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Recommended: Use of Symbolism
A symbol in literature is an object that stands for a word, cause, belief, or another object. A metaphor is a figure of speech where a word of phrase is applied to something but it should not be taken literally. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, the mockingbird symbolizes innocence. The mockingbird is innocent, singing for people to hear its music. In the book Atticus says to Scout, “Remember it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.” When Scout asked Miss Maudie about it, Miss Maudie tells her, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy… but they sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Killing something so innocent would be a sin because it had never done anything to hurt you.
The mocking bird was important enough to be in the title of the book, giving it extra meaning and extra importance. The title To Kill a Mockingbird carries the same meaning that you should never harm something that is innocent even it is easy, and it carries throughout the story and into the trial. Although Tom Robinson was innocent but still got convicted, it shows that it was wrong to do so. In the trial, Tom Robinson would be the mockingbird and the jury would be the wielder of the gun.
The symbols that are used in literature can have a large impact on the story and what the reader pulls out from the story. If there was no symbol used in To Kill a Mockingbird, people would miss a lot of the story going on and they may not see the more innocent side of the story. Although symbols are used in many different forms, the one used in To Kill a Mockingbird made the story what it was. The mockingbird gave the story a whole different approach. By using a symbol in the story, the author was able to make th...
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...nson was guilty. There was no way he was guilty. Other people around looked like they thought the same thing. Most others there looked like they were happy that he was guilty. They were happy that he was getting the electric chair for something he never even did.
After everyone left nobody acted normal for days. The colored people wouldn’t talk to anyone but who they worked for. People that lived out of town in the woods talked about how happy they were that he was going to get the chair. Nobody said nothing about him being innocent. Nobody would ever even say that he was innocent.
I think that Tom Robinson was innocent, but there is no way I would say something crazy like that in the town of Maycomb. People would get the wrong idea and I don’t need that to happen. So, I’m just keeping my mouth shut until this whole thing goes over and something else happens.
According to Google, symbolism in literature is defined as the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Symbolism can be seen throughout media and in many pieces of literature including To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In the book, the symbol of the mockingbird represents the character Boo Radley, and how his story teaches people to not always believe what others have to say about someone without being able to prove it true for themselves.
To Kill A Mocking Bird is set in a small town in South America called Maycomb. Most of the town’s people of this happy town are not at all what they seem for there is a great hate for all coloured humans. At first glance many readers would wonder how the title evolved, but once you explore the text you begin to understand what the bases of Harper Lee’s message. Harper Lee has portrayed two characters as Mocking Birds. The first of these is Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is a Negro living in Maycomb who becomes notorious when he is wrongly accused of the rape of a white woman. Atticus knows that the battle will not be an easy case to win, but decides to represent Tom Robinson, as he says that he couldn’t hold his head up in town or tell the children what to do.
Figurative language is in most well written novels. It helps develop the overall theme the author is trying to portray. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, I noticed Harper Lee distinctively used two types of figurative language. The first is symbolism, Lee used this twice during the novel with the mockingbird representing beauty innocence and Boo Radley representing the good in people. The second is motifs, Lee used this to emphasize the small town life in Maycomb, Alabama and helps give a better understanding of the people in the town.
To Kill A Mockingbird has many symbols that have a thematic significance. Flowers and “Mockingbird” type characters are the main types of symbols. To begin, the flowers represent the racism and prejudice that lies within the tight community of Maycomb, Alabama. One instance of the flowers being used as symbolism is when Camellias
During the time that O.J was on trial for the murders of Nicole and Ronald, everyone who was following the hearing had a deep sense of fear and pity. They were fearing that the man they once adored and aspired to be like was actually capable of committing such an inconspicuous crime. Also, due to the accusations of the murder, the viewers were also feeling in the sense of pity, in both sadness and disappointment. The acts that O.J Simpson was accused of caused the audience to feel disappointed in his actions, as well as sadness towards his family. The accusations developed about O.J left people who didn’t even personally know him in tears. People were so sad about his downfall. The accusation led to the fact that O.J left his family with no mother and technically no father, as he’d be spending time in prison. Furthermore, since he was found not guilty, there was a large part of the audience that felt a sense of release and emotion, and some felt bad that he was ever accused of this, but rather he just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Due to the fact that O.J and Nicole were separated for a couple years before she died, Nicole had made new friendships, and there was no proof that someone new that she met could have caused this crime and tried to frame Simpson, due to his past accused abuse
Symbolism. Why is it important in a novel? Why do authors incorporate symbols into their writing? Symbolism aids the reader in understanding what the author wants to portray. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, she writes about the racism in a small town in Alabama named Maycomb set in the 1930’s and about two children growing up and learning that their town is not as perfect as they thought. The theme topic appearance versus reality helps to get a better understanding of the symbols used in the novel and that you should not judge something by their appearance, you should judge by the reality of what it is. “As Atticus once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jem’s skin and walk around in it.” (Scout page 77) In her novel, there are many symbols throughout the narrative that relate to the theme topic appearance versus reality. Harper Lee writes symbols into her novel, such as the snowman, Mrs. Dubose’s Camellia flower and Dolphus Raymond’s Coca-Cola bottle to help reinforce the theme topic of appearance versus reality throughout the novel.
