To Kill A Mockingbird Light Analysis

In oil paintings of the Renaissance era, chiaroscuro was a technique that created a tonal contrast between light and darkness. The word itself is Italian for "light and shadow", it was commonly seen used by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Caravaggio. During most of Chapter 28 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem and Scout are surrounded by night darkness until they reach the light and security of their home. Harper Lee, effectively using chiaroscuro in his writing and imagery, creates a tense and suspenseful mood in his novel To Kill a Mockingbird.
The night of Chapter 28 was so dark, it seemed that "there was no moon." Throughout the night, Jem and Scout can barely see and are surrounded by unknown forests, which is, of course, a sinister

While they are being attacked, however, they can not see very well and do not know what is happening, that everything just adds to the tense and scary mood. However, the light of their home frames Atticus once they get home, and children are surrounded by lamps and bright candles inside. Once in the house, the whole sense of danger is gone and the only concern of all is whether Jem and Scout are well, thus demonstrating that light represents security during this chapter. Jem and Scout, during their adventures in Chapter 28, are constantly seeking light as they are surrounded by moonless darkness in the woods. The light, whether of lanterns or lamps in a house, represents metaphorically the security during this chapter. For example, at the beginning of the chapter, Jem and Scout were surrounded by "pitch black". The overall mood and setting are very ominous and scary as you are walking through the woods and do not have a flashlight. While Harper Lee continues to build tense humor using his images, Jem and Scout finally encounter a "circle of light" bursting into their faces. The light, though frightened, represents security because, after all the unknown darkness, they know that it is only Cecil Jacobs and that there is no real