to kill a mockingbird term paper

To Kill a Mockingbird

Introduction to kill a mockingbird.

To Kill a Mockingbird is a masterpiece written by Harper Lee . The novel was published in 1960 and became an instant hit. Since then, it has found inroads into schools, colleges, and libraries across the world. The novel presents the story of Lee’s hometown, Monroeville in Alabama, her family members, neighbors, and the events that took place in her life in fiction . The novel also deals with the issues of race and racial prejudice as well as racial segregation in the American South during the Great Depression.

Summary of To Kill a Mockingbird

The narrator of the novel is the six-year-old girl, Scout, who lives with her brother and father in Maycomb. Named as Scout Jean Louise Finch, the girl befriends Dill, a boy, who visits her town, Maycomb, each summer to pass his holidays with his aunt. Jem also joins them and the trio enjoy life but are terrified of the recluse, Arthur Radley, who lives in their neighborhood in Maycomb. Living in austerity, the recluse, termed Boo, in the neighborhood, who always stays away from the community . However, the children’s imaginations weave tales about the recluse, making him a butt of their rumors as well as tales. As the three enjoy each other for two summer breaks, they soon find out that somebody is leaving gifts for them in the tree outside the house of Radley, the recluse. Although he sometimes peeped through his door to have an affectionate look at the children, he never emerges out of his home, which terrifies them at first. Therefore, the speculations about him continue.

Meanwhile, an African-American man, Tom Robinson, is accused of committing the crime of molesting a white lady, Mayella Ewell, for which Atticus is appointed by the judge, Taylor, as a defense attorney. Despite disapproval from the Maycomb public about Tom’s defense, Atticus takes up the case and tries to protect Tom from the legal folly of sentencing a black without having committed a crime. It happens that his children Jem and Scout become the butt of jokes and taunts of the children of the town. They call their father, Atticus, as n**-lover, and so on. Even though Scout thinks of standing up to the bullies, her father does not allow it to her and pacifies her rather. When a group thinks of lynching Tom to death, Atticus confronts them. Scout, meanwhile, talks to the father of her friend in an unexpected manner, who happens to be present in this group of the people, and the situation is defused as the people disperse.

Despite his daughter’s fearless support, Atticus does not want his children to involve in the saga or join the trial . However, the Reverend Sykes takes Jem, Dill, and Scout to watch the trial and they see that Atticus confronts Bob and Mayella about their testimony, saying that they are entirely liars. It then becomes clear that the animosity of Mayella is on account of the rebuff she faced from Tom for her sexual encounters, while Bob is already nobody in the eyes of the public, for he is the least-trusted person in the city. Despite these two witnesses having the shady background, the jury sentences Tom which jolts the conscience of the children. However, Atticus’s optimism about the final justice led him to go for an appeal. Tom, in the meanwhile, tries to flee the jail and is shot dead as a result.

On the other hand, Atticus does his best to make the witnesses feel the guilt. He even plays havoc with Bob’s reputation that he has already lost, while he spits on him and tries to bully the judge as well as the widow of Tom, the poor victim. However, he rather takes a long route of avenging by attacking the children of Atticus when they are at the Halloween pageant. Jem’s arm is broken while Boo Radley, as it appears later, jumps in and rescues the children. In the meanwhile, the police arrive and discovers that Bob is dead through his own folly, or as it seems though Boo kills him with his knife. However, there is confusion about his killer as being Boo or Jem. The sheriff, though, decides to frame Bob for attacking them and falling on his how knife. Then Boo begs Scout to walk up to his home that she does, and then he disappears never to come back again.

Major Themes in To Kill a Mockingbird

• Conflict between Good and Evil: To Kill a Mockingbird shows the conflict between good and evil through the characters of Scout, Jem, Atticus, and Tom. Whereas Atticus tries to save Tom, it becomes clear that the witnesses are hell-bent on getting him awarded a sentence or even lynched to death. Scout appears at that moment to save him as well as her father to show that goodness wins by the end.
• Ambition: The theme of ambition in the novel has been shown through the legal commitment of Atticus Finch who is determined on saving the poor man, Tom Robinson. On the other hand, the society of Maycomb is entirely against this new custom that Atticus is going to impose upon them through legal means. Therefore, the novel shows his ambition of equality in the society that the society refuses.
• Education: Education is another important theme in that it is Atticus who instills this education in his children that they should be just and fair in their dealings come what may . The positive thinking and unbiased approach are the hallmarks of this new system instilled by the parents into the minds of their such as Atticus.
• Prejudice: Prejudice has been shown in the novel through the character of witnesses as well as the entire Maycomb . It has been proved through the false statements of witnesses that Tom is innocent, yet the jury reaches the verdict of incarcerating him merely due to the innate prejudice. Aunt Alexandra’s suggestion of teaching children the significance of class is the worst type of prejudice shown in the novel.
• Moral Complexity: Moral complexity is another theme shown through the character of Scout and Jem who thinks that there is no standardized yardstick to measure good and bad acts. They think that human beings are innocent but then Tom’s trial makes them aware of this flawed notion. Finally, when the Maycomb community reacts to the just and unjust through the racial prism, they see that it is a very complex thing to see morality from a single perspective .
• Innocence: The theme of innocence has been demonstrated through the character of Scout and Jem who see that Tom is being tried for none of his crimes, while their father has been demonized merely because he is helping an innocent person. Another theme of innocence is depicted through the character of Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley.
• Racism: The theme of racism has been shown through the prejudicial view of Tom’s crime and Atticus’ assistance. Scout and Jem, too, face difficulties at school merely because their father is helping the poor young man, a fact which emerges from this racial prejudice.
• Laws and Codes: The novel shows that a society must have a good legal code to punish the criminals. However, it dawns upon the people that even a system must have good upholders, too, for, despite the credibility of the witnesses, an innocent person is punished for none of his crimes.
• Knowledge: The theme of knowledge emerges through the character of Scout and Jem, who come to know that even if they help an innocent person, the community could become their enemy on account of race and gender.

Major Characters in To Kill a Mockingbird

• Scout Finch: Daughter of a successful lawyer, Atticus. Scout is portrayed as a tomboyish type of girl who stays a symbol of purity and innocence in the society of Maycomb. When she faces racial slurs on account of her father’s legal assistance to Tom, she bears these insults with a heavy heart and comes to know the toxicity of the racial hatred. She even rebuffs the mob by identifying the father of her friend when they are fixed on lynching Tom.
• Atticus: A lawyer and good-hearted person, Atticus is also the father of Jem and Scout, two very good children. Leading a successful life in Maycomb, he invites social prejudice and hatred by deciding to help Tom Robinson, a black accused of a crime on false grounds. Despite dangers and insults being hurled at his children, he does not budge from the stand that wins him the respect of his children.
• Jem Finch: He is the old brother of Scout and son of Atticus. He makes the trio with Dill and Scout who get gifts from Radley. He knows that his father is helping a black, the reason that the children are teasing them as a “n*** helper.” However, he shows this sense through his courage to stand up to these insults.
• Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley: A recluse, Boo, has been portrayed as the mockingbird who is rumored about his reclusive life. He seems quite mysterious who does not stay in the public and yet has the gift to change public thinking. When Tom is redeemed by the end due to Atticus’ determination, Radley, too, seems redeemed for his reclusive lifestyle.
• Dill: Dill is a curious friend of Jem and Scout who questions the Maycomb public’s racial prejudice present even in its justice system. A very sensitive child, he lies about his father and tries to get Boo out of his house to enjoy him in the public.
• Miss Maudie Atkinson: The old widow stays busy in her yard, tending her garden but stays indifferent to the general public behavior. Despite this indifference, she is optimistic about the public.
• Calpurnia: The Atticus caretaker, Calpurnia, brings up Scout and Jem in proper values. She is very kind and generous even to animals and ensures that the children are understanding and caring for others.
• Tom Robinson: A honest and hardworking African American, Tom becomes the victim of racial prejudice and is discriminated against even in the judicial system on account of the color of his skin. Despite the flaws in the witnesses’ accounts, he is thrown behind the bars to be hanged.
• Myella Ewell: She is a witness who accuses Tom of rape and yet could not conclusively prove it. Although she does not have any witness, she easily uses mob psychology and turns the entire community against Tom. Hers is an opportunistic nature.
• Aunt Alexandra: As the aunt of Scout and Jem, Alexandra is the sister of the lawyer, Atticus. Although she resents Scout’s Tomboy attitude , she tries to educate Calpurnia about treating and bringing the children in a proper manner.  

Writing Style of To Kill a Mocking Bird

Although most of the novel is written in conversation, it sometimes takes a humorous turn according to the characters. The direct and straightforward approach of Harper Lee in telling a story that seems suavely deceptive. The story, at times, uses very complex and higher-level language to engage its readers. However, once the narrator sets the stage, she starts using a childlike narrative style . All the characters use the language that suits them such as Scout misuses it to pretend that they are guessing its true meanings, while Miss Maudie turns to the elegance of the sentences. This style also shows how Atticus and Tom are different in their language and style and how Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra are different in their conversation.

Analysis of Literary Devices To Kill a Mockingbird

• Action: The main action of the novel comprises the children’s fascination with Boo Radley, Tom’s trial, and his final exoneration. However, the rising action is the fascination of the children, Jem, Dill, and Scout of Boo Radley. The falling action is of Bob Ewell’s threats to Atticus for supporting Tom, while Boo, the recluse, saves the children from Bob in his final action.
• Allegory : To Kill a Mockingbird shows the use of allegorical points as Tim Johnson has been shown as the bird dog of the Maycomb public, Boo is shown as a recluse who shuns society, while Tom is shown as a person who is to sacrifice himself to remove the prejudice prevalent in the society.
• Antagonist : Bob Ewell accuses Tom Robinson of raping his daughter, although he has been drunk at the time when, it is stated, the act has taken place. However, the primary conflict is that Tom is an African American and can be easily accused of a crime that he has never committed. As Bob accuses him falsely and frames him in the rape, he is the main antagonist of the story.
• Allusion : There are various examples of allusions given in the novel. Thus, we came to know Dill as a pocket Merlin, whose head teemed with eccentric plans, strange longings, and quaint fantasies . (Chapter-1) Hours of winter -time had found me in the treehouse, looking over at the schoolyard, spying on multitudes of children through a two- power telescope Jem had given me, learning their games. (Chapter-2) Miss Maudie’s face likened such an occurrence unto an Old Testament pestilence. (Chapter-6)The first example shows the use of the allusion of Merlin, the legendary King Arthur’s adviser as well as a magician. The second is an allusion to “Blind Man’s Bluff” a sort of game of children. The third reference alludes to the Plague of Egypt that has been referred to in the Bible.
• Conflict : There are two types of conflicts in To Kill a Mockingbird. The first one is the central conflict that is going on between the African American and the white of Maycomb. The second conflict is going on between the white who wants their children to treat all people equal sans the color of their skin such as Atticus. The others are the people who think that Atticus is leaving his section of the white people and joining the African American (black). Therefore, he should be taught a lesson to stay within the social limits.
• Characters: To Kill a Mockingbird presents both flat as well as round characters. Atticus is a round character who shows various aspects of his individuality during his drive to save Tom’s skin. Scout and her brother, too, are round characters. However, Bob and Mayella Ewell are both flat characters , as they do not change, neither they want to change themselves even by the end of the novel. They are as prejudicial and unforgiving in the end as they are in the beginning.
• Climax : The climax in To Kill a Mockingbird arrives when all the conflicts reach the final moment. Bob Ewell attacks Scout and Jem and breaks the arm of Jem when Boo appears and saves the children. This is the moment when finally Scout finds Radley to speak to him, who has been a mysterious figure for the children for so long. The moment of an anticlimax, however, arrives, when the rumor spreads around that Tom is shot down when fleeing from the prison. Also, Bob tries to intimidate Atticus who does not seem to accept his threats.

