... lend her grace, The lady of Shalott. The second of the two poems "La Belle dame sans Merci: A ballad" starts with the author John Keats asking himself a question "O what can ail thee, Knight-at-arms, alone and palely loitering? In these lines it tells us of a knight who is abandoned and hanging around not knowing where he is going. We know ... this as "loitering" shows this. We also know he has a problem as "ail thee" shows this. The next stanza also starts with a rhetorical question as the first line has been repeated "O what can ail thee, Knight-at-arms, so haggard and so woe-begone?"...

• Word Count: 1659
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... 's perspective of life, feeling that saving her rocking-chair would probably bring her some optimism and hope in life. Unlike the other citizens in Maycomb like Stephanie Crawford, Atticus was respectful and tolerant towards everyone's differences. He was neither prejudiced against the Blacks nor the Radleys. "Atticus (had ... significance of the fire incident? This fire incident at Ms. Maudie's house had developed the theme of unity and cooperation. For example, the Maycomb neighbourhood were able to put aside their respective differences and prejudices to help Ms. Maudie put out her fir...

• Word Count: 2032
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... any wars," as "the bravest man who ever lived" (pg. 134). Atticus Finch is deeply respected by many citizens of Maycomb for his quiet courage; Atticus preservers against all odds and injustice in his country to legally defend a black man accused of rape, Tom Robinson. ... take the Tom Robinson case. Defending the black man accused of raping a white woman is met with a majority negative response from all white citizens of Maycomb; including neighbours, friends and other clients of Atticus. Cecil Jacobs, a boy Scout attends school with, is one of the many children to torment and ... later ...

• Word Count: 2284
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... Finch) father has to defend a black man who is accused of raping a white girl. This splits up the small town, and nearly all the citizens of Maycomb are disgusted with the fact that Atticus is taking on the trial. During all this, Scout and Jem have an unhealthy obsession with Boo Radley, a man ... lives. In the novel there is a lot of prejudice and racism. One example of this is when Atticus first takes on the trial, and most of Maycomb are disgusted with the fact that Atticus could take the trial and defend the black man. Also, when Calpurnia, who is the Finch's cook, takes the ... s...

• Word Count: 2069
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... a homestead on the banks of the Alabama River' and 'the disturbance between the north and the south', among many others, establish the location of Maycomb as a southern state, and gave us an approximate idea about the time frame that the novel has been set in, ie. A few years post the ... the actions of the family. This is a recurring theme throughout the novel, and it highlights, once again, how closed even the individual families of Maycomb were. In the opening chapter, the narrator also introduces all the main characters, the relationships that she shared with each of them and the...

• Word Count: 1323
• Approx Pages: 5

... but themselves'. This gave America, especially in the South, hope and optimism, as this was a time of great economic depression. To understand how the people of, Maycomb; Alabama, live you have to feel the atmosphere. "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- Maycomb was an old and tired town, the same families had lived there for generations and the pattern of life had not changed and there was no desire ... it, it is all a...

• Word Count: 1551
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... and that people's quick judgements and bad decisions prevent the world from ever being a fair place. The children learned that their peaceful little town of Maycomb wasn't always such a wonderful place to be, and that one man had the power to ruin many lives. During Tom Robinson's trial, a string ... of evidence was presented that unquestionably proved Tom's innocence and Bob Ewell's guilt. Had the jury been colour-blind that hot Maycomb afternoon, Tom would have walked free. However, that was not the case. Tom's fellow Negroes watched from their separate balcony seats above as Atticus ...

• Word Count: 1706
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... to face any of his peers. This shows how cowardly his character is. However, it is the way he tackles with the racism. The ladies of Maycomb also show prejudice towards individuals. Mrs Merriweather for instance never questions her actions, or what she says. For example, Mrs Merriweather insults Atticus as a misguided ... gender prejudice in 'To Kill a Mocking Bird', for example Scout has to wear a dress to school and has to be accompany the ladies of Maycomb for their weekly gathering. However, Jem does not have to accompany them. The appearance of females is one particular view that Ha...

• Word Count: 1688
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... to face any of his peers. This shows how cowardly his character is. However, it is the way he tackles with the racism. The ladies of Maycomb also show prejudice towards individuals. Mrs Merriweather for instance never questions her actions, or what she says. For example, Mrs Merriweather insults Atticus as a misguided ... gender prejudice in 'To Kill a Mocking Bird', for example Scout has to wear a dress to school and has to be accompany the ladies of Maycomb for their weekly gathering. However, Jem does not have to accompany them. The appearance of females is one particular view that Ha...

