TKAM Literary Elements

To Kill a Mockingbird - Literary Elements Pages 3-16 of this packet are adapted from “Portals to Literature” by Mary Gillaspy. Chapter 1 - Exposition is the part of a work of fiction in which the reader is given the background information he or she needs to know. Reread the first four pages of the book and record what you learned about the setting, the main characters, and the beginnings of a plot conflict in the chart below. Setting – Maycomb A small Alabama settlement town where citizens know citizens, and traditions speak free of law, and where we meet the Finch’s, a family of radical differences and multiple possibilities, forced to get through the tough era of the great depression. Characters – Scout – The younger sister of Jem, who starts the book at 6, learning the downs of school Jem – A 13-year-old boy with a reckless attitude and a passion to learn the truth Dill – A mischievous boy who discomforts the kids by the tale of Boo Radley Atticus – The father of Jem and Scout, with no mother, works as a lawyer for the town Calpurnia – The faithful cook of the family, holds a good friend in Scout. Plot – Conflict A bit of vocal conflict when meeting Dill between Jem and him. Chapter 2 - Point of View in literature refers to the voice telling the story. It could be the author as a narrator or one of the characters in the story. Who is telling the story? What point of view is this? It’s Scout telling the story, so first person p.o.v. Is it being told as it happens or as a memory of times past? It’s being told as it happens. How do you think this point of view will affect the information that is given to the reader? How will it affect the language the narrator uses and her interpretation of events? I think it will show how Scout doesn’t know a lot of language so it might be a little vague when she see’s events that we might understand in a more complex manner. Chapter 3 Draw and fill in a Venn Diagram to show the similarities and differences between the Cunningham family and the Ewell family. The The Cunninghams Cunninghams They They are are very very poor poor They They like like the the Finch Finch family family especially especially Atticus, Atticus, because because Walter Walter is is aa client client of of Atticus Atticus They both aren’t very social The The Ewells Ewells They They only only go go to to school school on on the the first first day day They They have have aa lot lot of of dirty dirty diseases diseases They They don’t don’t take take guff guff from from anyone anyone They They Satire in literature is the ridicule of any subject, idea, person, or institution for reform. How was the institution of education satirized in this book? It’s referenced by the fact that the teachers aren’t happy to see students able to read more quickly than they should be, for instance, Ms. Caroline doesn’t like Atticus reading to Scout because it teaches Scout information. Do you think the author used satire to suggest serious reform or to gently poke fun at teachers and the educational system of the time? Explain. I think to gently poke at how teachers taught students at the time because it shows that teachers don’t like their students getting too smart before they’re ready. Who is presented as intelligent in the novel so far? Where did they learn what, they know? Scout is in school because Atticus reads to her every night, Ms. Caroline doesn’t approve of her learning and urges her to stop with this process. Chapters 1-3 – Mood is the emotional impact of a scene. An author works on the reader’s emotions through mood. An author also engages readers intellectually by inviting them to make inferences. Inferences are logical conclusions or opinions reached through reasoning. By reading mood and inferences correctly, readers can gain important insights into a work. These two literary devices can indicate how the plot will unfold or how relationships will develop. For each of the experiences below, choose a mood and write out what inferences you can make about a character’s personality, relationships between characters, or Maycomb in general from the episode. (Go to the next page for the questions that go with this introduction.) scornful suspicious frightening warm suspenseful humorous respectful reflective sympathetic understanding comforting critical expectant mysterious saddening Example: Atticus’ first experience with criminal law involved two men who were hanged for stupidly insisting they were innocent. Atticus developed a dislike for criminal law from this experience. The mood is reflective, humorous, and sympathetic. I can infer that Atticus dislikes seeing anyone’s blood shed and he feels that the legal system is not perfect. 1. Scout resents Cal, believing that the housekeeper is too strict a disciplinarian. The mood is reflective, understanding and scornful. I can infer that Scout does not like the idea of manual labor and demeaning tasks. 2. Jem and Scout are pleased when Dill comes to spend the summer in Maycomb. His arrival brings some excitement into what they believe is an otherwise dull existence. The mood is comforting, sympathetic and warming. I can infer that Jem and Scout believe Dill has a lot of excitement and pleasure to bring to the table and they respect him for that. 3. Cal lets Scout watch her cook supper, kisses her and gives her one of her favorite treats. Scout concludes that Cal knew all along that she was being unfair and was too stubborn to admit it. 4. The mood is scornful, reflective and expectant. I can infer that Scout still doesn’t like school, and pities Cal for having a more straightforward and comforting life. 5. Because he was guilty of some harmless mischief as a teen, Boo Radley was imprisoned in his father’s house where he has remained shut inside for years. The mood is saddening, frightening and suspicious. I can infer that Arthur had a tough childhood and that’s why he is so misunderstood by the town of Maycomb. 