To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee and A Blow, A Kiss, by Tim Winton

1607 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Annelyse the Mocking Bird by Harper Lee

Intertextuality

The difference between short stories and novels extends far beyond the obvious, Short stories are often read in a single sitting and can be defined as a brief version of logical events usually revolving about a singular plot. Whilst a novel may retain many of the characteristics of a short story the format builds upon these basic ideas and concepts, expanding on themes and extending the plot and shaping the story through complicated interaction between characters. The process of comparing two texts is known as Intertextuality. By studying the novel "To kill a mocking Bird" Authored by Harper Lee and contrasting this with the short story "A blow, A kiss" written by Tim Winton

The most pronounced section at the start of any story is character development. The story "A blow, A kiss" opens with Albie and his father travelling home from a fishing expedition in the front of a truck, Albie refers to his fathers warmth and smell as being "enough" to subdue their earlier bad luck, Immediately a strong bond is realised between Father and son. Other than this the only other clues to the identities of this pair is the references to Albie’s mother and the eventual evolution of their rural surroundings. In the novel "To kill a mockingbird" Harper Lee has adopted a style most novels are written in. The story opens with Scout reflecting on events of the past, referring to developments in the story which are yet to occur. "To kill a mocking bird" Is divided into two sections, The first is almost entirely devoted to the development of characters. Scout describes in vivid detail every thought, look or sign of attitude that another character may be associated with. These vivid descriptions set Harper Lee’s novel apart from the short story. Whilst "A blow, A kiss" relies on the reader to "fill in the blanks" from a stereotypical analysis of the father and son based on the small amount of evidence given as to their identities. In the novel however the realistic portrayal of characters and the dramatisation of their thoughts allows the reader author to alter the readers perception of a character from a particular subculture, by doing away with stereotypes the author has more control and freedom over character development and hence the availability of possibilities for later actions ...

... middle of paper ...

... writer is given more of a medium to develop and disclose their opinions within their writing, In a short story the writers attitudes may seem forced and biased due to the short space of time in which they are fed to the reader. In a novel however the author may drop subtle hints as to their true intentions and build a better and more influential case to portray their case. A novel appears to be on the surface nothing more than an extended version of a short story and although in a sense this is true the novel brings to the table its own unique style of descriptive and enveloping writing. The short story is often written to entertain and amuse, ending with a deceptive twist. The novel however is slower to develop and will embrace more values and themes dealing with the most complex issues in such away to entertain the reader the depth of a novel allows for bonds to be developed between characters and reader that are more purposeful than that of short story counterparts. Their are numerous differences between the short story and the novel yet as a story their common purpose to enlighten, entertain and inform unites these forms of literature as what can only be described as a story.

Show More
Related

  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    836 Words  | 2 Pages

    Scout learned a number of things in the book, but most of them all refer back to a statement that Atticus and Calpurnia said, which goes, “It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird because all they do is sing their hearts our for us.” (Lee, pg. 90). Scout learned that about people, too. She learned that some people don’t do anything to you, so it would be a sin to do something mean in return. Over the course of the story Scout becomes more mature and learns the most important facts of life. She was living through a very difficult time and most of that helped her get through.

    Read More

  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    800 Words  | 2 Pages

    Atticus Finch is a man who fought for what he believed in. He stood up for what he

    Read More

  • What You Pawn I Will Redeem by Sherman Alexie

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Unit 2: Reading & Writing About Short Fiction." ENGL200: Composition and Literature. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. 49-219. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

    1141 Words  | 3 Pages

    Childhood is a continuous time of learning, and of seeing mistakes and using them to change your perspectives. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates how two children learn from people and their actions to respect everyone no matter what they might look like on the outside. To Kill A Mockingbird tells a story about two young kids named Scout and her older brother Jem Finch growing up in their small, racist town of Maycomb, Alabama. As the years go by they learn how their town and a lot of the people in it aren’t as perfect as they may have seemed before. When Jem and Scout’s father Atticus defends a black man in court, the town’s imperfections begin to show. A sour, little man named Bob Ewell even tries to kill Jem and Scout all because of the help Atticus gave to the black man named Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee illustrates the central theme that it is wrong to judge someone by their appearance on the outside, or belittle someone because they are different.

