TKAM Literary Analysis
Within the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the author Harper Lee uses a variety of literary devices. The author uses literary devices to create a connection to the reader. By creating a connection the reader can establish feelings while reading the book. The reader can feel what the character feels by their perspective. The author can make the story realistic by using these devices. Harper uses visuals and imagery that help the reader get a picture in their head. Using literary devices can make the novel interesting. These devices make the reader interested in the book and want to keep reading. All of the literary devices help the reader understand and make the book much better. The author’s idea, organization, use of conventions, word choice, sentence fluency, and voice make the reader engaged. Although many literary devices are represented in this novel, symbolism represents objects and ideas in order to create meaning for the reader.
One symbol in To Kill a Mockingbird is the mockingbird, which represents innocence. In this novel, the characters Scout, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are innocent. Scout is a very young girl, and she does not understand why all the bad things happen. For example, Scout does not know what rape is. She also does not understand the trial, and why people are so mean. Scout does not know about all the evil in people until the trial. Another innocent character is Tom Robinson. Tom is accused of rape just because he is black. He did not rape Mayella, but he lost the trial because of his skin color. Boo Radley is also an innocent person, even though he may not seem innocent at first. There are lots of myths about Boo. One myth is that is a very tall man with an interesting habit of dining “...on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch,...” (p.13). Everyone thinks that he is a bad, scary person. Boo stays in his house for 15 years and has never came out because he got in trouble. Eventually Boo comes out of his house and he helps Scout and Jem from being hurt. Scout, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are innocent, just like a mockingbird.
Flowers are another example of symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird. Flowers represent family. Azaleas, Camellias, and Geraniums are different types of flowers that each represent something in the novel. Each of the ladies that own the flowers express how they treat their families in their flowers. Miss Maudie owns the Azaleas, which represents protection. Miss. Maudie protects her flowers like she would protect her children. Mrs. Dubose owns the Camellias, which represent preciousness and protection. Mrs. Dubose’s flowers are very precious to her and she protects them very well. Jem got angry at Mrs. Dubose for saying bad things about his father. Jem got so angry that he lost control and “...cut off the tops of every camellia bush Mrs. Dubose owned…” (p.103). Jem’s punishment was to read to Mrs. Dubose. Mayella Ewell owns the Geraniums, which represent selfishness. Geraniums are flowers that do not need taken care of. Mayella does not take care of important things that she should, such as her siblings. Mayella is also very selfish and only cares about herself. Azaleas, Camellias, and Geraniums are three important symbols in this novel.
Another symbol in To Kill a Mockingbird is Tim Johnson, which represents evil. In this novel, there is lots of evil in people. Tim Johnson is a rabid dog that Atticus shoots. Bob Ewell is an example of an evil person. Bob lied in court. He said that Mayella was raped, and he proved he was left-handed by writing his name on paper. But Atticus disagreed with Mr. Ewell’s assumption stating he was left-handed. Mr. Ewell became angry, wondering “...what his being left-handed had to do with...” Mayella having a right black-eye (p. 177). He is also abusive, he beats his daughter Mayella. The most horrific thing he did was try to hurt Jem and Scout because he was mad at Atticus. In this novel society is also evil. Everyone is racist, they make fun of Atticus for defending Tom Robinson because he is black. Society also says that Tom Robinson is guilty when he is innocent. Tim Johnson, Bob Ewell, and society are part of the evil symbol in this novel.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, the author uses symbolism to represent ideas. The symbols the mockingbird, flowers, and Tim Johnson help the readers understand the main idea and purpose of the novel. The mockingbird represents innocence. There are three characters that may not seem innocent, but really are. The different types of flowers represent family, protection, love, and selfishness. All four of those are important in creating feeling. Tim Johnson represents evil. There are lots of evil things happening in this book. All three of these symbols represent different things that make the novel interesting. Overall, literary devices are important To Kill a Mockingbird, and the device symbolism creates meaning for the reader.
Reference
Lee. H (1960). To kill a mockingbird. New York: Warner Books, Inc.
