To Kill a Mockingbird

Literary AnalysisBy: Kyle, Brittany, and Trevor

Direct Characterization Mr. Avery: Overweight; “When we were on the sidewalk in

front of Miss Maudie’s, Mr. Avery accosted us. He had a pink face and a big stomach.” (65)

Atticus: Silent, withdrawn; “In a group of neighbors, Atticus was standing with his hands in his overcoat pockets. He might have been watching a football game.” (70)

Ike Finch: Proud; “Cousin Ike Finch was Maycomb County’s sole surviving Confederate veteran. He wore a General Hood type beard of which he was inordinately vain.” (76)

Aunt Alexandra: Distant and strict; “Had I ever harbored the mystical notions about mountains that seemed to obsess lawyers and judges, Aunt Alexandra would have been Mount Everest: throughout my early life, she was cold and there.”

Indirect Characterization Mr. Avery: Superstitious; “’See what you’ve done?’ he said. ‘Hasn’t

snowed in Maycomb since Appomattox. It’s bad children like you makes the seasons change.’” (65)

Atticus: Proud, loving and caring for his children; “’Son, I can’t tell what your going to be-an engineer, a lawyer or a portrait painter. You’ve perpetrated a near libel here in the front yard. We’ve got to disguise this fellow.’”

Jem: Industrious, creative and imaginative; “Using bits of wood for eyes, nose, and mouth, and buttons, Jem succeeded in Making Mr. Avery look cross. A stick of stove wood completed the picture. Jem stepped back and viewed his creation.” (67)

Scout: Observant; “By then he did not have to tell me. Just as the birds know where to go when it rains, I knew there was trouble on our street.” (69)

Allusions “This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our

friends and this is our home.” (76) This allusion is talking about the Civil War. The Yankees were the name the southerners gave the northerners. As one could guess, they hated each other.

“Farther down the stream, beyond the bluff, were traces if an old cotton landing, where Finch Negroes had loaded bales and produce, unloaded blocks of ice, flour and sugar, farm equipment, feminine apparel.” (79-80) Obviously, this quote is about the slave trade. Back in the day, slaves were used for labor and were sold alongside the previously mentioned items.

Allusions Cont. “Uncle Jack plunged into another long story about an old Prime

Minister who sat in the House of Commons and blew feathers in the air and tried to keep them there when all about him men were losing their heads.” (87) This is speaking about Lord Melbourne who was the Prime Minister of England from 1835 to 1841. He was famous for being a Whig politician.

“Mr. Avery said that it was written on the Rosetta Stone that when children disobeyed their parents, smoked cigarettes and made war with each other, the seasons would change: Jem and I were burdened with the guilt of contributing to the aberrations of nature, thereby causing unhappiness to our neighbors and discomfort to ourselves.” (63) The Rosetta Stone was an artifact discovered in 1799 and was used to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Figurative Language Hyperbole: “Next morning I awoke, looked out the window

and nearly died of fright.” (64) Imagery: “Miss Maudie’s old sunhat glistened with snow

crystals.” (65) Personification: “Roaring, the house collapsed; fire gushed

everywhere, followed by a flurry of blankets from men on the top of the adjacent houses, beating out sparks and burning chunks of wood.” (71)

Imagery: “The air was so cold and clear we heard the courthouse clock clank, rattle, and strain before it struck the hour.” (74)

Simile: “I liked to smell him: he was like a bottle of alcohol and something pleasantly sweet.” (79)

Themes “’I guess it ain’t you fault that Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I’m

here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family-’”. (83) Everyone who is different is a target. This theme is shown by the fact that just because Atticus is defending an African-American as required by law, they are beginning to loathe him. This also extends to the treatment of the black community at this time. Simply because of the color of their skin, these people are abused and hated.

“Jem and I decided that Boo had got her at last, but when Atticus returned from the Radley house he said that she died of natural causes, to our disappointment.” (64) A lack of understanding leads to false assumptions. This quote also has a two-pronged point. On one hand, it shows that simply because a woman died, they assumed it was Boo Radley’s doing, as false assumption. Also, because they have no idea about the real Boo Radley, they have assumed he is the psychopathic murderer that the rumors make him out to be.