To Kill a Mockingbird Part 1 Analysis

1. What is the reason for the author's choice of a young narrator?

2. How does Jem and Scout's views of Boo Radley change during  part 1 of the book?

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? 

4. How do you think Atticus managed his role as a single parent? 

5. Discuss race issues in part 1 of the book.

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? 

7. Who is your favorite character from part 1 and why? 

Answers:

1.-To show innocence. That is a big part of the book because if you read it in a grown ups view you would wonder why is this grown person making these mistakes. but from a kids point of view everything is new. When reading the book you understand that scout doesnt understand manners and how to be ladylike, because when you read a book from a kids point of view it is mostly going to be about them still growing up and learning, because they dont know any better. When a person is innocent you have more of a feeling for them and we can almost all relate to the innocence of a child because at some point we all were.

2.-To say that the entire town of Maycomb, Alabama feared the Radley place is to overgeneralize the situation. Initially, Scout, Dill, and Jem fear the Radley place because of its occupants and decor. Furthermore, the neighborhood gossip, Miss Stephanie Crawford, propagates the rumors surrounding Boo Radley, namely that he stares in peoples' windows at night and that he stabbed his father. The children create fantasies about Boo in their minds and even believe at one point that he is dead and stuffed up the chimney. Jem describes Boo early in the novel as six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch. He is also described as a "malevolent phantom". The Radley's house is also described in this way: "The shutters and doors...were closed on Sundays, another thing alien to Maycomb's ways". Many more descriptions are provided at the beginning of the novel, but as the children grow and mature, their views shift with them, and the Radley's become less of a source for superstitious radicalism. 

3.-I think Scout has been in Boo’s shoes because she understands why boo wants to be inside, because he wants too. Also when Scout went to Calpurnia’s church. She got to know what it felt like to go to a colored church. When the men were going to beat up Atticus at the jail before the trial. Scout put herself in Walter cunningham’s shoes, of why he was their. So I thinks throughout the book you see Scout and Jem thinking in someone else’s shoes.

4.-I believe Atticus manages his role as a single parent very well. For a man that lost his wife, he did a very good job being a father to Scout and Jem. Scout and Jen look up to Atticus. Scout expressed how important Atticus is to her in the novel. Jem expresses how important Atticus is to him by trying to be a good man like he is. However, I feel like the kids were raised on more than just Atticus alone. Calpurnia was the one to teach them and take care of them when Atticus couldn't.

5.-In the Part 1 of the book, there are many racial and social inequalities. At the top is the Finch family, due to Atticus’ position as a lawyer. Beneath them are the white townspeople who have jobs such as the Cunningham’s, who are farmers, and Ms. Maudie who babysits for Scout. Next are the white trash families like the Ewells. Despite being treated like trash, all of these white people still have a higher status than any of the black people.

6.-In the book, white people put theme selves above colored people, which is different from today, cause all people is trying to avoid racial conflicts. I generally treat all people the same, doesn't matter they skin color.

 7.- I like Atticus simply because of how honorable he is. He treats every person he meets, no matter how they treat him, he treat them with respect and dignity. He is also willing to risk himself for what he 
believes in, he stands up for what's right, no matter the cost or trouble.