    Read More

  • Understanding and Management of Venous Thromboembolism

    1381 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Chronic diseases and illnesses are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States” (CDC.gov, 2014). These types of illnesses are the most common health problems that people in this country face today and they are also the most preventable (CDC.gov, 2014). Every year the cost to help care for and manage people with these types of illnesses increases and there is less being done about educating people about prevention. Venous Thromboembolism is one such chronic disease that is very deadly but also very preventable if the right precautions are taken. This paper will aim to educate about the disease, courses and costs of treatment, clinical microsystems that are involved and what barriers if any exist to achieving generative relationships among the various clinical microsystems involved.

    Read More

  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

    839 Words  | 2 Pages

    Signs of DIC are as varied as the diseases and conditions which precipitate it; the most universal sign is abnormal bleeding, such as excessive bleeding from venipuncture sites and petechiae or ecchymoses occurring spontaneously along the ventrum and inguinal body regions (Bassert 1161, Tilley 373). Three distinct phases of DIC are recognized: the chronic silent phase, the peracute hypercoagulability phase, and the acute consumptive phase (Bruchim). Each phas...

    Read More

  • The High Cost Of College Education

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    While college may be initially uneconomical, evidence from a 1959 census shows a “three-fourths of earning difference” between those who graduated from college and those who merely received a high school diploma (Weisbrod et al 495). Weisbrod and Karpoff acknowledge the high cost of college in America, but assert the benefits of a college degree will more than reimburse a person in the long run, therefore the initial cost of attending a college is worthwhile. (Weisbrod et. al). Furthermore, this indicates only “one-fourth of the earnings differences are attributed...to non-schooling factors”, which proves the significant role college plays in determining the future earnings of an individual (Weisbrod et. al 497). College appears to be the most influential factor in regards to a person's earnings, therefore according to Weisbrod and Karpoff, college is necessary for a person who wishes to obtain a higher expected income. Even students who attend mediocre to below-average colleges will receive “a lifetime income that is [around] 10 percent lower ...than that which someone at one of the best schools can expect” (Weisbrod et. al 497). Weisbrod and Karpoff contend even low-tier colleges result in higher earnings, therefore a student should strive to attend any college regardless of the

    Read More

  • Deep Vein Thrombosis

    663 Words  | 2 Pages

    The prevalence of Deep Vein Thrombosis is actually idiopathic, meaning its unknown. In the United States, there are about 300,000 to 600,000 people affected every year. About one in every 100 individuals over 80 years of age to get DVT. About 60-100 thousand Americans die of DVT. Within one month of diagnosis about 10-30 percent dies. It can also cause a sudden death. Throughout the United States population, there are about 5-8 percent of people that are affected with DVT. An estimated amount of about half the people affected by DVT has long term complication. The long term complications may include swelling of some kind, discoloration, or cause the limb that affected to be scaly. There is no prevalence to where a certain race or gender is more affected by the disease.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Home Buying And Renting

    856 Words  | 2 Pages

    Owning a home means gaining equity. If the owner keeps the house long enough for it to rise above the initial cost of its purchase, then that is profit. This is one of the most essential and superb matters associated with home ownership.

    Read More

  • A Reflection Of My Writing Process

    897 Words  | 2 Pages

    Anyone who is doing any type of writing piece has a process. They may not know it but it is there and it exists. It is one’s approach to their piece and how they go about accomplishing it. It has to do with how you write it, how many drafts you do, as well as your revision process if you even have one. My writing process however has room for improvement. A summation of my writing process consist of heavy planning, one draft, and little revisions. Anne Lamott, Shirley Rose, and Kathleen Yancey all drew attention to major points through their writing pieces that support and dispute my writing process. Through their pieces they have found a way to inspire, inform, and entertain me all at the same time while passing along great information that

    Read More

  • Renting Versus Buying

    807 Words  | 2 Pages

    When someone makes the decision to buy or rent a home they must consider the advantages and disadvantages of each. In buying a home the primary advantage is that you actually own it. You can do whatever you want with it. Also, you are building equity as the years go by. “People today have problems saving for their future” (CNN Money, 2014). However, when they buy a home, the money they put down for a down payment is an investment. When the person sells the home they get back the down payment and the amount the property has appreciated in value. When looking at the advantages of renting it is easy to see the disadvantages of buying for some people. Even though you don’t get the money back that you put into it, renting could be a more satisfying option for some. This is because renting allows for flexibility. The person can move wherever as soon as there lease is up. Renters may see buying as “a reduction in lifestyle, moving to a smaller place, and perhaps a less expensive neighborhood.” (CNN Money, 2014). For example someone who rents an apartment enjoys how the complex keeps up the area and all the amenities it has to offer, and it is in an upper class part of town. However, when they buy they looks all the benefits, they have to do maintenance themselves, and move to an area they don’t particularly like to fit their price range.

