To Kill A Mockingbird Notes

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird Plausible Questions: “Maycomb has recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself.” What do you think this “fear” refers to? Discuss. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout has many role models. Who are they? Explain how they have shaped her. Compare and contrast the relationship between Scout and Jem, and the relationship between Atticus and Aunt Alexandra. “I want to be a lawyer just like Atticus”. In what ways have Jem mature? Lee chooses to tell the story of “To Kill A Mockingbird” from the perspective of Scout. What effects does this bring about? Use two instances from the novel to justify your agreement.

Themes:  Prejudice •

“Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

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“we’re making a step—it’s a small step, but it’s a step.” Pg222

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Social 

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The Radleys, or more specifically Arthur “Boo” Radley, the recluse. •

Terrifying- “Malevolent phantom”

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Stephanie Crawford’s spin-offs (neighbourhood legend)

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Did not participate in Maycomb traditions e.g. did not go to church, door of Radley house were closed on Sundays, etc.

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“ When people’s azaleas froze in a cold snap, it was because he had breathed on them”

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(Fear of the unknown) Wrong perception from children like Scout“a baseball hit into the Radley yard was a lost ball and no questions asked.” And “ everything on the Radley Place was poison”

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Radley game the children made “a melancholy drama little drama, woven from bits and scraps of gossip and neighbourhood legend”. This game propagated the prejudice Maycomb folks have on the Radleys.

The Cunninghams Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird

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Contrast with the Ewells

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Although they are poor, they are:

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Honest- “They took nothing they can’t pay back”, “No script stamps, church baskets…”

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Proud of their heritage- has an entailment, “willing to go hungry to keep his land and vote as he pleased.”

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Grateful and generous- Returns stuff eventually to the extent that Atticus comments” that Mr Cunningham had more than paid him.”

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Shy- does not directly return the deed, but does it in secret

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Despite all of this, they are not considered to be as cultured as the other Maycomb folk. This is evident when Scout wanted to invited Walter Cunningham over to their house for a meal. Aunt Alexandra objected to the idea as she felt that “they’re not our kind of folks.” Furthermore, she feels that appearance does not make anyone in Maycomb more respectable as she told Scout that “you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines, you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he’ll never be like Jem.”

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“he-is-trash”

The Ewells •

Looked down upon because of their father’s (Bob Ewell) actions and considered as outcasts

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“none of them had done an honest day’s work”

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“They were people. But they lived like animals.”

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“members of an exclusive society”

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“No economic fluctuations changed their status”

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“Ewells lived as guests of the county”

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People despised them and hence become “blind” to some of their activities-“allowed certain privileges by the simple method of becoming blind to some of the Ewells’ activities”

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Burris Ewell. Called Miss Caroline a “snot nose slut”, foreshadowing his father’s behaviour and reveals about his upbringing at home. (or his lack of and Burris’ use of language gains him the title of a “real mean one”)

Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird

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Bob Ewell (Rude, uncouth, drunk) seen from his use of languagelikens Mayella to a “stuck hog” refer to Bob’s testimony, pg176-184

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Mayella Ewell. Although she tries to be different, she fails at it. Not because she cannot, but because she is a Ewell.

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She tried to be different- “Mayella looked as if she tried to keep clean” ,”red geraniums, cared for as tenderly as if they belonged to Miss Maudie Atkinson”

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No friends, lonely- When Atticus asked her whether she had any friends she said “You makin’ fun of me agin, Mr Finch”

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“she took offence into routine courtesy”

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Scout commented that Mayella “was even lonelier than Boo Radley” and that she was sad as a “mixed child” pg198

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“white people wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she lived among pigs; Negroes wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she was white.”

Dolphus Raymond •

Rumoured to be drinking out of a bag containing whisky

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Although “he’s real good to those chillun” refer to pg 167

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“they (Maycomb) cound never, never understand that I live like I do because that’s the way I want to live.”

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Folks think that “he won’t change his ways”, “He can’t help himself”

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Ironically, he comments that “Because you’re children and you can understand it,” He feels that the children’s perception of things has not been marred by reality. Therefore he sees them as innocent, upright and immaculate people that would be able to understand the situation in an unbiased position.

The Finches •

Finch children were taunted as their father, Atticus “defended niggers”

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Had to Keep their head about certain things like how Atticus was a disgrace

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Francis, Aunt Alexandra’s grandchild, said, “he’s turned out a nigger-lover we’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin.” Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird •

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“He (Mr Braxton Underwood) gave a snort and looked away” when he found Scout sitting in the coloured balcony

“The Other” •

Miss Caroline Fisher ♦ Wants to introduce a new teaching method, hence viewed as an outcast ♦ “looked and smelled like a peppermint drop”. This foreshadows that she will bring something new as her resemblance to peppermint, which is known to be refreshing, indicates that she is going to bring something new. ♦ From “North Alabama”, land indigenous to “other persons of no background”, therefore the class “murmured apprehensively” ♦ The classed did not even speak to her. For example, they kept quiet about Walter Cunningham’s situation and urged Scout to tell Miss Caroline.

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Miss Tutti and Miss Frutti ♦ Considered alien as they are not Maycomb native- “migrated from Clanton, Alabama, in 1911” ♦ “Their ways were strange to us(the Maycomb residences)”

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Social Classes •

E.g. Aunt Alexandra discriminates against others

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Considers herself “not from run-of-the-mill people” and product of “several generations of gentle breeding”

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Angered when she found out that Scout followed Calpurnia to church

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“There was indeed a caste system in Maycomb”, White folks like the Finches followed by the white farmer like the Cunninghams and the “trash of the society” like the Ewells and the Blacks

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“Everybody in Maycomb, it seemed, had a Streak”

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During the trial, the jury was afraid of vindicating Tom Robinson as they were afraid of being ostracised by the white people in Maycomb.

Racial Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird 

Blacks •

Lowest in Maycomb’s “hierarchy” ♦ Blacks were not given titles like “Miss” or “Mr” instead they are called by their name or “nigger” or “boy”. This shows the lack of respect the whites have for the black community in Maycomb. ♦ Scout comments that Calpurnia is “supposed to go around in the back” when she was going to inform the Radleys that Tim Johnson, the mad dog, was on his way there. This shows that racism is entrenched into the minds of the Maycomb locals, even the most innocent of people—the children. ♦ Definition of “nigger-lover”- “ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody favouring Negroes over and above themselves. It’s slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody.” ♦ Whites do not have respect for the black- “Negroes worshipped in it on Sundays and white men gambled in it on weekdays.” Sacrilegious men. ♦ Scout commented that there was a “warm bittersweet smell of clean Negro welcomed us”. Probably scared and shy because it is the first time she goes to a black church. ♦ Even the blacks try not to associate themselves with the whites, unless they were close to them like Atticus. As Lula said, “You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillum here” ♦ During the Lynch mob, “sullen-looking, sleepy-eyed men who seemed used to late hours” and who “talked in near-whispers” wanted to stop Atticus from defending Tom Robinson really badly and prevent the trail so as to not expose the truth. This shows that they want Tom Robinson to be guilty instead of Bob Ewell (Racial Prejudice). ♦ The jail was only “full of niggers”, also it was covered to make it look less like a jail for blacks. ♦ Aunt Alexandra thinks that one should not say things demeaning to a black in front of one-“you said Braxton Underwood despises Negroes right in front of her.” ♦

“Around here once you have a drop of Negroes blood that makes you all black.”

Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird ♦ The courtroom is segregated into two parts: the main congregation in front of the room and the coloured balcony ♦ Bob Ewell claimed that there no need to call a doctor to check on Mayella after she was allegedly raped as it would have cost five dollars. However, the real reason why it is not needed is because many whites have the “evil assumption” (the blacks are always guilty) so with the presence of a Black man, Tom Robinson, no other evidence is needed. ♦ Prejudiced because of the “Maycomb disease”- the “evil assumption”, “all Negroes lie, that all negroes are basically immoral beings” ♦ “Now don’t you be so confident, Mr Jem, I ain’t ever seem any jury decide in favour of a coloured man over a white man…” This line is said by Calpurnia. This shows that in a case this Tom Robinson’s, the chances of him winning is negligible because he is black. Hence this shows racial prejudice and that it is ingrained in the minds of the people. (Even the Blacks are pessimistic that Tom Robinson would be vindicated) ♦ “There’s something in our world that makes men lose their heads—they couldn’t be fair if they tried. In our courts when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s. The white man always wins. They are ugly, but those are the facts of life.” ♦ Sometimes referred to as ‘darky’ ♦ Mrs Merriweather says that “the cooks and field hands are just dissatisfied, but they’re settling down now – they grumbled all next day after that trial.”(Black are unhappy about the verdict) but feels that their grumbling is uncalled for as she thinks that Tom Robinson is guilty just because he is black. ♦ THE ASSUMPTION: ‘Typical of a nigger’s mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw.’ This shows the ingrained racism in the white people as they also do not care for the Blacks. •

Tom Robinson ♦ Although he was honest- “denied it three times in one breath, but quietly, with no hint of whining in his voice” ♦ He was discriminated and guilty because of his colour- “scared I’d hafta face up to what I didn’t do.” ♦ Referred to by Mr Gilmer as “boy” Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird ♦ Wrong to say that “I felt right sorry for her” as Blacks are considered to be worse off then the whites. Therefore, it is taboo for a Black to feel sorry for a white. ♦ “Mr Finch if you was a nigger like me, you’d be scared, too.” ♦ Still lost even though it was evident that Tom was in the right as the Ewell’s claims were incoherent ♦ After the trial, he was considered a dead man and had “seventeen bullet holes in him” when he was trying to escape from prison, when he could have been killed by using only a bullet. •

Mixed Children ♦ “they’re real sad” ♦ “don’t belong anywhere” ♦ “Around here once you have a drop of Negroes blood that makes you all black.” ♦ Jem comments that “you just hafta know who they are”. This implies that one is not born prejudiced against another, but one chooses to be. (Can be applied towards all forms)

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Gender 

Scout suffers acutely from the stereotypes imposed upon her because of the rigid sexism and gender rules that govern the southern life. Scout hates to wear dresses and finds the accusation that she “acts like a girl” highly offensive. Although the characters do not explicitly deal with gender issues. Lee does offer several characters, Miss Maudie and Miss Stephanie and Aunt Alexandra to illustrate the broad spectrum of the southern womanhood that lies beneath the simplistic southern belle stereotype.

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Maycomb is a patriarch society; therefore females are expected to behave in a certain fashion.

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Expectations of a southern woman: “I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches”

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Scout gets insulted for being a girl. For example, when Scout refuses to peek into the Radley place with Jem and Dill, they called her angel may, a term associated with girls (the fairer sex).

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Atticus was considered unmanly because of his age and the fact that heretofore never participated in activities that were considered manly. Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird For example, he “was feeble”, “never too tired to play keep-away”, perceived by his children to have not “do anything”, “worked in an office” and did not “do anything that could possibly arouse the admiration of anyone.” 

Although Jem meant no harm, he told Scout to “hold your (Scout’s) head high and be a gentleman” when Mrs Dubose was throwing insults at them. This shows that Jem treats Scout more like a brother rather than a sister, hence this shows gender prejudice.

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Aunt Alexandra insist that Scout should dress up like a girl, much to Scout’s disapproval

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Girls are not allowed to listen to the rape trial- “Mr Jem you better take Miss Jean Louise home.”

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“Miss Maudie can’t serve on a jury because she’s a woman—“

 Growing Up (Jem and Scout) •

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Influences 

Atticus

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Calpurnia

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Miss Maudie

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Aunt Alexandra

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Uncle Jack

Characteristics at start, contrast with it at the end (Also can be used for their characterisation) 

Jem •

At the beginning of the novel (he isn’t that immature as he is of an older age compared to Scout) ♦

Proud. “had never declined a dare.”

♦ Calculative. “Jem thought about it for three days.” ♦ Practices blind courage. “I(Scout) supposed he loved honour more than his head” ♦ Cares about siblings. Comforts Scout and tries to educate her. ♦ More mature than any other child in the book. He shows this when the tales care of his sister, Scout, and when he tells her about life. The only time that Jem was childish was when he, Dill Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird and Scout made up games about Boo Radley and poking fun at him. One instance when Jem took Scout to aside to help her understand was when he told her about people like Walter Cunningham and how they were poor and had no money. Jem is highly protective of Scout, especially when her ordered Scout to spot out the chewing gum she found from the Radley knot-hole. ♦ Respects Atticus. The night the children visited the Radley Place and tried to see Boo, Jem left his pants behind in a wired fence as he had trouble getting through.Before this event, Jem promised Atticus that he would not bother Boo Radley. Atticus had considerable respect for Jem, and he had no intention of losing his trust. Hence this depicts the difference in maturity between him and Scout as Scout thought that when Jem might be “licked” by Atticus, she took it as a physical pain and told Jem that “it would not last”, which she knew was indeed better than getting shot by Mr Nathan. On the other hand, Jem was more concerned over the trust Atticus had for him and he valued it so much that he was willing to risk his life to maintain that trust. Thus this shoes the growth in his maturity when he makes the discussion to get his pants back. ♦ However, his acts of blind courage (e.g. the Radley game, touch their house, trying to sneak into their house) is considered to be immature as he fails to realise what true courage is. ♦ Naïve. Thinks that the law is always impartial. This is evident during the trail when he believed that the jury would set the innocent Tom Robinson free, but they did not. This made his face streaked with angry tears as he was unable to comprehend the injustice that had just occurred as it conflicted with his belief that the law is always impartial. •

