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PARTS ONE & TWO
Page Reference
Quotation
What do we learn about the character through this quotation?
Language Technique/s
How does the technique help us understand/respond to the character?
Scout as narrator (first three paragraphs)
“ We sometimes discussed the events leading to his accident. I maintain that the Ewells started it all.”
Through this quotation the audience learns that an older Scout is narrating the story and looking back on past events and assessing them.
Harper Lee uses the technique of Retrospective Narration in the introduction.
The use of retrospective narration allows the responder to understand that Scout is the narrator of the novel and suggests she is a lot older as her language and insight into previous events is more sophisticated. This can also contrast between the language and narration used in the rest of the novel, and the audience can appreciate she is younger and naive. The use of retrospective narration also allows the responder to apprehend the introduction is in the present time, while the rest of the book is narrated from Scout’s childhood.
Walter Cunningham incident, pp.27-28
“That’s okay, ma’am, you’ll get to know all the country folks after a while.”
Although Scout is very knowledgeable and mature in her outlook, we can see from her sympathetic tone with Miss Caroline that she lacks the tact which she has not had to implement in her short life as of yet.
Scout uses condescending connotations when speaking to Miss Caroline.
Scout’s condescending connotations help us to understand that Scout is not used to being treated as a child, and indeed she does not see herself as a child - she sees herself on equal ground with adults, and in this case superior to Miss Caroline in her knowledge of Maycombe.
Scout in the tyre, pp.43-44
Attack on cousin Francis, pp.88-89
Francis rose and sprinted down the catwalk to the old kitchen. At a safe distance he called, ‘He’s nothin’ but a nigger-lover!’
‘He is not!’ I roared. ‘I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about, but you better cut it out this red hot minute!’
Through this we learn that Scout’s character is quite short tempered and defensive. We learn that her cousin Francis is afraid of her, yet provokes her knowing he will get a reaction.
Derogatory language - nigger-lover
High modality - roared, ‘red hot minute!’
These techniques provide us with a chance to see Scout’s behavior, and her response to Francis indicates that she is very fond of her father and will stand up for him no matter what the cost (even if she does not completely understand the situation). The strong quotations used further implicate how Scout is a strong and firm believer in her own views and beliefs.
Conversation with Uncle Jack, pp.91-92
Scout at the jail standoff, pp.158-160
At Aunt Alexandra’s tea party, pp.234-241
Scout wonders about prejudice in Maycomb, pp.252-253
PARTS ONE & TWO
‘He is not!’ I roared. ‘I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about, but you better cut it out this red hot minute!’
High modality - roared, ‘red hot minute!’