To Kill a Mocking Bird

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To Kill a Mocking Bird

• Characterisation

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Characterisation
How do we learn about characters?
What qualities do they have?
How is the character developed?
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How do we learn about characters in a novel?

• What they say
• What they do
• What they think
• What other characters say about them

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How do we learn about characters? Narrative Stance

• To Kill a Mockingbird is narrated by Scout as an
  adult looking back on a few years of her
  childhood life.
• This means there is a dual narration throughout
  the novel.
• Her young perspective of the world, seen as the
  events take place, is combined with a more mature
  and reflective viewpoint of an adult looking
  back.
• Scout describes her and Jems thoughts and
  opinions throughout the novel about their father.

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How do we learn about character?Atticus Finch

• So, as a reader our impressions of Atticus are
  shaped by Scouts narration.
• Our view and opinion of Atticus is largely
  influenced by the thoughts and feelings of both
  Scout and Jem.
• As their impressions of Atticus change so do the
  readers.

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Character Development -

• What do the children think about their father in
  the early parts of the novel

• Intellectual
• Boring
• Physically unimpressive
• Man of words not action
• Cerebral
• Lawyer
• Passive
• Unenergetic

• Distant
• Aloof
• Bookish
• Uninspiring
• Nothing to be proud of
• Overbearing
• Authoritarian
• Staid

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Character Development Gathering Evidence

• In pairs find quotations that show that the
  children arent that impressed by atticus in the
  early stages of the novel.

Page Reference Quotation
P19/23 He hasnt taught me anythine Miss Caroline. Atticus aint got time to teach me anything. Why hes so tired at night he just sits in the living room and reads
P55/56 When Atticus was out of earshot Jem yelled after him I thought I wanted to be a lawyer but I aint so sure now
P96 I sure would. Atticus cant do anything.
P98/95 Atticus was feeble he was nearly fifty. .. our classmates said. My father...
P99-102/96-98
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Character Development - Gathering Evidence
(Continued)
Page Reference Scout says several things that tell us her feelings about her father and how she thinks he doesnt do anything exciting or impressive just before the incident with Tom Johnson (The Mad Dog) when he surprises the children with his shooting prowess.
P99-102/96-98 I wish my father was a devil from hell. Everybody in towns father was playing it seemed except Atticus This modest accomplishment served to make me even more ashamed of him.
If your father was thirty youd find life quite different. Im sure I would, Atticus cant do anything Atticus wouldnt teach us to shoot.



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Character Development

• If Atticus is thought of as boring,
  physically unimpressive and passive in the early
  stages of the novel, what does he do to change
  this view?
• His performance in the trial and the courage and
  determination that he shows.
• Shows courage by standing up to the lynch mob
  and saving Tom Robinsons life
• Demonstrates his shooting prowess/marksmanship
  skills when he shoots the rabid dog.
• .

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Character Development Gathering Evidence
In pairs find quotations that show Atticus
as a man of action and impressive and evidence of
the children changing their views.
Page Reference Quotation
P106/102 Atticus pushed his glasses to his forehead they slipped down, and he dropped them in the street. In the silence, I heard them crack.
P106102 With movements so swift... He didnt know what hit him.
P107103 Jem became vaguely articulate...I can hit somethin
P108/P104 Well now, Miss...Nome, I said meekly
P108104 Guess youll change your tune now... when he was a boy
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Character Development - Gathering Evidence
(Continued)
Page Reference Quotation
P104 Aint everybodys daddy the... Maycomb County.
P105 Atticus is real old...just like me.
P122 Oh go on and leave me alone...Im reading the paper.
P152 Link that boy might...until the truth is told.
P157 You can turn round...Atticus said pleasantly.
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Characterisation of Atticus What qualities does
he have?
In pairs Discuss and write down why might we
consider Atticus an admirable/heroic character?
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Answering all parts of the question

• Critical essay questions in English usually have
  at least 2 parts to each question. This is often
  overlooked.
• You must answer all parts of the question with
  your response.

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Answering all parts of the question(Continued)

• A critical essay question will usually finish
  by asking you to show how this...
• ...increases your understanding of the text as a
  whole.
• ...Affected your appreciation of the text as
  whole
• ...Influenced your view of the text as a whole.
• Or words similar to this.
• At higher level you must explain this not
  simply state it when linking back to the
  question.

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Answering all parts of the question(Continued)

• The simplest way and most effective way to do
  this is to explain how whatever the first part of
  the question asked you to do adds to your
  understanding of the main theme(s) of the novel.
• You could also refer where relevant to
• The main narrative of the novel
• The struggle or journey of the character in the
  novel.
• The setting of the novel
• The main conflict in the novel...

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Answering all parts of the question(Continued)

• It is better if you try to integrate discussion
  of this part of the question into your response
  throughout rather than present it as a separate
  key point at the end.
• Usually it is easiest and most sensible to try to
  do this at the end of each key point after you
  have given evidence and analysis to support that
  point.
• Remember At higher level you must explain this
  not simply state it when linking back to the
  question.

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Answering All Parts of the Question (Continued)

• For example when answering a question using
  Atticus about a character that we change our
  opinion of it would be wise to consider
• How is the character development of Atticus used
  to highlight the theme of moral courage?
• How is the theme of the difficulty in overcoming
  racism highlighted through Atticus development?
• How is the symbolism in the title of the novel
  relevant to the character development of Atticus.
  
• How does the setting affect the character
  development/change in character?