How Does Harper Lee Create A Tense Setting In To Kill A Mockingbird

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is set in the fictional town of Maycomb in Southern Alabama and is based upon Harper Lee’s real hometown of Monroeville in 1930’s America which was a very racist area at this time. Harper Lee successfully creates many tense settings throughout the novel including; The ‘Mad-dog’ incident and the Radley’s place , however I have chosen two other incidents where Harper Lee has successfully created a tense setting. The first incident i have chosen is Atticus confronting the Lynch mob who come to take Tom from Maycomb’s county jailhouse, the jailhouse is said to be “starkly out of place” and is described like a “victorian privy” and a “gothic joke” this helps to create a tense setting because

Personally, I feel that this portrays Atticus as a christ-like figure in the light attempting to break tradition. Maycomb is a historically and geographically racist area and Atticus is the sun trying to break through the shadow of racism that overhangs

This is because it occurs in the late evening during a very humid summer. It is pitch black except for Atticus’ bare bulb, the light of which he bathes in. Darkness creates an apprehensive and tense atmosphere because you lose one of your vital senses which in turn increases your vulnerability. The solitary light of Atticus’ bulb enhances the superstitious mood which creates an emotional effect on the reader and provokes their superstitious beliefs and fears. Atticus’ vulnerability is also emphasised with the absence of Heck Tate, the county sheriff, who is called away by the mob as a hoax. Sheriffs are needed in times of danger and are there to help others. “ Heck’s bunch’s so deep in the woods they won’t get out till mornin’ “ This contrasts to the ‘Mad-dog’ incident during which Heck is present and this displays to the reader that danger is present. The idea of juxtaposition to create a tense setting is frequent “in the light from its bare bulb Atticus sat” this is strongly contrasted with “shadows became substance” this creates a tense setting because this continues the Mockingbird motif that is created through Atticus’ character. Harper Lee also uses plenty of sibilance this suggests the idea of danger and an evil feeling as the ‘s’ sound is similar to snakes which are venomous and are very dangerous “We streaked across the square, across the