... knew from the instant he accepted the case that Tom had no chance, he had to do his duty as an honest and impartial citizen of Maycomb. Atticus poured his heart into defending Atticus, and did a damn fine job. He taught his kids the right thing, that all individuals are created equal. If Aunt Alexandria had raised Scout and Jem, they might ... have not cried at the end of the trial; they would not want to hurt the Finch family reputation. It was Atticus who received a standing ovation from the Black's Balcony. It ... heart that Cal's black church accepted the children. Atticus has prob...

• Word Count: 1124
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... taught her lessons about life in general. These lessons develop into her themes. In To Kill A Mockingbird, one of the major theme statements is, "hypocrisy and prejudice are hard to detect in one's own behavior." An additional theme reflects back to the title of the novel, "it is a sin to kill a mockingbird." The final theme, which Atticus Finch uses as the basis for his life, " the ... best way to understand a person is "to stand in his shoes." Hypocrisy and prejudice are hard to detect in one's own behavior. For instance, Scout and Jem think that they know all that is possible about A...

• Word Count: 673
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

To Kill a Mockingbird is definitely an excellent novel in that it portrays life and the role of racism in the 1930's. A reader may not interpret several aspects of the book through just the plain text. Boo Radley, Atticus, and the title represent three such things. Not really shown to the reader until the end of the book. They are all ... learns several other lessons. For example, on page 94, Atticus says his most important line in the book, " remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." Through clarifications from Mrs. Maudie, Scout accepts her father's words. Atticus also teaches his kids a l...

• Word Count: 1057
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... her: I wanted you to see something about her 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 are licked before you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety eight pounds ... of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew. (Lee 112) Mrs. Dubose's actions help shift the children's views from a definition of courage ... children have an inaccurate view of coura...

• Word Count: 1536
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... and death. Scout and Jem learn about courage from their father, Atticus. Atticus is the most courageous character illustrated in the novel. When Atticus is asked to take up the Tom Robinson case, he accepts. When asked by Scout why he is taking the case Atticus responds with "If I didn't [take ... townspeople follow, followed by the poor Cunninghams, then the disgraceful Ewells. Below them all lie the Negroes, rejected from Maycomb society. It is because of these strong social divisions that the Ewells are able to prosecute Tom Robinson. The reader and townsfolk can clearly see that Tom ...

• Word Count: 951
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... is spent at Finch's Landing, the family farm, they are given air rifles, but are told not to kill a mockingbird. It is explained to them that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird as they only given humans pleasure by singing their heart out. Their Aunt Alexandra decides to come and stay with them during the final summer of the story and initially it appears that Scout ... propositioning a black man. She was subsequently caught by her father and beaten as a consequence. It is clear that Tom Robinson is innocent, but the all-white jury convicts him and he is later shot whilst trying to escap...

• Word Count: 747
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... Tom Robinson, a black laborer. Robinson is falsely accused of having raped a white man's daughter. A racist, all-white jury convicts the innocent Robinson, despite Finch's heroic and impassioned defense. Harper Lee's message about fairness in To Kill a Mockingbird is that societies views and actions towards a person, are based on their skin color, who they are, and their personal image. This is shown through the ... characters Tom, Jem, and Scout. The theme of fairness in To Kill a Mockingbird broadens to a further extent than just the situation of racial discrimination between the blac...

• Word Count: 1230
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... Southern town during the Great Depression with no T.V., no video games and racial tension. This way of life may seem harsh, but the people of Maycomb were able to thrive despite these conditions. To Kill a Mockingbird features the story of a small family living through these times. This novel unlocks the many mysteries and tales of the people of Maycomb. There were few honorable ... man who wears glasses. He is an extremely intelligent lawyer who was able to support his family with his small income. Many citizens of Maycomb speak highly of Atticus and others despise him because of his d...

• Word Count: 558
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... at the start and at the end of the novel, events that have an effect on him, people who have an effect on him, how the write uses particular moments to show change. Jem Finch from Harper Lee's famous novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is very important because throughout the novel he experiences a great development course. As Jem matures mentally he is able ... to see the horrible in society and understand the social and emotional issues an adult would. This helps him to come to comprehend all the events that are happening around him. At the beginning of the ... ; (p. 238). Jem had good rea...

