TKM part 1 analysis

We are preparing for our formal essay of the book "To kill a mockingbird". So this period you would see a lot of activities related to the book. The activity is to answer some questions about the first part of the book... hope you enjoy or can be usefull.


1. What is the reason for the author's choice of a young narrator?
In my opinion this view that Scout gives us is like an uncensored thinking of all that was happening in those times, as childrens don't save their thoughts we are informed of every single detail, we can understand it, better than Scout, and that is the idea of the author, tell us what happens in a society that is full of corruption, discrimination, etc. And also Jean gives us, as an inocent child, her ideas of what should be or what she thinks of that society, with an "utopic" way of think.

2. How does Jem and Scout's views of Boo Radley change during  part 1 of the book?
For Jem and Scout the image of Boo Radley was unknown, misterious ans in continous change. Why? First they fear him as nothing else in the world, he is the image of a ghost (for them). Though things start happening, they found some things at a tree near the Radley's house, and then Scout discovers it was Boo who lefted things there for them. And Jem found his trousers sew and tidy in the fence of the Radleys when they were running from the shots, the time they almost broke in the house, they also deduced (as they never saw him) it was Boo the responsable of that.

3. Atticus tells the children several times that they need to walk in someone else's shoes before judging the person. Describe times when Atticus, Scout or Jem walk in someone else's shoes. How does this change how they view the situations? What role does this advice play in sympathy and compassion? 
Throughout the story Atticus tries to teach Scout to walk into someone else's shoes before judging him, she realises it many times in the book, as the time when Jem was having a hard time so Scout understood (by going into his shoes) that he was growing... or something, and he just needed time alone so then he would be fine again and would play with her as always.

4. How do you think Atticus managed his role as a single parent? 
I believe Atticus managed very well as a single parent, even if people thought Jem and Jean had grown wild, he tought them important things of life and not what made society discriminant, as choosing friends by their social condition, not talking about some things with some kind of people, like "niggers" in front of afroamericans... He was based on moral, but also tought Scout how to read.

5. Discuss race issues in part 1 of the book.
During the  early XX century racism was a very controversial theme, white people would look blacks as "below" them. They were very discriminated and we can apreciate that in the book, with the case Atticus was givven to defend, and the bothers of other childrens towards Jem and Scout.

6. From your reading of part 1, What does To Kill a Mockingbird teach us about how people cope with issues of race and class? Do you classify people in your world as different "folks?" Do you see those sort of distinctions today? 
Differences in between races has always existed, and people dismiss other by their skin colour, Scout tell us in "TKM" how it was, even for kids, how society banned black people. I believe though racism isn't that bad now days, there's still a thought of superiority from white folks against black, "my world's" people isn't that different, they tell racist jokes, also class jokes, I think it's the feeling of being superior what makes human go through that, is to see the other is suffering and he is less than me, so I'm important, or more important, so "Hey, here I am, I shall pass before because I'm white...!"

7. Who is your favorite character from part 1 and why? 
My favorite character? Atticus, because he is the voice of the reason, he is the one that makes me read the book knowing not every person is trash in that town, that thinks everyone has got rights, pride, honor. He is a wise old man with hiding tricks, that's always there for Scout and Jem, to protect them, to teach them and to help them grow into good folks.