    Read More

  • Is College Education Worthwhile Essay

    1364 Words  | 3 Pages

    It makes their family’s life become tough. They raise a question that why not letting these students go to work instead of this worthless education. As what is mentioned in the article “College degree still worth the investment, data suggest”, the author Mary Beth Marklein shows many evidences to support her main idea that the college education is still worth to invest because it can give college graduates higher wages. She showed the audiences a data, which pointed out that college graduates earned generally 56% higher that people who only have a high school diploma in the past four years. The author also said, “From 1982 to 2001, bachelor 's degree holders earned an average 80% more and associate 's degree-holders almost 30% more than workers with no more than a high school diploma”. The similar contents are also presented in the article “Median Salary Up Two Percent for Higher Education Professionals”. The author insists that the higher degree you get, the higher salary you will earn. In other word, it’s the truth that the college students might have heavy loans when they decided to go to college, but they

    Read More

  • Unprofessional Leadership: Case Study: Visionary Leadership

    881 Words  | 2 Pages

    Visionary leadership qualities help their project teams understand the true objectives and goals, as well as, how their contributions are important to achieve these goals (Preston, Moon, Simon, & Kossi, 2015). This very statement makes the visionary leadership style my number one go to style and my most beloved way of leading. To take a vision and to be able to correctly motivate and inspire your team with each individual contribution to get a job done and to further your project to the next level is amazing to me. Visionary will be the style I strive to work toward as a future leader. My number two style would be the Democratic style, mainly because Democratic leaders bring individuals together in order for everyone to give their thoughts, ask questions, and be involved in the entire project and its processes (Preston, et al, 2015). Getting teammates involved in all aspects of the project gives them a sense of

    Read More

  • Beowulf And Grendel's Hymn Analysis

    849 Words  | 2 Pages

    It can be said that there is nothing more permanent than change throughout human history. This notion has prevailed throughout thousands of years as old beliefs and ways of life are replaced by the next logical step in humanity’s attempt to achieve some sensation of sureness or stability in life. Change is at the forefront of much of Old English literature, as the pagan, naturalistic religion of the Anglo-Saxons slowly shifted to Christian ideology. This clash of spiritualistic superiority is clearly illustrated in the episode of Grendel’s Mother from Beowulf, the Wanderer, and Caedmon’s Hymn, all of which display a shift of Anglo-Saxon society to Christianity through a demonization of nature, the passing of old tradition, and the power of God’s will over man.

    Read More

  • The Benefits Of Attending College Vs. College

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    In John Cassidy’s article, he states, “About seventy percent of all high school graduates now go on to college, and half of all Americans between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-four have a college degree” (Cassidy 2). With that reality, the business world becomes much more competitive for jobs, and it comes down to whether a person has a degree or not. College should be thought of as a prerequisite for the growing jobs of the economy today. Next, college is worth it because it can provide a better life and make more money. According to economists studying the effects college has on a career path, “Once you enter the labor market, the theory says, you will be rewarded with a better job, brighter career prospects, and higher wages” (Cassidy 2). More options in life means more opportunity, and while some may be able to obtain a job more quickly than others, college will almost guarantee a job opportunity. Finally, college unlocks the true potential of everyone, including displaying a person’s characteristics or talents. According to the end of John Cassidy’s article, “Providing access to college for more kids from deprived backgrounds helps nurture talents that might otherwise go to waste” (Cassidy 5). Although it could be just for deprived kids, the same applies for all students. College helps students find themselves, and being on their own will make them broaden their horizons. Overall, a college degree has a lot of importance

    Read More

More about To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee and A Blow, A Kiss, by Tim Winton

Open Document