How is the title relevant to the text. I need people and specific episodes
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How is the title relevant to the text. I need people and specific episodes
Im guessing this is for a school thing? I studied the same book in grade 10 so...
I dont have a copy with me, and i wouldnt tell you anyway exactly where it is. But the only time I can remember the title being relevant to the text is when Scouts father gives her and Jem rifles for christmas and tells them they can shoot all the bluejays they want but its a sin to kill a mockingbird, or something like that. Its meant to be symbolic to certain characters in the book, thats all I will say.
The meaning of the "killing a mockingbird" metaphor should be clear upon finishing the book, as Scout uses it in reference to another character very near the end of the story.
Thought you crazy people might like this. :)
http://www.stanford.edu/~scodary/tkam.htm
Thats hillarious! It puts a whole new view on that one for me
Okay, so I have read the book twice now, and need a bit of help in the matter of race, gender, class and power discourses. Even a site with descriptions of one of those would be great.
Hi Steph,
There have been some discussions on Mockingbird on this forum. You might like to read them:
http://www.online-literature.com/for...ead.php?t=3057
http://www.online-literature.com/for...9&page=1&pp=15
Also, http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mocking/ is a great site which would help you analyse the book.
And when you ask google, it comes up with 644,000 results for To Kill a Mockingbird
Good luck!
You could always use GCSE web sites like Bite size as TKMB is on the GCSE syllibus!
Was there a specific message that Harper Lee was trying to convey to the reader regarding American history through her depiction of the Tom Robinson trial? I know part of it was the racism that flourished in the South, but was there something deeper she was trying to reveal?
I have to do a report on it, and I'm having trouble trying to decipher her true message. Help would be greatly appreciated. :)
Sure, there's a lot about racism in the novel, but I guess you could always bring up the way Atticus symbolises evolution/progress which is a historical mechanism. It's also the process oflearning as it's seen through the eyes of a child. I haven't TKMB in ages though.
Along the same lines, the fact that Atticus was not only willing to represent, but actually BELIEVED in Tom's story and knew that it was the truth...that was a rare point of view in those times. Atticus was a well-respected attorney, well-liked in the community, and yet he was not afraid to represent a black man in a very high-profile case. To Atticus, the trial was about the truth, and the truth was that Tom was innocent. Others were willing to convict Tom right off the bat because he was black, and all blacks were 'guilty' in the eyes of society at that time. He believed in the TRUTH and not the stereotype. Also, the issue of white women having romantic feelings for black men was significant. Nobody wanted to believe that Mayella may have actually had FEELINGS for Tom and that their relationship may not have been forced upon her. Society was willing to convict an innocent black man of rape rather than accept what may have been the real truth of the matter. It's been a while since I read this book but it is one of my ALL time favorites. Harper Lee did such an excellent job of depicting and developing these characters. I thought that the movie with Gregory Peck was fantastic. He was the perfect person to play Atticus Finch. Anyway, hope that helps!
I think there's a deeper meaning to color in this book. From Scout's perspective, Cal is black but she's good, and Atticus is white and obviously he's good. But she's realizing that the townspeople think black equals bad and white equals good. And as she later learns, Atticus' attitude that justice is colorblind is the actual truth. You could also consider Boo Radley's unknown status (is he bad or good?) falls in line with his unknown color (no one's ever seen him).
I could talk about this novel all day but the baby's crying so I have to go. Hope this is helpful!
To Kill A Mockingbird deals with more issues than racism. It is true that Lee, through Tom Robinson's trial, explores the deep rooted racism in the South; however, the 'mockingbird' analogy carries deeper meanings. In the book, as well as Tom, we see many characters who are judged prematurely. The most strikingly, everyone in the town believe in the awful stories they themselves create about Boo Radley but later on in the book we find out that he is a kind person who tries to give gifts to children and who does not hesitate to risk his own life to protect them. Scout gets punished at school simply because she knows how to read. Children are prejudiced towards Mrs Dubose but later on we find out that she has been trying to overcome a terrible addiction. People think Mr Raymond is a drunk man even though he does not drink.
The book is rich with people who are treated unfairly, which serve to prove that prejudice is a part of our lives. All these 'mockingbirds', despite the fact that they do not do anything to harm others, suffer in one way or other because of this prejudice. Atticus says 'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.', which what Lee wants us to do as well... Take a moment to understand these people and then we won't be able to treat them so unfairly.
I think in the novel Atticus represents the sound, just, moral common sense. He treats everyone with the same fairness regardless of their race, gender, class or age. He is the only one who calls Mayella 'Miss', which surprises even her. He treats Calpurnia as part of the family, agrees to defend Tom, and he lets his children talk to him as if they are equals (so much so that they call him by his first name, not 'Father').
