Symbolism

Directions: While reading the novel To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee,

we have begin to see how the author uses distinct pieces of symbolism to
represent a bigger idea within the text You are to find those pieces of
symbolism throughout the first eight chapters and create responses that
explain in detail the importance and symbolic representation of the piece.
Once you have cited the evidence and created a detailed response you
then must find a picture that represents and symbolises your explanation.
Criteria of Success:
You will find and cite the quote in which has symbolic value.
You will provide a detailed description on what that piece
represents. Why is that important? What can it connect to? How does
this author use this to give deeper meaning to the text?
Find a picture that represents your response (responses should
be well thought out and get past surface level)

Symbolism represented in
the text (Cited evidence)

Explanation/ Connections

Chapter 1: The author

states, Maycomb was an
old town, but it was a tired
old town when I first knew
it. (Lee, 5)

At first it was an old town it was silent, gloomy,

depressed town,
Boo Radley keeps gossip
going and distracts the
society from the great
depression
Old Town- over time the
townspeople became wiser
and more acceptable of
each other. It became an
old town with a history

Image/ Symbol/ Picture

Chapter 2: The author

states, Lets not let our
imaginations run away with
us dear, she said. Now
you tell your father not to
teach you anymore. Its
best to begin reading with
a fresh mind. You tell him
Ill take over from here and
try to undo the damage-
(Lee 17)

Miss Caroline doesnt want

Scout to be better than she
should be at learning at her
age. This shows society
not wanting other to be
better than them. People
always want to be secure
knowing their the best at
what they do. Also it may
be a topic in womens
rights. She may not want
Scout to be literate as a
girl. Also as she tells Scout
to no longer learn from her
dad, and that she can undo
the damage shows Miss
Caroline bringing Scout
down. She can be seen as
an obstacle through life
who will try to stop
someone from becoming
successful.

Chapter 3: 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. (Lee, 39)

You cannot truly know a

person unless you
understand their past and
everything they have been
through. You cannot judge
people unless you
understand their situation.
This represents how
society is quick to judge
people on their
appearance or the
impression they make. This
also represent how if
someone looks unfortunate
compared to others, they
look weaker and looked
down on.

Chapter 4: I was not so

sure, but Jem told me I
was being a girl, that girls
always imagined thing,
thats why other people
hated them so, and if I
started behaving like one I
could just go off and find
some to play with. (Lee, 54
)

This shows how during that

time and now, women are
looked down on and
shouldnt have their own
opinion. Jem also takes
her unseriously and as a
joke. This also shows Jem
saying women as seen as
negative and that if she
wants to be a girl, she can
leave them alone. This
shows how women were
ignored if they has logic
and ideas of their own,
along with being seen as
wrong when they had a
disagreement to something
a man said or did.

Chapter 5: Stephanie
Crawford even told me
once she woke up in the
middle of the night and
found him looking in the
window at her. I said what
did you do Stephanie move
over in bed and make
room for him? (Lee, 60)

This quote shows how

people can make false
assumptions. This makes
people feel bad about
themselves as people. This
also explains why Boo
Radley secludes himself
from society. However Miss
Maudie doesnt feel that
Arthur is a bad person and
has the right to live the way
he wants. This shows how
their always people in
society that dont join
bandwagon to fit in, but
instead keep believing in
what is right.

Chapter 6: Scout Im
telling you for the last time,
shut your trap or go homeI declare to the Lord youre
gettin more like a girl
everyday! (Lee, 69)

This quote represents

womens rights, and how
women/girls were and are
still abused today. Women
seem to be seen as
nuisance, even though
they are also expected to
do hard work around the
house. Women are also
seen as stay home maids,
while the men get to do
whatever pleases them. In
this quote Scout is
compared as a women, as
if she is a negative thing.
Jem also says it to make
her feel terrible, and I
believe this explains why
Scout is a tomboy; she
doesnt want to be looked
down on in anyway, and
also wants to be literate
without being seen as a
girl.

Chapter 7: Trees dying.

You plug em with cement
when theyre sick. You
ought to know that Jem.
(Lee, 83)

This quote represents

society and friendship. As
Jem and Scout become
used to receiving gifts in
the tree, Jem becomes
much more quiet and
numb than Scout. The tree
represents the friendship of
Scout and Jem with Boo
Radley. Jem takes this
much harder because he
knows it was Boo the
whole time, and is now in
deep confusion not
knowing why the society of
Maycomb portrays him as
a monster. Jem doesnt
know who to believe and
also feels ashamed for his
actions in the past the
reflected negativity towards

Boo Radley. Now that the

tree has been plugged,
Jem feels the connection
has been broken and that
he can no longer apologize
in any way to Boo.
Chapter 8: I looked down
and found myself clutching
a brown woolen blanket. I
was wearing around my
shoulders, squaw-fashion.
(Lee, 95)

This quote is significant

because when Atticus asks
Scout where she got the
blanket from she is
speechless along with
Jem. When they cant say
who gave it to her, the
author foreshadows Boo
Radley giving it to her. This
displays an act of humanity
and kindness. As Scout
presumes that Boo never
comes out, he sees it as a
necessity and gives her the
blanket. It is also a symbol
that he will protect Jem
and Scout, and will also
come out when he is
needed and is friend not a
monster. This also
represents friendship and
society because Boo
doesnt miss the
opportunity to show that he
is a kind man looking for
attention. While the society
has portrayed him as a
monster for as long as the
children can remember. I
feel that society can
change the will of a person
in an instant, and can
emotionally heal or destroy
a person.