To Kill Mockingbird

📘 Literary Terms (Know the Definitions and Be Able to Identify Examples)

1. Metaphor – A direct comparison between two unlike things (e.g., “He was a lion in the courtroom.”).

2. Flashback – A scene set in a time earlier than the main story.

3. Simile – A comparison using “like” or “as” (e.g., “Brave as a lion”).

4. Irony – When the opposite of what’s expected occurs.

5. Soliloquy – A character speaking their thoughts aloud (rare in novels; more common in drama).

6. Allusion – A reference to another literary work, historical figure, or event.

7. Malevolent – Wishing harm to others; evil (used to describe Boo early in the book).

8. Predilection – A preference or special liking for something.

9. Idiom – A phrase with a figurative meaning (e.g., “It’s raining cats and dogs”).

10. Foreshadowing – Hints or clues about what will happen later.

11. Tirade – A long, angry speech.

12. Solace – Comfort in a time of distress.

13. Colloquialism – Informal, regional language or slang.

14. Personification – Giving human traits to non-human things (e.g., “The wind whispered”).

15. Melodrama – Over-the-top emotional drama.

16. Hyperbole – Exaggeration for effect.

17. Satire – Using humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize (social commentary).

18. Onomatopoeia – Words that sound like their meaning (e.g., “buzz,” “bang”).

👥 Character Matching (Study These Carefully)

You will need to match each character with their role. Here's a helpful guide:

• Link Deas – Tom Robinson’s employer; stands up for him in court.

• Calpurnia – Finch family’s housekeeper; a mother figure to Scout and Jem.

• Tim Johnson – Rabid dog shot by Atticus; symbol of hidden danger.

• Helen Robinson – Tom’s wife; harassed by Bob Ewell.

• Dill (Charles Baker Harris) – Scout and Jem’s friend; imaginative and curious.

• Walter Cunningham, Sr. – Poor but proud farmer; pays Atticus with goods.

• Heck Tate – Sheriff of Maycomb County.

• Francis – Scout’s cousin; calls Atticus a racial slur.

• Aunt Alexandra – Atticus's sister; very traditional and proper.

• Judge Taylor – The judge in Tom’s trial; fair and laid-back.

• Jem (Jeremy Finch) – Scout’s older brother; matures over the course of the book.

• Mr. Underwood – Newspaper editor; defends Atticus and Tom in print.

• Tom Robinson – Black man falsely accused of raping Mayella.

• Mrs. Merriweather – Hypocritical member of the missionary circle.

• Cecil Jacobs – Scout’s schoolmate; taunts her about Atticus.

• Rev. Sykes – Minister at First Purchase Church; helps Scout and Jem during the trial.

• Bob Ewell – Racist, abusive father who falsely accuses Tom.

• Mrs. Dubose – Elderly, ill woman who struggles with morphine addiction.

• Stephanie Crawford – Town gossip.

• Mayella Ewell – Bob’s daughter; accuses Tom of rape.

• Dolphus Raymond – White man who pretends to be drunk to explain his lifestyle.

• Zeebo – Calpurnia’s son; garbage collector; leads singing at church.

• Boo Radley (Arthur) – Mysterious neighbor; saves the children.

• Mr. Gilmer – Prosecuting attorney in Tom’s case.

• Nathan Radley – Boo’s brother; takes care of the Radley house.

• Atticus – Scout and Jem’s father; lawyer who defends Tom.

⚖ Courtroom Scene Review

• Know who says what during the trial (Atticus, Mayella, Tom, Bob Ewell, etc.).

• Focus on key parts: Tom's testimony, Mayella’s emotional breakdown, Atticus’s closing argument.

🧬 Ewell vs. Cunningham Families: Similarities and Differences

🔍 Close Reading Section

• Bring your book! Be ready to analyze specific passages for:

  • Figurative language

  • Character development

  • Symbolism

  • Themes

🗡 Foreshadowing the Attack on the Kids

Examples of foreshadowing:

• Bob Ewell’s threats after the trial.

• Ominous events during the Halloween pageant.

• The broken watch and gray ghost references.

🎵 Who Symbolizes a Mockingbird?

Characters who represent the innocent/harmed:

• Tom Robinson – Innocent man destroyed by racism.

• Boo Radley – Kind but misunderstood recluse.

• Jem (possibly) – Innocence lost as he matures.

🌟 Major Themes and Examples