ipl-logo

How Does Lee Use Symbols In To Kill A Mockingbird

717 Words3 Pages

Authors use symbolism to add depth and extra meaning into the story by a simple word. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, uses symbolism to explain the different aspects of the 1930’s and what goes on within the Finch family. Symbolism is portrayed by the snowman to reveal everyone is the same on the inside. Also Tim Johnson for the representation of prejudice. Lastly the blanket given to Scout to embody Boo’s consistent protection of Scout and Jem. As the fire was happening, Scout and Jem amid all the havoc, didn’t notice that someone put a blanket on Scout. We as the reader, can infer that it was Boo because who else would have been able to secretly put it on. Also based on his past action like Jem’s sewn jeans left laid nicely on the fence for him when he came back, we can infer that it was Boo. Atticus reveals to scout “You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket on …show more content…

A mad dog is a dog that has gone crazy because of rabies. When Jem and scout see Tim Johnson down the road everyone immediately goes indoor and closes all windows and doors to protect themselves from this infectious creature. The reaction of Maycomb county to this situation was very relatable to that of the prejudice Tom Robinson case. It is also a coincidence that the two characters, Tom and Tim both have fairly similar names and die because of what the town thinks of them. There is also signifigance that Atticus has to deal with both of these situations and has to deal what he does not like. Despite Atticus not wanting to shoot the dog, he had to do it because it is what everyone else believed was the right thing to do kind of like how Tom was made guilty and put in jail even though he was innocent. This symbol shows the white community of Maycomb town has prejudice to everything that is a threat to

Show More
Related
1249 Words | 5 Pages

His feelings towards Tim were like how he took on defending Tom Robinson as well. Then when tensions rose with Tom’s case, so did the nerves seconds before Tim’s last breath. The rabid dog then made his last appearance when representing all the racism and prejudice Maycomb was going through. This dog foreshadowed so many things in relation to the trial and how Atticus would handle them. Even though Atticus did everything he could have, the once innocent black man was now deemed a man guilty of raping a white woman during The Great Depression, and no one could do anything about

Read More
776 Words | 4 Pages

“ ​Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat uppeople’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 119). Tom Robinson, a minor yet importantcharacter, is indirectly described as a mockingbird throughout the whole book, since he waskilled for entertainment purposes and not because of the crime he was guilty of, when he wastruly innocent. He did not do one thing but be honest, but his skin color made the people thinkotherwise (Gladwell).

Read More
534 Words | 3 Pages

In chapter 10 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, an allegory for racism, prejudice, and injustice is created through the mad dog Tim Johnson as he wanders through the Finches’ hometown of Maycomb. Scout’s narration of the mad dog’s appearance, his death by Atticus's gun, and his disposal after death all combine to shape him into a symbol of the injustice and racism prevalent in Scout’s childhood and during the Great Depression. Tim Johnson is a significant literary device in Lee’s narrative that conveys the story’s central themes of how inequality becomes embedded in a community despite its danger and what measures the community needs to take to eliminate it. When every person in Maycomb gets sent indoors to avoid the mad dog, Scout observes

Read More
781 Words | 4 Pages

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the main character and narrator Scout recalls the events leading up to her brother Jem’s broken arm. Throughout the story, the two children come upon several mysterious acts of kindness. Little do they know that they are from the one person the childrenthey would least expect: Boo Radley. Boo is mentally challenged and stays away from the public. Though he scares many of his neighbors, he never does anything to cause other people harm.

Read More
634 Words | 3 Pages

In one situation, he gives Scout a blanket, risking that he would be seen by many people. Atticus say, “Someday, maybe, Scout can thank [Boo Radley] for covering her up” (72). During the house fire that takes place in winter, Boo sees that Scout is cold and he wraps a blanket around her. Also, Boo protects Jem and Scout when Bob Ewell attacks the children. Mr. Tate tells Atticus that “Bob Ewell’s lyin’ on the ground under that tree down yonder with a kitchen knife stuck up under his ribs.

Read More
641 Words | 3 Pages

Symbolism allows the author to create a story that would otherwise be bland and monotone. Without this dark romantic element, books, short stories, and poems would not have as much meaning nor appealing detail. Symbolism in "The Raven," "The Devil and Tom Walker," and "The Minister's Black Veil," creates layers of meaning and interesting characters. Symbolism has been used for centuries to spice up the literary world. Sometimes it is used in obvious ways, but other time it has to be thoroughly studied to be imperturbably understood.