Love the book, love the movie, love the characters!
I could not agree more with all of the above replies.
The 'mockingbird' analogy, though I read To Kill A Mockingbird over a year ago, I understood relatively recently, while not really thinking about it, but more it just came to me. :rolleyes:
As Scher said, the novel does debate many, many issues in racism, but more lies underneath the obvious fact, especially regarding Boo. Atticus has always reminded me of a judge in a lesser position; he seeks true, objective justice based on facts, equality, and correct punishment. Unfortunately, the majority of the world works against him, as Lee demonstrates, with more bias, particularly in the era of the novel.
Wow! http://clicksmilies.com/s0105/aktion...smiley-018.gif Thank you very much for all of your comments! They're all truly helpful, and I will definitely be using them in my essay. http://clicksmilies.com/s0105/aktion...smiley-068.gif
Say, would you consider the racism that flourished in America during the early to mid-20th century one of the "dark ages" in American history? I was thinking that should be my thesis.
Every era of every countries history, I think, has a dark age of its own, and, yes, in my opinion, the depressing attributes of racism would strongly highlight the "dark age" of the 20th century. I like the sound of that thesis topic.Quote:
Originally Posted by YellowCrayola
Good luck! :nod:
Ah, thanks mono. I'm going to start on my essay today.
I'll keep you guys posted! Thanks for all the help again! ;)
It's been quite a while since I read this book.I remember reading this a few years ago and been really effected by the story and finding Atticus Finch to be one of the most memorable characters I've read in a book as a teenager.I was always disappointed with humanity while learning the history of racism.It's very depressing for one to read both fiction and non-fiction accounts in history classes of all of the unfortunate things homo sapiens have done to one another over the years.We have a long history of prejudice and persecution.The character Atticus made a very good point when he spoke about "not been able to know what it is truely like for another until you walk a mile in their own shoes,'' which I think is a very simply comment but with alot of depth and asking for further reflection; especially from those individuals who are more likely to engage in cruel discrimination or become more suscepitible to vicious crimes and support racism.Another book I read, now many years ago, was about racism in Mississippi in the 1930's.It was called Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry and by Mildred D.Taylor.Has anyone else ever read this book as well?Early last year, I also read a powerful book about the caste system in India called Untouchable, by Mulk Raj Anand.Has anyone else read or heard of this book or read a book similar to one of the above that touched them or made them think further about the past(and also present- in certain cases)cruelty of humanity?
In my opinion, concentrating mainly on racism would make To Kill A Mockingbird kind of a one dimentional book (Sorry, I have simply too much respect for this book! :)). If I were to write an essay, I would concentrate on prejudice in general (more material as well).
As I said before:it has been a while since I've read this book myself;but before I was commenting more of the various cruel acts conducted across time;which I learnt about through reading history.Racism is just one example of this and has featured in other books(such as the fiction) which I have read.Yes, I agree that racism is only one factor and that the book(when doing an detailed essay or researched thesis)needs to be anaylsed as a whole and other layers built up.That is one layer (though significant) of the book and only one dimension in the history of homo sapiens prejudice and persecution throughout various ages.When I mentioned the unfortunate and depressing things that many of our fellow-species have done to one another over the years I was talking in a more generalised context;racisim is only one factor of discrimination and persecution.There are many reasons, beside the colour of ones skin, why discrimination and cruelty has flourished in the past.
Anyway, I wish you best luck with your final work!:)
Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, but I need some help here. I need some input on religion in the book. I have to do a project over it and I'm stuck on finding examples. I have to come up with 4 characters and two examples for each character for a mind map. To me it seemed like there wasn't much to choose from, unless I'm not thinking deep enough. I remember about calpurnia's church and the foot washers but thats all I could think of. Any advice on the religion tying in with the book would be much appreciated.:brickwall
Hi,
When is the due date?
I don't know if I'm right here, it's been some time that I read the book, but on my copy there's a quote by Atticus on the back, saying "Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it is a sin to kill a mockingbird."
Now you could analyse to what degree the word 'sin' is meant to be tainted religiously here and whether that topic of 'sin' re-appears later in the book when the mockingbird actually is killed. The quote is from the passage where the children are on the Finch farm with their relatives, I think.
Good luck with your essay ! :)
Thanks for the reply, but where does it talk about the bird getting killed? I didn't know a monkingbird was killed.
oh and due date is in a week.
Hello, '64cal, welcome to the forum. :)
Calpurnia's churchgoings and the washing of feet, I think, could definitely work for examples, as well as, what Schokokeks suggested, the quote from Atticus.