• Word Count: 1707
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... and hopefully more jobs. The colored families were met with passive aggressive racism in these towns, but were often given jobs, and the towns like Maycomb from To Kill a Mockingbird soon settled into an easy soft spoken racist mindset. This novel by Harper Lee covers and goes into depth about the ... and detrimental. Scout herself starts out as a young child who doesn't think much of colored folks, which is inadvertently forged by the racism of Maycomb inhabitants. As she gets older and wiser, she comes to the conclusion that the colored men are just like white men and that the world ...

• Word Count: 1567
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... and the ugly face of racism. We are shown this in many shapes and forms; through characters, setting and events throughout the story. Although the town, Maycomb, portrays both a happy community and a pretty little town on it's surface, underneath it exposes its ugly division formed by the sad, ongoing issue of racism ... them. We see these varying views in Atticus and Dolphus Raymond in contrast with Mr Ewell who represents intense hate for the Black Americans. Maycomb is a very isolated town and there is limited migration. This means that the town has little chance to change it's values...

• Word Count: 1969
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... moral courage. Miss Maudie succinctly defines the character of Atticus Finch when she calls him "civilised in his heart". He stands for all that is best in Maycomb as a citizen, a father, a Christian and a southern gentleman. As a citizen Atticus is responsible and highly respected. He is elected unopposed to the state ... of legislature. Miss Maudie speaks for the community when she tells Aunt Alexandra. "Whether Maycomb knows it or not, we"re paying him the highest tribute we can pay a man. We trust him to do right" His conduct and ... gentleman and a true hero. Another character in t...

• Word Count: 1939
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... character, Atticus tried every way to help others were in the need of it. First of all it Atticus bravely faced the racist, prejudice judgment of Maycomb and took Tom Robinson's case. Secondly, Atticus still takes a fight even though he knew he was still going to lose. Lastly, after losing Tom ... father's honor. The children called Atticus Finch a "nigger-lover" for defending Tom Robinson in court. Atticus explains to both his children that the prejudice in Maycomb is a sort of disease afflicting even "good" people (Lee). Atticus' wise and understanding attitude is because he is quite ...

• Word Count: 1521
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... would eventually be won by the African Americans for civil liberties. If the Brown vs. Board of Education case were to be tried in the setting of Maycomb County's Courthouse, in Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mockingbird, the events of the trial would probably have led to the same outcome of Tom Robinson ... based solely upon circumstantial evidence, he was still found guilty because he was African American. If the Brown's case were to be tried in the Maycomb Courthouse, one would highly doubt that they would have gotten anywhere with it. People would have judged them by the color of thei...

• Word Count: 1528
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... and her cousin Francis, would suggest, the trial is going to be a major hurdle for the Finch family. In an old fashioned Southern town like Maycomb, racism abounds. The town is not so much upset that Atticus is defending Tom, which is his job. They are upset that Atticus plans to defend ... affect the picture presented. Explanation of Chapters 15 - 21 ("Part 3") Again, Scout's innocent perspective makes the reader unaware of the possible violence outside the Maycomb jail in chapter 16. The men who come that evening are a mob with the intention of killing Tom Robinson. Atticus was staying...

• Word Count: 1364
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... and a loss of innocence. Scout is the narrator and protagonist of To Kill a Mockingbird. She lives with her father, brother and cook, Calpurnia in Maycomb, Alabama. Scout isn't like most little girls in the town she is very unusual. She has many qualities that most girls in the town are lacking ... He is understanding and lets her make her own mistakes. He doesn't reprimand her for not being like the other girls in the town of Maycomb. While most girls in Scout's position would be wearing dresses and learning manners, Scout is wearing overalls. She doesn't understand why people in ... ...

• Word Count: 1317
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... misfortune. In a novel such as To Kill a Mockingbird, it is hard to sympathize with any characters due to the animosity and racial tension between the Maycomb inhabitants. There are few characters that merit sympathy. Mayella Ewell has had a very challenging life, being in such a dysfunctional household. Tom Robinson's skin colour ... school for only three years. Her career choices are limited. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Mayella and the black people of Maycomb are equal in terms of limited opportunities. Mayella's life has been plagued with poverty and abuse which is why...

