Symbolism is indeed used extensively throughout Harper Lee's timeless classic, To Kill A Mockingbird. ... That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird," states Miss Maudie when explaining to Scout what her father meant by saying it is a sin to shoot a mockingbird. These lines are the source of the novel's title and introduce one of the key images of the book. ... This establishes the fact that bad things can, and do happen to good people, and also is used to foreshadow the events to come in the novel. ... To Kill A Mockingbird was an influential novel at the time it was writ...

• Word Count: 415
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

In the story "To Kill a Mockingbird" I believe that language and selection of detail play a major role in the way the novel is receieved by the majority of readers. ... The writing would have been a lot more critical towards Tom and they may even leave out the fact that the father beat her. ... It is provoked by techniques like these which the authors of novels like "To Kill a Mockingbird" carefully employ. ... The key term that strikes you when reading this novel is the free range use of the term "nigger". ...

• Word Count: 839
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

In Harper Lee's book, To Kill A Mockingbird, there are many examples of racism. During this time in history racism was acceptable; as a matter of fact if you were not racist to blacks they would call you names such as "nigger lover" so in a way people were forced to do whatever society did or you would be socially shunned. ... Racism is a key theme in To Kill a Mocking Bird. ... They"re ugly, but those are the facts of life." ...

• Word Count: 559
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School