• Word Count: 816
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... is spent at Finch's Landing, the family farm, they are given air rifles, but are told not to kill a mockingbird. It is explained to them that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird as they only given humans pleasure by singing their heart out. Their Aunt Alexandra decides to come and stay with them during the final summer of the story and initially it appears that Scout ... propositioning a black man. She was subsequently caught by her father and beaten as a consequence. It is clear that Tom Robinson is innocent, but the all-white jury convicts him and he is later shot whilst trying to escap...

• Word Count: 748
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... through it. She says, "You just keep on tellin' 'em son-" [47]. This proves that Scout was not mature enough to realize she was hurting Dill's feelings by pointing out that he couldn't remember his father. At this point, Scout is still young, and she has a ... . He says, "Atticus ain't ever whipped meI wanta keep it that way." [56]. This showed Jem's immaturity because he was willing to lose his life in order to keep his father's respect, a very risky move. As the novel progressed, so did Jem's maturity. One cold night, Miss Maudie Atkinson's house ... by giving the blanket back, Mr....

• Word Count: 581
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... are several differences between the book and the movie titled To Kill a Mockingbird. One thing is when Jem loses his pants in the fence at the Radley's house, and goes back for it he doesn't get caught by Atticus when he goes back to get them in the movie. Another thing that differs in the movie is when Tom ... Jem is found by Atticus and his excuse is they were playing strip poker and he lost his pants. In the movie after then run and get back to the house Jem decides to go back and get them before Atticus see him and spanks him. Jem said, "Now listen Atticus ain't ever wiped me since I...

• Word Count: 502
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

To Kill a Mockingbird In the novel to kill a mockingbird, Scout learns valuable lessons on prejudice in the town Maycomb, on the nature of courage, and on the dangers of judging others "before climbing into their skin ... brother Jem and her lawyer father Atticus. Growing up Scout learns many important things. Although the majority of Maycomb is prejudiced, Scout remains open and caring for all. She believes that everyone is equal. One of the important roles in Scout life is her father. Atticus is a small town lawyer and single parent. He tries ... later taught them about respect. In the begi...

• Word Count: 555
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Learning lessons is what growing up is all about. In To Kill A Mockingbird many different lessons are learned. What people say about someone isn't always true. Doing something that is right sometimes means sacrificing respect. Just because someone is different on the outside doesn't mean that they are different on the inside as well. In To Kill A Mockingbird the children's early mistakes in judgement, teach them ... are different on the inside. Walter Cunningham was nice to Scout and they became friends after she gave him a chance. She wanted to give everyone an equal chance to get to know he...

• Word Count: 835
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... "Jem" Finch, Arthur "Boo" Radley and Charles "Dill" Baker Harris. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee skillfully shows how Scout, Jem, and Dill were prejudiced against Boo, when in fact, all these children are comparable to Boo even if they had not noticed so. Their personality differences from the rest of the town, the care of ... their fathers, and wanting to connect with someone are what makes Scout, Jem and Dill relatable to Boo, with their similarities mentioned respectively, also all of them share the innocence represented by the symbolism of a mockingbird. Since the b...

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

... was an avid football player who also took interest in books and picture shows. He mainly associated himself with his sister, Scout, and summertime neighbor, Dill. Throughout the course of To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem's life was changes in many different ways as a result of a diverse variety of events. What, specifically, were the events that changed Jem's life in Harper Lee's novel? Although ... jailhouse, and the infamous Tom Robinson trial that beleaguered the town for many months; all of those events were worthy causes of Jem's growing and maturing as he traveled from page to page in L...

• Word Count: 972
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... To Kill a Mockingbird" is about family and growing up, but mainly about prejudice. Both the film and the book show images of the two extremes of family life (the loving household of the Finch's and the violent environment of the Ewell's), of the adventures of Jem, Scout and Dill, three children growing up, and throughout it all ... family life. A household also devoid of a mother, the eldest child, Mayella, was one of eight children. Their relief cheque was nowhere near enough to feed the family, and it was likely that the father, Bob, drank it up anyway. The younger children attend the l...