Whilst growing up… ♦ Jem learns the truth about Boo Radley when he realises Boo had put the blanket around Scout, while Scout has no idea what was going on. “Jem seemed to have losing his mind...Toward me… Thank who… ‘Boo Radley’.” This is where Jem shows signs of growing up. He begins to understand that Boo Radley is not harmful at all. Here, it begins to show that Jem’s maturity is faster than Scout’s, because she cannot understand and still thinks that Boo is dangerous. This is where Jem and Scout begin to “part company”. ♦ Understands why Atticus does not show off his skills in front of anyone. This shows that Atticus is a gentleman and humble even though he is a person with great skill. This is evident as Miss Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird Maudie explains that “people in the right mind” do not show off their skills purposely and only do if it is needed. This is observed when Atticus shot Old Tim Robinson. Initially, Jem was ashamed of his father for not being like all the other fathers in Maycomb County, including the fact that Atticus did not play Jem’s favourite sport—football. However, his understanding of Atticus’ humility comes to life when he sees that his father is recognised as the “one-shot Finch” for his superior marksmanship but did not tell his children or boast about it. It is also evident that Jem matures as Jem thought differently as compared to Scout, who was ever ready to tell everyone about their dad’s capabilities that Jem knew if “Atticus wanted them to know, he would tell them”. Jem is proud of his father’s humility. ♦ Learns the true meaning of true courage. (Through Mrs Dubose) Atticus explained to him that Mrs Dubose had aimed to “die free, beholden to nothing and nobody”, and also called her a lady despite having different view from Atticus, like being prejudiced against black. Jem understands the kind of courage exhibited by Mrs Dubose by not making things easier for oneself and challenging the harder route, such as Atticus describing it as “knowing you are going to get licked before, but you still do it anyway,” and standing your ground for what you believe in. ♦ Relationship between Jem and Boo changes. Initially, Jem thinks that Boo, as the rumours made by Miss Stephanie Crawford, is a “malevolent phantom” that feeds on squirrels. He thought that Arthur was a beast to fear, as seen when he was hesitating when Dill dared him to touch the Radley Place. However he soon realises that Arthur had been caring for them and “he (Arthur) would never harm us(the children)”. Jem, therefore, understands that Arthur is harmless and kinds, when he realises that Arthur was protecting Scout from the cold by putting his blanket in her, Thus, we can see Jem maturing as he comes to accept Arthur, unlike majority of Maycomb’s inhabitants. ♦ “Jem was twelve. His appetite was appalling and he told me so many times to stop pestering him that I consulted Atticus: ‘Reckon he’s got a tapeworm” Atticus said no, Jem was growing. I must be patient with him and disturb him as little as possible.” Jem was beginning to change in his attitude, adding to Scout’s confusion. As one can see, Jem’s maturity begins to separate him and Scout. ♦ Jem is starting to mature physically as time goes by. As he is starting to change his beliefs. Scout commented that “Jem had acquired an alien set of values and was trying to impose them Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird on me”. He even tries to educate Scout and makes Scout think that “he had acquired a maddening air of wisdom.” ♦ Even Calpurnia is starting to realise this as she addresses Jem as “Mister Jem”. This shows that Jem is growing up as people are starting to treat him with the respect given to adults. ♦ Throughout the novel, Jem remains unbiased towards any race. This can be seen during their trip to Calpurnia’s church when Jem likens Calpurnia’s preacher to theirs. ♦ Jem tries to salvage the relationship between Scout and Aunt Alexandra by trying to get Scout to not cause any trouble that might disappoint Aunt Alexandra. For example, after Scout’s row with Aunt Alexandra about her desire to go to Calpurnia’s home, Jem told Scout, “Try not to antagonise Aunty, hear?” This shows that Jem is trying to mediate the situation and shows that Jem is maturing for doing so. Furthermore, Jem tells Scout to “take up sewing or somethin’” in order to not make Aunt Alexandra upset with Scout. ♦ Able to empathise with grown-up and understands how they feel. This can be seen when Dill ran away from home and ended up in their house, Jem told Dill that “You oughta let your mother know where you are,” and “Dill, you’ve got to stop goin’ off without tellin’ her,” and he continues that “It just aggravates her.” ♦ Jem wants to protect his family as he cares for them. This is observed during the lynch mob when Atticus commanded Jem to bring the children home. But Jem refused and stood there. ♦ Strong sense of justice. Feels that Atticus have done a good job defending Tom Robinson and that he will probably win the trail. However, he fails to realise that racism exists in this world which will destroy the life of an innocent black man. Furthermore, “his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each ‘guilty’ was a separate stab between them. Even after the trail, he feels that Tom Robinson is innocent and asks Atticus whether there would be an appeal. Also, Jem starts to debate with Atticus about justice and even feels that “He didn’t kill anybody even if he was guilty, He didn’t take anybody’s life.”. ♦ After the trial, Jem becomes more pessimistic and thinks that very little people in Maycomb actually wanted to help Atticus. This can be seen during his conversation with Miss Maudie when he told her “Who in this town did one thing to help Tom Robinson, just who?”. Furthermore, he is unable to see the Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird optimism in Dill’s decision to become a clown as he told Dill that “Clowns are sad, it’s folks that laugh at them.” ♦ Treated differently from the other children- When Miss Maudie gave the cakes to the children, there was a big cake and two little ones then she “cut from the big cake and gave the slice to Jem”. This shows that she treats Jem like an adult as the big cake is only meant for grown-up, so the fact that Miss Maudie decided to give Jem a slice of the big cake shows that she treats him like an adult. Atticus treats Jem as an adult and thus he does not shield him from the world anymore. This can be seen by the countless discussions that they have about justice and fairness in the Maycomb society. ♦ Jem also becomes confused and disturbed, even to the extent that he thinks that “rape shouldn’t be a capital offence”. ♦ Jem’s impression of the world has changed. “If there’s just one type of folks, why can’t they get along with each other? If they’re all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? Scout, I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time… it’s because he wants to stay inside.” ♦ When Scout asked why she could not kill the insect, Jem replied that “Because they don’t bother you,”. This is because Jem feels that this action would be similar to the conviction of Tom Robinson. (Destruction of the innocent) ♦ In chapter 26, Jem and Scout continue to separate from one another. “our routines were so different” ♦ In chapter 27, Jem is growing up and does not want to be seen as a child. – “Jem considered himself too old for Halloween anyway; he said he wouldn’t be caught anywhere near the high school at something like that.” ♦ In chapter 28, whilst returning home with Scout, he felt that something was amiss (Mr Bob Ewell was trying to kill them), he merely told Scout that “Its just old Cecil,” said Jem presently, “He won’t get us again. Let’s don’t let him think we’re hurrying.” This shows Jem concern for his sister and his maturity as it reveals that Jem cares for his sister and does not want her to worry. Therefore he lies to her. 

Scout •

As immature Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird ♦ Views Calpurnia as a “tyrannical presence” and even asked Atticus to fire her. “She likes Jem better’n she like me” ♦ Considers Boo Radley a “malevolent phantom” and is scared of being near the house or even discuss about it ♦ Quick to anger. Started to beat up Walter Cunningham when he got her in trouble with Miss Caroline Fisher. ♦ Tom-boyish- “rubbing his(Walter Cunningham’s) nose in the dirt” ♦ “Reading was something that just came to me, as learning to fasten the seat of my union suit without looking around” shows her immaturity as she compares stuff with her underwear. This shows that she thinks being a women is disadvantageous. ♦ Sensitive- “Had her conduct been more friendly towards me, I would have felt sorry for her.” ♦ Promises Atticus not to tell Miss Caroline that they were reading illicitly and to go to school if Atticus would continue reading with her. ♦ She eats things she finds on the floor and takes stuff without permission. ♦ Hates school become she is unable to read and write freely ♦ Gets upset when Jem and Dill insults her for being “girly” even though she is a girl ♦ Tries to tell Jem to get ‘licked’ by Atticus instead of going out to retrieve his pants from the Radley Place. Unable to understand that this licking has more implications like breaching the trust and tacit bond Jem shares with Atticus. ♦ When Mr Nathan Radley plugged the tree hole with cement, Scout merely thought that it is just the termination of the gifts that they were receiving. However, she fails to realise the sadness behind this, which Jem figures out, that Mr Nathan is depriving his brother from any social interaction outside the house and goes through a catharsis. ♦ Uses expletives like “morphidite”, “whore-lady” and “nigger lover” without realising true meaning of these words. ♦ Thinks that Atticus is unmanly as he is “never too tired to play keep-away” and said he “didn’t do anything that could possible aroused the admiration of anyone”. Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird ♦ Wanted to tell her school mates that Atticus has a flair for shooting, as she wants to be normal and have a father that has something that could arouse the interest of someone. However, she was stopped by Jem who understood why Atticus did not take pride in it and told Scout not to tell anyone in school. ♦ Feels that Jem is becoming odd as he mature and describes him as having a “maddening air of wisdom” ♦ Asked Calpurnia why she talks “nigger-talk” to her folks even though she knows it’s not right. ♦ When Aunt Alexandra refused to allowed Scout to go to Calpurnia’s house, she defiantly replied, “I didn’t ask you!” ♦ Naïve- Believes that babies were dropped down from the chimney by God ♦ When a group of men gathered outside the house she “wondered who had died”. ♦ During the lynch mob, she spots Mr Cunningham and tries to converse with him without realising the tension and severity of the situation she is in. ♦ Does not understand the trail completely. ♦ Feels “vindicated” when Jem was scolded by Calpurnia (when Jem was scolded by Calpurnia she said “I was exhilarated”) as she thinks that Calpurnia shows favouritism towards Jem. ♦ Naïve- “I toyed with the idea of asking everyone below to concentrate on setting Tom Robinson free” feels that these childish and superstitious methods would help Tom Robinson become a free man. ♦ Remains impartial- “I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks.” ♦ Unable to fit into the society of ladies- Scout is not used to things related to being a lady. “Ladies in bunches always filled me with vague apprehension and a firm desire to be elsewhere, but this feeling was what Aunt Alexandra called being ‘spoiled’.” ♦ She also struggles to act like a lady. During the tea party, “I(Scout) sat quietly, having conquered my hands by tightly gripping the arms of the chair, and waited for someone to speak to me.”. This also shows her desire to become a lady as she would even go to the extent go resisting her urge to be physically active to learn to be a lady. Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird ♦ Scout still torments and tries to ‘kill’ the innocent. This can be seen by the roly-poly incident. “A roly-poly had found its way inside the house; I reasoned that the tiny varmint had crawled up the steps and under the door. I was putting my book on the floor beside my cot when I saw him. The creatures are no more than an inch long, and when you touch them they roll themselves into a tight grey ball. I lay on my stomach, reached down and poked him. He rolled up. Then, feeling sad, I suppose, he slowly unrolled. He travelled a few inches on his hundred legs and I touched him again. He rolled up. Feeling sleepy, I decided to end things. My hand was going down on him when Jem spoke.” ♦ In chapter 25, Scout feels that “Jem was the one who was getting more like a girl every day,” and becoming soft as he prevented her from killing an insect. ♦ Scout does not feel comfortable with Jem’s maturity and the new ways people are treating him. When the adults were discussing something important, she thought, ”Oh foot, he’s old enough to listen,” ♦ Scout is naïve to think that Jem’s changing personality is temporary. This reveals that she is childish as she is unable to see that maturing is an irreversible process. •

