Essay Topics to Consider TKAM (AND BRAINSTORM)
Examine the narrative voice of Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. How does Harper Lee establish a distinct narrative voice in the novel, and to what effect is it used?
the narrator is reliable
the narrator is not omnipresent
I could talk about how a child is better to use when
approaching new and often taboo subjects as children
are "clean slates" and it wont be seen as a rebellious action
not very religious
Scout often breaks gender norms
Examine the role of character foils in To Kill a Mockingbird. How does Harper Lee use character foils to reveal or establish a key theme in the novel?
An entire essay about character foils may be difficult
to do
Examine one central theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. What is the significance of this theme and how does the author use other literary elements/devices to help develop this theme?
Literary elements used in TKAM
Foreahadowiung
Irony
Symbolism
Possible themes
the relation between privilege and dignity/honour
rights are for the privileged
The weight of one person's word over another
Racism
Classism
Examine how Harper Lee characterizes and develops minor characters to help develop a key theme in the novel.
Examine the role of symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird. How is a specific symbol (or even multiple symbols) used to develop a key theme in the novel?
flowers
Red gerainiums
mayellas desire for a better life
Cammellais
represent the courage and forgiveness
The key theme is that good and evil can thrive together
good and bad are also
Good and bad both exist together in Maycomb
These people share a common history and
culture yet the values of some are radically
different than others
look at a natural habitat and we see
all types of birds living together some
of the birds are "good" and they represent
the good people of Maycomb, Alabama
while others are "bad" and they represent
the bad people of Maycomb.
How different people can be represented by different birds
A bad person may be a crow or
a blue jay
the last name of the main family is finch
which is the name of a bird
They may be perceived as "
finches" by other characters
They embody some of the key traits of a finch
They are generally seen as "good"
vulnerable
energetic
Busy
Happy
Mockingbirds arer a huge part of the symbolism
A mockingbird is percived as innocent
which many charecters in the book can
be percived as.
Miss maudie is a mockingbird
Tom robinson could be
perceived as a mockingbird
Good people are songbirds