“Cry about what, Mr. Raymond?” Dill’s maleness was beginning to assert itself. “Cry about the simple hell people give other people—without even thinking. Cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people, too.” “Atticus says cheatin‘ a colored man is ten times worse than cheatin’ a white man,” I muttered. “Says it’s the worst thing you can do.” (Chapter-20)

This is the example of dialogue between Raymond and Dill in the 20 th chapter of the novel. They are talking about

I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Atticus . . . His kind’d do anything to pay off a grudge. You know how those people are. (Chapter-23). “ Ruth Jones, the welfare lady, said Mr. Ewell openly accused Atticus of getting his job. She was upset enough to walk down to Atticus’s office and tell him about it. (Chapter-27) High above us in the darkness a solitary mocker poured out his repertoire in blissful unawareness of whose tree he sat in, plunging from the shrill kee, kee of the sunflower bird to the irascible qua-ack of a bluejay, to the sad lament of Poor Will, Poor Will, Poor Will. (Chapter-28)

The first example of foreshadowing shows that Alexandra warns the lawyer, Atticus, that Bob is a revengeful person and will always try to avenge his insult. It proves that she is true. The second example occurs in the 27 th chapter where Scout thinks that these three ordinary things have something special in it that Bob is revengeful. The third example occurs in the 28 th chapter, where Scout again tells that Boo is the mockingbird.

• Hero : Although Boo and Scout seem, protagonists of the scenes where they appear, Atticus Finch is the real hero who fights for Tom to end racial prejudice.

A day was twenty-four hours long but seemed longer. There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County. (Chapter-1)

It is hyperbole in that a day cannot be longer than 24 hours. Yet it seems that the author wants to stress upon the fact that it could be otherwise in Maycomb.

• Irony : Irony in the novel occurs when Scout and Jem try to bring mysterious Boo Radley out of his hiding and another irony is about Bob that he tries to exonerate himself but is killed in his own action.

Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view -“ “Sir?” “- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. One time (Atticus) said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.

These beautiful metaphors show the comparisons ; first of Maycomb to an old town, of a person to another person, and then the same again.

• Mood : The novel uses a serious mood in the beginning when Jem is shown through the narrative of Scout. Then it becomes light and humorous but very profound and somber at times when incidents of racial prejudice, hatred, and discrimination take a serious turn.
• Motif : Most important motifs of the novel, including the character of Boo Radley, the darkness that is quite real, night , and gothic jail.
• Narrator : The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, has been narrated by a first-person narrator. It happens to be the hero as well, for it is the girl Jean Louise Scout Finch who narrates the story from her own perspective and tries to eliminate the wall of the racial hatred.
• Protagonist : Scout Finch is the main protagonist of the story, as it is she from whose point the story has been narrated. However, Boo Radley is also the protagonist, as he saves the children from Bob by the end of the story.
• Paradox : To Kill a Mockingbird shows that justice is a paradox in the regions where white and black people try to come to terms with each other through the rule of law.
• Resolution : The conflict of To Kill a Mockingbird, seems to resolve when Boo Radley becomes a hero by saving Scout Finch and Jem. Earlier, he seems to be a mystery for the children.

What was the evidence of her offense? What did she do? What did her father do?

These examples show the use of rhetorical questions mostly used by Atticus to make the jury aware that actually there is no such case for want of evidence of the offense against Tom Robinson.

• Theme: It is a central idea that the novelist or the writer wants to stress upon. The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird’s core themes are good versus evil, racial discrimination, injustice, class difference, racism, bravery, etc.
• Setting : The setting of the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is a fictional town of Maycomb in Alabama in the United States.

He was as good as his worst performance. (Chapter 4). The tire bumped on gravel, skeetered… and popped me like a cork onto pavement. (Chapter-4)

The first simile compares Dill to his worst performance and the speaker to a cork.

• Symbol: The mockingbird is a symbol of innocence and vulnerability, Atticus is a symbol of justice and fair play, while Boo Radley is a symbol of loyalty and love.

Related posts:

• To Kill a Mockingbird Themes
• To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes
• To Kill a Mockingbird Characters
• To Kill a Mockingbird Racism
• Nelle Harper Lee 

Post navigation

To Kill a Mockingbird

Ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Introduction

To kill a mockingbird: plot summary, to kill a mockingbird: detailed summary & analysis, to kill a mockingbird: themes, to kill a mockingbird: quotes, to kill a mockingbird: characters, to kill a mockingbird: symbols, to kill a mockingbird: theme wheel, brief biography of harper lee.

Historical Context of To Kill a Mockingbird

Other books related to to kill a mockingbird.

• Full Title: To Kill a Mockingbird
• When Written: 1950-1960
• Where Written: New York City and Monroeville, Alabama
• When Published: 1960
• Literary Period: Modernism
• Genre: Bildungsroman; Social Novel
• Setting: The fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression
• Climax: The trial of Tom Robinson; or when Bob Ewell attacks Scout and Jem
• Antagonist: Bob Ewell; more broadly, racism and mob mentality
• Point of View: First Person

Extra Credit for To Kill a Mockingbird

“Dill” Capote. The character of Dill is based on Harper Lee’s real-life childhood friend, Truman Capote, who went on to become a national literary star in his own right. He wrote the bestselling true crime book In Cold Blood .

Atticus in Real Life. Harper Lee became close friends with Gregory Peck, the actor who played Atticus in the Academy Award-winning film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird . She remained close with his family after Peck died, and Peck’s grandson is even named Harper after her.

• Our Writers
• Revision Policy
• Testimonials

professional writing service. Thousands of satisfied customers. Since 2003

To Kill a Mockingbird Term Paper

Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird traces a young girl’s awareness of the adult world. The novel revolves around the young girl named Jean Louise Finch who goes by the nickname “Scout”. Scout experiences different events in her life that dramatically change it. Spending her childhood years living in the “tired old town” of Maycomb, there were many role-model figures that brought upon new and different experiences that affected the girl she was, and the woman she grows to be.

Scout and her older brother Jem are being raised by their father Atticus Finch. Atticus is a smart, conservative lawyer, a man of position and good reputation in the town and has close relationship with his children. He helps Scout tackle certain problems and squeezes her out of tight situations. Atticus has a great, positive impact on Scout’s life; When she learns several lessons that Atticus says will help her “get along better with all kinds of folk”. He tells her she has to think of how another person feels in order to relate to them better. His advice and teachings help her to deal with any arising difficulties that come across her life. Atticus teaches Scout a lot more than the basic skills in life such as simple manners, rules, good behaviour and how to read-which causes some problems in the future.

Scout is bright and insightful, however gets very disillusioned about school and her teacher. Before starting school, she was very impatient and excited about her first day, but when that day came, Scout learnt that it wasn’t all she made it out to be. She and her teacher Miss Caroline didn’t get along very well, and Scout didn’t understand why she was forbidden to read on her own at home. Even though she is a young child, she assumes responsibility of speaking out for her classmates and explaining their behaviour to the teacher. To her disappointment, her insights weren’t appreciated by Miss Caroline. In one days time, Scout learns several important lessons about people and behaviour.

Scout learns a lot from her family through different things she had experienced with them. The relationship that exists between Scout and Jem shows that she turns to him for comfort. As Jem is four years older, she looks up to him and wants to be like him. This explains her behaviour towards the way she dresses and acts. She is known to behave like a tom boy, as the only woman she has ever grown up with is Calpurnia, a Negro house keeper. Atticus’ sister Alexandra comes to stay with the family. She is proper and old-fashioned and wants to shape Scout into the model of t he feminine ideal, something which Scout resents and does not agree with. Scout once accompanied Calpurnia to the Negro church, where she saw the “other side” of Maycomb. She was shocked and amazed when she saw how Calpurnia spoke around her people. She got a taste of the prejudice in her town, and learnt more about the lives that these Negro adults lead.

In the story, Atticus defends a black man Tom Robinson who is being accused of raping a white girl. The lead-up to this case has a tremendous effect on Scout. Scout finds herself whispered at and taunted by both children and adults, and she has trouble keeping her temper and gets into fights when Atticus is called a “nigger-lover”. After talking to Atticus, Scout learns to use her head and not her fists-to act rational and not emotional. This is when Scout leans of the Tom Robinson trial, although she doesn’t fully understand until some adults explain is later on. After the verdict is announced in Tom Robinson’s case, guilty, Scout is left feeling both angry and confused. She learns that a black-mans status in their time is much below the white-mans, and they are treated unfairly.

Boo Radley is another citizen in Maycomb, who contributes towards Scout’s growing awareness of the adult world. Growing up, Scout had heard countless stories and rumours of what goes on in the Radley house. The night that Miss Maudie’s house was on fire, Boo placed a blanket around Scout, without her even knowing it. It was after that first rare encounter with Boo that she started changing her mind about him. After the Halloween incident where Boo saved her life, Scout learnt a lot more about him. She learnt that all the stories she had heard about him weren’t true. Boo was a timid man who didn’t cause any unnecessary harm. Scout finally sees the fear and ignorance behind her own harassment of gentle Boo. To hurt or tease Boo Radley would be as shameful as killing a mockingbird.

To Kill A Mockingbird tells of the gradual awakening of Scout Finch into the adult world. Slowly she becomes aware of the difference between truth and gossip, and learns that people and things are often more or less than what they seem. Standing on Boo’s porch she realises; “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.”

________________________ Warning! Free term paper example on To Kill a Mockingbird cannot be used as your own term paper research. This sample term paper can be easily detected as plagiarism by any plagiarism detection tool.

Our online term paper writing service MidTerm.us can provide college and university students with non-plagiarized custom written term papers on any topic. All custom term papers are written from scratch by qualified writers. High quality, fast delivery and professional term paper help are guaranteed.

• Sample Term Papers
• Term Paper Examples
• Term Paper Help
• October 2015
• November 2014
• December 2013
• October 2013
• September 2013
• August 2013
• February 2011
• January 2011
• November 2010
• October 2010
• September 2010
• August 2010
• February 2010
• January 2010
• November 2009
• October 2009
• September 2009
• August 2009

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — To Kill a Mockingbird

Essays on To Kill a Mockingbird

To kill a mockingbird essay topic examples.

You can analyze its themes in argumentative essays, compare and contrast characters or themes, describe the book's settings, persuade readers about certain points, or narrate personal experiences related to the novel's themes. These essay ideas allow you to dive into the world of "To Kill a Mockingbird" from various angles, making it easier to understand and engage with the story.

Argumentative Essays

Argumentative essays require you to analyze and present arguments related to the novel. Here are some topic examples:

• 1. Analyze the portrayal of racial injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird and its relevance in today's society.
• 2. Argue whether Atticus Finch is an ideal role model for modern fathers.

Example Introduction Paragraph for an Argumentative Essay: Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird shines a spotlight on the persistent issue of racial injustice in the American South. This essay delves into the novel's portrayal of this injustice and its enduring relevance in the contemporary world, examining the lessons it offers for addressing social inequality.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for an Argumentative Essay: In conclusion, the analysis of racial injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird underscores the novel's power to inspire meaningful conversations about equity and justice. As we grapple with these issues today, we are reminded of the importance of empathy and compassion in fostering positive change.

