TKMB Revision: Characterisation To review how and why characterisation is central to the development of the novel

Characterisation links to theme Three of the themes link to how the characters develop – especially Scout and Jem – through maturity. Education Courage/Empathy (Loss of) innocence

Tools of characterisation Harper Lee uses these methods to develop her characters’ personalities: Speech/dialogue Through Scout as a watchful narrator – Scout mostly discusses how other people seem/are. Find 2-3 different examples of Scout describing Boo from different parts of the novel Location – where characters live (indoors/outdoors; in town/out of town) relates to their story Rumours/gossip – the rumours are used as a clever way of developing characters (“Every family has a streak”)

Scout Unusually intelligent: learns to read before school It is Scout’s unique personality and social standing that make her an engaging narrator. She defies many stereotypes about children – girls in particular – and Southern Americans at that time. Unusually intelligent: learns to read before school Very confident: fights with boys, asserts her position Thoughtful for a child of 6: considers morality and ethics Not a “Southern belle” or “girly”/gentle: she’s tough, out-spoken; exhibits more masculine qualities

Choose 3 words to describe Atticus. Atticus is the upstanding moral beacon of Maycomb, a devoted father and a mild-mannered but strongly conscientious man. Think of 5 different characters and write a sentence describing Atticus’s treatment/attitude toward them. What does it reveal about Atticus’s personality? Example: Atticus relates to Bob Ewell with a distance but always with respect. He knows Bob is a guilty and unlawful man yet on the stand, and even after Bob spits in his face, Atticus remains composed and unwilling to sink to Bob’s level. Choose 3 words to describe Atticus.

Characterisation & Symbolism Most of the characters, even minor ones, stand for something or represent an ideal that Lee wanted to underline the story. Choose the most fitting word to associate with each character: Jem, Dill, Miss Maudie, Tom Robinson, Atticus, Mrs. Dubose, Boo Radley, Bob Ewell, Walter Cunningham Innocent Misunderstood Fearful Matured Old-fashioned Alienated Ethical Independent Self-destructive

Direct Characterisation Direct characterisation is when the author simply tells the audience what a character is like through adjectives, phrases or expressions. Examples: Boo: "Inside the house lived a malevolent phantom” Dill: “I’m little but I’m old” Find an example of direct characterisation of any one other character.

Indirect Characterisation Indirect characterisation is when character is revealed through their speech, actions and appearance. Examples: (Through speech) Miss Stephanie Crawford: "Well, you won't get very far until you start wearing dresses more often. And in response to this, through her actions… ‘Miss Maudie's hand closed tightly on mine, and I said nothing.  Its warmth was enough.’ Find an example of indirect characterisation of any one other character.

Characterisation of the mockingbird The symbol of the mockingbird is a form of characterisation on its own. The mockingbirds of the novel show the personality traits of the innocent. Boo Radley and Tom, because they don’t speak much in the novel, are characterised through what happens to them, not what they can control.

Setting as characterisation Maycomb is like a character of its own; Lee uses lots of indirect characterisation to make the town come to life. Here is a passage from page 5 of the novel that creates both atmosphere and setting: Write 2 sentences that summarise how Lee has depicted the town. ‘Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square. Somehow, it was hotter then, a black dog suffered on a summer’s day; bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the lime oaks on the square. Men’s stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three o’clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum’.