Hollinger: 1 Spring 2012 discussion
This topic is about
To Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird
>
Question Set #1
date
newest »
newest »
1. The title is appropriate. The mockingbird symbolizes Tom Robinson because he was innocent and was a good man in general, and, like Atticus said, "You can kill all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but just remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" because "mockingbird's don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy." Tom Robinson didn't do anything but help Mayella.
Q.#1In my opinion the title of this book is appropriate. To me the title "To Kill a Mockingbird" signifies the destruction of an innocent being and in this book Arthur "Boo" Radley,Tom Robinson,Jem,and Scout are the innocent mockingbirds being destroyed by the town.
Question #1: Yes, The Title is appropriate for the book because it refers to the man accused of rape; Tom Robinson, he is the representation of 'The Mockingbird' due to the fact that he was innocent & that is what in the book a mockingbird represented. That is why the title "To Kill a Mockingbird" makes reference of how that man’s innocence was killed with the verdict of 'guilty' on a crime he did not commit.
Question #1: I dont think the titles appropriate because in the negative description of the word "mockingbird" means evil, and they try to kill African Americans by their race. Question #2: Calpurnia because shes like a discipline person and shes those who tries to connect people together.
Question #3: Atticus sees the nice by empathy, kinda like not judging what people have done in their life to them or him but how they can be good people if there wasnt any segregation during the great depression. If I were to see what he sees i wouldnt judge what people have done because you also have to understand that during that time things were hectic, people do things out of no where because they're so caught up with frustration, problems, debt, etc, and what they need to survive.
2. My favorite character is Mr. Raymond because of his compassion for African Americans and his way of thinking. He says,(and he means "cry about" as in Dill crying about it) "Cry about the hell white people give colored folks without even stopping to think that they're people,too." That makes him a brave man for not going with the flow as well as a smart person for realizing that people are people no matter their skin color.
1. Mockingbirds in the book were referred to as people that have been scarred by their society, family, and world. Throughtout Atticus' sturggle to defend Tom Robinson, he explains to Scout that "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." He was talking about Tom Robinson, but other characters symbolized by mockingbirds are Jem, and Boo.2. My favorite characters are Scout and Boo. Scout has that spirited, care-free, and witty attitude, but she's loyal, and knows the ethics behind a situation. And Boo I liked because the kids were so interested in finding out what was his deal, and I thought there would be a whole sort of backstory to Boo (and there was), and he saves the day in the end.
3. I do think that the characters are good once you see them. I think that many people have just had experiences that makes them lose a little bit of good. And it depends on the time period and the social and racial situations they were having. If I was from that time and I'd been raised to think of black people in a demeaning way, I don't doubt I would have too. I think in modern times though, what we hear, know, or think about other people is mostly negative, and it's tough to build respect or trust in others. I don't think I would be able to see the good in someone like Mr. Finch.
1.After reading the book the tittle is somewhat appropriate because you you can see who the innocent people are Tom was just helping Mayella and because of racisim he had to pay the price.
3. I believe that everyone is born good, but they're enviroments either corrupt them or do the opposite and encourage their goodness. All it takes to know the good in somebody is to know what they've been through in their life and show empathy towards them and love them like you love yourself and you will eventually see their good qualities.
1. I do think the title is appropiate for this book because the 'Mockingbird' in the title is referring to Tom Robinson who was innocent for a crime, but was announced guilty for something he did not do and when Miss Maudie says,mockingbirds "dont do one thing but sing their hearts out for us" the author refers this to Tom just trying to help out Mayella and not meaning any harm.
2. My favorite character would have to be Calpurnia because she was like a second mother to Jem and Scout, and she was a very strong woman who would "always win" any argument.
Q.#2My favorite character of this book is Miss Maudie Atkinson.Miss Maudie represents such a big role in this book because she embodies the main woman figure. The fact that she shares the same passion for justice as Atticus makes her stand out from the other women in town. She has been the children’s best friend throughout the book, and she has always been trying to look after them as if they were her own.
Question #2: My favorite character was Arthur 'Boo' Radley. In the book he resembles one of the Mockingbirds, he is an innocent child who is damaged by his cruel father and alongside that is being judged and deprecated by everyone who thinks of him as someone who “dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch”, even though he wasn’t being understood just judged . He is also a clear example of how evil in society can hurt a faultless and benevolent person without fully knowing them or caring about their past.