Compare and Contrast Essays

Compare and contrast essays enable you to examine similarities and differences within the novel or between it and other literary works. Consider these topics:

• 1. Compare and contrast the characters of Scout and Jem Finch, exploring their individual growth and experiences.
• 2. Analyze the similarities and differences between the themes of racial injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Compare and Contrast Essay: Siblings often share profound bonds, yet their experiences can be remarkably distinct. This essay embarks on a journey to compare and contrast Scout and Jem Finch, the young siblings in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird , exploring the unique paths they navigate and the growth they experience throughout the novel.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Compare and Contrast Essay: In conclusion, the comparison and contrast of Scout and Jem Finch offer insights into the complexity of individual growth and sibling dynamics in To Kill a Mockingbird . As we consider their journeys, we are reminded of the transformative power of empathy and understanding in family relationships.

Descriptive Essays

Descriptive essays allow you to vividly depict settings, characters, or events within the novel. Here are some topic ideas:

• 1. Describe the atmospheric details of Maycomb, the fictional town in To Kill a Mockingbird , and its impact on the story.
• 2. Paint a detailed portrait of Boo Radley, focusing on his mysterious nature and significance in the narrative.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Descriptive Essay: Maycomb, the setting of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird , is not just a backdrop but a character in its own right. This essay embarks on a descriptive journey to capture the atmospheric details of Maycomb, immersing the reader in the town's unique ambiance and its profound influence on the story.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Descriptive Essay: In conclusion, the descriptive portrayal of Maycomb in To Kill a Mockingbird not only sets the stage but also evokes a sense of nostalgia and reflection. Through this exploration, we are reminded of the power of place in shaping our narratives and perceptions.

Persuasive Essays

Persuasive essays involve arguing a point of view related to the novel. Consider these persuasive topics:

• 1. Persuade your readers that Atticus Finch's defense of Tom Robinson is an act of moral courage.
• 2. Argue for or against the idea that To Kill a Mockingbird should be a mandatory part of high school curricula.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Persuasive Essay: Atticus Finch's unwavering defense of Tom Robinson in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird resonates as a symbol of moral courage. This persuasive essay asserts that Atticus's actions embody the essence of moral heroism, inviting readers to reflect on the qualities that define true bravery.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Persuasive Essay: In conclusion, the persuasive argument regarding Atticus Finch's moral courage underscores the enduring significance of his character in To Kill a Mockingbird . As we contemplate his actions, we are compelled to consider the qualities that inspire us to stand up for justice and equality.

Narrative Essays

Narrative essays offer you the opportunity to tell a story or share personal experiences related to the themes of the novel. Explore these narrative essay topics:

• 1. Narrate a personal experience where you encountered prejudice and discrimination similar to the themes in To Kill a Mockingbird .
• 2. Imagine yourself as a character in Maycomb and recount your interactions with the Finch family and Boo Radley.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Narrative Essay: Prejudice and discrimination are unfortunately common experiences in our world. This narrative essay delves into a personal encounter with these themes, drawing parallels to the themes explored in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird .

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Narrative Essay: In conclusion, the narrative of my personal encounter with prejudice and discrimination underscores the enduring relevance of the themes in To Kill a Mockingbird . As we reflect on the challenges of our own lives, we are encouraged to confront injustice and champion the values of empathy and equality.

What is The of Prejudice in to Kill a Mockingbird

Prejudice in to kill a mockingbird, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Discriminations in to Kill a Mockingbird

The theme of courage in to kill a mocking bird, a novel by harper lee, a theme of innocence and growing up in to kill a mockingbird, social injustice in to kill a mockingbird, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

The Prejudice of Race, Gender and Social Class in The Novel "To Kill a Mockingbird"

Negative impacts of social injustice on people in to kill a mockingbird, harper lee's representation of the theme of racism in to kill a mockingbird, harper lee’s depiction of racial inequality in america in her book, to kill a mockingbird, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

To Kill a Mockingbird: is Mayella Powerful

To kill a mockingbird by harper lee: compassion for mayella ewell, analysis of mayella ewell's character in to kill a mockingbird, the courage of atticus finch in "to kill a mockingbird", a loss of innocence in to kill a mockingbird, "to kill a mockingbird": life lessons learned by scout, loss of innocence in "to kill a mockingbird" by harper lee, the process of scout's maturing in to kill a mockingbird, analysis of atticus finch as a static character in "to kill a mockingbird", characterization of jem the visionary in to kill a mockingbird, dill’s realization of the consequences of prejudice in to kill a mockingbird, who’s afraid of boo radley: 'to kill a mockingbird', the theme of justice in lee’s to kill a mockingbird, characteristics of boo radley in "to kill a mockingbird", analysis of the key themes in "to kill a mockingbird", the role of setting in to kill a mockingbird, the theme of courage in 'to kill a mockingbird', critical analysis of 'to kill a mockingbird' film adaptation, to kill a mockingbird: the analysis of a true lawyer and a worthy person, moral courage, prejudice and justice in to kill a mockingbird.

July 11, 1960, Harper Lee

Novel; Thriller, Southern Gothic, Domestic Fiction, Legal Story, Bildungsroman

Atticus Finch, Scout Finch, Jem Finch, Dill Harris, Calpurnia, Aunt Alexandria, John Finch, Arthur Radley

It is partially based on Lee Harper's childhood, which is why the story is told by the child protagonist.

The loss of innocence, prejudice, racial challenges, honor, childhood, friendship, loss of innocence. The most powerful aspect is the very meaning behind "to kill a mockingbird", which means to destroy the innocence. It is made clear by Scout when he asks to "remember [that] it's a sin to kill a mockingbird". The flowers also symbolize patience and understanding, which are reflected by the white camellia flower.

To Kill a Mockingbird is not an easy book to read, yet it quickly became a symbol for the Civil Rights Movement all over the world. It teaches us about being brave, about injustice that must not be ignored, inequality around us, poverty, racism, corruption, anger control, innocence, oppression, hatred, and judging others. Reading this book reminds us of hope, patience, being equal to each other, and fighting for being brave and true.

The story starts when Tom Robinson, an African American male is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman, the local lawyer called Atticus agrees to defend Tom even though he receives threats from the community. Even when things are quickly getting dangerous, Atticus refuses to leave his client. His young son Scout unwittingly helps to settle down the challenge.

The book has almost been called "Atticus" instead of the famous title that we know so well. Harper Lee was writing only one manuscript page per day even though she worked for about 12 hours a day. The character of Atticus Finch has been inspired by Lee's father who also worked as the lawyer and defended African American clients. The book has helped to create a cottage industry in the author's hometown, which has started with a museum. Lee Harper decided to choose her middle name instead of "Nelle", which she was afraid could be mispronounced. To Kill a Mockingbird became one of the most beloved books in the American literary history. The character of Dill has been based on author's childhood friend Truman Capote who has also used her personality's character in his "Other Voices, Other Rooms" novel that has been published in 1948.

"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience." "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." "Mockingbirds don't do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corn cribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." "It's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you." "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what."

The main factor in To Kill a Mockingbird is teaching one's children and reminding each other about the dangers of prejudice and judging others. Providing an example of defending a black male in the American South shows that one must always keep the faith and seek the truth regardless of the conditions.

It is one of the most influential civil rights movement works in English literature and a symbolism of social challenge, culture, courage, defense of truth, and justice. It is also an essay topic where a person learns about prejudice and understanding that one has to be in another person's shoes to see and understand what it is like. Choosing this book as an essay topic, middle school, high school, and college students learn about justice, honor, and courage.

1. Macaluso, M. (2017). Teaching To kill a mockingbird today: Coming to terms with race, racism, and America's novel. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 61(3), 279-287. (https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jaal.678) 2. Tanış, A., & Cengizhan, L. (2010). Analyzing the novel “to kill a Mockingbird” in literature class. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2(2), 4387-4391. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187704281000738X) 3. Al-Mamoory, S., & Witwit, M. A. (2021). Critical Discourse Analysis of Opression in''To Kill a Mockingbird''. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research, 9(02), 11-24. (http://journals.researchub.org/index.php/jsshr/article/view/1243) 4. Stiltner, M. A. (2002). Don't put your shoes on the bed: A moral analysis of “To Kill a Mockingbird”. East Tennessee State University.(https://www.proquest.com/openview/fa19ac9b0047942ce79bc14a55116582/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y) 5. Khokhar, M. I., & Mashori, G. M. (2018). Marxist Analysis of to Kill A Mockingbird According To Peter Barry. Journal of Grassroot, 52(2). (https://www.prdb.pk/article/marxist-analysis-of-to-kill-a-mockingbird-according-to-peter-2526) 6. Shackelford, D. (1996). The Female Voice in" To Kill a Mockingbird": Narrative Strategies in Film and Novel. The Mississippi Quarterly, 50(1), 101-113. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/26475781) 7. Sastrawijaya, M. D. (2021). The Character and Moral Values in “to Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. INFERENCE: Journal of English Language Teaching, 3(1), 81-87. (https://journal.lppmunindra.ac.id/index.php/inference/article/view/6070) 8. Winarni, B., Nugroho, A., & Fatimah, S. (2013). Affection And Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird Novel By Harper Lee (1960): A Psychoanalytic Approach (Doctoral dissertation, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta). (http://eprints.ums.ac.id/26577/)

Relevant topics

• The Tell Tale Heart
• A Modest Proposal
• Of Mice and Men
• Lord of The Flies
• The Diary of Anne Frank
• Thank You Ma Am
• Into The Wild
• Frankenstein
• The Yellow Wallpaper
• The Outsiders

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

'To Kill a Mockingbird' Vocabulary

Harper Lee’s meditation on race and childhood uses language in complex ways

• B.A., English, Rutgers University

On first read, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird can seem simple and unadorned—a straightforward story told in a straightforward way. But Lee’s decision to subtly blend the perspective of a 6-year-old girl and an adult woman gives the story innocence and gravitas simultaneously. The most obvious sign of the technique is the vocabulary, which is often far beyond what a kid of that age would be comfortable with, allowing a young child to tell a story in a very grown-up way.

Definition: Extremely unlikable, loathsome.

Example: "He had discarded the abominable blue shorts that were buttoned to his shirts and wore real short pants with a belt; he was somewhat heavier, no taller, and said he had seen his father."

Definition: Seeming to be imbued with success.

Example: "The remainder of my schooldays were no more auspicious than the first. Indeed, they were an endless Project that slowly evolved into a Unit, in which miles of construction paper and wax crayon were expended by the State of Alabama in its well-meaning but fruitless efforts to teach me Group Dynamics."

Definition: To cling closely to something.

Example: "One time I asked her to have a chew and she said no thanks, that—chewing gum cleaved to her palate and rendered her speechless."

Countenance

Definition: Facial expression, overall visual presentation of the mood.

Example: "Miss Maudie answered: 'A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance !'"

Disapprobation

Definition: Intense disapproval.

Example: "I’m afraid our activities would be received with considerable disapprobation by the more learned authorities."

Dispensation

Definition: The act of giving something.

Example: "Jem’s free dispensation of my pledge irked me, but precious noontime minutes were ticking away."

Ecclesiastical

Definition: Having to do with the church.

