To Kill a Mockingbird summary and analysis

by Raja Sharma

To Kill a Mockingbird

Introduction

Major Characters

Analysis of Major Characters

Theme, Motifs, and Symbols

Summary from Chapter 1 to 28

Analysis of all Chapters

Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2008

Reviews

[Sherman W Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read To Kill a Mockingbird every year, for the past 60 years

I find something new to me, every time i read it. I have given copies to all of my children, and to all of my grandchildren.

[HyVee]

Journal 1:
Chapter 1:

Vocabulary:
- assuage: to make an unpleasant feeling less painful or severe
- malevolent: an malevolent person wants to harm other people.

Question 1:
In the beginning of the book, the author describes the broken arm event of Jem through Scout's narrative voice "When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow." Next, Scout gradually narrated about her family's history "Being Southeners, it was a source of shame to some members of the family that we had no recorded ancestors on either side of the Battle of Hastings.....Simon Finch, a fur-trapping apothecary" In my opinion, I think Lee who is the book's author wants to give us information about Finch family's background. Besides that, there are some anecdotes that Scout tells through this chapter in order to let readers more understand about Scout's childhood as well as life in Maycomb. Return to the beginning of the book, Scout starts to explain and describe about her brother's broken arm. He did not feel good with his arms because his left arm was shorter than his right. In the last paragraph of chapter 1, I think the "an inside shutter move" that Scout saw in the Radley house is the most important information that readers learn.

Chapter 2-3:

Vocabulary:
- indigenous: Originating and living or occurring naturally in an area or environment.
- erratic: irregular in performance, behaviour, or attitude; inconsistent and unpredictable

Question 3:
There are many similarities between Walter Cunningham and Burris Ewell. Both Walter Cunningham and Burris Ewell was born in the poor family. However, Ewell's family is poorer than Walter Cunningham. Because of that, Walter does not have lunch every school day. Ewell just goes to school in the first day of every school year. Besides that, both of them are good children.

Journal 2:
Chapter 4 -5

Vocabulary:
- Auspicious: favourable or propitious
- epiphany:

Question 1:

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read To Kill a Mockingbird sometime in middle school. It is pretty fuzzy as to exactly when. I remember reading the book because I had to for class, and I quickly forgot about it after I finished. I enjoyed the second read much better, but I still find that the language can turn many students off to reading it without the help of an educator.
I do enjoy the perspective of Scout. It is not often you find a book that tells a story from the point of view of a young girl - especially when the scene is set in the Deep South. I think this is definitely the influence of the writer, Harper Lee. I could see Lee putting herself in the writing of TKAM, and her own possible experiences with racism and misogyny.
TKAM is a book that has been taught in the classroom for years and will continued to be taught because of the story it tells, the symbolism it presents, and the issues it brings to the surface that are still current in today’s society. I look forward to finding new ways to teach this book. I like the idea of bringing together the old and the new. I think there are several texts you can use with TKAM. I also would enjoy teaching this to high school students, rather than middle school students. I think high school students might be able to read deeper into the text and contribute a broader spectrum of knowledge of the world at large. However, I think the innocence of middle school students brings insightful discussion to the text, as well. While student teaching sixth grade, I was surprised at how educated the students were about the harsh treatment of African Americans in another text we read, and how they vehemently disagreed with the treatment. I would not have expected Sixth Graders to respond in the such a sophisticated manner.

[Marthareyes911 · Rating 3 out of 5]

In “To Kill a Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee, what I learned from this book was that Tom Robinson was an African American and supposedly was blamed for rapping Mayella Ewell. She took advantage of blaming Tom because Tom was colored and she was white. Mayella was a very poor and a lonely girl that she didn’t have friends. Bob Ewell is the father of Mayella and he is an alcoholic person. The reason that Tom was blamed was that Mayella told Tom that her door was not well fix and Tom didn’t find anything wrong with the door. That’s were Mayella tried to kiss Tom. At that time Tom lose control and he fell. That’s were Bob saw them. Tom didn’t know what to do and he ran away. Tom was sent to court and his judge was Atticus Finch. Atticus believed that all people should be treated equal and with respect. What Atticus did was that he tried to save Tom but since Tom was colored he didn’t have that many rights to be let free, instead Tom was found guilty. One day before Tom was to be let free from jail, he decided to escape and he was shot and he died. The reason what I learned from this chapter of the book was that every person that is well raise and well educated, they are always end up losing and the person who is the opposite they always end up winning.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my most favorite book in the world.I can read it over and over-with a dictionary beside me!Sure the language and words can stump you,but that's how books were written then.I agree with the people saying that the narrator,a little girl named Scout,has a vocabulary that's a little too advanced for her.But I still love it.

It goes from the children being obessessed with a strange neighbor named Boo Radley,to a trial declaring that a hard working black man has raped a white woman,and then back again to Mr.Radley.This is somewhat odd,but forgivable.The trial was wonderfully written,and Scout's father,Atticus Finch,proves to be just about the smartest laywer around.Unfortunately,things still don't go in their favor in the little town of Maycomb.

There is adventure and action,you just have to get past Scout's description of the town and her family's name.You need to deeply root yourself in the book,and you will swept away by the story that is told from impressionable Scout's point of view.You won't be disappointed.

[Victor · Rating 3 out of 5]

To Kill a Mockingbird was a book that scholars should read. This book wasn’t one of my favorite because it took place back in the days. I found this book boring, but interesting. This book had to do with people blaming innocent people, racial discrimination, and crimes. I don’t like this kind of book, but when I read it I was okay I will keep on reading it a little bit more and I liked it, but not that much. It was also kind of hard to read, but I manage to read it clearly. My favorite part was when Tom Robinson went to court because I women accuse him of rape. I rated this book with a 3 star out of 5 stars because I didn’t like it that much. I would recommend this book to those who love mysteries, crime, and love.

[Akemperdsdmail.net]

i thought this book was really good. sometimes it was a little boring but other than that is was fabulous. i thought it was very sad when everyone was dying i really wanted to cry because different colored people shouldn't be treated like crap! it's just not ok! its crap! i really like books and to kill a mockingbird is one of them. i learned that no matter what happens in life you should always treat people with respect no matter what color they are they should always treat each other equally. it taught me so much.

[Jill]

Read in High School but reading it again. It's amazing how much more you pick up on so many years later-MANY MANY years:)

I remembered nothing!!! I don't think I actually read it all the way through in high school. What a great book:) Loved it!

[Brooklyn Teen-central · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donny, Age 15

My favorite part was when Riley comes out at night and saves Scout and Jim. This part showed that Riley wasn't the bad person that everyone thought he was, and Scout is more mature about the things she hears.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a beautiful, sad story. i remember that it was not what i expected.. i remember it as part of my education about the extremes of human nature.

[Knautika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was awesome. I had to read it for school. For a school book, it was amazing!

[Jones Family]

i am looking forward tow read this book

[Jgrable1 Jeff Grable]

Not too much Southern Lit from the point of view of a woman writing of her memories as a girl.

[Lassie M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its soo good. I like it. it w
has humor, family relationships and justice!