To Kill a Mockingbird Group
Question:
ohiofreebird
Teacher
High School - 11th Grade
Which characters (at least two) are examples of the mockingbird motif in this novel and why?
Hint: Atticus provides an explanation to the children regarding why a mockingbird should never be shot.
Answers:
-
katemschultz Teacher
High School - 12th GradePosted by katemschultz on Friday August 22, 2008 at 6:54 PMAtticus explains that a mockingbird shouldn't be shot due to the fact that they don't harm anyone else; in fact, all the do is make beautiful music for others to enjoy.
Tom Robinson is an example of a mockingbird, as he has done nothing wrong; in fact, he helped Mayella, and they are "shooting" him by taking him to trial.
Boo Radley is a mockingbird at the end of the novel. Heck Tate doesn't want to prosecute him for what he did to Bob Ewell and, as Scout observes, it would be like shooting a mockingbird--Boo only tried to do good, and taking him to trial would be punishing him.
Jem and Scout can be seen as mockingbirds as well, in two ways. They are innocent children and the town is "shooting" them by making them scapegoats for Atticus' choice. Also, Bob turns them into mockingbird by trying to kill them for doing nothing at all--just for being related to Atticus.
-
Posted by brandih on Monday August 25, 2008 at 8:09 PM
This question has been previously answered. Please see the links below for more information.
Sources:
You can now ask questions directly from Facebook, add the Ask a Teacher App from eNotes!
Popular Links
- To Kill a Mockingbird Themes
- To Kill a Mockingbird Summary
- To Kill a Mockingbird Characters
- To Kill a Mockingbird Essays and Criticism
Top Tags in To Kill a Mockingbird
- characters
- scout
- jem
- atticus
- themes
- plot
- to kill a mockingbird
- dill
- tom robinson
- theme
- boo radley
- character
- boo
- mockingbird
- tom
See Also:
- - For teachers, the To Kill a Mockingbird Lesson Plan.
- - To Kill a Mockingbird summary and study guide in the eNotes.