Some Literary Terms in TKAM

Terms and Applications For a better understanding of Harper Lee’s novel

Bildungsroman German, from Bildung = education + Roman = novel First Known Use: 1910 bildungsroman, class of novel that deals with the maturation process, with how and why the protagonist develops as he does, both morally and psychologically. The German word Bildungsroman means “novel of education” or “novel of formation.”novelprotagonist Literally a “formation novel,” which describes the coming-of-age (maturation/growing up) of an untried or naïve youth (i.e. Jem and Scout) The novel juxtaposes young, impressionable minds in contact with difficult concepts (innocence vs racism/intolerance).

Irony An implied discrepancy between what is said or done and what is meant.

Symbol A concrete object that stand for a complex or abstract idea or relationship and implies more than the literal meaning of the word or words

The importance of Setting In TKAM is essential to the action because it draws on the pre-civil rights South (before the 1960s) for a study of community violence. Have-nots(Ewells, Little Chuck Litter, and the Cunninghams) vs the more privileged and educated people School represents the segregated South Because Lee limits the settings to Southern institutions and neighbours, she confines the motifs and themes to Personal face-offs Bias Scorn (the feeling or belief that someone or something is worthless or despicable; contempt) Gossip And surmise (suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it) Southern courthouse A microcosm of Southern justice African Methodist Episcopal church A microcosm of black solidarity and faith