To me, if anyone has an impact on belief - of faith and reason, superstition, wonder, and transcendence, I would also suggest writing of Arthur ('Boo') Radley. Though not to sound too stereotypical or preaching (especially that I do not consider myself Christian), I always thought Boo had a bit of a Christ-like presence in the novel: mysterious, comforting, legendary, a person who everyone knew, yet also a very kind, giving person ruined and tainted by the evil deeds of others. Tom Robinson, the man on trial, in a way, shares the same mentality in the novel; he, however, seems even more vulnerable for his ethnic background and his physical disability. Boo Radley ad Tom Robinson: both very good men, but also accused, framed, and labelled as horrible individuals.
Good luck!
Oops, I just noticed this reply as I posted my last message.Quote:
Originally Posted by '64cal lookdub
An actual mockingbird ever gets killed in the novel, but the 'mockingbird' appears more symbolic (a metaphor) for ravaged goodness and innocence. In my opinion, the two specific characters who represent mockingbirds, as mentioned in my previous post - Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. Though not literally killed, Boo seems a very vulnerable and exposed individual (exposed by gossip and mouth-to-mouth legends), and with Tom Robinson, the concept of destroyed innocence seems far more prominent.
It has been a long time since I read To Kill a Mockingbird, so please forgive me for not remembering minute details.
There were some parts of the novel that pointed out the difference between those who act religious and those who truly take spiritual growth seriously to promote kindness and good in the world.
There is a part when a religious person, one assumes a fundamentalist, says something negative to the neighbor lady who lives across the street from Scout. The fundamentalist feels that the neighbor lady should spend more time attending church and reading the Bible than working in her garden. They see the wonderful flower garden as a vanity, an indulgence. The neighbor lady is kind to Scout and others in the book and grows beautiful flowers, while the “religious” person is throwing venom at her. This could be paralleled with how “good” people allow Boo to suffer and an innocent man to be persecuted.
Another example of “good” people doing bad things is when Atticus is almost beaten by a mob of local men who are stopped by Scout recognizing and greeting one of them.
I'm sorry if this is too late, but there's also that missionary circle meeting Aunt Alexandra had where they talked about the Mrunas and how they were going to "help" them. Plus, all through out the novel you find little tid-bits of religion come up. Like the football game, I think it was the Methodists and Baptists that were playing, but I would use Boo Radley as one of the characters, and maybe even the old lady, Mrs. Dubose.
It is clear that religious belief is one of the themes that interest Lee in her novel. She is able both to criticise and applaud religion from her position as a Southern insider in a way that makes her criticism more potent and her applause more sympathetic. Reference to belief and how it affects behaviour recur throughout the novel and are an integral part of the development of characterisation and novel structure. Scout's growing awareness of the complexity of her community and the complexity of her neighbours ties in with Lee's ideas on religion.
The visit to Calpurnia's church is a good example of several facets of the novel coming together. There we see the themes of racism, religion and the growing child's mind coming together. In what amounts to little more than an aside we are informed that 'First Purchase' church is used by white gamblers during the week. This tiny detail shows how the local coloured Christian community are held in contemptuous disrespect by some white racists. But the way in which institutionalised racism permeates and poisons a whole society is also brought to our attention through the spiteful character of the coloured woman Lula who tries to block the chioldren's entry to the church on the grounds of their race. To me, an outsider, Christian segregation on grounds of race is a weird idea.(This is different from language and culture) A much worse idea than splits on minor doctrinal differences which in itself is poor reason for having a multitude of spires. Once inside, Scout notices many things that are similar to her own religious background and several that are different from it. Most obviously she notices the absence of furnishings and hymn books; this is attributable to the poverty and lack of education of the local coloureds. She also notices the precentor (a fascinating detail which indicates cross-cultural influences) leading the singing. Another difference is the freedom with which the minister addresses his flock; this is attributable to doctrinal and interpretive differences. She observes though the similarity in a sermon that draws attention to the idea of females as temptresses (Ah yon blone Eve and her illicit apple!) Note that although Scout notices all that she does not put two and two together then. It is the older Scout, the narrator, who, in recollection, is able to do that. Much of what is related is given without explanation because it is simply seen through the eyes of a child gradually becoming aware of the differences within her own community.
These differences have already been introduced in the novel through the character of Miss Maudie who tells Scout about some of the local fundamentalists and schismatics (comically Scout finds it difficult to grasp just what a 'footwasher' is). Maudie believes that it due to their fundamentalist religious beliefs that the Radleys have punished Arthur so severely for his teenage escapades. She finds some of theses over-zealous beliefs very distasteful. She likens attempts to browbeat with the Bible as worse than the behaviour of a drunk. This heightens the idea of irrationality in the behaviour of zealots. She tells Scout that some fundamentalists are enclosed in a hard shell which cuts them off from basic human feelings. She says that a too focussed concentration on the next life leads to an inability to live properly here. (This is a fundamental idea that is worth your while exploring - within the bounds of grace and intellect of course) Maudie has felt the edge of the fundamentalists' tongues when they emerge from the woods to cast condemnatory texts at her for her concentration on the art of gardening, To these Maudie, herself Biblically literate, is able to reply with counter-texts.