@Danny (response to question 1)The title was based on a quote in the book that is somewhat protecting the mockingbird by saying that "it is a sin to kill a mockingbird."
@ Marianna (about answer #2)Mr. Raymond was a good character too. I didn't put him in my answer but I admired him for being able to overcome the prejudice and discrimination against race, and it was good to have another adult character besides Atticus to in a way represent the shift in racial laws and discrimination that was coming in the future. And I like Atticus too, because he's like a wise old bearded philosopher. He's like the Dumbledore from HPotter or Yoda, knowing what the right paths are and choosing to fight for their cause.
#1.Yes,I believe to "To Kill a Mockingbird" is an appropriate title.Tom Robinson,the black field hand accused of rape.Tom is one of the“mockingbirds,” an important symbol of innocence destroyed by evil."Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”Also Arthur "Boo"Radley provides an example of the threat that evil poses to innocence and goodness.He is also one of the“mockingbirds,” a good person injured by the evil of mankind.
3. Once you see the characters you realize that they are nice and that they do mean well. Atticus sees the good in people because he actually takes time to get to know the person and not quickly judge them like most people do, that is what he means when he says, "when you finally see them."
@Zoe (resoponse to question 2)Calpurnia was also an awesome character. I liked that she was one of the woman in the book that had a good head on her shoulders and also looked after Jem and Scout. She is kind of like a grandmother (the good kind that'll treat you like their own kids but also spoil you in the good way).
Question 1: Yes, the title is appropriate because it symbolizes Robinson, he was a good man and he will always do everything to help Mayella and like Atticus said " Mockingbird's don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy."Question 2: My favorite character of the book is: Harris because he’s the summer neighbor and friend of Jem and Scout, he’s a confident boy and he has a very active imagination and he always represents the perspective of an innocent guy.
Question 3: I think that everyone is nice to each other at one point, you can't judge anyone by just their looks or the way they talk to you if you dont know what have they been hrough their life.
1. The novels title doesn't really conect to the actual story line, but connects to the theme that mockingbirds are a symbol of innocence. So I do not think that is an appropriate title for the book.2. My favorite character is Boo Radley because he is a myserious character that is thought to be something like a monster, but is really a nice guy. You see he is a good guy because he leaves candy and presents in the tree for the children and saves Scout from almost being killed Bob Ewell.
3. I don't agree because like the old saying says, you can't judge a book by its cover. He is able to see the good side of people because he himself is a kind and sympathetic character and belives that if he still can be good after what he has seen then everyone should have a good side somewhere inside them. I think that I can see it most people, but there are some people in this world that you really can't.
1.To Kill a Mockingbird, is an appropriate title for the story because, it is about trying to destroy a good person in this case, Tom robinson, who represents the word "mockingbird" because as the creature, he is just an innocent, good man who help Mayella."To Kill" symbolizes the bad desire of Bob Ewell and the white community on wanting to destroy an innocent black man.2.My favorite character is Atticus Finch because even though he wasn't the funny man, he stayed true on himself, he didn't care about the other people disagreeing with him, he just wanted to defend the good. He saw the good in Tom Robinson, not like the town, who just let the segregation take over themselves by prejudicing him before getting to know what kind of person he really was and an example is what he tells to his daughter, "most people are, Scout, when you finally see them." and he is not just talking about Tom, but in general.
3.I agree that most of people have their good side despite what you just hear about them, you never know what kind of person someone is unless you get to know him or her better or what are his or her life experiences. I think the biggest exapmle was, Tom Robinson, just because he was a black man, people judged him and didn't think anything but bad about him, but unlike the town, Atticus got to know him and saw the good side on Tom, once again a proof is his words of,"most people are, Scout, when you finally see them." I think if i had to face a situiation like that, I'll also try to see the good side in a person before judging, because that is what i would want other people to do with me.
@Nicholas (question 2)Atticus had a little racism in him because he wasnt really bothered by the segregation towards African Americans. He was just more tolerant than most. He helped Tom because he was a good lawyer and knew that everybody deserves to be represented in a court of law.
1. I think that the book title was appropiate because "To Kill a Mockingbird" singnifies the innocence of Tom Robinson and Boo Radley and how they are being brought down by the town.2. To me my favorite character is Atticus. Not only is he one of the main characters, but what he does in the book is really unpredictable. For example he was one of the few people in the book that were not racist and was actually went out there and helped Tom Robinson with his case that nobody was on his side. "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his pint of view."