When growing up… ♦ Relationship with Calpurnia changes. “meddling in my business had faded to gentle grumblings of general disapproval” and sometimes Scout went to much trouble “not to provoke her”. ♦ The relationship with Calpurnia changes for the better. This can be seen in Chapter 24 when she “was wearing my pink Sunday dress, shoes, and a petticoat, and reflected that if I spilled anything Calpurnia would have to ash my dress again for tomorrow. This had been a busy day for her. I decided to stay out.” This shows that she empathises with Calpurnia’s situation and tries to avoid giving her any additional tasks. ♦ Gains more insight about Boo from Miss Maudie ♦ Took Atticus’ advice and tried to walk in Jem’s “skin” by leaving him alone. ♦ Taught to fight with her head for a change. “try fighting with your head for a change… it’s a good one, even if it does resist

Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird learning.” She practiced what Atticus had preached by walking away from Cecil Jacobs when he insulted her. ♦ “Promise you won’t tell Atticus about this. He –he asked me one time not to let anything I heard about him make me mad, an’ I’d ruther him think we were fightin’ about somethin’ else instead. Please promise…” ♦ “when I was well into the second grade at school and tormenting Boo Radley became passé” Accepts Boo and knows who he really is – a nice person. ♦ When Atticus asked her whether she would like Aunt Alexandra to stay with them, she agrees as she now believes that “one must like under certain circumstances and at all times when one can’t do anything about them.” ♦ “Dill asked if I’d like to have a poke at Boo Radley. I said I didn’t think it’d be nice to bother him.” ♦ Lies to Jem about being able to see his chest hair to make Jem feel better. She said it “looked lovely, but I didn’t see anything”. ♦ Her relationship with Calpurnia is changing for the better.”I was wearing my pink Sunday dress, shoes, and a petticoat, and reflected that if I spilled anything Calpuirnia would have to wash my dress again for tomorrow. This had beena busy day for her. I decided to stay out.” This shows that she is maturing because she does not want to be a burden to Calpurnia by dirtying her clothes. ♦ In chapter 24, she sees Aunt Alexandra as a role model as starts becoming a lady as she said “if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I.”. This shows that she is maturing and trying to become a lady as she has found the true meaning of becoming a lady to remain unfazed even in the toughest of situations. ♦ She is unable to understand the change that is occurring in Jem as she wants it to stay the same.- When Jem prevented Scout from killing the insect, she thought “it was probably a part of the stage he was going through, and I wished he would hurry up and get through it.” As she thinks that the trial has emotionally affected Jem, but only thinks that this change is only temporary. ♦ In chapter 26, Scout shows more signs of growing up. “The Radley Place had cease to terrify me”, “I sometimes felt a twinge of remorse, when passing by the old place, at ever having taken part in what must have been sheer torment to Arthur Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird Radley”(Scout is maturing and practices empathy). She is also able to differentiate between reality from fantasy as she is able to recognise that dream to see Boo Radley is “only a fantasy”. ♦ Scout loses track of time. “I hushed then and there. At the same time I marvelled at Atticus, This was the first he lad let us know he knew a lot more about something than we thought he knew. And it had happened years ago. No, only last summer –no, summer before last, when … time was playing tricks on me. I must remember to ask Jem.” ♦ Scout is not easily frighten. “we entered the black seventh-grade room and were led around by the temporary ghoul in residence and were made to touch several objects alleged to be the component parts of a human being. ‘Here’s his eyes,’ we were told when we touched two peeled grapes on a saucer. ‘Here’s his heart,’ which felt like raw liver. ‘These are his innards,’ and our hands were thrust into a plate of cold spaghetti.” This shows that she is mature as she indentifies the “body part” as inanimate objects, indicating that she is not afraid of it. ♦ She is able to sense Jem’s feelings as she “knew he was not joking” we he asked her to remain quiet when he felt that something was amiss. Furthermore, when Jem tries to convince her, quite unconvincingly, that Cecil Jacobs was trying to pull a prank on that she followed his orders and “wondered how long he (Jem) would try to keep the Cecil myth going.” This indicates her maturity in thought as she knows that Jem is lying and trying to comfort her by doing so. ♦ Atticus’ teachings have been etched into Scout’s mind- “but I brought my arm down quickly lest Atticus reprimand me for pointing. It was impolite to point.” ♦ Able to empathise with Boo and makes him feel comfortable. “Come along, Mr Arthur, I heard myself saying,” you don’t know the house real well. I’ll just take you to the porch, sir.” This shows that she treats Boo with respect and tries to make him feel comfortable. ♦ Scout understands why they were trying to over-up the situation (to protect Boo) and adds that “it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird”. ♦ In chapter 31, Scout is able to empathise with Boo Radley. This can be seen as she was” beginning to learn his body English. His hand tightened on mine and he indicated that he wanted to leave.” Furthermore, “I slipped my hand into the crook of his arm.”, “He had to stoop a little to accommodate me, but if Miss Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird Stephanie Crawford was watching from her upstairs window, she would see Arthur Radley escorting me down the sidewalk, as any gentleman would do.” Scout understands that a lady should no escort Arthur home. Therefore she makes it look like Arthur is escorting her somewhere. ♦ “I had never seen our neighbourhood from this angle.” She sees the world from Boo’s point of view (literally). This also indicates that she now sees the world from a different angle, figuratively. ♦ Scout is conscious of the fact that her education on life and how to cope with it is completed and all that’s left to learn is academics. “there wasn’t much else left for us to learn, except possibly algebra.” ♦ At the end of the novel, she pretends to be listening to Atticus when she actually fallen asleep.  Courage •

Physical Courage 



•

Touching the Radley place (Jem) •

Jem touched the Radley place when Dill dared him too. Initially, Jem was terrified by the idea. However, since “he loved honour more than his head” he eventually accepted it.

•

This incident showed how the children perceived courage to be some kind of dare, with the absence of fear.

Shooting the mad dog •

When old Tim Johnson, the mad dog, was approaching the Radley place, Atticus, also known as “one-shot Finch”, was pressured by Mr Heck Tate into shooting the dog because of his adept shooting skills

•

This shows courage as he did something no one wanted to do as it was too difficult – shoot the dog. Similarly, Atticus will take up Tom Robinson’s case with moral courage.

Moral Courage 

Atticus •

Takes up the trial even though he knows that he is fighting a losing battle

•

Atticus tells Scout to “try fighting with your head for a change… it’s a good one, even if it does resist learning.” Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird

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When Atticus greets Miss Dubose, Scout comments“It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.”

•

Reasons with Scout that he took up the case because it is something “that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience—Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man.”- This shows that Atticus took the case up because of moral reasons

•

“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” shows that Atticus wants to make history by aiding a black man and exemplified moral courage by wanting to do so.

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“It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through”

Mrs Dubose •

A morphine addict, “but she was too contrary” and wanted to “leave this world beholden to nothing and nobody.”

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So she tried to abstain from morphine.

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Eventually, she died as free “as the mountain air”

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Atticus even said that “she was the bravest person I ever knew”

Jem •

Wanted to retrieved his pants much to Scout’s disapproval when they went to the Radley place one night

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REASON: Does not want to get a “lickin’” as this will affect the relationship Jem has with Atticus, making Atticus distrust him.

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Goes to Mrs Dubose, apologises to her and promises to read to her every day for a month.

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Although he does not want to, he does it anyway.

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When Atticus is confronted by the mob, he demanded that Jem and Scout to go home. Jem refused.

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This shows that Jem cares for his father and refuses to go home to protect his father. Hence, this indirectly shows the courage within Jem.

Scout Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird •

On Scout’s first day of school, Miss Caroline Fisher offers to give Walter Cunningham three quarters. Scout stood up and told her that she was shaming him as Walter “haven’t got a quarter at home to bring you”.

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This incident revealed that Scout had showed courage as she was the only one who dared to stand up for Walter by telling Miss Caroline the reason.

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Scout “walked away from a fight” when Cecil Jacobs taunted her

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This is because she took Atticus’ advice to “try fighting with your head”.

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She diffused the mob by using her innocent responses to make Mr Cunningham embarrassed

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She told him that “entailments are bad”, hence shaming Mr Cunningham, as he feels that his “dirty laundry” is exposed to the public, and making him empathise with Atticus.

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Hence she showed courage by trying to help his brother and father diffuse this matter.

 Justice and Fairness •

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Scout and Uncle Jack pg91-92 

When Francis and Scout has a dispute, Francis accused Scout of using the term “whore-lady” on him

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Uncle Jack intervenes and censures Scout

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This made Scout feel a sense of injustice as she said “I’ll never speak to you again as long as I live! I hate you an’ despise you an’ hope you die tomorrow!”