6. On a dare, Jem runs up to the Radley house and touches it. No one comes out, but the kids see a shutter move on one of the windows. The mood is suspenseful, suspicious and mysterious. I can infer that the kids were afraid of Arthur and will reflect on this in later chapters. 7. Scout begs Atticus to let her quit school. After listening to her story, he reminds her that one way to get along in the world is to see things from others’ viewpoints. The mood is saddening, reflective and sympathetic. I can infer that Scout has a hard time dealing with everyday life in school, Atticus can understand but wants her to understand that it’s not like everyone else has a 10/10 day every day, he wants her to see it’s the same for others. 8. Atticus tells Scout that they will continue reading like always, but that she must keep it a secret. The mood is critical, understanding and suspicious. I can infer that Scout will be thinking about this secret during school, and might be forced to speak the truth. Chapters 7-9 Foreshadowing is when an author hints at things to come. Foreshadowing is used for two main purposes. First, it stirs the reader’s curiosity and creates suspense. Second, it helps to make the story seem more realistic because even surprising events seem believable if hints have been dropped along and along to prepare the reader. For the following events, predict what they might foreshadow. Example: When the kids play the Boo Radley game, they are scared that they are going to get caught. Prediction: Someone, probably Atticus, will catch them playing the game. 1. Scout gets into trouble on her first day of school because she can read and write. This means that the teacher’s want to decrease the learning speed of students due to the civil war and great depression. 2. The Ewells can operate outside of the law in Maycomb County. The Ewells have higher rights in the town of Maycomb and are threats. 3. Scout describes Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose as the meanest old woman who ever lived. Scout and Mrs. Dubose have bad history together and have personality differences. 4. Atticus says he is sure Jem will keep a cool head in the face of upcoming events, but he is worried that Scout will not be able to do the same. Atticus is referring that because of Jem’s older age, he will be able to handle severe stress better than Scout. 5. Atticus cannot understand why “reasonable people go stark raving mad” over anything concerning blacks. Atticus is confused that the public cannot handle the events leading after the civil war and its terms on racism, and it might lead to mass hysteria. Chapter 11 So far in the novel, Atticus has taken the opportunity to “teach” the kids something valuable on several occasions. List three things that Atticus has taught the kids and tell how he taught them these lessons. 1. Atticus has taught Scout how to read and write by reading to her every night from his collection of books. 2. He taught Jem discipline by forcing him to read to Mrs. Dubose every day for one month of the summer and putting up with her bawling and yelling, taught him to push through bad times, and respect. 3. He taught Scout to visualize other people’s view of things and to respect their opinions in school even when she pleaded to not go. Chapters 10-12 - Imagery refers to language which appeals to many of the five senses. By using imagery, writers can communicate more than just a picture. In fact, they can even create the mood or emotional atmosphere of a scene. Being able to both sense and feel a scene makes reader participants, placing them in the midst of action. Reread the scenes listed below and find words that appeal to the senses listed in parentheses. Then, choose the mood created by the imagery of the scene.  The neighborhood waits for Atticus to shoot the mad dog. (Sight, Sound) Sight: We saw Atticus blink hard. Sound: His glasses slipped down and hit the ground, we heard them crack. Mood? a. peaceful b. tense c. desolate d. angry b. tense Scout and Jem go together to Mrs. Dubose’s house for the first time. (Sight, Sound, Smell) Sight: Mrs. Dubose was sitting on her porch chair. Sound: Mrs. Dubose yelled harshly at Jem and Scout about Atticus lawyering for colored men. Mood? a. tragic b. tense c. humorous d. gruesome d. gruesome  The children enter the church, observe the interior, and listen as Zeebo lines a hymn. (Sight, Sound) Sight: The rows of the pew rise in conceit and read the hymn. Sound: The many voices of the church members reciting the hymn.  Mood? a. reverent b. contented c. heartwarming a. Reverent Chapters 10-12 - Verbal Irony and Situational Irony are commonly used in prose. An example of verbal irony would be when Scout says “The internal arrangements of the Finch house were indicative of Simon’s…absolute trust with which he regarded his offspring”. This is ironic because he obviously did not trust his daughters at all since he put the exit to their bedroom in his room. Irony of situation occurs when the teacher scolds Scout for learning to read. One would not think that a teacher would be upset that her student could already read. Why is Irony used?  It can help an author underscore a point without preaching.  It can help develop a character by showing how a person perceives reality.  