Within the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the author Harper Lee uses a variety of literary devices. The author uses literary devices to create a connection to the reader. By creating a connection the reader can establish feelings while reading the book. The reader can feel what the character feels by their perspective. The author can make the story realistic by using these devices. Harper uses visuals and imagery that help the reader get a picture in their head. Using literary devices can make the novel interesting. These devices make the reader interested in the book and want to keep reading. All of the literary devices help the reader understand and make the book much better. The author’s idea, organization, use of conventions, word choice, sentence fluency, and voice make the reader engaged. Although many literary devices are represented in this novel, symbolism represents objects and ideas in order to create meaning for the reader.
One symbol in To Kill a Mockingbird is the mockingbird, which represents innocence. In this novel, the characters Scout, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are innocent. Scout is a very young girl, and she does not understand why all the bad things happen. For example, Scout does not know what rape is. She also does not understand the trial, and why people are so mean. Scout does not know about all the evil in people until the trial. Another innocent character is Tom Robinson. Tom is accused of rape just because he is black. He did not rape Mayella, but he lost the trial because of his skin color. Boo Radley is also an innocent person, even though he may not seem innocent at first. There are lots of myths about Boo. One myth is that is a very tall man with an interesting habit of dining “...on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch,...” (p.13). Everyone thinks that he is a bad, scary person. Boo stays in his house for 15 years and has never came out because he got in trouble. Eventually Boo comes out of his house and he helps Scout and Jem from being hurt. Scout, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley are innocent, just like a mockingbird.
Flowers are another example of symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird. Flowers represent family. Azaleas, Camellias, and Geraniums are different types of flowers that each represent something in the novel. Each of the ladies that own the flowers express how they treat their families in their flowers. Miss Maudie owns the Azaleas, which represents protection. Miss. Maudie protects her flowers like she would protect her children. Mrs. Dubose owns the Camellias, which represent preciousness and protection. Mrs. Dubose’s flowers are very precious to her and she protects them very well. Jem got angry at Mrs. Dubose for saying bad things about his father. Jem got so angry that he lost control and “...cut off the tops of every camellia bush Mrs. Dubose owned…” (p.103). Jem’s punishment was to read to Mrs. Dubose. Mayella Ewell owns the Geraniums, which represent selfishness. Geraniums are flowers that do not need taken care of. Mayella does not take care of important things that she should, such as her siblings. Mayella is also very selfish and only cares about herself. Azaleas, Camellias, and Geraniums are three important symbols in this novel.
Another symbol in To Kill a Mockingbird is Tim Johnson, which represents evil. In this novel, there is lots of evil in people. Tim Johnson is a rabid dog that Atticus shoots. Bob Ewell is an example of an evil person. Bob lied in court. He said that Mayella was raped, and he proved he was left-handed by writing his name on paper. But Atticus disagreed with Mr. Ewell’s assumption stating he was left-handed. Mr. Ewell became angry, wondering “...what his being left-handed had to do with...” Mayella having a right black-eye (p. 177). He is also abusive, he beats his daughter Mayella. The most horrific thing he did was try to hurt Jem and Scout because he was mad at Atticus. In this novel society is also evil. Everyone is racist, they make fun of Atticus for defending Tom Robinson because he is black. Society also says that Tom Robinson is guilty when he is innocent. Tim Johnson, Bob Ewell, and society are part of the evil symbol in this novel.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, the author uses symbolism to represent ideas. The symbols the mockingbird, flowers, and Tim Johnson help the readers understand the main idea and purpose of the novel. The mockingbird represents innocence. There are three characters that may not seem innocent, but really are. The different types of flowers represent family, protection, love, and selfishness. All four of those are important in creating feeling. Tim Johnson represents evil. There are lots of evil things happening in this book. All three of these symbols represent different things that make the novel interesting. Overall, literary devices are important To Kill a Mockingbird, and the device symbolism creates meaning for the reader.
Reference
Lee. H (1960). To kill a mockingbird. New York: Warner Books, Inc.
In my paper I discussed symbolism that is used in To Kill a Mockingbird. The symbols I talked about were the mockingbird, flowers, and Tim Johnson. Each of these symbols are very important in the book. The symbols help the reader understand the purpose of the book. The mockingbird represents innocence. There are characters in this novel that are very innocent. Flowers represent family, protection, love and selfishness. These show the feelings in the novel. Time Johnson represents evil. There is lots of evil things that happen. I talked about symbolism because I think it is very important to know what the symbols are. All three of these symbols are important to create meaning for the reader.