Read More
575 Words | 3 Pages

Boo put a blanket over scout to protect her from the fire. “Your right. We’d better keep this and the blanket to ourselves” pg. 96. “ Someday maybe scout can say thank you… To who boo radley” pg. 96.

Read More
472 Words | 2 Pages

Character Analysis of Atticus Finch In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is the father of Jem and Scout Finch, and one of the best lawyers in the region. The adults of the area see Mr. Finch as a humble, honest, and courageous man, but often his children do not see him that way. But when the mad dog, Tim Johnson, is walking down the street, the children see him as the adults do.

Read More
207 Words | 1 Pages

A sickly dog named Tim Johnson frightened the citizens of Maycomb when he hobbled out onto Oak St near the Radley household looking more gruesome than a cat with its hindquarters cut off. Mid afternoon, Calpurnia of the Finch household alerted Eula May of a “mad dog” heading through the neighborhood. Sheriff Heck Tate and Atticus Finch both instantly arrived at the scene only to see an empty street and fearful people waiting anxiously behind closed doors. Jem Finch, Atticus’s boy, reported to us that he had overheard his father and the sheriff bickering about who would put down the dog before it became a major problem. He said, “My father was trying real hard not to have to shoot.

Read More
1100 Words | 5 Pages

Symbolism in general is the building blocks to all sources of literature and can shape a piece of writing in many ways. Symbols in general can portray what something or someone represents, giving a deeper and metaphorical meaning to a symbol. Symbolism is often used within poetry, literature, music, or even art. This is how an author conveys a different meaning to the audience. For example artists may use the color “red” not only because of the color theory, but to convey love, passion, and maybe even health.

Read More
868 Words | 4 Pages

Symbolism is when the author uses objects to add deeper meaning to the story without mentioning it in the story. In Flannery O’Connor’s story, “Good Country People”, she uses symbolism to illustrate the antagonist and protagonist with more insight; for example, Manley’s hollow Bible signify how he really does not believe in Christianity, Hulga’s wooden leg portrayed her personality, and her name change represents how she is not the same girl she once was. First of all, the author introduces Manley Pointer as a young man that goes around homes selling Bibles, but little did she know that was not the case. When Manley Pointer goes on a date with Hulga the truth is revealed. Hulga has the impression that Manley is a young nice man that sells Bibles

Read More
1197 Words | 5 Pages

Symbolism can use an object (like a tree of birds), or art, (like Melinda’s art project or Mr. Freeman's canvas) to represent an abstract idea. Laurie Halse Anderson uses symbolism to hint at a certain mood or emotion, rather than just blatantly saying it. So, the use of symbolism is important because it helps create meaning and emotion in a story. Symbolism makes a book fun to read, the symbolism produces a thought provoking work of art and it, (like in this book), adds meaning to seemingly unrelated objects and elicits emotions in the

Read More
1004 Words | 5 Pages

It is a sin to kill a Mockingbird. It is a sin because they are innocent, good, protective animals that mind their own business and don 't do anything but good for their community. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird there are three mockingbirds in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. When there was a problem they could solve, they would solve it.

Read More
949 Words | 4 Pages

“...there 's a bluebird in my heart that, wants to get out, but I pour whiskey on him and inhale, cigarette smoke, and the whores and the bartenders, and the grocery clerks, never know that, he 's. in there....” As indicated by the above excerpt from his poem Bluebird, poet Charles Bukowski built a name for himself through his ability to deprive himself of the basic human need of confiding, revealing and simply being emotionally transparent. For many, erecting a facade of ruggedness and apathy can protect what may be delicate inside—it’s a common defense mechanism, which especially rang true for Bukowski, who suffered from abuse at the hand of his father during his childhood. As a result, Bukowski fixated himself on concocting a larger than life caricature of himself as someone who was extremely tough and devoid of any “soft” emotions over his career.

Read More
732 Words | 3 Pages

In the novel it says, “A man was passing under it. The man was walking with the staccato steps of someone carrying a load too heavy for him. He was going around the corner. He was carrying Jem (352).” The person Scout was talking about was Boo Radley, she had never seen him before, but had heard bad rumors about Boo.

Read More

More about How Does Lee Use Symbols In To Kill A Mockingbird

Related Topics

Open Document