Maudie is clearly a focus for Lee's religious views just as Atticus is for her views on law and justice. Although Lee is something of a recluse it is obvious to me that she must be a practising Christian. Maudie not only criticises but exemplifies certain types of Christian behaviour, not only in her kindness to the children but in her attempt to defend others. She is the one who tries to reassure a stressed and tearful Alexandra later; she is the one who defends Atticus behaviour from a Christian perspective; she is the one who trips up the hypocrites at the Missionary Society meeting in Atticus' home. Note also her brave response to the destruction of her home by fire. This non-materialistic response to a loss is not just the stoicism of the pagan but of one who believes it important to bare a merry countenance. And it must be a terrible loss to one already a widow.
Thus the religious ideas are probably best studied through the character of Maudie who principally embodies Lee's thoughts but key scenes such as the Missionary Society meeeting with its multiple ironies are also worth exploring in detail. Calpurnia's church also has these - missionary meetings and hypocrites.
It is only by being an insider that Lee can present these to us so clearly. Only one who has fundamental principles of her own can present such a critical yet sympathetic picture of the Baptist beliefs of the Southern USA.
And that is only one aspect of this delightful novel.
I think that To Kill a Mockingbird has many themes expressed throughout it, what prejudices other than racism are shown in the book? I think commitment to the cause is an important issue, with Atticus being committed to proving what he believes is true, and the white racists committed to their beliefs about coloured people. Also, what's the meaning of the title, 'To Kill a Mockingbird', what relevance does this play? Thanks
It's not that racism and prejudice do not play a part in the book, but I see more of a mob mentality theme. If one is forced to see the truth about others they are often forced to see the truth about themselves. What better way to hide than to be part of the group and therefore throw the focus off oneself?
The kill a mockingbird reference is to the senseless slaughter of innocence and joy; as to let it remain forces one to see the ugliness inside themselves. It pronounces us guilty.
Just my opinion.
Its all about what goes on behind closed doors, as Miss Maudie says. Theres a deeper more sinister side to the tale...
I have read Chandalika (also known as untouchable girl) by Rabindranath Tagore. Its about a girl who is from a low caste, and one day when a disciple of Buddha asks her for some water, she refuses saying she is from a low caste and he is not supposed to have anything from her hands (believe me, you'll still find such mentality, if you visit remote villages), and then the story takes on how she falls in love with him, how Gautam Buddha pursudes her to leave the disciple, as he is not worldly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aurora Ariel
I read To Kill a Mocking Bird long time back, I'll have to read it again to be more specific in this thread.
Thanks Jetxa, that helps :)
ok so ive been out of school all week puking my guts out, and im in ap english. well mrs.roberts called me ro tell me that this paper is due today no exceptions so i just found out and i need help...
topic...you never realy know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. using your own reading observation and experince o support your position defend, challenge or qualify atticus' assertion.
people are like black leopards, the truth is camouflauged by the dark surface: its only when you are close enough to become them that you can see the small spotted imperfections that make them who they are despite the dark surface.
that is like all i can think of right now. and she will most likely fail this anyway as i have failed every paper in that class. ok u dont understand my bad. my sister had the same teacher and is going to baylor on a full paid english scholership. and my teacher compares our papers and mine suk compared to hers. so will someone please help me i realy have to pass this with an amazing grade or ill fail english..i basicly need tips and tricks all that mess and wher i can go from here on this if you have read the book please help me...
is your teacher allowed to do that? she should have phoned you earlier, seeing as all the other students had so much more time to work on their essay.Quote:
Originally Posted by stephofthenight
Have you handed in a sick note? If you have, you are officially excused, aren't you? so she has to give you an extension seeing as she didn't phone you in time.
topic: the real mockingbirds in the book are both the black man who is on trial (I can't remember his name, now) and the next-door neighbour. Mockinbirds are beautiful in their strangeness. People, who don't understand or who are jealous, want to thwart their freedom. It's a sin to kill a mockingbird.
Killing him by trial or killing him by foolish rumors or by having him out in the open where he doesn't want to be.
Expand on the chapter when what's-her-name (the main character) overhears the cop and her dad talking???
These are just suggestions.
robot pirate boo radley?? ... WOOOOOT id give it the pulitzer LOL