To Kill a Mockingbird: Writer's Techniques

To Kill a Mockingbird: Writer’s Techniques

Narrative Voice and Perspective

• Harper Lee tells the story from Scout’s perspective, a move that positions the main character as both participant and observer, providing valuable insight into events and character dynamics.
• Lee’s decision to use Scout’s naïve voice allows her to present moral questions throughout the novel in a straightforward and unprejudiced manner.
• Time shift, as the older Scout narrating often gives hints about future events, creating suspense and engaging the reader in the unfolding of the story.

Symbolism

• The mockingbird symbolises innocent individuals who are harmed by the evil in society, such as Tom Robinson and Boo Radley.
• The mad dog, brought down by Atticus, symbolises the racism and prejudice running rampant in Maycomb, which only a few, like Atticus, recognise and tackle.

Use of Setting

• The town of Maycomb is a microcosm of the American South and serves as an effective metaphor for the larger society, its values and struggles with racial prejudice.
• The Radley Place and the Maycomb County Courthouse are symbolic settings, representing areas of fear and prejudice, but also of justice and moral understanding.

Imagery and Metaphors

• Lee often employs nature imagery to reflect the moral climate of Maycomb. Example: The description of Maycomb as an old, sleepy town reflects its stagnant and outdated attitudes towards race and equality.
• Metaphors such as ‘killing a mockingbird’ are used to support the main themes and messages of the novel. As Atticus explains, it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they only sing and bring joy, so killing them is killing the innocent.

Characterisation

• Direct and indirect characterisation is used in the novel. Direct characterisation is when the author describes the character to the reader. Indirect characterisation is shown through characters’ dialogue and actions.
• Atticus’s character is directly characterised by straightforward descriptions whereas characters such as Boo Radley are indirectly characterised through the townspeople’s superstitious descriptions of him.

Irony

• Situational irony is prevalent in the novel, such as the conviction of Tom Robinson, when readers expected justice to prevail.
• Verbal irony is utilised, with characters saying one thing but meaning another, often used as a critique of the town’s prejudice.

Committing these techniques to memory and being able to identify examples within the text will not only improve comprehension, but will also help in structuring well-crafted responses when analysing the text.