It can serve as a means of introducing humor. For the following examples, tell what the irony is and why the author used it. 1. Scout thinks that Mrs. Dubose will shoot Jem when Atticus sends him over to apologize for messing up her flowers. Situational Irony. Because Mrs. Dubose wasn’t mad with Jem, she just had no control over her medical condition, and wanted to spend time with him. 2. Scout thinks that Atticus can’t do anything cool. Verbal Irony. Because Atticus has a lot of feats that make him stand out from the public of Maycomb. 3. Scout thought that all churches had hymnals and printed orders of service. Situational Irony. Because churches have reverends that read hymns to ensure people that the bonds of god are within them, not orders of service to god. Chapters 12-14 - The careful choice of three adjectives or descriptive words encapsulated Aunt Alexandra’s appearance and character. Use the chart below to do the same thing for the other main characters of the book. Character Adjective #1 Adjective #2 Adjective #3 Aunt Alexandra enamored upright uncompromising Atticus serious forgiving tense Scout loving learner voice of reason Jem friendly tense nervous under pressure Calpurnia strict orderly helping hand Chapters 13-15 – Minor Characters are important in a story or novel. They can serve many purposes in a novel such as  give the author a way to provide background  act as a foil(contrast) or alter ego(comparison) to a major character  foreshadow events  advance the plot or illuminate a theme  enhance the setting, especially in local color novels  establish mood For the minor characters listed below, summarize the incident related to the character and decide what the author’s purpose was for including this minor character and incident. Francis: The son of Henry and his wife, is given to grandparents every Christmas, this year at the Finch’s, he causes commotion between him and Scout about Atticus’s lawyering clients, and lead to a fight. Walter: The son of the Cunningham family, a poor family living off the crops of their ranch, they never take what they can’t give back, he is in Scout’s classroom, and when she explains his story, she gets in trouble so she gets mad at him later, Jem knows he must stop her and resolve the situation. Heck: The Sheriff of Maycomb and tall and thin. He appears multiple times when is needed, (ex. Shooting of Tim Johnson, Courthouse of Tom Robinson, with Mr. Underwood) He is determined to be loyal, but isn’t a very good shot. Maudie: Ms. Maudie Atkinson is a flower-lover and a good friend of the Finch’s, in a scene, her house is set on fire because she was trying to keep her flowers warm from the Alabama snow, she stays with Stephanie Crawford after the fire. Burris: A son in the Ewell family, has lice and cooties and got sent home on the first day, but fusses with Mrs. Caroline because he was “going” home already for his family traditions, and insulted the teacher in front of the class, and left, laughing. Chapters 13-15 – Conflict is a clash between opposing forces. Internal conflict is when characters struggle within or against themselves. External conflict is when characters struggle against other characters or against their environment (physical or social). For the questions below, list the people or forces involved in the conflict and the type of conflict. 1. The night before Tom’s trial, Jem sneaks out of the house to follow Atticus, though he worries that Atticus will disapprove. Internal conflict, Jem is struggling to make up his mind, because it’s a common case of internal conflict where one half wants one outcome, and the other another. 2. Atticus scolds Scout for speaking disrespectfully to Aunt Alexandra. External conflict, Atticus is mad with Scout for calling on Aunt Alexandra when she is a senior and it is similar to when Jem terrorized the yard of Mrs. Dubose. 3. The people of Maycomb criticize the Finch family when Jem and Scout pass by on the street. External conflict, the town doesn’t approve of a white man serving to help a colored man and Jem and Scout feel roped in because they are related to Atticus, so they also struggle with Internal conflict meanwhile. Chapters 16-18 – Similes and Metaphors are comparisons used to create an image which helps readers see and understand things in new ways. In these chapters, Lee compares the following characters to certain animals. Beside the character’s name, write the animal to whom it was compared and discuss what she is saying about the character’s personality by using this comparison. Judge Taylor Considered like a sleepy old shark, a lazy judge of Maycomb Courthouse, and a heavy smoker sitting on the bench. White hair, slightly-ruddy-faced. Bob Ewell ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Mayella Ewell ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Label the following as Simile or Metaphor and write out what is being compared to what. 1. By scattering the lynch mob, Scout proved that a gang of wild animals could be stopped. A metaphor, comparing a mob and a gang of wild animals, as the same entity. 2. Mr. Braxton Underwood’s sponge of a brain soaked up the testimonies. A metaphor, comparing his brain to a sponge, because a sponge absorbs liquids, so comparing it shows a brain absorbing the testimonies. 