Example: "Starkly out of place in a town of square-faced stores and steep-roofed houses, the Maycomb jail was a miniature Gothic joke one cell wide and two cells high, complete with tiny battlements and flying buttresses. Its fantasy was heightened by its red brick facade and the thick steel bars at its ecclesiastical windows."

Edification

Definition: The act of being educated or informed.

Example: "Still, everything he read he passed along to me, but with this difference: formerly, because he thought I’d like it; now, for my edification and instruction."

Definition: To move in a chaotic manner.

Example: "She was furious, and when she was furious Calpurnia’s grammar became erratic ."

Definition: Innocent and free from ulterior motive.

Example: "He was a year older than I, and I avoided him on principle: he enjoyed everything I disapproved of, and disliked my ingenuous diversions."

Definition: Desiring to do harm, an active desire to be malicious towards someone or something.

Example: "Inside the house lived a malevolent phantom. People said he existed, but Jem and I had never seen him. People said he went out at night when the moon was down, and peeped in windows. When people’s azaleas froze in a cold snap, it was because he had breathed on them. Any stealthy small crimes committed in Maycomb were his work."

Definition: Reverence, devotion.

Example: "All we had was Simon Finch, a fur-trapping apothecary from Cornwall whose piety was exceeded only by his stinginess."

Prerogative

Definition: An exclusive right or privilege acquired through status or rank.

Example: "When Aunt Alexandra went to school, self-doubt could not be found in any textbook, so she knew not its meaning. She was never bored, and given the slightest chance she would exercise her royal prerogative : she would arrange, advise, caution, and warn."

Definition: Exceptional ability and strength in a specific area.

Example: "Jem said Mr. Avery misfigured, Dill said he must drink a gallon a day, and the ensuing contest to determine relative distances and respective prowess only made me feel left out again, as I was untalented in this area."

Definition: To extinguish or suppress.

Example: "Miss Maudie’s tin roof quelled the flames."

Definition: Poorly made, falling apart. Held together in a fragile way.

Example: "As they had come, in ones and twos the men shuffled back to their ramshackle cars."

Definition: Naturally quiet, not given to speech.

Example: "Their sister Alexandra was the Finch who remained at the Landing: she married a taciturn man who spent most of his time lying in a hammock by the river wondering if his trot-lines were full."

Definition: Reckless courage, excessive confidence inappropriate to the situation.

Example: "And so a quiet, respectable, humble Negro who had the unmitigated temerity to ‘feel sorry’ for a white woman has had to put his word against two white people’s."

Definition: Extreme abuse of power and authority.

Example: "Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always took her side. She had been with us ever since Jem was born, and I had felt her tyrannical presence as long as I could remember."

Unfathomable

Definition: Unable to be understood, incomprehensible.

Example: "For reasons unfathomable to the most experienced prophets in Maycomb County, autumn turned to winter that year."

• 'To Kill a Mockingbird' Summary
• 'To Kill a Mockingbird' Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices
• 'To Kill a Mockingbird' Overview
• 'To Kill a Mockingbird' Quotes Explained
• 'To Kill a Mockingbird' Characters
• 'To Kill a Mockingbird' Book Club Discussion Questions
• Scout Finch Quotes from 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee
• 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and 'Go Set a Watchman' Quotes
• 5 Novel Setting Maps for Classic American Literature
• Atticus Finch Biography
• Top Conservative Novels
• 'Macbeth' Vocabulary
• Definition and Examples of Negative Contractions
• 'The Scarlet Letter' Vocabulary
• How to Start a Book Report
• 'Frankenstein' Vocabulary

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - review

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of those books that almost everyone reads at some point in their lives. Whether you've been forced to read it at school, or you've had a look because everyone's been urging you to, most people have their own personal experience of reading Mockingbird.

The book is about Atticus Finch, who appears as an unconventional hero and role model due to his morality rather than his physical capabilities. The theme of morals is apparent throughout the whole novel, especially in relation to religion and perception of sin. Take Mrs Dubose, a recovering morphine addict: she vows that she'll die beholden to nothing and nobody. She's pursuing her own dream of being a free human being because she knows deep down that it's right.

To Kill a Mockingbird focuses on that gut instinct of right and wrong, and distinguishes it from just following the law. Even the titular quote: "Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" is in itself an allegory for this message. Being in itself a generic message, the idea of 'doing what's right' obviously has a different meaning depending on when and where you're reading the book. If you take 1960, when the book was written, America was in a state of ethical development as social inequality was - very - gradually being overcome. Women's rights and black rights movements were beginning to emerge and some campaigned through violence. Would Atticus Finch condone this?

In the 1930s, when the book was set, America was in the midst of the Great Depression. This was a time when economic difficulties meant that the American Dream was receding further and further away. We could consider that Atticus Finch felt that his own dream of an equal, morally decent society was also heading in the wrong direction.

Without denying the constancy of the moral message, and the pure ingenuity of the book, it's still open to debate whether, as with all classics, schoolchildren should be forced to read the novel and go over it page-by-page. The beauty of literature and the reason why I love it so much is that a writer must eventually relinquish the meaning of his or her book. Therefore everyone who reads it can take something out of it which no one has before. I find that a beautiful notion myself, but it seems that looking for these life lessons has become a less and less popular exercise as the years have gone by. Let it not be forgotten that a true piece of literature, like To Kill a Mockingbird, is meaningful in every period and that today, Atticus Finch's message should be heard in the midst of all the global conflicts that we hear of on the news every night.

To think that children are suffering across the world because of a tyrannical regime or an unfair justice system is a depressing notion, and I think a modern Atticus Finch would agree. I don't think he would be comfortable knowing that innocent lives were suffering because of inequality. Atticus would now be defending issues that Harper Lee did not consider when writing the book, such as gay and lesbian rights, because what is at the heart of his character is an acceptance of who people are. That is a moral standpoint that you can hold whoever you are or wherever you are born. Atticus Finch is not xenophobic or homophobic. He's not racist or sexist. He's human and he sees everyone else in the same way. Who knows? Maybe Atticus Finch would even be an animal rights supporter.

Should it be analysed, taught in schools and pulled to pieces? I can't say, but what I will say is I'm not against anyone reading for the sake of reading. I've read many a book which I've enjoyed, put down and never thought about since. But I honestly feel that Mockingbird is a book which should be read, be it in school or in adult life (or both), without complete and utter absorption. It's a book with so many layers of meaning that you can get so much out of it. I for one know that To Kill a Mockingbird is a book that really has changed my life and that every time I go back over it, I find something new that I assimilate into my own code of ethics. Going over it, whilst being an arduous task, was in the long run worth all the time it took, and plenty more besides.

I would really advise picking up a copy of Harper Lee's magnificent novel and giving it a try. Because whatever happens, it will never stop being a good book, and it will never stop inspiring good people.

Want to tell the world about a book you've read? Join the site and send us your review!

• Children and teenagers
• children's user reviews

Most viewed

(92) 336 3216666

[email protected]

• To Kill a Mockingbird

Read below our complete notes on the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. Our notes cover To Kill a Mockingbird summary, themes, characters, and analysis.

Introduction

To Kill a Mockingbird is written by Harper Lee.  It got published in 1960. It has sold more than 30 million copies across the world. It has been translated into 40 languages of the world. This novel won a Pulitzer Prize award in 1961.  This novel is appreciated all over the world by critics for its delicate dealing of children’s education in the society of prejudice and racism to make them aware that humans are equal and there should be justice. The novel presents the life and events of South America. Harper Lee released his second novel Go Set a Watchman in 2015. This novel also features Scout but she is a grown-up woman in this novel and she lives in New York City. She then returns to Alabama to have a visit to the house of her father.

The action in this novel is narrated from the perspective of six-year-old Scout Finch, as she observes the changes that occur in her little Alabama town during a disputable case of rape in which her father consents to safeguard a dark man who is unjustifiably blamed for assaulting a white lady.

The story’s voice is that of a developed lady, thinking back on these occasions from the point of view of adulthood. Her story delineates the progressive good arousing of the two kids who value their father`s mental fortitude and trustworthiness in opposing the weights of racism and injustice in Maycomb. They come to understand that things are not generally what they appear and that the individual should at times be eager to guard disagreeable perspectives on the off chance that an individual accepts that he is making the right decision.

Setting of the Novel

The action of this novel takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during 1933–1935. This puts the course of action of this novel inside two significant times of American history. The first one is the Great Depression while the second one the Jim Crow period.

Historical Context

The period of The Great Depression is mirrored in poverty that influences the whole population of Maycomb.  The years delineated in the novel fall inside the timeframe that is regularly allude to as the Jim Crow period. This term portrays the time from the late nineteenth century to the mid-1960s when dark individuals in the United States could not be made slaves. But the laws restricted the political, social and monetary opportunities of the black people. The era in which the novel is written is 1950s and during this time the Great Depression is finished. But in this era the laws of Jim Crow laws remained prevalent in the lives and society of South American blacks.

About the Authorship of this Novel

Charles Baker Dill Harris is one of the characters of this novel who spends quality time of enjoyment and fun in Maycomb with Jem and Scout in summers. This character is a reference to Truman Capote who remained a childhood friend of Harper Lee. He was a neighbor of Harper Lee in Monroeville in Alabama. Some of the critics opined that this novel is written by Truman Capote and he is the actual author of the works of Harper Lee.  But this idea got dusted when a letter was found in 2006 which was written by Capote to his aunt in 1959. The letter states that Truman Capote read the draft of To Kill a Mockingbird and he liked it a lot. But there is nothing written about the fact the Capote has written any part of this novel.

To Kill a Mockingbird Summary

To kill a MockingBird is narrated by Jean Louise whose nickname is Scout and she is six-year old when the novel starts. The action of the novel takes place in Maycomb which is a small town in the State of Alabama. Scout’s mother is dead and she has been raised solely by her father Atticus. She has a very good sort of understanding with her brother Jem. Dill is their neighbor and has come to spend a summer in Maycomb. The first part of the novel details the childhood fun of Scout and Dill in the neighborhood. They enjoy the summer and have fun. They have an adventurous summer.

They are familiar with a number of childhood stories and they enjoy the stories by playing various roles of the story and enacting it in a form of play. They have another neighbor who is more like a ghost. These children enjoy talking and discussing the phantom like neighbor, Boo Radley. It is believed in the neighborhood that Radley is crazy. The children once bet in which Jem is to run to the house of Radley, touch it and run back to the place where they are standing. Jem is afraid to do the task but he hesitantly does it but he is very much afraid when he touches the house of Radley. When Radley touches the house, at the same time Scouts notice someone in the window of the house and she is sure that someone watched Jem.

Afterwards, there is a detail description about the schooling year of Scout. She thinks that she is going to have a start of her school and she is very much excited for her school because it is the first time she is about to go to school. But she is disappointed soon because of her teacher, Miss Caroline. She reprimands Scout for the point the Scout already knows many of the things that she is trying to teach to her and Scout tries to talk about the dynamics of community to her teacher. The teacher is also very much upset with another boy Burris Ewell because he speaks very rudely to her and she as a young teacher is not able to get along the students in a good way.

Scout tells the readers that every day she has to pass in front of the house of Radley to reach her school. On her way she has to cross a tree in a yard and there is always something in the knothole of the tree. One day, she finds two gum pieces and then another day she finds Indian pennies. Scout and Jem decide to keep the pennies and the gum as well.

