Literary Analysis #2
GENERAL
1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).
- The story began with the children (Scout, Jem and Dill), who in the beginning are pranking their neighbor Boo Radley. Being curious about their mysterious neighbor they taunt him because they don't really know him which as a figure lurking in a house in the 1930s can lead to some untrue rumors. Radley is looked down upon in "white society", and so is the entire African American race in Maycomb, Alabama. The difference is that a young black man named Tom Robinson was accused of the rape of a white girl named Mayella Ewell. Even though Scout's father, Atticus, fought hard and discredited the accusations against Tom; he was found guilty by the courts because of his skin color and shot by the guards 'trying to escape'. During the case Bob Ewell, Mayella's father, was proven by Atticus to have fabricated the entire story of rape after he beat his daughter for talking with Tom. Embarrassed by this Bob after much stalking and harassment, finally physically attacks Jem; however, BOO RADELY comes to the rescue and kills Bob. Being that Radely was protecting the children from a town menace, the sheriff just reports the death as an accident.
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
- The theme is in the title, To Kill A Mockingbird. Innocence of the mockingbirds, or any animals, will always make the killing of the bird a necessity for life otherwise it is a waste. Scout shows the audience two different types of innocence through Tom Robinson and Boo Radley who don't do anything but contribute to society. They each have done good works and tried to be as kind to their neighbors as much as possible, but the truth is some people are just evil and work on taking away the goodness in this world. This is a call to action to protect all the innocence in the world that we can, because we can.
3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
- Playful like a child because the story is told though the eyes of a child.
Philosophical when quoting the father who gives his children a great understanding of what it means to have a great moral education.
4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)
CHARACTERIZATION
1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character? How? Example(s)?
3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.
- Scout is a dynamic character who shows an evolution of thought during the course of the court hearings and is round because she shows so many different human qualities which make her more a relate-able character.
4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
- I believe that I could just take Scouts hand and run around with her, then go inside and sit with her when Atticus started to give his opinions on law and the moral thing to do. Mostly when Scout goes in to break up the lynching mob, I would have followed her in and stood with her against the crowd no matter what might have happened.
1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).
- The story began with the children (Scout, Jem and Dill), who in the beginning are pranking their neighbor Boo Radley. Being curious about their mysterious neighbor they taunt him because they don't really know him which as a figure lurking in a house in the 1930s can lead to some untrue rumors. Radley is looked down upon in "white society", and so is the entire African American race in Maycomb, Alabama. The difference is that a young black man named Tom Robinson was accused of the rape of a white girl named Mayella Ewell. Even though Scout's father, Atticus, fought hard and discredited the accusations against Tom; he was found guilty by the courts because of his skin color and shot by the guards 'trying to escape'. During the case Bob Ewell, Mayella's father, was proven by Atticus to have fabricated the entire story of rape after he beat his daughter for talking with Tom. Embarrassed by this Bob after much stalking and harassment, finally physically attacks Jem; however, BOO RADELY comes to the rescue and kills Bob. Being that Radely was protecting the children from a town menace, the sheriff just reports the death as an accident.
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
- The theme is in the title, To Kill A Mockingbird. Innocence of the mockingbirds, or any animals, will always make the killing of the bird a necessity for life otherwise it is a waste. Scout shows the audience two different types of innocence through Tom Robinson and Boo Radley who don't do anything but contribute to society. They each have done good works and tried to be as kind to their neighbors as much as possible, but the truth is some people are just evil and work on taking away the goodness in this world. This is a call to action to protect all the innocence in the world that we can, because we can.
3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
- Playful like a child because the story is told though the eyes of a child.
Philosophical when quoting the father who gives his children a great understanding of what it means to have a great moral education.
4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)
CHARACTERIZATION
1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character? How? Example(s)?
3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.
- Scout is a dynamic character who shows an evolution of thought during the course of the court hearings and is round because she shows so many different human qualities which make her more a relate-able character.
4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
- I believe that I could just take Scouts hand and run around with her, then go inside and sit with her when Atticus started to give his opinions on law and the moral thing to do. Mostly when Scout goes in to break up the lynching mob, I would have followed her in and stood with her against the crowd no matter what might have happened.
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