Harper Lee uses symbolism extensively throughout To Kill a Mockingbird,, and much of it refers to the problems of racism in the South during the early twentieth century. Harper Lee's effective use of racial symbolism and allegory can be seen by studying various examples from the book, namely the actions of the children, of the racist whites, and of Atticus Finch.
In a case that has spanned more than 20 years and drew so much media attention, there is just as much intrigue today as it then. Did he do it or did he not do it? The entire world was captivated by the case. It took over a year for a trial and a conclusion that stunned the world with the verdict (Boyes). They were many household names that came out of this trial (Pitts).
How are birds symbolized to the human mankind society? Eagles are a symbol of bravery and great strength. Parrots are a symbol of intelligence. What about mockingbirds? How do they treat and contribute to the human mankind? Mockingbirds symbolize those who are innocent, helpful, and caring but are punished and treated badly. It is a skin to kill a mockingbird because they do not harm us in any way but sings wonderful songs to us. Some of the characters like Boo Arthur Radley, Tom Robinson, and Mayella Ewell symbolizes the mockingbirds in Maycomb. Boo Arthur Radley who is innocent is segregated from the outer world and dominated and injured by the evil. Tom Robinson who also is an innocent man is convicted and is found guilty die to the colour of his skin. Mayella who has done nothing wrong is punished severely and forced to lie to convict Tom Robinson.
Many authors and poets uses symbolism to express emotion and sections throughout the text. Symbols is a great literary device that can help give messages to the reader without the author being too direct. In the story, “Barns Burning” by William Faulkner, Symbolism helps analysis different emotions and meaning throughout the story.
The media was really involved with this case, and many Americans had different opinions on what should happen to all the defendants, and of course the final decisions was that they were found guilty of conspiracy. Although, nothing much really happened after they got arrested it important to understand a couple of things.
In 1960, a novel was written to outline injustices and racism against those who were innocent, though unfairly judged because of social expectations and prejudiced beliefs. This novel not only presented these issues, but is also considered a revolutionary piece of literature, still being read by many people today, more than 50 years later. The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, has caused some controversy about the intents of the book and the way certain people or groups are presented. Whether To Kill a Mockingbird as a narrative outshines the issue it presents is a debatable argument. However, I believe that the narrative of the novel supports the concerns exhibited for numerous reasons. In what follows, some of these are presented: the historical
The Significance of the Title To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee In this novel, the most significant symbol is the mocking bird. A mocking bird is a type of Finch: a small, discrete bird with a. beautiful song, which mocks or imitates the other birds' song. One of the most explicit references made about mocking birds is that in chapter 10. Atticus is telling Scout and Jem how to use their shotguns for the first time, he says, 'Shoot all the bluejays you.
Atticus Finch speaks to a firmly principled, liberal point of view that runs contrary to the ignorance and preference of the white, Southern, small-town group in which he exists. Atticus is persuaded that he must impart values of equality in his kids, counteracting the racist impact. Lee makes utilization of several images and allegories all through the novel to symbolize racial clash. The youngsters' attitudes about Boo, for example, speak to in small scale the foundation of racial bias in fear and superstition. The rabid puppy that threatens the town has been deciphered as symbolizing the menace of racism. Many commentators have considered Atticus' shooting of the rabid puppy as a representation of his skills as an attorney in targeting the racial partialities of the town. The central image of the novel, the mockingbird, further creates the subject of racial partiality. For Christmas, Scout and Jem are given air rifles by their father, who warns that, although he thinks of it as fair to shoot different winged creatures, he sees it a "transgression to kill a mockingbird" because they "don't do one thing yet sing their hearts out for us." The mockingbird speaks to casualties of mistreatment in general, and the African-American group all the more specifically. The unfair trial of Tom Robinson, in which the jury's racial bias denounces a pure man, is symbolically characterized as the
A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot. (2009 Open-Ended Question for AP English Literature and Composition).