The summer comes and Dill returns again to the neighborhood in the summer. The children play the acting roles again as they played last summer. Soon they get bored with this routine. They decide to play Boo Radley`s story. for this they need to communicate with him so they leave a note from him inviting him to come for an ice-cream with them. Scout’s father Atticus gets to know about this and he asks the children not to intervene with Radley. They children stay silent for some days but then they make another plan for the story of Radley. They decide to sneak into Radley’s house and see what happens inside there at night. They go to the house of Radley in the night and when they start to see the happenings inside, someone shoots at them with fire.

They children get afraid and run away to their house but in this the pants of Jem get caught in the fence and he has to leave the pants in the fence in order to save himself. They reach home but in the street a large number of adults have gathered on the call of Radley because he has informed all of them that someone tried to enter his house. Jem lies about his missing pants to his parents. A few days later, Jem goes again to take his pants and to his surprise he sees that the pants are completely mended and Jem believes that this is done by Radley.

After the summer, the children enter into the next year of the school. Scout and Jem continue to find interesting things in the knothole of the tree. But one day, they find that the knothole is filled with cement by Radley. Both the children are upset with this and when the night falls they cry in their beds.

There is an unexpected snowfall in Maycomb.Jem and Scout enjoy the snowfall because they play and have fun in the snow but one of their neighbors` house catches fire. Miss Maudie`s children are taken out from the fire by Atticus. She waits for her father and then he comes back with a blanket and Scout realizes that it might be given by Radley which shocks her.

After the snowfall, the children return to school. One day, Scout is insulted by her classmate, Cecil Jacob, due to Scout’s father. She gets angry and is about to beat her but then she stops herself. Scout tells this to her father. Atticus tells her that it is because he being a lawyer is representing a case of Tom Robinson who has been accused with a rape of white woman. He tells Scout that he is trying to do the right thing and taking out the truth of the case regardless of the win or loss of the case.

In the following Christmas, Scout and Jem are visited by their uncle for a visit. Their uncle presents them with air rifles to enjoy the celebrations of Christmas. Atticus warns them that they should enjoy the air rifles but they must be careful as not to target the mocking birds because the mockingbirds are very innocent creatures and they do not harm people. The Finch family visits Aunt Alexandria. Scouts very much hate Aunt Alexandra because the Aunts want Scout to be like a woman and avoid roaming like boys because Scout has no interest in being ladylike.

Scout notices one thing that her father is growing old and he has become weak because he is unable to hunt or fish like all the other fathers. She considers him a very boring lawyer. But her view changes soon when one day a rabid dog tries to attack, Atticus shoots him down with a single shot. Miss Maudie tells them that Atticus is not good at hunting or shooting because he lacks this ability. Whatever the case is, Scouts is proud of her father and she thinks he is the best father.

The following few chapters talk about the trouble of Jem because he destroys some of the flowers of Mrs. Bubose because she insults Atticus and Jem takes a sort of revenge by destroying her flowers. The punishment is given to Jem in which he is to visit her house every day and read to her. Scout accompanies Jem as well and they notice that Mrs. Dubose feels some strange fits every day. After a few days, Atticus tells the children that the lady is dead. He also reveals that she remained an addict of Morphine and this reading habit was to recover her and break the addiction of Morphine. He also tells the children that this is very courageous because she knew that she was consumed yet she tried to recover herself from the addiction in order to live a life.

One day, the cook of the Finch family, Calpurnia, is going to Church and she takes Jem and Scout as well. The children see a number of black people in the Church and they treat them with love and kindness. The black community is poor in the region but still they try to work for the betterment and living of Helen Robinson who is the wife of Tom Robinson. Scout also gets to about the lady who has accused Tom Robinson of rape is Mayella Ewel. She also gets to know that Ewells are dishonest people and they lie frequently. She is confused about how people believe Mayella`s allegation. Scout is young and she is unable to comprehend that Ewells is believed because she is a white and Tom Robinson belongs to a black community.

After some time, Aunt Alexandra visits them and she stays with them. Scout is not happy on her arrival. But Alexandra gets adjusted to the life of Maycomb. The important thing that she makes clear to people is that she does not support Atticus for advocating for Tom Robinson who has raped Mayell Ewells.

The next few chapters detail the trial of Tom Robinson. Everyone in Maycomb comes to the court for trial and to see the proceedings of the case. Jem, Scout and Dill also go to the court and they sit on the balcony in the company of Reverend Sykes.

Heck Tate is the first person who comes to give his account. He tells that he is called into the house of Ewell by Bob Ewell and it is claimed that Robinson has raped his daughter Mayella. After Heck, Bob Ewelll is called to give his account of the event. When he comes to the front, Atticus gives him a page so that he can write his name on the paper and Atticus notes that Bob is a left hander. The next witness of the rape is called to the front and she Mayella who is the victim herself. 

She tells the court that she one day invites Tom to help her in her work and Tom rapes her by taking advantage of the situation. Atticus in the cross questions asks her that Tom is unable to beat her because his left hand is useless and he cannot control her with one hand. After listening to this, Mayella says that she does not want to tell anything more about the incident because it depresses her.

Finally, the accused Tom Robinson is called for the account of the event. People notice his useless left hand. Atticus claims that the rape is not done by Tom because he is unable to beat Mayells and the face of Mayells shows that she has bruises of the right side of her face. He also claims that this all is done by Bob Ewell and he is falsely putting an allegation of Tom Robinson. 

Tom Robinson tells that one day he is invited by Mayella to help her in her world and when he helps her, she tries to seduce him. He also tells her that she seduced him because she is alone in the house. Tom adds that he pushes Mayella away for the act and in the meanwhile both of them see Bob Ewell who is standing at the window.  Toms says that he runs off from the scene because he believes that this is going to put him in trouble regardless of the fact whether he has done something wrong or not.

The trial is coming to its end but Dill starts to cry so he along with Scout runs to a local person Mr. Raymond. He is a good character but is somewhat unusual. Although he is a white man yet he has married a black woman and lives in black community. He lives in the black community because his own community is narrow minded towards his marrying a black community and he is made to live outside the white community.

They move back to the courtroom and they are lucky to reach in time because when they reach Atticus is making his closing remarks. He requests the jury not to look at Tom as guilty because he is black but the case can be seen as a false allegation over Tom. He closes his remarks but suddenly Calpurnia shouts in the courtroom that Scout and Jem are missing.

The Jury waits for several waits to make the decision because they think long over the decision. In the meanwhile, Scout and Jem return. The Jury returns and announces that Tom is guilty for the rape. Atticus leaves in disappointment and all the members of the black community pays him respect and stand for him. The same night Jem cries a lot because of the unfair decision of the jury because the case is clear that Tom is not guilty of the rape.

The following day, Scout and Jem visit Miss Maudie and tell them about the unfair verdict of the Jury. The children are upset with the way Maycomb is moving forward. Miss Maudie tells them that despite the bad people there a lot of good people in the town. In the street, the children get to know that their father is attacked by Bob Ewell because Atticus tried to prove him guilty in the court. He took this shame to heart and attacked Atticus.

After the trial, things slowly settle down in the town. One day, Alexandra invites some women for tea. The invited women belong to the missionary circle and they preach Christianity. Scout also joins them and shows the zeal she wears proper dress for the occasion. But Scout gets disappointed with the women because she thinks that they women do not talk seriously rather they are engrossed in gossip and useless talks.

Atticus arrives home with news that Tom Robinson is killed. He reveals that Tom tries to escape from the jail and in the struggle he is shot down by the guards. Atticus goes to take Calpurnia so that the news could be delivered to Helen Robinson. Scout along with Alexandra goes to the party of women.

Time flies and a new school year gets started for the children. Jem and Scout grow bigger and this time their fear is gone which changes many things for them. They do not get frightened when they pass in front of the house of Radley. Scout noticed one more thing that most of his teachers and classmates have the same attitudes of racists towards the black people who live in the small town of Maycomb.

The novel takes another shift and this time Bob Ewell stalks the wife of Tom Robinson and the wife of Judge Taylor. He tries moving around to seduce them. Although Atticus writes that Bob Ewell is somehow harmless but Alexandra is not happy with this she seems concerned about the way of Bob  Ewell.

The school of Jem and Scout arranges a party for Halloween. For the party, Scout takes up the role of ham and she dresses up for this role. To perform her role, she goes to school with Jem but on the way Cecil Jacobs frightens them. They reach school and Scout gets asleep in the costume and she is lucky to wake up at the right moment so that she could perform her role on the stage. People laugh at her and she is very much embarrassed. She then asks Jem to stay backstage so that he accompanies her when they leave for home.

After they party they move towards home and notice that someone is following them on their way back. They think it is Cecil Jacobs who is following them but Jem notices that it is not Cecil so he asks Scout to run fast. They run fast towards homes and a person is following them but they do not know him because it is dark. They hear a fumbling crack and there is a loud cry of Jem. She is held by someone but she gets released. She runs towards home and when she reaches home she sees backward and realizes that the man is carrying Jem on his shoulder.

She reaches home and informs Atticus about the incident. The doctor is called to treat Scout and Atticus goes towards Heck Tate. Scout rushes to the room of Jem and finds that the dark man who followed them is standing in Jem’s room. When she reaches near the person she finds out that the man is Boo Radley. Heck arrives in the meanwhile and announces that the attacker is Bob Well and he is now dead. He is stabbed in his ribs with a knife.

Scout then sits with Radley and she also hears that Heck and Atticus are discussing the proceedings. Atticus is concerned that there is some wrong of the part of Jem as well. Heck tells him that they might consider it an accident and must not make Jem accused for murder.

Scout then accompanies Boo to his home. She also remembers that she did not see Radley after the incident. She sees the things from the perspective of Radley. She reaches home and falls asleep in the lap of his father Atticus. The novel ends at this juncture.

Themes in To Kill a Mockingbird

The journey of good and evil is parallel.

One of the major themes of this novel is the investigation of the ethical idea of individuals regardless of whether individuals are basically acceptable or basically malicious. The novel moves toward this inquiry by sensationalizing Scout and Jem’s progress from a viewpoint of the innocence of youth.

In this viewpoint they accept that individuals are acceptable on the grounds that they have never observed malevolence, to an increasingly grown-up point of view, because in this they have faced abhorrence. This view also urges them to join it into their comprehension of the world. Because of this depiction of the progress from honesty to encounter, one of the book’s significant sub themes includes the risk of contempt, bias, and ignorant posture to the guiltless.

Individuals like Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are not able to cope with the evil and hence they get destroyed. Jem is deceived to a degree by his revelation of the shrewdness of bigotry during and after the case of Tom Robinson. After the case, Scout channels her faith in justice in due course of time but Jem`s trust in equality and justice is badly hampered.

The ethical voice of the novel is typified by Atticus Finch, who he has encountered and comprehended evil and hypocrisy without losing his confidence in the human limit with respect to goodness. Atticus knows that many people have both great and terrible characteristics. The significant thing is to value the great characteristics and comprehend the terrible characteristics by treating others with compassion and attempting to see life from their point of view.

He attempts to show this extreme good exercise to Jem and Scout to give them that it is conceivable to live with soul without losing trust or getting critical. He respects the courage of Mrs. Dubose but he hates her attitude of racism. Scout’s advancement as a character in the novel is characterized by her slow improvement toward understanding Atticus’ exercises, which culminates in the way that Scout finally observes Boo Radley as an individual human being. Her freshly discovered capacity to see the world from his point of view guarantees that she has become tainted at the cost of losing her innocence.