3. I agree with Atticus that "most people are nice once you see them" but you also can just judge on the color of their skin. No other character really gets to know the other characters like Atticus does.
@Cynthia (Question #1) I also agree with you in the sesce that Robinson was a good man and did not mean harm to Mayella and how his goodness is exactly like Atticus described the mockingbird in the quote.
1. I do think "To Kill a Mockingbird" is an appropriate title for the book. Because "To Kill a Mockingbird" means to kill innocence. In this book the innocence of Atticus and Boo Radley is killed by people who hate and dislike them. Atticus is innocent because all he was trying to do is help a colored person win a case. However, people started to get furious at the fact he was doing that and even trying to kill Atticus and we can see that we he says: "When a man says he's gonna get you, looks like he means it." "He meant it when he said it, said Atticus" Boo Radley on the other side is juged by being scary and mean. When in reality he is just an old man living inside his house. We can prove that Boo Radley isn't scary or mean because 1: he leaves presents for Jem and Scout on the tree 2: he returns their pants neat and folded and 3: he helps Scout out in the middle of a fire by giving a blanket her.2. In this story my faviorite character would be Atticus because he is a person that doesn't care what people say about him. He just does what he thinks its right not basing it on what most of the people think is right. He goes by what his mind and heart says. We can see that in the conversation he has with Scout. When Scout askes him if he really is a nigger lover, and his reply is: "I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody...I'm hard put--baby, it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you."
3. In my opinion I think it depends in what condition you see the person. For example: if i was to see a guy drunk and beating someone up from a distance, I can immediatly tell he is a bad guy. But in this novel there were some rumors going on about Boo Radley like "People said he went out at night when the moon was down, and peeped in windows." and "When people's azaleas froze in a cold snap, it was because he breathed on them." These were rumors that were going on threw this town but they never proved it was the truth. Atticus however is able to see the good side in people because he doesn't judge them just by their characteristics. He has no problems with people unless those people have problems with him. As long as those people are nice to him, he considers them nice.
#2. My favorite character is Atticus Finch."You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." He gives great advice and is a wise man for sticking up for what he believes in and for defending Tom.
2Atticus is my favorite character because he is one of the few people who is more tolerant and tried to teach his children about equality and when his defendent Tom Robinson lost the trial he was mad because he was clearly innocent and he knew it was just because the color of Tom's skin.Atticus says"You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them."
1. I think the title to this novel is appropriate for this novel because the good which is resembled by a mockingbird is killed by the evil. Although the title to this story does not reflect to any other part or have anything to do with mockingbirds.2. Scout was my favorite character because I got to see how she matured throughout the whole story , and how she was affected by racism in the story.
3. I do agree because you can tell alot by a character by what they say and what you read about them. You have to know what these people have been through in there lives and how they feel.
1. From what i remember, I agree that it is an appropriate title for this particular book. It does talk about mockingbirds. The mockingbird symbolizes Tom Robinson for the way he was. He was a great person in and out as well as very innocent. "To KILL a mockingbird".. Also relates to what Atticus had said "but just remember its a sin to kill a mockingbird." Realizing he said that to emphasize that mockingbirds do nothing to us but chirp. 2.Atticus Finch. When he agress to defend Tom Robinson is when I decided he could be my favortie character. When his anger disputes within the community due to the rape.
3.
@Danny & Marianna (about answer #1)I see where both of you are coming from...
Marianna, I agree with your response. After understanding that the word "mockingbird" was being used as a symbol to some characters, I thought it was an awesome title, and it helps you inderstand a big moral of the story and what the problem or conflict is mainly about... (IMOpinion) It is about our relationship with society, and how it can alter us. Jem is a prefect example of that. After the judge declares Robinson guilty, Jem's innocent mind becomes corrupted, and he begins a journey of doubt, "I used to think Maycomb folk were the best in the world, least taht's what they seemed like..." But Danny I agree that the title might have been phrased in a misleading way.
3.Some of the people in the book are nice and have alot of nice qualities some of the people's only flaw is equality,but the characters are good people when you see them just like scout.But some people can also be bad like Bob ewell. He had no right to accuse Tom of doing those things to his daughter.
1. Is the novel's title appropriate? Why or why not?
2. Who is your favorite character? Explain why.
3. In the last few lines of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout says, "he was real nice..." and Attiucus replies, "most people are, Scout, when you finally see them." Do you agree that most people in the novel are nice once you see them? How is Atticus able to see the good side of people despite all he has experienced? Can you?