does this, the children are constantly devising plans to look in the windows of the Radley house, to sneak into the back yard…etc. This was largely important to the story because it built upon the viewer’s opinion of the children, leading us to believe them having large capacity for imagination from their stories on Boo eating only squirrels and any cats he can get his hands on, and having them believe the stories as well! And all of these instances, the children’s stories, the fact that Boo never comes out of his house in sight of others, the stories of others concerning the Radley’s, the gifts in the tree hollow, lead us to believe Boo to be some sort of...
The novel of To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the timeline and era of the 1930s which was synonymous for the renowned Great Depression. A tragedy in which social and economic change was urgently required yet old traditional beliefs and racial hierarchies including the Jim Crow laws were kept firm in position. These beliefs along with other aspects including behavior are clearly represented in the novel which leads the reader to infer that the time and setting of To Kill a Mockingbird is the 1930s. There are various methods and pieces of evidence that we draw upon that leads to the conclusion that the setting of the novel takes place in the
The next sign of Boo is when he put things in the knothole for Jem and Scout. Jem and Scout didn't know who it was putting the little items for them in the knothole. Boo put rather strange things in the knothole for example a pocket watch, medal and chewing gum but the weirdest was 2 human-like carvings made from soap. Jem and Scout realised that the figures were figures of them. They thought that Boo was watching them. After the finding of the soap figures, Mr Nathan Radley filled the knothole with cement so that Boo couldn't leave any more items for them.
“Am I wrong for saying that I choose another way…Don’t let them control your life. That’s just how I feel. Fight for yours and don’t let them go. Don’t let them compare you, no.” This song by Nico and Vinz means that you should take your own path and if someone is judging you, you shouldn’t let them “control your life.” When Nico sings this he is also saying that you should “fight” or stand up for what you think is right even if no one follows or agrees with you. These two themes about judging others and standing up for what you believe in come up many times in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird and in Jem and Scout’s life. The children learn from these lessons and can use it to understand the world better. Although opponents might say that
It teaches them to not be prejudice and get to know a person before making a judgement. Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley, was frowned upon by many people in the Maycomb community. He was rumoured to have been locked in the basement by his father and older brother after an incident involving scissors. Though never seen stepping outside his house, he intrigues yet also frightens Scout, Jem and their friend Dill. After different events in the novel, the children come to find that Boo Radley is not intimidating, but a man who due to his father, is emotionally damaged. Miss Maudie, a neighbour of the Finch’s, explains to Scout that "Mockingbirds don 't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don 't eat up people 's gardens, don 't nest in corncribs, they don 't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That 's why it 's a sin to kill a mockingbird.” The mockingbird is a symbol for innocent people, who are judged for no reason. Like the mockingbird, Boo Radley has people prejudiced against him when he is an innocent man. By using this metaphor, the reader is able to understand the link between Boo Radley and the innocence and morality. As well as the mockingbird, he also symbolises goodness. By secretly watching over Scout and Jem, he protects them from later being attacked by Bob Ewell, a symbol of evil. When Jem and Scout begin to trust Boo, they are paying the highest tribute they could pay him.
and escape from prison and in doing so cause his death. Both characters are caring, for example, Boo Radley gives Jem and Scout two figurines, chewing gum, a tarnished medal, pocket watch and more. an aluminium knife via a knot-hole in a tree on the Radley property. However, Mr Radley cements the hole so Boo cannot send gifts to the children anymore, this is also an example of Boo's dominance. Tom Robinson helps Mayella Ewell on her property do many chores, as he does.
Throughout the semester we have discussed many cases, but Shirley Wilder’s case and story is the craziest and saddening I have ever read. The obstacles she and her son go through are things that I could not even imagine or see myself surviving. Nina Bernstein took an interest into the case because she wanted to know what happened to Lamont, Shirley Wilder’s son. By doing that she has opened people’s eyes to a whole new issue right in our own backyards. The problems within the foster care system go back from the beginning. Animals had more protection than children. In the 1874 case of Mary Ellen McCormack she was the one who finally put a human face on child abuse. Her neighbor, Etta Angell Wheeler, decided to take action, but since there was such a lack of child-protection laws she had to take the case up to the A.S.P.C.A (the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). From there on child abuse/neglect cases were supposed to be handled better and have better laws to protect these children.
Summer rolls around again and Dill comes back to visit. A sense of discrimination develops towards the Radley’s because of their race. Scout forms a friendship with her neighbor, Miss Maudie, whose house is later burnt down. She tells Scout to respect Boo Radley and treat him like a person. Treasures keep appearing in the knothole until it is filled with cement to prevent decay.