3. The Ewells’ yard looked like the playhouse of an insane child. A simile, comparing the Ewell yard to a playhouse of an insane child. Chapters 16-18 – Characters can be analyzed as flat or round, static or dynamic. Flat characters are not well developed. Generally, the reader does not know much about this type of character. A round character is well developed. The reader feels like they know this character and know a lot about them. Static characters do not change, grow or learn anything during the story. Dynamic characters do. For the characters below, list whether they are flat or round, static or dynamic and then explain why. Jem A round character and a dynamic because he learns several lessons about his fellow citizens, he never usually changes his mind about much unless presented evidence. Mr. Cunningham A flat character, because he changes his mind when he calls off the mob at the prison county guarded by Atticus, but is a minor character. Calpurnia A round character because she never really changed the plot that much, but is a good friend of the Finch’s. Atticus A dynamic character because he has a major impact in the courtroom considering he manages to make the jury think about their verdict for 2 hours instead of 2 minutes, because normally with a black man the jury is racist, but Atticus was very persuasive Chapters 19-22 – Theme is illustrated in novels in various ways. Harper Lee tackles the issues of bigotry and injustice. In the novel, as in life, nothing is either perfectly good or evil. It would have been easy to offer a blatant indictment of the following people’s actions. However, Lee always counter-balanced the evil with the good to portray the real complexities of life. Describe how each of these possible indictments were tempered by positive counterpoints. Why do you think the author always fell short of making outright indictments against the society being described? What do you think she was really trying to convey about the nature of bigotry and injustice? Answer this question on a separate sheet of paper. 1. 2. 3. 4. Ewell’s crime Aunt Alexandra’s narrow-mindedness Dolphus Raymond’s eccentricity Mrs. Dubose’s nastiness and drug addiction 1. You were made to feel bad about what was happening to Ewell’s daughter, Mayella was sought out to be a bad person for lying in a courtroom, but it was her father’s threats that kept her in line 2. Her narrow-mindedness resulted in very strict rules, which was just what Jem and Scout needed after being raised to roam free by Atticus 3. His eccentricity came from being around the black, he also carried around a brown paper bag supposedly filled with alcohol, but with Coca-Cola because he thought if he hung around blacks pretending to be drunk, people wouldn’t think different of him. 4. Because by learning her horrible backstory, Jem could reflect and appreciate her wanting to spend time with her more and get past the yelling and nastiness, it took away all of Jem’s fear towards her as well. Chapters 19-22 – Foreshadowing in literature refers to the clues an author provides to indicate that an event will take place. They are usually appreciated in retrospect. List three ways that Harper Lee foreshadowed the guilty verdict. 1. Stating that saying the jury would’ve normally taken 2 minutes to come up with a verdict states that they’re racist and bias against the defendant. 2. The Ewell’s lied to make it look like Tom was a sex offender and a sexual assaulter even though he had nothing to do with the beating. 3. The judge was described as lazy and white-haired, hardly sounded as if he wanted to listen to anything, or pay attention, simply wanted to end it with saying “guilty” until Atticus stepped in and changed the scene. Chapters 1-22 – Conflict drives the plot of a story. Finish out the sentences below which discuss some of the conflicts in the novel that have been presented so far. 1. When Francis calls Atticus a “nigger lover”, Scout chases and attacks him. 2. Aunt Alexandra is irritated that Scout and Jem know so little about white supremacy over the blacks being so bad that it was in play even in the courthouse. 3. After first trying to impress the children with their heritage of “gentle breeding”, Atticus tells them the family has been breeding spotless children who obeyed all stereotypes and rules 4. When Scout asks to visit Cal, Alexandra doesn’t want her to because she doesn’t want them developing traits of the black people 5. Jem infuriates Scout when he tore up Mrs. Dubbose’s yard, even though Atticus told him to be a gentleman. 6. Jem decides to tell Atticus that Boo Radley has been leaving items for them to collect. 7. The crowd outside the Finch house grows angry when Atticus says ----------------8. The night before Tom’s trial, And angry mob gathers outside his jail cell. 9. Atticus becomes frightened when the children show up to help defend him. 10. Jem refuses to go home with Scout and Dill. Label the conflicts below as Internal or External and as either Man vs. Himself, Man vs. Man, or Man vs. Environment. 1. Atticus refuses to let the men from Old Sarum take Tom from the jail. Man vs. Man 2. Because of her family background, Mayella faces a lonely, grim life. Internal 3. Dolphus Raymond is criticized because he chooses to live among blacks. Man vs. Environment 4. Jem ruins Mrs. Dubose’s camellias. Man vs. Environment 5. Scout resents being ask to act like a lady and a Finch. Internal 6. Bob Ewell threatens to get even with Atticus. Man vs. Man Chapters 23-26 – Dialogue is conversation between characters. It can serve many different purposes. For the examples below, find an example of dialogue which serves the purpose listed. Copy or paraphrase the dialogue and list the page number. 1. Dialogue which advances the plot - Atticus and Alexandra 2. Dialogue which reveals character - Miss Maudie and the missionary circle 3. Dialogue which helps establish setting - Jem and Scout 4. Dialogue which creates the impression of reality - Cecil Jacobs and Miss Gates 5. Dialogue which communicates a moral