The Importance of Moral Education

Since investigation of the moral inquiries of this novel happens inside the point of view of kids. The moral education of kids is essentially engaged with the development of all the themes of this novel. It might be said, the plot of the story outlines Scout’s moral and ethical training, and the themes of educating the children repeats all through the novel. For example toward the end of the novel, Scout has learned everything with the exception of variable based math.

This theme is investigated most intensely through the connection of Atticus to his kids, as he focuses to impart a conscience full of societal awareness in Scout and Jem. The scenes at school give an immediate antithesis to Atticus’ viable education to Scout and Jem. Scout is every now and then come against instructors who are either frustratingly unsympathetic to the moral needs of children.

The important teaching of this novel is to give the children the understanding of people and sympathy towards people. This must be inculcated into the mind of the children a thoughtful methodology is the most ideal approach to show these exercises. Atticus`s capacity to imagine the perspective of his children makes him a superb educator. Miss Caroline’s inflexible promise to the instructive systems that she learned in school makes her incapable and even hazardous.

Racism is another dominant theme of this novel. During the period of Great Depression, black people remained in slavery and they were subjugated by the white communities. Blacks were not allowed to intermix with whites in open settings. Additionally, things like intermarriage were practically unbelievable.

All through the novel, Scout investigates the contrasts between white people and dark individuals. Jem and Scout go to chapel with Calpurnia and Scout appreciates the experience. A while later, she inquires as to whether she may have the option to visit her home at some point since she has never observed it. Calpurnia concurs, however the visit is rarely made, due to Aunt Alexandra as she does not permit it.

The three children sit with the dark residents of the town in the gallery to watch the trail of Tom Robinson. Moreover, Dill and Scout have an extensive discussion with Mr. Raymond, a white man who wedded a dark lady and has blended kids. Mr. Raymond uncovers that he is a heavy drinker as to let the town pardon his decision to wed a dark lady.

Tom Robinson is indicted on the grounds that he is a dark man and the lady is white. The proof is in support of him, that race is obviously the single characterizing factor in the decision made by Jury. Atticus battles against racism and a few people of the town are his allies, including Judge Taylor and Miss Maudie. Scout and Jem have faith in equality of races.

At the point when Atticus loses the case, he attempts to cause his kids to understand the fact that he fought for the cause. This is shown that he is on the right side because the jury takes a very long time to make a decision. Normally, such a case is decided in due course of time.

Social Inequality

Alongside battling with ideas of good and malevolence, Jem and Scout, Scout attempts to comprehend what characterizes and makes social strata. Scout in general accept that people are simply people, while Jem is persuaded that standing in the society is identified with to what extent individuals’ family members and progenitors have had the option to compose the lineage of the family.

Scout explains the social strata of the town as she goes to school on the first day when Walter Cunningham doesn’t have the money for lunch. Her colleagues ask her to disclose to the teacher for what reason Walter won’t take a credited quarter to purchase lunch. She addresses the instructor on Cunningham’s budgetary circumstance and how they exchange products for services. Scout and different kids are aware of the social disparities in their town, yet consider these to be natural and changeless.

The Finch family falls somewhat high up in the social progressive system, while the Ewell family falls at the base. However, this progressive system just incorporates white individuals. The black people in Maycomb fall under every single white family in Maycomb, including the Ewells, whom Atticus marks as trash.

Scout comprehends this social structure, yet doesn’t comprehend the reason for it. She accepts that everybody ought to be dealt with the equivalent attitude, regardless of what family they belong to. For example, when she wants to have time with Walter Cunningham, Aunt Alexandra objects saying no Finch young lady ought to ever partner with Cunningham. Scout is disappointed by this, as she needs to have the option to pick her own companions depending on her meaning of what makes a decent individual: profound quality.

Morality holds a focal spot in To Kill a Mockingbird and can be connected to racial issues and disparity. How good or moral people are, identifies with how supremacist they are. A significant part of the tension in this novel comes when the ethical compass and moral measures of Jem and Scout come in clash with the society of Maycomb. Atticus appears to have confidence in an inborn goodness in individuals—one that would permit them to pick the best way, treat individuals with poise, and show regard for other people, regardless of what station in life they possess.

However, for Scout and Jem life uncovers a brutal and horrendous world. Their idea of ethical quality as being intrinsic is broken during the case when Tom is sentenced, regardless of the feeble proof introduced against him.

Harper Lee’s investigation of class frequently has to do with wealth and force. In the novel, Alexandra is faithful to Maycomb’s current class qualifications. Individuals are aware of their place, and to keep the status of individuals is a monotonous however fundamental activity. She clarifies that Scout can’t welcome poor Walter Cunningham to their home. Aunt Alexandra would believe the Ewell family to be in a lower social class than the Finches.

All through the novel, particularly after Aunt Alexandra arrives Scout and Jem get concerned about class division and status. They frequently talk about it as Background. However what they are attempting to make sense of, is the manner by which to explore the precarious waters of Maycomb’s different social classes while staying consistent with their convictions.

To Kill a Mockingbird Characters Analysis

Scout finch.

Scout Finch is the narrator of this story. Her full name is Jean Louise Finch but she is called by her nickname Scout.  She lives with her brother, Jem, her father, Atticus in a small town of Maycomb in Alabama. In her house, there is black woman Calpurnia who does the cooking work for the family. She is an intelligent girl but she lives like boys and likes to be a tomboy. She believes in the goodness of people who live in her community. She is a young who is not aware about racial differences and discrimination in her society but as the novel progress and she steps into her maturity, she learns the way of the society.

While reading this novel, one can easily grasp that Scout is the kind of person who moves in the same manner in which Atticus has raised her. He has nourished her understanding of things, soul, and distinction without stalling her in hypocrisy, deceptions and ideas of legitimacy. The girls in her age learn to wear dresses and other manners. She wears overalls and figures out how to climb trees with Jem and Dill. She doesn’t generally get a handle on social comforts, and human conduct regularly bewilders her.  However Atticus’ safeguarding Scout from affectation and the pressure of the society has made her open, straightforward, and good natured.

Toward the start of the novel, Scout is a blameless, decent five-year-old youngster who has no involvement in the disasters of the world. As the novel advances, Scout encounters racial prejudice. The development process of her character is represented by the topic of whether she will rise up out of this with conscience and optimism or she will be wounded like Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. 

On account of Atticus’ knowledge, Scout discovers that however humankind has an incredible limit with regards to evil; it likewise has an extraordinary capacity for goodness.  She also learns that humans can defeat evil with good understanding and sympathy. Scout’s advancement into an individual equipped for accepting that viewpoint denotes the summit of the novel and demonstrates that, whatever insidious she experiences, she will hold her inner voice without getting critical or bored.

Atticus Finch

He is the father of Jem and Scout. He is a lawyer by profession. He is a man of principles and has educated his children to stand for morality and justice. He believes in racial equality among all the people of his community. He takes a huge risk when he takes up the case of Tom Robinson because Tom is a black man and is accused of a rape of a white lady. By taking the case, Atticus not only endangers himself but his family as well. Atticus is the moral backbone of this novel and has great qualities of empathy and wisdom.

Atticus is one of the important residents in Maycomb during the times of the Great Depression. Atticus is moderately wealthy in times of widespread poverty. As a result of his insight, intelligence, and model conduct, Atticus is regarded by everybody, including poor people. He works as the ethical spine of Maycomb, an individual to whom others turn in a difficult situation. However, the inner voice that makes him so honorable at last causes his dropping out with the individuals of Maycomb. Unfit to withstand the town’s agreeable imbued racial bias, he consents to safeguard Tom Robinson, a dark man. Atticus’ activity makes him the object of disdain in Maycomb, yet he is basically too amazing a figure to be despised for long. After the case, he appears to be bound to be held in a similar high view as in the past.

Atticus rehearses the ethic of compassion and understanding that he lectures Scout and Jem and never holds resentment against the individuals of Maycomb. In spite of their hard apathy to racial imbalance, Atticus sees a lot to appreciate in them. He perceives that individuals have both great and awful characteristics, and he is resolved to respect the great while understanding and excusing the terrible. Atticus gives this extraordinary good exercise to Scout—this point of view shields the honest from being decimated by contact with malicious.

Unexpectedly Atticus is a brave figure and venerated person in Maycomb, neither Jem nor Scout deliberately venerates him toward the start of the novel. Both are humiliated that he is older than different fathers and that he is not capable of fishing and hunting. In any case, Atticus rearing up the children in a wise way wins the respect of both Scout and Jem in the end of the novel. Jem us highly dedicated to Atticus at the end of the novel. Atticus stands inflexibly dedicated to equality and justice. He wants to see matters from the points of view of others.  He is the ethical guide and voice of the inner voice.

He is the brother of Scout Finch. He is a playmate and trustworthy friend of Scout. He is a typical boy of America. He takes fun in daring and fantasizing. He is four-year older than Scout. Though he separates himself from the games of Scout in course of time but remains a good and protective person towards her. He believes in goodness of people but all his ideals of morality and goodness are broken down to splinters when Tom Robinson is punished for the false allegation of rape by the Jury.

Arthur Boo Radley

He is a person who remains secluded and is happy in his seclusion. He does not come out of his home. He remains a symbol of fear for Scout, Jem and Dill in their childhood. He is a kind and powerful character. He is full of goodness and leaves small gifts for the children when they go to school. He is the one who comes to rescue and save Scout and Jem from the evil Bob Ewell. He portrays the mockingbird because he is a harmless person but he is injured by humanity.

He is a drunkard. He belongs to a poor family in Maycomb. He is unemployed and does not like to do any job. He portrays the evil side of America South. He falsely accuses Tom with the rape. He stands as person to racial discrimination and believes that black people are all evil.

Charles Baker Dill Harris

He is a fast friend of Scout and Jem. He visits Maycomb in summers and enjoys his summer in the company of these two siblings. He is an active boy. He has a strong sense of imagination. He remains curious to know about the activities of Radley. He represents the innocence of childhood.

Miss Maudie Atkinson

She is the neighbor of the Finch family. She is a lady with a sharp tongue. She is an old friend of the Finch family. She is a good nature lady and has a passion for justice. She remains a very good friend of many of the children of Maycomb.

She is the cook of Finch family. She acts as a bridge between the children of the Finch family as white family and the black community that she belongs to. She is a strict lady of disciplines.

The black characters in the novel appear to fill in as props for the white characters that encompass them. Calpurnia is flexible, long suffering, and appreciative to the great white individuals around her who are not bigots of racism. While Calpurnia fills in as a positive impact on Scout, showing her significant exercises sympathy. 

Calpurnia is likewise a massively streamlined character, especially with respect to her race and the impacts of preference on her life. Although she lives in a good family yet she does not talk about the issue of racial discrimination that tells the readers that she is very much aware of the implications of talking about the issue. In any case, in a novel so intrigued by the issue of prejudice, the treatment of Calpurnia is deserving of basic investigation.

Aunt Alexandra

She is the sister of Atticus. She is a woman of fierce nature but has a very committed devotion towards the family. She is a typical lady of the South. She has clashed with Scout because she is a lady of traditions.

Mayella Ewell

She is the lonely and unhappy daughter of Bob Ewell. The course of the novel suggests that she is abused by her father. She is not treated well by her father and this becomes the reason that she seduces Tom Robinson.

Tom Robinson

Tom Robinson is the character who is accused for the alleged rape of Mayella Ewell. He belongs to a black community and becomes a victim of the white community. He is also a mockingbird whose innocence and goodness is destroyed by the evil of the society.

To Kill a Mocking Bird Analysis

Significance of the title.

