to kill a mockingbird

A detailed Summary of to kill a mockingbird


Harper Lee's 1960 novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, focuses on the lives of two young siblings, Jem and Scout Finch, as they mature in a small rural southern town. Taking place during the hard time of the depression, these two young souls are surrounded by underprivileged neighbors, prejudice, and the resentment of the outcome of the Civil War. Things have been the same way for years, but the peacefulness of Maycomb is changed when a black man is accused of raping a white girl. The lives of Scout and Jem are filled with the innocence of childhood. Scout tells the story through her eyes, and in the beginning she does not observe the cruel things that humans do to each other. As Scout ages she begins to discover the prejudices and injustices of the adult world, and the various forms of courage it takes to overcome insurmountable obstacles. Throughout the novel a common thread of courage intertwines the characters in their actions, words, or deeds.

In the beginning of the novel, Jem and Scout's lives are spent playing outdoors and with Dill, a friend who comes for the summers. They are not bothered by any of the prejudice, evils, or problems that exist in their small town of Maycomb. The three of them spend most of their


When Jem and Scout are attacked, Boo Radley, the same man whom they have been trying to get out of his house for years, rescues them. Boo courageously leaves his safe and secluded life away from the troubles of the world when he realizes that, "Boo's children need him."(279) By leaving his house, he saves the lives of the entire Finch family, risking his own life and innocence by killing Bob Ewell. In the end the man who was seen as too cowardly to leave his home, becomes a courageous caring human being.

In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, the people who display the greatest mental toughness are the most courageous of all. They are the most valorous, but they are not recognized for their actions. Through the actions of her neighbors and family, Scout discovers the courage that it takes just to live through the obstacles of everyday life. She sees many examples of courage far greater than that of a man shooting a dog.

Young children often see courage as a physical act in which someone puts their life in danger. Scout sees her father shoot a mad dog that is charging him, and she thinks of her father having great courage. However, it is through Miss Dubose that Scout learns the greatest courage is found when a person continues to fight for something that they know they will inev

Some common words found in the essay are:
Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, Miss Dubose, Scout Jem, Kill Mockingbird, Jem Scout's, Scout Finch, Dubose Scout, Civil War, Bob Ewell, boo radley, novel kill mockingbird, scout discovers, courage takes, jem scout, scout learns, discovers courage, novel kill, kill mockingbird, miss dubose, scout discovers courage,

Approximate Word count = 882
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

join now Save Paper



Saved Paper

Save your papers so you can locate them quickly!

Newest Essays

Testimonials

  • "Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
    Jack M.
  • "With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
    Brian P.
  • "I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
    Sara J.
  • "I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
    Rachel W.
  • "I love this site!!!"
    Marie N.