Thesis: The well known and award winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee should continue to stay on the freshman reading list for years to come because of Atticus Finch’s wise lessons about courage, empathy, and equality do not only impact his kids, but many readers can learn and apply them everyday life as well. One of the most memorable lessons taught by Atticus is about courage, where he explains that courage is presented through thoughtful actions and perseverance, not with objects, such as weapons. One example of this is when Atticus’ had shot the rabid hound in chapter ten. When an ill and dangerous dog was found wandering the streets of Maycomb, someone had to shoot it. Heck Tate, the sheriff, was going to kill the dog, however, he was not as accurate as Atticus or “ One shot Finch” (Lee 128). He hesitated to take the weapon, but to protect the neighborhood, he killed the animal. The siblings were surprised due to the fact that Atticus could shoot a shotgun effortlessly. Jem considered this act at a gentlemanly gesture. He was so astonished and confused because his father kept his ‘talent’ hidden. Later, Mrs. Maudie explained that Atticus is not prideful of his talents, but is “civilized in his heart”(130). This shows that weaponry and talent would not be the first words Atticus would think when defining courage when explaining his kids the real definition of it. Another example that talks about courage involves the Finch’s old and ill tempered
Due to these characters courageous acts there has slowly been a rippling effect of more and more people having their own courageous moments. Atticus Finch demonstrates courage through his words and not his actions. They find out Atticus has a good shot and kills a dog with rabbis. But he did not want his kids to think that him shooting the dog was the courage.
Body Paragraph 3: Topic Sentence: Atticus Finch serves as a moral compass for Scout and Jem, teaching them the importance of empathy and understanding. Quote: "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.
To Kill a Mockingbird was a mixture of sorrow and suspense in Alabama during the 1930s. “To kill a mockingbird”, is a novel written by Harper Lee, published in 1960 and later achieving the Pulitzer Prize in the year 1961. It was translated to 40 languages, along with selling over 30 million copies worldwide. During this period there were a lot of prejudice people, it took real courage and bravery to do what some of these characters did through the uneasy circumstances. Atticus, Mrs. Dubose, and Boo Radley showed many exemplar actions, such as courage against their town.
“I want you to understand that courage isn’t a man with a gun in his hand,” (Lee 112). This is a quote spoken from a courageous man who put himself in other people’s positions and did not believe he was superior to African Americans like many in that time period. Atticus Finch is a lawyer, and also the father of Jem and Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The finches live in a small town called Maycomb during 1933, also known as the Great Depression era. Throughout the book, the town faces many racial discrimination issues, especially when an African American man named Tom Robinson is falsely accused of rape of a white female.
One lesson in the book that I feel Jem learns as a part of growing up is moral courage. Atticus once told Jem that “courage is [not] a man with a gun in his hand. It 's when you know you 're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” Jem had always seen bravery as important and often tried to show the courage in him but only learnt about what moral courage really was through a series events that took place in the book.
In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus tells Scout that courage is “when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” Atticus has shown a lot of courage to his kids. Atticus showed courage by accepting the Tom Robinson case, by standing his ground at the jailhouse, and by standing up to Aunt Alexandra about Calpurnia. He even tries to get his kids to follow in his footsteps. What Atticus meant when he told Scout what courage was, was that even if you know that you're going to lose something it doesn't mean you shouldn't try.
Another example of courage is that Atticus continues to read to Scout even with the disapproval of her teacher, Miss Fisher, this shows Atticus’ ability and courage to keep a strong bond with his children by reading despite the teacher saying that his ways of teaching was
Heck Tate grabs a rifle out of his car and hands it to Atticus. Atticus is hesitant, but he takes the shot and kills the dog. Inside the house scout and Jem look at Atticus in amazement.
Atticus’s definition of courage is going through with something you believe in even when you know it might go wrong. In the book, there are many courageous acts that happen but Atticus Finch shows the most courage all around. Atticus willingly takes on the Tom Robinson case knowing many risks and threats could come from his decision. Atticus is a honest lawyer that
To Kill a Mockingbird - Courage "Courage is when you know you 're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what" According to Atticus Finch, an honest lawyer in Harper Lee 's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. "Real courage" is when you fight for what is right regardless of whether you win or lose. Atticus fits into this definition of what "real courage" is and demonstrates it several times throughout the novel. "The only thing we 've got is a black man 's word against the Ewells '.
To Kill A Mockingbird Literary Analysis Throughout To Kill A MockingBird, by Harper Lee there are many acts of courage. This is shown in Atticus Finch, Jem Finch, and Boo Radley. Atticus shows the most courage in the book but all three of these characters show true courage in some way, shape, or form. Boo Radley showed a lot of courage, but he was not in the storyline as much as Atticus. Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, courage is defined as standing up for people and doing what’s right.
Harper Lee wants to tell us that it takes courage NOT to kill a mockingbird Courage and the symbol of the mockingbird are two of the most important, or in fact in my opinion the most important themes, which are addressed and displayed in the highly praised, but also controversial novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” written by Harper Lee. I will try to interpret these two motives and show how they are strongly connected to each other. There are many different types of courage and many people who all show it in their own personal way. If people talk about bravery and courage, they mostly think of the physical kind of courage. But there are also other kinds, which are often forgotten or cast aside by their big brother: moral and emotional courage.
"Jem, I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It 's when you know you 're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what. " This insightful statement was told by Atticus Finch to his son, Jem Finch. Many people in Maycomb had to deal with racism, hatred, and discrimination because of their skin color or because of the court case.
Harper Lee once wrote that “Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what”. Moral courage means doing the right thing despite the risk of any consequences. Anyone can have moral courage, no matter who you are. Many authors often use different literary elements to develop themes in their writings. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the literary elements mood and imagery to teach her audience about doing the right thing or moral courage.
"Courage is when you know you 're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what" According to Atticus Finch, an honest lawyer in Harper Lee 's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. "Real courage" is when you fight for what is right regardless of whether you win or lose. Atticus fits into this definition of what "real courage" is and demonstrates it several times throughout the novel. "The only thing we 've got is a black man 's word against the Ewells '.