• Word Count: 965
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... courage through bravery. From the start of the novel Jem's idea of valor, was simply touching the Radley house, and only then because, "In all his life, Jem had never declined a dare."(Lee 13). As Jem matures, and the story progresses, Jem's thoughts on what makes himself a courageous person ... this time period social statis was very important, yet Jem does the noble thing and decides to help those that are less fortunate. He also shows compassion for Dill, his friend, " 'You all hush," said Jem"' (Lee 48) Scout was making fun of Dill for not ... displayed with his interactions wi...

• Word Count: 915
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... connections between mockingbirds and the characters in the novel and how they demonstrate a loss of innocence and justice. A mockingbird was a huge symbol of innocence throughout the novel. Jean Louise and her brother, Jem, had to grow up and lose their childhood innocence to cope with all of the recognition that they unwillingly receive. There is a connection between mockingbirds and the characters in the novel ... , To Kill A Mockingbird. Jean Louise, or commonly known as Scout is an innocent eight or nine year old girl that is ... exposed to the reality of her town, Maycomb County at...

• Word Count: 758
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... Many examples of this can be found in a classic novel, by Harper Lee, where one character develops significantly through education. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, after learning that the people of Maycomb are not who he thinks they are, Jem develops by learning not ... that the jury only voted Tom guilty because he is black, which is morally wrong and unfair. In the novel, Jem says "Then it all goes back to the jury...we oughta do away with the juries" (Lee 251). After hearing the verdict of Tom and realizing that the jury voted him guilty ... learning the important l...

• Word Count: 1044
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

To Kill a Mockingbird is narrated by a young lady by the name of Scout Finch. Scout, her brother Jem, and father Atticus live in the town of Maycomb, Alabama, a very quiet Southern town. Scout's father is an attorney and is appointed to defend a black man in court against the charges that he raped a young lady. ... most exciting and shocking event that ever happened in Maycomb. Everyone in the town knew about it, even the children. When the time came for Atticus to defend the accused man, Tom Robinson, he gave his argument, but sadly it did not win over the stubborn jury. Atticus offended som...

• Word Count: 632
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Courage is something that we all admire but it is really hard to define. "True courage is being afraid, and going ahead and doing your job anyhow, that's what courage is." this was said by Norman Schwarzkoph (U.S. Army general). In Harper Lee novel of To Kill A Mockingbird courage was portrayed in many characters. In the book, the characters that showed the most courage ... and killing Tom Robinson. Having Atticus shown his courage throughout the book, Jem was another character who had shown his great courage. Children can also have courage, an example in To Kill A Mockingbird of a child show...

• Word Count: 1011
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... end of the novel, when Atticus believes that Jem killed Bob Ewell, he tries to talk Heck Tate, the sheriff, out of calling the death an accident: " I don't want my boy starting out with something like this over his head. Best way to clear the air is to have it all out in the open. I don't want him growing up with a whisper about him ... . I don't want anybody saying, " Jem Finch his daddy paid a mint to get him out of that." Atticus's standards are firm, so he doesn't want his son ... , great texts teach us life lessons. For every important stage in my life, there is a great book that ca...

• Word Count: 683
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... a veil of prejudice, until it is lifted and one can see the harsh reality that lies underneath. In the beginning of the novel To Kill A Mocking by Harper Lee, Jem and Scout Finch were ignorant and prejudice towards Boo Radley. This changed when both children witnessed Atticus ... understanding children who became conscious of the prejudice and discrimination that encompassed the minorities at the time. Prejudice is a powerful motivator that is used to block reasonable men and women from seeing equality, however, Jem and Scout's metamorphosis helped them see and understand the prejudice t...

• Word Count: 748
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... Bird Essay In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee addresses many themes such as prejudice, innocence, courage and coming of age, although racism seems to stand out the most. The story is set in Maycomb, Alabama, a small town in the south divided by white and black ... Jem asked his father what that meant and he said "nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything - like snot-nose. It's hard to explain - ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It's slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, wh...

• Word Count: 640
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School