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Scout then tells Uncle Jack when she calmed down that “When Jem and I fuss Atticus doesn’t ever just listen to Jem’s side of it, he hears mine too”

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This shows the theme of justice and fairness as Scout was punished without a proper “trail” and also shows that Atticus is just and fair to his children.

The Trial 

Atticus tries to fight for Tom Robinson- “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win”

Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird

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Atticus managed to prove that the Ewells were lying by tricking them e.g. making Bob Ewell write to discover that he was left-handed, Mayella’s inconsistent testimony.

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Atticus believes that “all men are created equal”

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And believes that the court is a leveller- “courts are the great levellers, and in our courts all men are created equal.”

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However even with all the evidence against the Ewells, Tom Robinson was still deemed guilty, simply because “In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins. They’re ugly, but those are the facts of life.”

After the trial 

Jem starts to debate with Atticus about justice- “It ain’t right. He didn’t kill anybody even if he was guilty. He didn’t take anybody’s life.” (Jem has developed a great sense of justice and injustice)

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Learns that people are comfortable with the law right now and adamant to change it. When Jem asks Atticus to change the law he replied, “You’d be surprised how hard that’d be. I won’t live to see the law changed, and if you live to see it you’ll be an old man.”

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“There’s something in our world that makes men lose their heads— they couldn’t be fair if they tried. In our courts when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s. The white man always wins. They are ugly, but those are the facts of life.”

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“in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case.” Reveals that deep down inside these men feel that Tom Robinson is guilty just because it is wrong to favour a black man over a white man.

 Education •

Jem believes that social classes are related to “how long your family’s been readin’ and writin’” as it raises a family’s social and economic status.

•

Formal (e.g. Miss Caroline, Schooling) 

When Scout first went to school, she disliked it because of its rigidness



When Miss Caroline Fisher, the new teacher from North Alabama who tries to impose the “Dewey Decimal System” on the children, found out that Scout could read and write she was displeased with her and told her to tell her father not to teach her. This gave Scout a patronising feeling about schooling.

Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird

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Scout real education-“As for me, I knew nothing except what I gathered from ‘Time’ magazine and reading everything I could lay hands on at home, but as I inched sluggishly along the treadmill if the Maycomb County school system, I could not help receiving the impression that I was being cheated out of something.”

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Jem tries to comfort Scout and tells her that “the older I got the better school would be” –“The sixth grade seemed to please him from the beginning: he went through a brief Egyptian Period that baffled me - he tried to walk flat a great deal, sticking one arm in front of him and one in back of him, putting one foot behind the other. He declared Egyptians walked that way; I said if they did I didn't see how they got anything done, but Jem said they accomplished more than the Americans ever did, they invented toilet paper and perpetual embalming, and asked where would we be today if they hadn't? Atticus told me to delete the adjectives and I'd have the facts.”

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Eventually Scout enjoys schooling a bit more

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Scout remains critical of the education system as she feels that it is not useful. She emphasises that she was “forced to one day in school”.

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The system, does not consider the wealth and background of the children and their access to the media. “in Maycomb it didn’t work very well. In the first place, few rural children had access to newspaper, so the burden of Current Events was borne by the town children, convincing the bus children more deeply that the town children got all the attention anyway.”

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During one lesson, she learns about democracy, her teacher, Mrs Gates, said, “Over here we don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced.”. This is ironic as Mrs Gates also practices inequality and persecutes the Blacks, in particular, Tom Robinson, as she does not see them as her equal. This contradicts what she had preached during her lesson.

Informal (e.g. Atticus, Miss Maudie, Aunt Alexandra. Dolphus Raymond) 

Atticus •

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” This important snippet of the conversation finds Atticus giving Scout the crucial piece of moral advice that governs her development for the rest of the novel, the simple wisdom of Atticus’ words reflects the uncomplicated manner in which he guides himself by this sole principle. His ability to relate to his children is manifested in his restatement of this principle in terms that Scout can understand. Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird •

Reads the newspaper to his children daily- keeps the children informed on current affairs

•

Teaches the children to respect others- When Mr Nathan Radley claims that his tree was clogged with cement, Atticus disagreed at first when Scout asked about that tree but changes his answer to match Mr Nathan’s when Scout told him what he said. This shows that Atticus wants his children to believe that Mr Nathan was not lying and to respect his decision be it for the better or the worse.

•

Atticus tells Scout to “try fighting with your head for a change… it’s a good one, even if it does resist learning.” To help her cope with the impending trauma.

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“Bad language is a stage all children go through and it dies with time when they learn they’re not attracting attention with it.” Shows the way Atticus would teach his children.

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Tries to inculcate his values into Scout by telling her more stuff that is related to the trail- “The case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience “

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“The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience”

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Tells Scout the definition of expletives if she ask, reveals Atticus’ teaching style –to be frank with the children. -“nigger-lover”“ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody favouring Negroes over and above themselves. It’s slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody.”

•

“It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through” This moral that Atticus teaches them helps the children truly define what is courage –the overcoming of fear, even those you know that you are going to get “licked”.

•

However, in the middle of the novel, Atticus is shown to be unsure about the methods he employs to teach his children as he tried to convince Scout to become more like a lady and learn more about their history. Though he seemed uncomfortable doing so (fidgeting, collar seemed to worry him). At the end of the chapter, Atticus regains his former views on educating the children.

•

Atticus teaches the children that one does not only consist of goodness and evilness, but a mixture of both -“So it took an eightyear-old child to bring 'em to their senses.... That proves something - that a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird they're still human. Hmp, maybe we need a police force of children.” •

Urges children to have empathy- “Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial, if he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me save Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I’d rather it be me than that houseful of children out there.”

• 

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Miss Maudie •

Serves to compliment Atticus’ role as a voice of reason

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Role model for Scout to follow that women do not have to wear dress and camisole like a female to treated like one

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Teaches Scout respect by correcting her when she said “do you think Boo Radley’s still alive?” She replied by saying that “his name’s Arthur and he’s alive,”

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Also tells the truth to the children by shedding light on Arthur Radley and dismissing the rumours and ideas the children have about him e.g. “That is three-fourths coloured folks and one-fourth Stephanie Crawford,”

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She also teaches the children life lessons like how “sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of- oh your father.” This means that some men like Atticus when drunk may not be as bad as one man at his best.

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“Mockingbird don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’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 mocking bird.” This teaches the children that it is wrong to destroy the innocent.

•

She reveals more about Atticus to the children as she said “you father’s anything, he’s civilised in his heart.” And tells them to be humble like their father by revealing to them that “People in their right minds never take pride in their talents.”

Aunt Alexandra •

Role model for Scout to be a female

Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird

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Want to inculcate Scout with things women do- “fanatical on the subject of my attire” and “I could not possibly hope to become a lady if I wore breeches”

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Also tries to teach the children about family pride by asking them to read ‘meditation of Joshua S. St Clair’ written by the children’s cousin’ and gets Atticus to teach the children about the Finch family.

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During the tea party (chapter 24), Aunt Alexandra teaches Scout how to be a true lady and controls her feelings even in the worse of situations.

Mr Dolphus Raymond •

Teaches children on the social prejudice that is evident in Maycomb’s society – By acting like a drunk he thinks that it “helps folks if they can latch on to a reason” why he has a black mistress.

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He even told the children that he is comfortable telling them his secret “because you’re children and you can understand it”, this means that they have yet to lose their innocence and still sees things from a transparent view.

Calpurnia •

She disciplines the children- “She would set me a writing task by scrawling the alphabet firmly across the top of a tablet, then copying out a chapter of the Bible beneath”. She probably did so not only to improve Scout’s penmanship but also Scout’s command over scripture as she would have to read through the Bible in order to copy it. Also, Atticus comments that Calpurnia was sometime even stricter than what a mother would be.

•

Indirectly teaches the children by bringing them to a black church. During the children’s visit to Calpurnia’s church, they learnt a lot of how the black community functions in the society and see things from their perspective, thus learning that they are indeed not that different. Scout, who gives a unbiased view, commented that giving blessing was “a procedure no different from our church practice” and Jem said that Reverend Sykes is “just like our preacher”.

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Answers Scout why she speaks with a “coloured” dialect, in order to conform, and informs the children more about Maycomb’s society and life in general. - “It’s not necessary to tell all you know. It’s not ladylike –in the second place, folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do, It aggravates ‘em. You’re not gonna change any of them by talkin’ right, they’ve got to want to learn themselves , and when they don’t want to learn there’s Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language.”

Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird Major Characters:

 Atticus •

Consistent in his behaviour 

“Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets.”

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“he was his impassive self again.” As he expected that he would lose the case. Pg218

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Pg223. “ Atticus didn’t bat an eye, just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face and stood there and let Mr Ewell call him names wild horses could not bring her to repeat. Mr Ewell was a veteran of am obscure war; that plus Atticus’s peaceful reaction probably prompted him to inquire. ‘Too proud to fight, you nigger-lovin’ bastard?’ Miss Stephanie said Atticus said, ‘No, too old,’”

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Pg 252. When Scout asked Atticus whether it is alright to hate anyone, Atticus replied, “It’s not okay to hate anybody.” In this case, she was referring to Bob Ewell who was constantly trying to harm the Finches in order to feel vindicated.

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Pg 280. “I can’t live one way in town and another way in my home.”

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Tranquil- Tells Scout to put on her shoes and socks in the midst of a fire.

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Fair- “When Jem and I fuss Atticus doesn’t ever just listen to Jem’s side of it, he hears mine too”

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Polite- “Good evening, Mrs Dubose! You look like a picture this evening.”

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Humble- Does not take pride in his ability to shoot, feels that it is a natural advantage over the rest.

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Hospitable- “Atticus greeted Walter and began a discussion about crops neither Jem nor I could follow”

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Patient- Sat down in the swing and crossed his legs and waited in amiable silence while waiting for Scout to reply him about her problem with school.

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Man of integrity

“if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.”

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Pg 279. “nobody’s hushing this up. I don’t live that way.” Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird 

Pg 279. “I don’t want him growing up with a whisper about him, I don’t want anybody saying, “Jem Finch … his daddy paid a mint to get him out of that.”” This reinforces the fact that Atticus is a man of integrity as he does not want to create any unnecessary trouble for Jem.

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“If thing’s hushed up it’ll be a simple denial to Jem of the way I’ve tried to raise him.” Trying to “hush” things up would go against Atticus’’ teaching to Jem and Scout.

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Imparts values to his children e.g. “…climb into his skin and walk in it”, “try fighting with your head for a change”, “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”

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Respected by many- e.g. Miss Maudie who thinks that Atticus with a bottle of whisky in his hand is not as dangerous as a other man with a Bible.”(feels that Atticus is just and even though he might neat his worse, he is still better than many others), “Atticus Finch’s a deep reader, a mighty deep reader” (reveals that Atticus is respected for his strong sense of justice and his determination to exonerate Tom Robinson), “He spends his time doin’ things that wouldn’t get done if nobody did ‘em.”(said by Jem when they saw a cartoon about Atticus in the newspapers) 

After the verdict, “the Negroes were getting to their feet” to shows their respect for Atticus as they appreciated the fact that Atticus, a white man, defended a black man although he lost. Furthermore, through this Atticus has revealed the truth: Tom Robinson is innocent and the Ewells were guilty.

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“people were content to re-elect him to the state legislature that year”

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Considered one of Maycomb’s fine folks

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Non-conformist- Takes up the case and plans to “defend him” despite the public’s disapproval.

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Great sense of justice- “that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience— Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man.” He feels that he should help Tom Robinson and try to prevent Bob Ewell from destroying the life of an innocent man.

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Close to his children- Scout is able to share her first day of school experience to him. He is also able to sense the feelings of his children. E.g. After dinner (on Scout’s first day of school) he is able to sense that something is wrong about Scout when she refuses to read. He said, “Something wrong, Scout?”

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Has an independent teaching style- feel that “they might as well learn to cope with it” after learning the extent of racial prejudice in the society of Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird Maycomb, as they will eventually learn the truth about the world, they might as well realise it sooner. •

Empathises with others 

Tells Jem and Scout to stop tormenting Boo Radley

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When the trial has ended, the grateful Negroes gave the Finches lots of food. This touched Atticus and even made him say, “Tell them – tell them they must never do this again. Times are too hard….”

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Atticus is able to sense that Boo feels uncomfortable as he feels restricted in the light and tries to make Boo feel more comfortable. This is seen from this quote: “Heck, let’s go out on the front porch. There are plenty of chairs out there, and it’s still warm enough.”

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A man with principles- when Jem asked his father to carry a gun around just in case Bob Ewell tried to assault him, he replied, “Nonsense.” As he refuses to carry a gun as it goes against his principles.

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Sacrificial- “if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take.”pg224

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Frank, Atticus does not want to lie to people to give them false hope. For example, Calpurnia said, “Because you ain’t familiar with the law, First thing you learn when you’re in a lawin’ family is that there ain’t any definite answers to anything. Mr Finch couldn’t say somethin’s so when he doesn’t know for sure it’s so.”

•

Kind. Offers help to others. - When a girl was “too small to navigate the steps. Dill said Atticus went to her, took off his hat and offered her his finger.” This shows that he is polite as he took off his hat to greet her before getting the girl to hold his finger as the girl’s hands were probably too small.

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In chapter 29, Atticus is getting older as it is stated that there were “grey patches growing at his temples.”

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FLAWS 

Believes that he is not a good father- (refer to pages 139-140) The fact that Atticus changes the way he talks to the children shows that he is unconfident about his teaching style as he is easily persuaded by Aunt Alexandra to teach his children how to act like fine Finches.

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Misjudges people sometimes (this is rare, nevertheless it will result in dire consequences) •

Pg224-225 “We don’t have anything to fear from Bob Ewell, he got it all out of his system that morning,” Atticus misjudged Bob’s Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird character, as he thinks that Bob is an all-talk-no-action kind of person. •

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Pg256 “He’ll (Bob Ewell) settle down when the weather changes.” Atticus underestimates Bob Ewell and thinks that he is incapable of fighting back.

His behaviour is not always constant (pg219) - He feels bitter. When Jem asked him how the jury could make Tom Robinson guilty, he replied that he doesn’t know, but that it seems that only children weep.”

 Ewell (refer to page 176 and ‘Ewell’ under Prejudice) •

Bob 

Lazy- Does not bother to clean up his place ,“none of them had done an honest day’s work”

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Drunk – spends his relief cheques on whisky, “their relief cheque was far from enough to feed the family, and there was a strong suspicion that Papa drank it up anyway”

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Arrogant- he “strutted” to the stand when he was called to testify

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Rude-“Well, if I ain’t I can’t do anything about it now, her ma’s dead,”, “I heard Mayella screamin’ like a stuck hog inside the house”, “I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella”

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Contentious- “paw right contentious”

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Absent father- “The witness said he never thought of it he had never called a doctor to any of his’n in his life, and if he had it would have cost him five dollars,” shows that he is not that concerned for his children



Abusive- Mayella said that he was “tollable, ‘cept when— ”, Atticus then said, “Except when he’s drinking?” and Mayella noded.



Immoral- feels no pain in persecuting a innocent black man even though he is in the wrong.



Cowardly- does not dare to harm Atticus directly after the trail and decides to harass Mrs Robinson and his children instead.



Quick tempered- “the boy’s condescension flashed to anger.”



Filthy and unhygienicneck”

when he bathed he “face was as red as his

Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird

•



Irresponsible- does not bother to clean up his house, “The varmints had a lean time of it. For the Ewells gave the dump a thorough gleaning every day. And the fruits of their industry (those that were not eaten) made the plot of ground around the cabin look like the playhouse of an insane child”



Wants to improve his family’s status- but the fact that "he was the only man [Scout] ever heard of who was fired from the WPA for laziness" proves that he isn't willing to earn it. Tries to accuse Tom Robinson of raping Mayella as he sees what he believes it is the way to improve his social standing. In his mind, the town should think him a hero for saving Maycomb's white women from a "dangerous" black man. Defending his daughter by going to court should raise his family's stature. If they don't gain more respect from the community, at least Bob won't have to live with talk in the black community about a white woman making a play for a married black man.



Cruel and heartless- when he heard that Tom Robinson had died, he said it “made one down and about two more to go.”



He holds a grudge against Atticus and blames him for everything bad that happened. -“Mr Ewell openly accused Atticus of getting his job.”

Mayella 

Although she tries to be different, she fails at it. Not because she cannot, but because she is a Ewell.



She tried to be different- “Mayella looked as if she tried to keep clean” ,”red geraniums, cared for as tenderly as if they belonged to Miss Maudie Atkinson”



Self-conscious – “Mayella looked as if she tried to keep clean”



No friends, lonely- When Atticus asked her whether she had any friends she said “You makin’ fun of me agin, Mr Finch”



“she took offence into routine courtesy” (The irony, she wanted to be respected by people, but become offended when treated with respect)



Scout commented that Mayella “was even lonelier than Boo Radley” and that she was sad as a “mixed child” pg198



“white people wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she lived among pigs; Negroes wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she was white.”



