Tracking Themes TKM

Directions: For each listed theme, find at least THREE strong examples from the novel.
(1/2 point each example)

THEME EXAMPLE #1 EXAMPLE #2 EXAMPLE #3

Education “We don’t write in “Our courts have “Mockingbirds
the first grade, we our faults, as does don’t do one thing
Print​.” any human but make music
institution, but in for us to enjoy.
this country our They don’t eat up
courts are the people’s gardens,
great levelers, and don’t nest in
in our courts all corncribs, they
men are created don’t do one thing
equal.” but sing their
hearts out for us.
That’s why it’s a
sin to kill a
mockingbird.”
Bravery/Cowardice “I wanted you to “Mockingbirds “I waited and
see what real don’t do one thing waited to see you
courage is, but make music all come down the
instead of getting for us to enjoy. sidewalk, and as I
the idea that They don’t eat up waited I thought,
courage is a man people’s gardens, Atticus Finch won’t
with a gun in his don’t nest in win, he can’t win,
hand. It's when corncribs, they but he’s the only
you know you're don’t do one thing man in these parts
licked before you but sing their who can keep a
begin, but you hearts out for us. jury out so long in
begin anyway and That’s why it’s a a case like that.”
see it through no sin to kill a
matter what.” mockingbird.
Racial Prejudice Lula stopped, but  "It's right hard to  "That's what I 
she said, "You ain't  say," she said.  thought," said 
got no business  "Suppose you and  Jem, "but around 
bringin' white  Scout talked  here once you 
chillun here—they  colored-folks' talk  have a drop of 
got their church,  at home it'd be out  Negro blood, that 
we got our'n. It is  of place, wouldn't  makes you all 
our church, ain't it,  it? Now what if I  black." (16.78-81)
Miss Cal?"  talked white-folks' 
talk at church, and 
 … When I looked  with my 
down the pathway  neighbors? They'd 
again, Lula was  think I was puttin' 
gone. In her place  on airs to beat 
was a solid mass  Moses." 
of colored people. 
One of them 
stepped from the 
crowd. It was 
Zeebo, the 
garbage collector. 
"Mister Jem," he 
said, "we're mighty 
glad to have you 
all here. Don't pay 
no 'tention to Lula, 
she's contentious 
because Reverend 
Sykes threatened 
to church her. 
She's a 
troublemaker from 
way back, got 
fancy ideas an' 
haughty 
ways—we're 
mighty glad to 
have you all." 
(12.48-52) 

Social Class "He ain't company,  “I think there's just “You never really
Prejudice Cal, he's just a  one kind of folks. understand a
Cunningham-"  Folks.” person until you
consider things
from his point of
"Hush your mouth!  view—” “Sir?”
Don't matter who  “—until you climb
they are, anybody  into his skin and
sets foot in this  walk around in it.”
house's yo' 
comp'ny, and don't 
you let me catch 
you remarkin' on 
their ways like you 
 was so high and 
mighty! Yo' folks 
might be better'n 
the Cunninghams 
but it don't count 
for nothin' the way 
you're disgracin' 
'em—if you can't 
act fit to eat at the 
table you can just 
set here and eat in 
the kitchen!" 
(3.26-29) 

Gender Prejudice was not so sure,  "Scout, I'm tellin'  "Don't pay any 
but Jem told me I  you for the last  attention to her, 
was being a girl,  time, shut your  just hold your 
that girls always  trap or go home—I  head high and be 
imagined things,  declare to the Lord  a gentleman."
that's why other  you're gettin' more 
people hated them  like a girl every 
so, and if I started  day!" With that, I 
behaving like one I  had no option but 
could just go off  to join them.
and find some to 
play with. 
Loss of Innocence “When a child “I said I would like Atticus had 
asks you it very much, promised me he 
something, which was a lie, would wear me 
answer him, for but one must lie out if he ever 
goodness’ sake. under certain heard of me 
But don’t make a circumstances and fighting any more; 
production of it. at all times when I was far too old 
Children are one can’t do and too big for 
children, but they anything about such childish 
can spot an them.” things, and the 
evasion quicker sooner I learned to 
than adults, and hold in, the better 
evasion simply off everybody 
muddles them.” would be
Answer the following question:
Which theme do think is ​most important​ to the overall meaning of this novel? (1 pt)