The title of this novel has almost no association with the plot of the novel.  However, it conveys a lot of lessons in the book. This novel deals with people who are innocent but are destroyed by evil people. Thus, the “mockingbird” symbolizes innocence and innocent people.  In this way, to execute a mockingbird is to demolish guiltlessness and innocence. Throughout the book, various characters can be distinguished as mockingbirds like Tom Robinson, Jem and Radley because these innocent people are harmed or demolished through contact with malicious people. 

This association between the novel’s title and its fundamental theme is expressed a number of times in this novel. For example, after Tom gets killed while escaping from the jail, Mr. Underwood looks at his death as the slaughter of birds senselessly and Scout imagines that stinging Boo Radley would resemble a mockingbird.

Miss Maudie tells Scout that mockingbirds always sing for humans and they do not harm humans therefore, killing a mockingbird is a sin. The surname Finch of Scout and Jem is another name of a small bird. It also shows that they are especially helpless in the bigot universe of Maycomb, which regularly treats the delicate guiltlessness of youth brutally.

Interpreting the Epigraph

The author starts this novel with an epigraph by Charles Lamb: “Lawyers, I suppose, were children once.”

A decent piece of this present story’s splendor lies in the way that it’s told from the perspective of a child. Through the eyes of Scout, Lee introduces the story objectively. By having a guiltless girl offer racial comments and respect ethnic minorities in a manner reliable with the society, Lee gives a panoramic view of the area and community. As a youngster, Scout can mention objective facts that a grown-up would not be able to make. Readers might forgive the perception of a kid, but they would not forgive a grown-up who offers these hostile comments.

Harper Lee is inside Scout. The father of Lee was a lawyer and Scout’s father is a lawyer, too. Lee studied law as well. Since Scout’s character is somewhat personal, the epigraph conveys a good sort of meaning. Lee demonstrates through recounting the story that she remained a child once.

The significance of the epigraph comes clearly when Atticus answers the question of Jem as how can Tom be charged with rape, Atticus says  that they jury has been doing it repeatedly and they would do it again in future and the only reaction to such decisions is that only children are left crying over such decisions. Jem communicates at various chapters of this novel that he wants to become a legal advisor like his father. The exercises he gets throughout the novel shapes his whole life. Readers are able to consider this Lawyer in future as a kid first.

The Fictional Town of Maycomb and Its Significance

The town of Maycomb is the fictional town of Maycomb County. It appears that it is planned not for the depiction of real geographical location but to represent a sort of little Southern town that existed during the 1930s. Scout tells the readers that the town is suffocating, old and very tired in outlook. 

To give it a real touch, the social aspects of the town are described in detail. The town is troubled, Atticus may be infected, by racism and social prejudices. Maycomb is divided geographically to show different classes of people in the town. While the wealthy families like the Finches live in enormous houses near the focal point of town. The Ewells live in small dirty cabins which are closed to the thrash throwing areas, where individuals drive their trees and junk to the dump. The black community lives in cabins which is a sign that the town is both racially and financially isolated. The Ewells need essential necessities like running water and protection, and they every now and again rummage in the landfill for nourishment. 

This clearly shows the economic inequalities in the town. This depiction of the town holds a significant role in the novel because this novel deals with all these families whose lives have been made miserable by this class distinctions and stereotypes. They are made to suffer while the others enjoy the luxuries of life.

Interpreting the end of the Novel

The novel ends when Scout and Jem are attacked by Bob Ewell. They are rescued by Radley and during the process of rescue, Bob gets murdered.  Scout`s father has a log and detailed discussion with the Sheriff Tate to discuss the proceedings of the murder while Boo Radley is rescued by Scout towards his home. The discussion of Atticus and Sheriff is hard to comprehend, in light of the fact that both of them are discussing two different perspectives of the case. 

Atticus believes that Jem has executed Bob. He thinks Heck wants to conceal reality to safeguard Jem. Atticus is resolutely against protection of Jem in case he has killed Bob. He believes that shielding Jem from the police might undermine Atticus’ reputation in the eyes of his kids and everything that he has educated them would be ruined.

Sheriff understands that it is Radley who has murdered Bob Ewell. He wants to hide reality to ensure the safety of Boo. The Sheriff doesn’t accept that Boo will be in a difficult situation, since he committed the murder to safeguard and rescue the children. However, he imagines that the society would pay gratitude towards Boo for doing a heroic act of protecting the children and make him a legend which would ruin the privacy of Boo because he does not want to showcase his skills.

Atticus intensely contradicts concealing Jem’s association in the murder of Bob Ewell. But at the same time, he acknowledges that protecting Boo from police is the right thing. This obvious irregularity is significant for the understanding of the readers and researcher to comprehend Atticus and his inspirations. Atticus is a man of principles who esteems law; however he also values his relationship with his kids as well.

Atticus isn’t worried about the possibility that concealing the involvement of Jem in the murder will be dishonest or unlawful. He is worried that accomplishing something so misleading will demolish his affinity and association with his kids. Atticus would prefer that Jem face a few challenges than imagine that his dad didn’t hold him to a similar standard as every other person. Atticus doesn’t have that sort of relationship with Boo. He, in fact, is thankful to Boo for protecting the lives of his children. So Atticus is eager to acknowledge that exposing Boo to police would be an error.

Another significant part of the ending of the novel is the walk of Scout with Boo. Boo requests that Scout takes him home and also uncovers that this character that has made people afraid of him is in fact a character who is afraid of things and cowardice in nature. In observing the fear of Boo, Scout is placed into the situation to safeguard Boo and his nobility, from the town. Scout for the first time calls him Mr. Radley and holds him from the arm.

Through this Scout wants to show to the people that Boo is the person who is strolling her down the road . In safeguarding the dignity of Boo and understanding his fears Scout imagines someone else’s perspective and contemplates the world from their point of view, similarly as Atticus educated her. Atticus’ last lines, that the vast majority are pleasant when you at last recognize the truth about them, underscores Scout’s development procedure from a kid who remained afraid of Boo illogically, to a grown-up fit for considering Boo to be a person.

To Kill A Mockingbird as an Autobiography

Harper Lee said that this isn’t a self-portrayal, but instead a case of how a writer ought to expound on what he knows and compose truthfully.  Nevertheless, a few people and occasions from the childhood of Lee are a direct reference to the life of young Scout in the novel., Amasa Coleman Lee,the father of Harper Lee, was a lawyer, and the father of Scout is also a lawyer. In 1919, Asama Coleman guards two dark men who are arrested for the charge of murder. After they are given death sentences Lee`s father never goes for the next criminal case. The mother of Scout dies when Scout is a baby but the mother of Harper Lee dies when Lee is 25 year-old. Edwin is the elder brother of Harper Lee and he becomes the motivation for Jem.

Lee`s character of Dill is a direct reference to Truman Capote. Capote is the childhood friend of Harper Lee. Just as Dill lives nearby to Scout in the summers, Capote lives nearby to Lee with his aunties. Like Dill, Capote has a noteworthy creative mind for intriguing stories. Both Lee and Capote have the same sort of hobbies of reading in their childhood. She and Capote make up and perform stories they compose on an old Underwood typewriter that is given to Lee by her father in childhood.  In the street where Lee lives, is a house that is always blocked and this becomes a motivation for the house of Radley in the novel.

The source of Tom Robinson is not very clear. At the point when Lee is 10 years of age, a white lady in Monroeville blames a dark man named Walter Lett for assaulting her. The story and the proceedings of the case are the newspaper of Lee`s father, which reveals that Lett is given death penalty for the rape. After a number of letters it is found that the person is accused falsely and his death penalty is converted into prison in life. Scholars accept that Robinson’s troubles mirror the famous instance of the Scottsboro Boys in which nine dark men are given punishment for the rape of two white ladies on but there is no solid evidence. 

To Kill a Mockingbird is a story of Injustices:

This novel deals with a serious issue. This issue is of injustice.  The best instance of bad form of injustice includes Tom Robinson who is erroneously blamed for a wrongdoing that he never does, nor proposes to do it. Tom’s perspective is not accepted on account of his race, which showcases the mistreatment of all the black people in the times when the novel is written down. Tom’s activities were not quite the same as what others in his circumstance would have done.

Rather than blowing up and striking back against society and the white townsfolk, Tom experienced the difficulties of the trial without getting exasperated on the grounds that he is erroneously blamed, and behaves as a respectable man. Tom’s activities delineate the sort of man he really is, not one to assault and beat a powerless young person; he shows that he is a civilized man.

Another instance of injustice is of religious nature. At the point when Jem and Scout go to chapel with Calpurnia, Jem remarks on the First Purchase Church, expressing that, on Sundays, the blacks perform the acts of worship, and white men play gambling games.

This is a type of racial treachery, implying that if the dark people are to bet in the white’s congregation, inconvenience would stimulate, which is religious injustice in a very bad form. The white individuals don’t regard the rituals of black people because of their skin color.

The primary principle of the Bill Of Rights pronounces that all men will have opportunity of religion, yet the white’s spend unlimited hours betting and erring on blessed land. Once more, the blacks don’t rebel; however let the whites do as they want. The blacks realize that they were abused in light of the fact that they dislike every other person.

The last occurrence of injustice is the response of the white court when Tom Robinson expressed that he feels distress for Mayella Ewell. A considerable lot of the individuals start to talk and giggle, as though they accept that Tom Robinson feels sorry for her because he has taken the advantage of her loneliness. 

More From Harper Lee

Essays About To Kill a Mockingbird: Top 5 Examples

Understand Harper Lee’s intention for the novel and successfully write essays about To Kill a Mockingbird. Here are some examples and prompts.

To Kill a Mockingbird is an iconic novel created by Harper Lee and published on July 11, 1961. It tells the story of a girl, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, and how she absorbed her father’s lessons through events over three years. She initially struggled to understand his lessons until she had to experience them firsthand through other characters. These include their recluse neighbor Boo Radley, African-American cook Calpurnia, and her father’s client accused of rape, Tom Robinson.

To further understand why this book is a timeless classic and why it deserves to be in teachers’ lesson plans, here are five sample essays you can read:

1. Metaphor, Foreshadowing, And Allusion In The Book To Kill A Mockingbird By Anonymous On Edubirdie.Com

2. growth in to kill a mockingbird by anonymous on samplius.com, 3. parenting in “to kill a mockingbird” by writer terra, 4. critical essays racial relations in the southern united states by anonymous on cliffsnotes.com, 5. my ‘to kill a mockingbird’ problem… and ours by zack graham, 1. to kill a mockingbird as an iconic novel, 2. literary elements in to kill a mockingbird, 3. lessons to learn from “to kill a mockingbird”, 4. why is it titled “to kill a mockingbird”, 5. what impacted the creation of to kill a mockingbird, 6. is to kill a mockingbird worth reading , 7. the characters in to kill a mockingbird, my reflection on a to kill a mockingbird movie.

“…Harper Lee excellently uses metaphors, foreshadowing, and allusion to show the theme of coming of age. Coming of age is something that occurs in everyone’s life whether it be at a young or old age.”

The essay retells To Kill a Mockingbird’s plot to refresh its readers on the novel’s contents. The author focuses on the literary elements in the book and how they helped to develop the story’s theme. 

The writer gives examples of these elements. Metaphors for Atticus asking Scout to put herself in someone else’s shoes to understand their point of view. Allusions for referring to Mockingbirds, alluding to innocent people. Foreshadowing for Atticus telling his daughter to resist the urge to fight, followed by Scout being unable to control her anger.