• Word Count: 1484
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... way that its citizens are supposed to behave. Therefore, when individuals do not follow these customary norms, the community will look down upon them or try to change them. In Maycomb, these "strange" individuals are Scout and Boo. Scout's personality is not very lady-like for a girl at the time; likewise, Boo is seen as unusual since he is ... doing with what others expected her to do. Comparable to Scout is Boo Radley, the more obvious example, Boo was ostracized by society for simply being different. For a while, the Maycomb population has looked down upon Boo, with unfounded rumors ...

• Word Count: 1638
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... and Ewells were both victims of the Depressions, the Ewells were placed lower than the Cunninghams and were considered as the dark side of Maycomb. Mayella Ewell was viewed as the "victim of cruel poverty and ignorance- and the "cootie host- Burris Ewell appearance was to foreshadow ... the Ewells "thoroughly gleaned everyday- forming their home "like the playhouse of an insane child-. The Negroes occupied the lowest class level of Maycomb. Despite Lee's emphasis on their abundance of admirable qualities, their skin colour made them immediate outcasts and ranked even lower than the dirt...

• Word Count: 1363
• Approx Pages: 5

... in 1932. We see how Atticus, her father closely guides Scout and her older brother Jem whenever they stumble upon a problem. In the small town of Maycomb these problems come from all sorts of incidents, resulting in many different lessons, each one as important as the next. Among these lessons they learn about true ... to be this wicked spirit but they eventually learn that their view on him is wrong. Boo is different and unusual to the other citizens of Maycomb and the fact that he is shrouded in mystery attracts the children, as any child with an active imagination would be. The Radle...

• Word Count: 1816
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... a metaphor for the good and innocent, such as Boo Radley and Tom Robinson, who are as a result of the evil encountered in the prejudice people of Maycomb County, destroyed. The novel suggests that "It is a sin to kill a mockingbird", sin being something that is morally wrong, meaning that although it isn't ... is respectful and righteous, with only a good heart with good intentions. Tom Robinson is a symbol of goodness, as is the entire Negro population in Maycomb County, who are portrayed as idealists without any bad in them. They are however, greatly looked down upon having no status ...

• Word Count: 1371
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... began to make sense in my mind as the author, Harper Lee, gives us clues in small doses. Atticus comes from a family of Maycomb County, Alabama landholders who were mainly cotton farmers. He breaks with tradition and goes to Montgomery to "read law."" After being admitted to the bar, ... through medical school and has a simple office with "little more than a hat rack, a spittoon, a checkerboard and an unsullied Code of Alabama" (5). Atticus likes Maycomb, and knows the people well. He is an essential part of the community and is "related by blood or by marriage to nearly every family in...

• Word Count: 1941
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... childhood experiences with one another. Tom Robinson is also an example of a mockingbird in this book by the injustice he receives as a colored man in Maycomb. The intention of this essay is to identify these characters and reasons for their loss of innocence throughout the book. Scout is an example of a ... never had an encounter with evil. Jem and Scouts last name is Finch and indicated that they were particularly vulnerable in the racist world of Maycomb, which often treats the fragile innocence of childhood harshly. As the book progressed, her innocence was slowly taken away from her...

• Word Count: 1409
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... essential to the story as it is based around the consequences of her obsession with Gertrude, the farmer's new wife. Tom is the Negro at Maycomb Jail, charged with the rape of Mayella. He is key to the book as it is a tale depicting prejudice in South America and he is ... the main focus of Harper Lee's portrayal of the racial hatred in Maycomb, which was an everyday occurrence. Rhoda is isolated from the rest of her community and is the cause of much gossip for the other milkmaids, ... the farmer. Tom is extremely isolated from the whites as, like all the Negroes, lives on a settlemen...

• Word Count: 2388
• Approx Pages: 10

... the most prominent case of prejudice is the racism and hate between the blacks and whites.The book is set in a small town in Alabama called "Maycomb", like most small southern towns in that time, has a problem with widespread racism toward blacks. The novel focuses on one family, the Finches. In the ... all the members of the Finches and many others display courage in their attempts to stand up for what they believe in The whole town of Maycomb is based on stereotypes of it's inhabitants, that are passed down from generation to generation. Rumors run rampid and very little truth is usual...

• Word Count: 1400
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School