Abused- hints of sexually abuse “She says what her papa do to her don’t count.” And agrees with Atticus that Bob Ewell abuses her when he’s drunk. Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird 

•

Yearns for love- “she (Mayella) says she never kissed a grown man before an’ she might as well kiss a nigger” as the statement reveals, Mayella was neglected by her father to the extent that she would even kiss Tom Robinson, which was considered taboo during the 1930s.

Burris 

Indifferent- “showed not the faintest interest in the furore he had wrought.” When Miss Caroline spotted cooties on his head.



Dirty- Miss Caroline had to ask him to bathe before he came back tomorrow



Rude- Laughed at Miss Caroline when she asked him to bathe before returning back to school the next day



No family lineage- “Ain’t no mother”



Quick to anger- “their paw’s right contentious”



Cowardly- “Burris seemed to be afraid of a child half his height”

  Scout •

Refer to ‘Theme: Growing Up’

 Jem •

Refer to ‘Theme: Growing Up’

 Boo •

Refer to ‘Theme: Prejudice- Social’

•

Perceived by others

•



A “malevolent phantom”



Read the first chapter!



“about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch. That’s why his hands were blood-stained- if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time.”

In reality… 

Shy Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird 

Wants to get to know the children- interacts with the children by giving them things like chewing gum and other stuff. He also observes them from his house when they were playing games, so when Scout went close to the house and heard “someone inside the house was laughing”, it was probably Boo watching them.



Cares for the children- when Jem went to retrieve his pants from the Radley place, he noticed that his pants was “Not like a Lady sewed ‘em”. This means that Boo might have sewed it for him. This shows his care for the children. Furthermore, at the end of the novel, Boo rescues the children from a drunk Mr Ewell and even kills him.



Observant and talented- “They (the statues of them” were almost perfect miniatures of two children.”



Was a bright child- decided to give the children “a tarnished medal” which was a prize from a spelling competition.



After saving Scout and Jem from Mr Bob Ewell, he was said to be “standing in a corner, leaning against the wall” as he does not like to be in the light (not attention seeking).



Happy to see the children- when Scout finally recognises Boo “his lips parted into a timid smile”.

 Tom Robinson •

Honest- told Atticus the truth when Atticus asked him to do so “What did he(Bob Ewell) say, Tom? You must tell the jury what he said.” Tom Robinson shut his eyes tight. “He says you goddamn whore, I’ll kill ya.” And “Tom denied it three times in one breath, but quietly, with no hint of whining in his voice, and I found myself believing him in spite of his protesting too much. He seemed to be a respectable Negro.”

•

Sympathetic- persecuted and convicted for a crime that he did not commit just because he is a black man.

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Helpful- helped Mayella with her chores without getting paid

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“Tom Robinson’s manners were as good as Atticus’s”

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Eventually, he gives up trying to be vindicated. He told Atticus, “Good-bye, Mr Finch, there ain’t nothin’ you can do now,”

Minor Characters:

 Calpurnia Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird •

Antagonistic (at the start)- “In Calpurnia’s teaching, there was no sentimentality; I seldom pleased her and she seldom rewarded me.”

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Educated- “had more education than most coloured folks”

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Cares for Scout- She disciplines Scout and takes care of her e.g. food.

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What Atticus thinks of her: “Besides, I don’t think the children’ve suffered one bit from her having brought them up. If anything, she’s been harder on them in some ways than a mother would have been… she’s never let them get away with anything, she’s never indulged them the way most coloured nurses do. She tried to bring them up according to her lights, and Cal’s lights are pretty good – and another thing, the children love her.”

•

Trusts Jem- scolds Jem when he brings Scout to the courtroom to listen to the trial as she thinks that Jem is old enough to understand what is happening bur does not bother to protect his sister.

•  Dill •

Boastful and arrogant- tells everyone that he can read

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“I’m little but I’m old”

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“was a curiosity”

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Fascinated about the Radley Place

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Dill was a villain’s villain

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Close to Jem (Plausible reason: As Scout matures, Jem sees that his influence on Scout is diminishing. This leads Jem to grow closer to the less mature Dill. Furthermore, Jem and Dill are both boys, this means that they probably have the same interests. Hence catalysing their close relationship.) – “I(Scout) beat him up twice but it did no good, he only grew closer to Jem.”

•

Neglected by his parents- “they just wasn’t interested in me.”

•

A victim of materialistic love- “They buy me everything I want, but it’s now-you’re-got it-go-play-with-it. You’ve got a roomful of things, I-got-youthat-book-so-go-read-it.”

•

Childish and yearns for parental love- “Scout, let’s get us a baby.”

•  Miss Caroline Fisher Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird •

Passionate- “bright auburn hair, pink cheeks,, and wore crimson finger-nail polish” (Red symbolises passion)

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Going to bring something new into the county (the Dewey Decimal System)- “looked and smelled like a peppermint drop.”

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Treated as ‘The Other’- The “class murmured apprehensively” when she said that she was from North Alabama.

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Attractive- “when Miss Maudie introduced us (Scout and Jem) to her, Jem was in a haze for days.”

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Dense- she “seemed unaware that the ragged denim-shirted and flourskirted first grade” were” immune to imaginative literature”

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Does not like Scout- “looked at me (Scout) with more than faint distaste”

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Rigid- “we don’t write in the first grade we print. You won’t learn until you’re in the third grade.”

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Does not understand Maycomb’s ways- She told Scout to hold out her hand when she thought that Scout was shaming Walter. This made Scout think that she was going to “spit in it, which was the only reason anybody in Maycomb held out his hand”

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Caring- she asks Burris to go home and wash his hair as she does not want the other children to catch the cooties.

 Ms Maudie •

Refer to “Theme: Education” for some information

•

“magisterial beauty”

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Love gardening- “loved everything that grew in God’s earth, even the weeds.”

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Educated- “Her speech was crisp”

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Generous- “every time she baked she made a big cake and three little ones, and she would call across the street:’ Jem Finch, Scout Finch, Charles Baker Harris, come here!’ Our promptness was always rewarded.”

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Gains the children’s trust- Scout confides in Miss Maudie as she tells her her thoughts on Boo Radley.

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Respectful- Corrects Scout when she called Arthur Boo.

•

Faithful to her late husband- does not flirt with Uncle Jack although Uncle Jack has expressed interest in her. Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird •

Straight forward- she “had an acid tongue”

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Frank- tells the children the truth about Arthur Radley

•

Admires Atticus- “What I meant was, if Atticus Finch drank until he was drunk he wouldn’t be as hard as some men are at their best. There are just some kind of men who— who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.”

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Optimistic- though her house was just burnt down she wasn’t grieving at all and even “took a lively and cordial interest in Jem’s and my (Scout’s) affairs.”

•

Supports Atticus- “I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant hobs for us. Your father’s one of them.” As nobody in Maycomb would have taken up the case except for him.

 Aunt Alexandra •

Detached- “cold and there”

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Condescending ,patronising- “analogous to Mount Everest”

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Rigid- “fanatical on the subject of my attire. I(Scout) could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches”, this shows her rigidness as she feels that a lady must have traits that defines a lady and refuses to alter her definition of a lady.

•

Callous- “She (Aunt Alexandra hurt my feelings and set my (Scout) teeth permanently on edge”

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Eavesdropper- “Aunt Alexandra was a back-porch listener”

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Racist (entrenched in her) - told Calpurnia to put her bag in the front bedroom without greeting her or thanking her. This shows that she does not respect the blacks and regards them as second class citizens, as does not show them the respect that they deserve. Another example of this can be seen when Scout told Atticus in detail “about our trip to church with Calpurnia \. Atticus seemed to enjoy it, but Aunt Alexandra, who was sitting in a corner quietly sewing, put down her embroidery and stared at us”.

