Themes, Motifs & Symbols Essay Preparation

Co-existence of Good and Evil Innocence (Good) – Scout, Jem, Boo, Tom Robinson (Mayella?), Atticus (Brave) Prejudice, Discrimination, Racial Hatred, Ignorance (Evil) – the Ewells (Bob), Mrs Dubose, Walter Cunningham (both?) Tom, Boo, Jem (?) are damaged or destroyed by their encounters with ‘Evil’ Scout? Atticus?

Importance of Education – Especially Moral Education of children – beginning of novel, especially Scout Moral education – life lessons: the trial, learning about ‘evil’ Atticus’ lessons to his children, especially Scout ‘Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes’ – more important than ‘book learning’

Social and Racial Inequality Social status – well off Finches (comparatively), ignorant farming families, “niggers”, the trash (Ewells) Miss Maudie – voice of accepting, ‘good’ view: not racist etc. Aunt Alexandra – bigoted, cares about what other people think, social standing, and ‘heredity’ Mrs Dubose

Appearances versus Reality Mr Raymond Mayella Ewell

Motifs Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes. Small town Maycomb – slow, country life, wide streets etc…is contrasted with Gothic details – the imagery of ghosts (Boo), the dog being shot, the fire, snowfall (unseasonal), Miss Maudie’s fire Juxtaposition: A technique to highlight the difference between ‘good’ and ‘evil’ – ghosts, danger, death etc. versus wholesome country life, the ‘good’ side of life.

Symbols Symbols are objects, characters, figures, and colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts 1. Mockingbird: innocence, to kill it is wrong Jem Tom Robinson Boo Radley Dill Mayella Ewell (?)

Atticus’ famous quote “Remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. “Your father’s right,” she said. “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.” (Chapter 10)

Mockingbirds as metaphors for innocence being victimised The mockingbird is one of the key metaphors of the book: the idea of “mockingbirds” as good, innocent people who are destroyed by evil. Boo Radley, for instance, is like a mockingbird—just as mockingbirds do not harm people but only “sing their hearts out for us,” Boo does not harm anyone; instead, he leaves Jem and Scout presents, covers Scout with a blanket during the fire, and eventually saves the children from Bob Ewell. Despite the pureness of his heart, however, Boo has been damaged by an abusive father.

Symbols 2. Boo Radley As the novel progresses, the children’s changing attitude toward Boo Radley is an important measurement of their development from innocence toward a grown-up moral perspective. At the beginning of the book, Boo is merely a source of childhood superstition. As he leaves Jem and Scout presents and mends Jem’s pants, he gradually becomes increasingly and intriguingly real to them. At the end of the novel, he becomes fully human to Scout, illustrating that she has developed into a sympathetic and understanding individual. Boo, an intelligent child ruined by a cruel father, is one of the book’s most important mockingbirds; he is also an important symbol of the good that exists within people. Despite the pain that Boo has suffered, the purity of his heart rules his interaction with the children. In saving Jem and Scout from Bob Ewell, Boo proves the ultimate symbol of good.

Group Task Prepare evidence to write a paragraph explaining how the author develops one of these central themes using: characterization, Setting, symbolism Motifs Language ie. Descriptions Plot

PEEL Point Evidence Explanation Conclusion / Linking