“Scout and Jem are both excellent examples of growth and maturity during a childhood. Jem learns what it really means to be brave, and Scout gets a true representation of the prejudice in her town.”

The piece delves into Jem’s bravery and how it changes throughout the novel. From simply touching the side of Boo Radley’s house, understanding what racism is through Tom Robinson’s trial, and coping with the attack of Bob Ewell. In the end, Jem grew up to be his sister’s savior. 

It also expounds on Scout’s growth and how she learned lessons worth a lifetime in just three years. In addition, the author recounted times when Scout was narrow-minded as a kid and how the people who love her corrected her ways. 

“There is a wide diversity of parenting styles in Maycomb which leads to many children behaving poorly… Atticus, Calpurnia, and Miss Maudie combine to make parental figures during the childhood of Jem and Scout.” 

Terra scrutinizes the many parenting styles in To Kill a Mockingbird and examines their effects on the characters’ children. For example, she labels Bob Ewell a lousy parent, resulting in mean, stubborn, and uneducated kids. On the other hand, Scout and Jem have many parental figures they learned from, such as their father, Atticus, nanny Calpurnia, and family friend Miss Maudie.

The author relates instances in the book to prove why Atticus is a great parent and how he tried to protect them despite the hate around their town. Terra further narrates other times when Calpurnia and Miss Maudie taught Scout and Jem valuable life lessons. 

“The racial concerns that Harper Lee addresses in To Kill a Mockingbird began long before her story starts and continued long after. In order to sift through the many layers of prejudice that Lee exposes in her novel, the reader needs to understand the complex history of race relations in the South.”

The writer lists relevant headlines during the time of Harper Lee’s creation of her book. The list includes Jim Crow laws that legalized racial segregation, banned interracial marriage, the Scottsboro Trials, where nine black teenage boys were falsely accused of rape, and Rosa Parks’ part in the Civil Right Movement.

“…after re-reading To Kill a Mockingbird, I can’t help but think about how the more things change, the more they stay the same. The book’s themes and dramatic tensions are anything but dated: they live on around us, appearing on the news and on social media. When you teach this book, I implore you to use it as a way of exploring what’s happening in this country to your students. “

Graham labels his essay an open letter to teachers. He shares his honesty on how he didn’t appreciate reading To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school and how the Black Lives Matter movement motivated him to re-read the book. Finally, he debates why teaching To Kill a Mockingbird to children doesn’t send them the right message. 

He highlights how the heroes in the novel are white people in the characters of Atticus and Boo Radley. Next, he compels teachers to teach their students about racism, such as how white people demonize blacks. He also mentions allegories in the book that can be used to explain cybersecurity, mental disabilities, and other information teachers should give more attention to when discussing the novel. Finally, he also points out the parts of the book he finds “ugly” and infuriating.

For help with your essay, check out our round-up of best essay writing apps .

8 Prompts on Essays About To Kill a Mockingbird

Below are persuasive prompts you can use for your essay:

For this prompt, explain why To Kill a Mockingbird is considered an iconic book. What makes it different from other books? Highlight the key points that make this bestseller a famous English literature example. Then, discuss its themes and provide a summary of the plot for those who haven’t read the book.

In this essay, study the key literary elements that make this book so groundbreaking. First, talk through the literary elements Harper Lee used in this novel, such as the settings, plot, and motif. How did they make the story more digestible? Then, discuss your favorite elements within the book and expand on the points made.

Atticus shares four lessons with his children in the book. Briefly summarize these lessons and share how you understand them. Then, give your opinion on whether they are good or bad advice and include your relevant experience connected to these lessons.

Explain to your readers why the novel is titled as such. Include what you thought of Harper Lee’s title, are there any other title you think better fits the book? For example, you may think the title should be: Atticus’ Four Lessons because the book revolves around his four core messages.

Many events inspired Harper Lee during her time. For example, explain how Rosa Parks’ bus incident and the murder of Emmett Till affected the book’s plot. Then, to give you an idea, you can create a timeline of these events and add their possible impact on Harper Lee.

To Kill a Mockingbird was praised back when it was first published in 1960, but some comment that it has a one-dimensional view of racism. For this essay, share your thoughts and your stance on this debate. Also, include what you felt during and after you read the book and why you would or would not recommend it to others.

Discuss the characters in the story — Scout, Jem, Atticus, Boo Radley, Bob Ewell, Tom Robinson, etc. Include why their parts are relevant in the novel. For example, if you pick Scout, share how her father’s lessons guided her through the book. 

To Kill a Mockingbird Movie was directed by Robert Mulligan and released in 1962. Highlight the elements that you think the movie managed to convey well. You can also point out what the movie missed.

If you are interested in learning more, see our essay writing tips .

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

View all posts

Sample Essay on: “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Essay / research paper abstract.

A 5 page paper which examines how “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is a very good example of how a good novel does more than tell a good story. No additional sources cited.

Page Count:

5 pages (~225 words per page)

File: JR7_RAmckng1.rtf

Unformatted sample text from the term paper:

which involves a simple childhood and a small town, it is much more than that as it delves into the injustices seen in this country. It is through this perspective that Lees story becomes more than one which only tells us a good story. It has morals, ethics, hopes, and dreams of a better world where all are accepted and respected. In the following paper we examine Lees novel, providing quotes and discussing them as they illustrate how her story is more than just a good tale. To Kill a Mocking Bird: More than a Good Story The first quote to be examined is one wherein Scout is being reprimanded by her teacher. Her teacher tells her, "Your father does not know how to teach. You can have a seat now" (Lee 17). While this seems to be a simple and relatively harmless statement, and also a statement that would help to make a good story with Scout as the protagonist, it is also a quote that symbolically presents us with the mentality of the town. The teacher is telling Scout that her father, a lawyer, is a bad teacher. Yet, here is Scout, reading at writing at an age that excels other students skills. Scouts father is anything but a poor teacher, and we learn this more and more as the story unfolds. We further see this important theme, that being which indicates that Scouts father is an excellent teacher in a world that is ignorant and uncaring, in the following quote: "First of all, he said, If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, youll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.....until you climb into his skin and ...

Search and Find Your Term Paper On-Line

Can't locate a sample research paper try searching again:.

Can't find the perfect research paper? Order a Custom Written Term Paper Now

• Free Samples
• Premium Essays
• Editing Services Editing Proofreading Rewriting
• Extra Tools Essay Topic Generator Thesis Generator Citation Generator GPA Calculator Study Guides Donate Paper
• Essay Writing Help
• About Us About Us Testimonials FAQ
• Studentshare
• Environmental Studies
• To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird - Term Paper Example

• Subject: Environmental Studies
• Type: Term Paper
• Level: College
• Pages: 6 (1500 words)
• Downloads: 2
• Author: aliyahfunk

Extract of sample "To Kill a Mockingbird"

• Cited: 0 times
• Copy Citation Citation is copied Copy Citation Citation is copied Copy Citation Citation is copied

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF To Kill a Mockingbird

Analysis of to kill a mockingbird by jean louise scout finch, to kill a mockingbird by harper lee, to kill a mockingbird by lee harper, racism and the value of justice in to kill a mockingbird, conflicts between the communities of maycomb in to kill a mockingbird, to kill a mockingbird by robert mulligan, analysis of to kill a mockingbird by harper lee.

• TERMS & CONDITIONS
• PRIVACY POLICY
• COOKIES POLICY

Why “To Kill a Mockingbird” Keeps Getting Kicked off the Shelf

This essay about the repeated banning of “To Kill a Mockingbird” from schools and libraries explores the complex issues surrounding its censorship. It highlights the novel’s candid treatment of racism and use of racially sensitive language, which have raised concerns about its appropriateness for young readers. The essay also discusses criticisms related to the narrative perspective and the portrayal of racial themes through a predominantly white lens, sparking debates on representation. Furthermore, it touches on the broader societal and educational debates that these challenges to the novel reflect, questioning the role of literature in sparking critical discussions and confronting uncomfortable truths. Ultimately, the essay argues that the controversy over “To Kill a Mockingbird” underscores the ongoing struggle to balance protecting youth with exposing them to the realities of history and injustice.

How it works

Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a novel that’s been both adored and admonished since it first hit the shelves in 1960. Tackling themes of racial injustice, moral complexity, and the pains of growing up, it’s become a staple in American literature. Yet, its presence in school curriculums and libraries has been hotly contested, leading to its ban in various places across the US. The crux of the matter? The novel’s raw take on racism, its language, and the perspectives it presents.

The book doesn’t shy away from exposing the visceral racism of the Depression-era South, which is exactly where the trouble starts for some. The use of racially charged language and the portrayal of racial violence have led to concerns about its suitability for young readers. Critics argue that the book might either discomfort students or, worse, reinforce racist stereotypes. On the flip side, fans of the novel see this discomfort as a necessary part of the learning process, a way to initiate vital conversations about race and history.

Another sticking point is the novel’s narrative perspective. Narrated by Scout, a young white girl, some say it dilutes the authenticity of the racial issues it seeks to spotlight, even perpetuating the “white savior” trope through Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, who is painted as a moral hero in a morally bankrupt town. This has sparked a wider conversation on representation in literature: whose stories are being told and who gets to tell them?

The battles over the book also mirror larger societal debates. What makes it into our schools and libraries often reflects broader tensions about what’s considered appropriate for discussion and education. The argument against the novel often comes down to protecting young minds from its gritty realities. However, proponents argue that it’s precisely these realities that can teach empathy, critical thinking, and the importance of standing up for what’s right.

Beneath all this lies a bigger question about literature’s role in our lives and schools. Is it just about reading stories that make us feel good, or is it about challenging ourselves to think deeper about the world and our place in it? “To Kill a Mockingbird” forces us to face the injustices of our past and present, making it a litmus test for how we deal with uncomfortable truths.

In the end, the debate over “To Kill a Mockingbird” is more than just about a book; it’s about who we are and who we aspire to be. It’s about understanding that sometimes, the most important lessons come from confronting what makes us most uncomfortable. As society evolves, so too does the conversation around what we allow on our shelves and in our classrooms, making “To Kill a Mockingbird” as relevant today as it was over sixty years ago.

Cite this page

Why "To Kill a Mockingbird" Keeps Getting Kicked Off the Shelf. (2024, Mar 25). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/why-to-kill-a-mockingbird-keeps-getting-kicked-off-the-shelf/

"Why "To Kill a Mockingbird" Keeps Getting Kicked Off the Shelf." PapersOwl.com , 25 Mar 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/why-to-kill-a-mockingbird-keeps-getting-kicked-off-the-shelf/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Why "To Kill a Mockingbird" Keeps Getting Kicked Off the Shelf . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/why-to-kill-a-mockingbird-keeps-getting-kicked-off-the-shelf/ [Accessed: 12 Apr. 2024]

"Why "To Kill a Mockingbird" Keeps Getting Kicked Off the Shelf." PapersOwl.com, Mar 25, 2024. Accessed April 12, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/why-to-kill-a-mockingbird-keeps-getting-kicked-off-the-shelf/

"Why "To Kill a Mockingbird" Keeps Getting Kicked Off the Shelf," PapersOwl.com , 25-Mar-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/why-to-kill-a-mockingbird-keeps-getting-kicked-off-the-shelf/. [Accessed: 12-Apr-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Why "To Kill a Mockingbird" Keeps Getting Kicked Off the Shelf . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/why-to-kill-a-mockingbird-keeps-getting-kicked-off-the-shelf/ [Accessed: 12-Apr-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers