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Examples Of Bildungsroman In To Kill A Mockingbird

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To kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is one of the greatest examples of a bildungsroman. A bildungsroman is a type of novel that focuses on the education, development, and maturity of a young protagonist. Throughout the book scout and Jem are in their childhood and are beginning to move into adulthood. One example of a bildungsroman character is the Jem during the house fire. Miss Maudie's house setting on fire, is used as a reality check for Jem, which works as character development. In this part of the book the reader doesn't only see his change, but they can also see a physical change through Scout’s eyes. It states on page 91, “Jem was standing beside Attics, groggy and tousled. He was holding his overcoat closed at the neck, his other hand was jammed into his pocket. He looked strangely overweight.” Scout is describing his brother not only as unsteady but also as strangely different. She can see a new side of her brother, which is one that is begging to have a better understanding of reality. The reader can also see Jem’s concern and fear during the fire. On page 93 it states, “Scout he's stuck…” breathed Jem, “Oh God...:” Mr. Avery was wedged tightly. I buried my head under Jem's arm and didn't look again until Jem cried, He’s got loose, …show more content…

He has already lost his childlike characteristic and is now showing characteristics of moral growth. On page 98 it states, “There was no note of sacrifice in his voice when he added, “Or Scout’n’ me, we can help you.” In this part of the book, Jem notices that Miss Maudie needs help and he offers himself along with his sister. This is important because no child would offer to help out of compassion. Perhaps forcefully or when asked to help, but never out of competition because they only have eyes full of innocence. However, Jem now has a further understanding of good and bad principles. This is how the reader knows that Jem has morally

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Jem cares immensely about things being just and fair. He always thinks things through thoroughly and is always looking at the logical side of things. When he needs to be, Jem is a very good boy. In the book, there are many examples of Jem’s generosity, such as when he earns money and buys Scout Finch (his younger sister) a baton.

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464 Words | 2 Pages

At this moment Jem realized not all things worked out perfectly and that there was so much bad in the world to ruin the lives of others. Another example of Jem’s innocence being broken down is when Nathan Radley closed up the hole in the tree. When Jem and Scout had discovered that Nathan Radley was closing the hole in the tree because “it was sick” they were conflicted on whether he had told the truth. When Jem had asked Atticus if you close the hole on a tree when it’s sick and he replied with a no, Jem was struck with the realization that Nathan Radley had lied to them so they wouldn’t receive any “gifts” from the tree. It even states in chapter 7 how Jem reacted, “He stood there until nightfall, and I waited for him.

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733 Words | 3 Pages

She doesn’t understand why her brother is going through changes. “Jem was twelve. He was difficult to live with…”. “His appetite was appalling and he told me so many times to stop pestering him…”. Scout is only eight and isn’t even going through changes herself.

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952 Words | 4 Pages

Jem was not happy about Tom losing his trial, he was the first one to cry about the loss and then sniffled, “It is not right Atticus.” Jem also grew in strength and bravery, this is shown when Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout, and Jem was willing to fight Bob in order to protect Scout from his knife. He is also not afraid to stand up for his family, and Tom when people are tearing them down. Jem develops from a stubborn, curious child to a mature, brave, and knowledgeable teen throughout the book, all because he made the right

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844 Words | 4 Pages

In the beginning of the novel, he was becoming reckless, and towards the middle and end of the novel, he was more mature. As Jem saw what it was like to be a gentleman from his father, he developed and was teaching Scout about these findings. In the novel it says, “Naw, Scout, it’s something you wouldnt understand. Atticus is real old, but I wouldn 't care if he couldn 't do anything- I wouldn 't care if he couldn 't do a blessed thing” (Lee 107).

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520 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem and Scout 's perception of courage drastically changes their behavior as they mature. They learn a lot about courage throughout the novel from their father Atticus and what they learn from him influences their choices and opinions. Although Jem is older than Scout, they both experience change in their behavior. At the beginning of the novel, Jem is still a young boy. He is defiant towards Atticus, he plays all the usual childhood games with Scout and Dill, and he engages in the younger children’s obsession with Boo Radley.

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1240 Words | 5 Pages

Jems opinion on life changes a lot through the Tom Robinson case. He learns that people aren't treated equally just by the color of their skin. From this quote it shows just how much Jem cares about people's equality and how he's maturing. After the case and Tom Robinson's death Jem doesn't do anything to anybody or anything that doesn't deserve it. Like this incident in the story, A rolly polly has crawled in the house by Scouts bed she was going to smash it

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447 Words | 2 Pages

“It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. “It ain't right,” he muttered…” (Lee 242) This shows that Jem is finally of the age where he can make good judgments and even his own decisions.

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1100 Words | 5 Pages

The characterization of Scout reveals that she is very sympathetic and worried about Jem risking his life. This further heated the argument, leaving Jem feeling moody and silent. While trying to comfort her older brother, Scout is reminded of Atticus' advice, “As Atticus had once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jem’s skin and walk around in it” (77). The characterization of Scout highlights her mentality maturing. At the beginning of the novel, Scout has a difficult time understanding others until Atticus gives her important advice about sympathy.

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592 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem learns to become mature in terms of behavior and attitude due to the influence of the people around him. “Jem, having survived Boo Radley, a mad dog and other terrors, had concluded that it was cowardly to stop at Miss Rachel’s front steps and wait…” (Lee 100). Jem has gone through lots of dangerous things like trying to get a letter over to Boo Radley, meeting Mrs. Dubose, the trail with Tom Robinson and others.

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743 Words | 3 Pages

Harper Lee uses Characterization to show the reader of her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, how different people and events impact children as they grow up and shape the kind of adults they will turn out to be. She shows how the people of Maycomb influenced Jem and how Scout’s view was changed by a single person. Lee also makes it evident that one event can change children’s entire perception of the

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822 Words | 4 Pages

Jem, a young and smart boy develops and matures through many unique situations in the novel. Jem is exposed to the harsh belief, judgement and circumstances of the court at a very young age. Following his father, Jem involves himself in the trial between Tom Robinson and Mayella Ewell yet takes Tom’s side due to his father's involvement. Jem slowly loses faith in the justice system and is faced with a loss of innocence as explained by Scout“It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd.

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747 Words | 3 Pages

As Jem starts to mature, his body language and use of words also start to show his overall maturity and his loss of innocence. Specifically, he acts exactly like his father,

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1248 Words | 5 Pages

As a punishment for ruining her bushes, he needed to go to her house everyday for a month to read to her. Scout goes along with him. Jem is growing up because he learned that he needs to own up to his mistakes and the consequences that come with them. Throughout the entire first part of “To Kill A Mockingbird”, we constantly see Scout grow up in front of our eyes.

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740 Words | 3 Pages

One lesson in the book that I feel Jem learns as a part of growing up is moral courage. Atticus once told Jem that “courage is [not] a man with a gun in his hand. It 's when you know you 're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” Jem had always seen bravery as important and often tried to show the courage in him but only learnt about what moral courage really was through a series events that took place in the book.

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