•

Fits into the Maycomb Society- “Maycomb welcomed her. Miss Maudie Atkinson made a Lane cake so loaded with shinny it made me tight; Miss Stephanie Crawford had long visits with Aunt Alexandra, consisting mostly of Miss Stephanie shaking her head and saying, “Uh, uh, uh,” Miss Rachel Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird next door had Aunty over for coffer in the afternoons, and Mr Nathan Radley went so far as to come up in the front yard and say he was glad to see her.” This probably because she is the epitome of a southern lady and the fact that Maycomb is a desolated town, so no one comes in or out. Furthermore, to emphasise the extent in which she manages to blend in with the Maycomb inhabitants, Lee states, “Aunt Alexandra fitted into the world of Maycomb like a hand into a glove”. •

“she had river-boat, boarding-school manners”

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Judgemental- “She never let a chance escape her to point out the shortcomings of other tribal groups to the greater glory of our own”

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Prejudiced- “Aunt Alexandra, in underlining to moral of young Sam Merriweather;s suicide, said it was caused by a morbid streak in the family. Let a sixteen-year-old girl giggle in the choir and Aunty would say, “It just goes show you, all the Penifield women and flighty.” Everybody in Maycomb, it seemed, had a Streak”

•

Cares about the children- after the trial, she said, “I didn’t think it wise in the first place to let them—“as she does not want to expose the children to the racial prejudice that exists in their world and hurt and scar them emotionally.

•

Snobby- This can be seen through her views on the Cunninghams. “Because he-is-trash, that’s why you can’t play with him, I’ll not have you around him, picking up his habits and learning Lord-knows-what. You’re enough of a problem to your father as it is.”

•

In chapter 24, 

Wants to make Scout a lady- The tea part in Chapter 24 “was part of her campaign to teach me to be a lady.” This is because Atticus had been quite liberal with his children. This upsets Aunt Alexandra, thus she decides to teach Scout about the mannerisms of a lady.



Carries out her role as a lady faithfully- she does not try to offend Mrs Merriweather as she is the hostess and she wants to act like one, hence Miss Maudie does it for her. This is shown when she “gave Miss Maudie a look of pure gratitude”.



Starts to show some emotion. E.g. she was shocked when she heard what had happened to Tom Robinson after his attempt to escape from prison. “Aunt Alexandra put her hands to her mouth.”



Softer side of Aunt Alexandra is revealed- “didn’t they try to stop him? Didn’t they give him any warning?’ She was wondering why the prison wardens were ruthless enough to kill Tom Robinson instead of the aforementioned. Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird 

Reveals that she supports Atticus and cares for him•

“This is the last straw, Atticus,”

•

“Aunt Alexandra sat down in Calpirnia’s chair and pit her hands to her face. She sat down so quiet I wondered if she would faint.”

•

I can’t say I approve of everything he does Maudie but he’s my brother, and I just want to know when this will ever end.” Her voice rose: ‘It tears him to pieces, He doesn’t show it much, but it tears him to pieces.”

•

The concept of duty. “Stop that shaking,” commanded Miss Maudie and I stopped. “Get up, Alexandra, we’re left ‘em long enough.”



Sign of conformity as a lady to act as if nothing had happened. “She took her handkerchief from her belt and wiped her nose. She patted her hair and said, “Do I show it?”



She is kind and concerned about the children’s welfare. This can be seen when she brought Scout her overalls and asked her to put it on after she had been assaulted by Bob Ewell. This shows that she is more concerned about Scout’s welfare than Scout’s need to become a lady.

 The Cunninghams •

Respectable- Walter wore a “clean shirt and neatly mended overalls” although he is poor.

•

Self-conscious – when he was asked why he did not have any lunch his jaw twitched as observed by Scout.

•

Polite- uses ma’am to address Miss Caroline

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Honest- “They took anything they can’t pay back”, “No script stamps, church baskets…”

•

Proud of their heritage- has an entailment, “willing to go hungry to keep his land and vote as he pleased.”

•

Grateful- Returns stuff eventually to the extent that Atticus comments” that Mr Cunningham had more than paid him.”

•

Shy- does not directly return the deed, but does it in secret

 Mrs Dubose •

Easily angered- had a “wrathful gaze, subjected to ruthless interrogation regarding our behaviour”

Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird •

Dangerous- Rumoured to have had kept a “C.S.A. pistol concealed among her numerous shawls and wraps”. This rumour shows how feared she is by the children.

•

Demanding- “We (Scout and company) could do nothing to please her.”

•

She was vicious

•

Sickly- Bounded to a wheelchair and hallucinates as she thinks that Scout and Jem were skipping school to go to the town as seen “Where are you two going at this time of day?” she shouted. “Playing hooky, I suppose. I’ll just call up the principal and tell him!”

•

Racist- Disapproves of Atticus’ action of taking up Tom Robinson’s case and takes part in calling the Negroes ‘nigger’.

•

A morphine addict, “but she was too contrary” and wanted to “leave this world beholden to nothing and nobody.”

•

So she tried to abstain from morphine.

•

Eventually, she died as free “as the mountain air”

•

Atticus even said that “she was the bravest person I ever knew”

 Miss Rachel Haverford •

Unsympathetic and thinks that Atticus is getting nowhere- she told Dill that “ if a man like Atticus Finch wants to butt his head against a stone wall it’s his head.”

 Miss Stephanie Crawford •

Only cares about gossip and not about the injustice that befalls an innocent black man- “She wanted to know who all gave us permission to go to court”

 Mrs Merriweather •

“the most devout lady in Maycomb”

•

Hypocrite- feels sad for the Africans and not for the Black Americans

•

Does not see the blacks as equals- insults them by calling them “darky”

•

Uses the bible to teach others, but in the wrong way- she tried to tell her cook Sophie that “Jesus Christ never went around grumbling and complaining,” even though her cook’s grumbles were well justified.

•

Feels that it is the whites’ duty to educate the blacks-Mrs Farrow, the second most devout lady in Maycomb, said “…we’re fighting a losing Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird battle”… … “We can educate ‘em till we’re blue in the face, we can try till we drop to make Christians out of ‘em but there’s no lady safe in her bed these nights.” •

Her hypocrisy becomes clearer when she talks about Atticus in Atticus’ house. – “Folks in this town who think they’re doing right, I mean. Now far be it for me to say who, but some of ‘em in this town thought they were doing the right thing a while back, but all they did was stir ‘em up.” She views Atticus as a trouble maker. However, she still eats his food. This shows her hypocrisy as she claims to resent Atticus but still visits his house and eats his food.

•

Self- centred- only thinks about how the situation would affect her. Tries to make herself look like a kind person by saying that the “only reason I(Mrs Merriweather) keep her( Mrs Merriweather’s cook, Sophie) is because this depression’s on and she needs her dollar and a quarter every week she can get it.”

 Mr Underwood •

Frank- “he couldn’t have cared less with cancelled advertising and subscriptions.”

 Mr Link Deas •

He feels sympathetic towards Tom Robinson’s family’s condition and tries to help by providing Tom’s wife with a job even though “He didn’t really need her, but he said he felt right bad about the way things turned out.”

 Mr Heck Tates •

He is a realist as he feels that some people are born naturally evil. This can be seen from this quote: “Mr Finch, there’s just some kind of men you have to shoot before toy can say hidy to ‘em. Even then, they ain’t worth the bullet it takes to shoot ‘em. Ewell ‘has one of ‘em.”

Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010

English Literature Notes-To Kill A Mockingbird Symbols:

 Snowman •

Represents the fact that all humans are the same as though the snowman is white on the outside, it is black on the inside. This shows that although humans have different skin colours they are the same on the inside.

 Cold Weather •

Represent that something bad will happen as Maycomb had not have the “coldest winter since 1885”.

 Miss Maudie’s fire •

Represents what people will do during the face of disaster; show their true colours. For example, this is when Jem realises that Boo is in fact a harmless guy who unfortunately have been ostracised from the Maycomb society. Also, Mr Avery, who Scout thinks pees on his porch, is revealed to be a kind person. (Helps Miss Maudie remove furniture from her house when it was set ablaze).

•

This incident also shows that the community will face future conflicts (e.g. the trial) together.

 Old Tim Johnson •

It symbolises the “Maycomb disease” that plagues the locals. Like the Tim Johnson, they behaved normal on the outside but were “sick” in the inside, even to the extent of persecuting a black man by not standing up for him even though he was innocent.

 The use of the mockingbird •

Pg 216- it is used to evoke suspense as it reads “The feeling grew until the atmosphere in the courtroom was exactly the same as a cold February morning, when the mockingbirds were still, and the carpenters had stopped hammering on Miss Maudie’s new house, and every wood door in the neighbourhood was shut as tight as the doors of the Radley Place.

•

Pg 247- “He (Mr Underwood) likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children”.

Copyright © 2009-2010 Theodore Lam Xin Rong Revised 2010