Consider the title of the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird”. 1.What is the mockingbird a symbol of? 2.Which characters might this relate to? Justify with evidence. 3.Which of the ideas underpinning the novel are explored through the use of this symbol? Write a paragraph in which you discuss one idea and analyse how the use of the mockingbird symbol presents this idea to the reader.

Number 1: Consider the title of the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird”. 1.What is the mockingbird a symbol of? 

The mocking bird is the symbol of a person/animal/thing representing innocence, one that has done nothing wrong, is completely harmless and is good to society. It deserves to be protected and and not prosecuted or hurt. Mrs Maudie quotes; “mockingbirds don’t do one thing but... sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.

2.Which characters might this relate to? Justify with evidence. 

The idea of the mockingbird being a symbol of something relating to the book "to kill a mockingbird' is in and through characters. The first character in the book is Boo Radley (otherwise known as Arthur). Many fear him in the community, however he has never done anything to hurt anyone, only ever done good, much like the mockingbird. He cares for and looks after the Finch children. This is first shown by him giving them gifts in the tree holes, and then during night of the fire at Mrs Maudines house. He wrapped a blanket around scout. The final portrayal of Boo being symbolised metaphorically in comparison to a mocking bird is when he saves the Finch children from Bob Ewell whilst he was trying to attack them. His relevance is shown when scout quotes in relation to Mr Ewells knife and Boo being blamed for it: "Well, it'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird..." pg 304

3) Which of the ideas underpinning the novel are explored through the use of this symbol? Write a paragraph in which you discuss one idea and analyse how the use of the mockingbird symbol presents this idea to the reader. 

To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee contains underlying and hidden messages, many displayed though the use of a symbol; the mocking bird. The mockingbird very much so adds to the ideas of racial predjudice during the time of scouts childhood. The author positions the reader to accept the definition of a mockingbird as something that does nothing bad for us ("mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy... they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird" pg 100), and they should therefore not be harmed.  This also ties in with the characters in the novel. Tom Robinson, a coloured man whom is accused of raping a white girl however is innocent, is able to relate to this definition. Racial prejudice also is portrayed though this as even though Tom Robinson has done nothing wrong, much like mockingbirds, because of the colour of his skin the discrimination is made clear in the novel. Harper Lee was able to tie in the underpinning ideas of this novel which is mainly revolving around racial prejudice and discrimination, with the symbol of the mockingbird successfully by using Tom Robinson as a character to demonstrate this. 

A reflective response to chapters 9- 11 A few weeks have passed since Mrs Dubose died and Jem has had some time to think about the events of the last few months. In role as Jem, write a response in which you reflect on these events and what they mean

"Its been a few weeks since the passing of Mrs Dubose. When I look back, even though she was a very old woman with her face the colour of a pillow case, and sometimes dribbled when she spoke, Atticus was so very right about her, as always. She was a very courages lady. I have come to the realisation now, that this courage didn't come from her being able to pick up a gun or shoot something, it came from deep within. Even though Mrs Dubose knew she was just about to die, she was trying to hard to overcome her addiction of Morphine, Scout and I didn't know this. Now that I think about it,  is a lot like Atticus defending the Negro Man, Tim, in the trial. Atticus knew that he would not win the trial again the whites, because if we're being honest when does the Black people ever win? My father displays courage from within and is a very heartless man and I am so very proud to have such a wise person as my father. He has made me believe and it is now obvious I should not have taken out my anger on Mrs Dubose garden and cut off all of her Camellia plants and ruin her garden. She did not deserve this, even though she sometimes did not say the most polite things."

The first eight chapters of to "Kill a Mockingbird" focus largely on the story of the children trying to make Boo Radley come out. List all of the events in this story including those which show the reader that Boo actually has come out. Now write a section in Atticus’s journal on the night after the fire at Miss Maudie’s house. How would Atticus reflect on the events that have happened?

There have been a series of events between the start of the book and chapter eight involving the children and Boo Radley. Some of these include:


-When Scout is playing in the tyre and it spins out of control, resulting in her hitting the Radley house hold and someone inside laughs.
-When Dill, Scout and Jem go to Boo's house at night time and see a shadow. When escaping, Jem gets his pants stuck on wire, and upon return, they are sewed back and folded. 
-The notes and other small objects found in the compartments of the tree. These included  a ball of grey twine, pennies, soap, and a pocket watch on a chain with an aluminium knife, and tarnished medal. 
-When Scout is given a blanket after the fire by Boo. 


I woke up to the sound of yelling and shouting outside. I get out of bed and look out the window to find Miss Maudies house is burning down in flames. I quickly grabbed my coat and shoved a pair of shoes on my feet and rushed to wake Scout and Jem, helping them into their bathrobe and quickly going outside. I told Scout and Jem to go stand away from the fire for safety, and not to go back in the house, whilst the neighbours and I helped Miss Maudie to save all her furniture and belongings that we could. The fire truck arrived shorty after and stopped the fire spreading to other houses, however Miss Maudies house was burned down to the ground :(. I returned to my children to find a blanket draped over Scout. I asker her where she got it from, however she was uncertain. Jem was as well, so that made three of us very confused. It was then Jem realised whom had put it on her, Boo Radley. He continued to explain and reveal as what came as a shock to me about the presents in the tree, his mended pants that got stuck in the wire fence, and the knothole. I wanted to give the blanket back, however for some unknown reason, he told me not too.