Using one’s memory, symbolic imagination, and pattern recognition when reading can enhance the initial impact of a literary work by maturing what the author means in their work. One’s memory allows her to make connections between what she is currently analyzing to other literary works she has analyzed in the past. This allows her to spend less time finding those elements (symbols, themes, etc.) and more time figuring out how the similarities can help her better understand the current piece of literature. What she can remember from past literary works gives her an advantage in finding a similar theme or symbol in another piece of work. Memory allows a person 's symbolic imagination to connect to an earlier instance with things that have happened …show more content…
In the book, Mrs. Maudie says, ‘Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy...but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” The constant repetition of mockingbirds and their innocence mentioned time and time again could signal anyone of it’s importance, if the title didn’t already give it away. Mockingbirds do no harm, they sing to please the people listening and are considered innocent. Killing a mockingbird would be a sin because they live innocent lives. In reality, Lee used mockingbirds as symbols that represent so much more. After realizing the symbolic meaning of a mockingbird I was able to make many connections. I compared Tom Robinson 's death to a mockingbird 's death because he was innocent of the crime he was blamed to have committed. In addition, I realized that Boo Radley is an innocent man who was wrongly incarcerated by his father. He can be compared to a mockingbird because of his innocence. This can be seen when he leaves gifts for Jem and Scout. Boo is actually a very shy character who is often misjudged by society, including Jem and Scout. As the story goes on, we find Scout beginning to realise Boo 's situation when she tells Atticus that exposing Boo would be "sort of like shootin ' a mockingbird, wouldn
Many of the townsfolk viewed him as an evil or mean spirited person. An instance of him being a mockingbird is first seen when Boo begins to put things in the hole of a tree for Jem and Scout to have until it gets filled with cement (44-45). Another example is when Boo puts a blanket around Scout while she is watching the fire at Miss Maudie's house and Scout does not even notice (94-95). The last and biggest act takes place while Scout and Jem are walking home from the play and they are attacked by Bob Ewell. Then to save them Boo stabs Bob
Scout does not realize that Boo has been placing presents until Atticus says to Jem, “You’re right. We’d better keep this and the blanket to ourselves. Someday, maybe Scout can thank him for covering her up” (Lee 72). Scout is confused by who Atticus is referring to until he says, “Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the
In the 1940s, many that were innocent people would end up being hurt because of their difference from others. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson, an African American who gets accused of a crime he didn’t commit, gets hurt because of his difference from others. The central idea of the book is that people should not hurt those who are innocent, there are several examples throughout the book that help represent this main idea such as symbolism, similes, and characters. To Kill a Mockingbird shows many examples of symbolism that supports the main idea of the book. An example of this, is the character Tom Robinson.
Boo notices and enjoys watching the children play throughout the neighborhood, and he is probably aware of their curious nature. Boo simply wants to be friends with Jem and Scout, and his gifts are a token of his friendship.” (Author Unknown). The article shows that Boo just wants friends with Jem and Scout and is truly a kind person. “Jem said Boo was six and a half feet tall, ate squirrels and cats, his teeth were yellow, and he drooled most of the time.”
Multiple characters are symbolized as mockingbirds because it would be a sin to kill them as they only try and want to be a kind, civil person. Boo Radley is a misunderstood, and kind-hearted man who is represented as a mockingbird in the novel. Boo, due to the county's curiosity and fast pace spreading of rumours, is often perceived as monster “Inside the house lived a malevolent phantom” (Lee 8).
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee the term mockingbird symbolizes innocence in a person. In the novel it focuses on the fact that innocence, represented by the mockingbird, can be wrongfully harmed. There are two characters: Tom Robinson and Arthur “Boo” Radley that are supposed to represent the mockingbird. In the novel, Tom Robinson is the best example of a mockingbird because he is prosecuted for a crime he did not commit. Also, he was judged unfairly based on the color of his skin in his trial.
Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird and Eugenia Coolliers short story “Marigolds” evoke the most empathy by showing the growth of morals like empathy and compassion in the characters. The dynamic characters are used to emphasize how a person can change while symbolism is used to show a deeper meaning in an object both are used by the authors to evoke empathy. To Kill A Mockingbird, a novel published in 1960 about innocence, compassion and hatred. A story about children living in a racist time period trying to get through living there childhood without being influenced by the bad customs. “Marigolds” by Eugenia Cooliers is a short story also written in the 1960’s about a learning compassion and turning into a woman.
However, Scout believes that they were left in the tree for them specifically. As Scout meets Boo in the flesh after what he does to save her from Mr. Ewell, she begins to see Boo by his heroic actions rather than the rumors. Boo finally has a friend who sees him as something other than a
Mockingbirds symbolize innocence, they don’t harm nor are they evil, same as most blacks that were falsely judged during that time. In addition, Lee wanted people to realize that color aside, they’re all human, “I cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people, too.” (201). She stressed the idea that if all differences were pushed away then in the end they are all the same, they are all people, no one is above one another. During the trial,
Because the mockingbird is a symbol of innocence it is symbolic of the characters of Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson. Both are misunderstood and judged by the townspeople without really knowing them. Tom Robinson is killed violently due to being put in prison because
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the mockingbird is a metaphor for Tom Robinson. While mockingbirds are discussed in the novel as literal birds that harmlessly sing and entertain, Lee clearly uses the mockingbird to symbolize Tom Robinson. One reason that supports this idea is a Robinson is a innocent man who tried to help someone but then was convicted of rape. Another reason that supports the metaphor is Tom, the innocent songbird, was put on trial for his life and was convicted guilty. This inhuman action of murdering an innocent and harmless man who wanted to help is like the killing of a harmless songbird.both are innocent, and both murders are wrong.
but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’” (Lee 119). Atticus says that killing a mockingbird is a sin. It is a sin because a mockingbird is innocent.
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird is so titled because there are several characters in the story which could be consisted mockingbirds. Tom Robinson and Boo Radley do not cause any harm, they go about their business without interfering in the lives of others, and however both of them are in turn harmed by the citizens of Maycomb. Harper Lee’s novel examines the dark side of human nature and explores the ramifications of prejudice, racism and bigotry in a time when people were openly hostile to anyone they considered different and inferior. Lee tells her story to highlight the injustices of the South during a time of inequality, discrimination, where the innocent are unfairly punished. Tom Robinson a character in the novel is accused of something
In which Scout says “Well, it’d be sort of shootin a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?” (317). Boo is an important symbol of the good (innocence) that exists within people. Despite the pain that Boo has suffered from others, his kindness shows with his interaction with the children.
Mockingbirds are an important symbol because they represent goodness and innocence. In this book, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are two innocent men, similar to mockingbirds, who get taken advantage of due to their innocence. Atticus and Miss Maudie teach Scout and Jem that it’s a sin to harm anything innocent by using the example of mockingbirds. Mockingbirds are innocent because they only positively affect people through their singing.