To Kill a Mockingbird Group

Question:

popished
popished
Student
High School - 10th Grade

What are some of the literary elements found in To Kill a Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men?

Please mention foreshadowing, contrast, climax, simile, metaphor, parallels, and archetypes.

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Posted by popished on Tuesday January 27, 2009 at 7:30 PM and tagged with literary elements, of mice and men, to kill a mockingbird.

Answers:

  1. mshurn
    mshurn Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    There are numerous examples of these literary techniques in the two works. Here are a few.

    Foreshadowing: Bob Ewell threatens to "get" Atticus no matter how long it takes. His threat foreshadows his subsequent attack on Jem and Scout. Lennie's accidentally killing the mouse foreshadows his accidentally killing Curley's wife

    Contrast: Atticus' understanding and acceptance of others and his refusal to judge them based on their race or social class contrast Aunt Alexandra's prejudice and snobbishness. Slim's kindness and gentleness contrasts Curley's viciousness. 

    Climax: Scout finally meets Boo Radley. George shoots Lennie.

    Simile: During the fire when Miss Maudie's house burns, Scout describes the smoke as "rolling off our house . . . like fog off a riverbank." Steinbeck writes, ". . . the rabbits sat as quietly as little gray, sculptured stones."

    Metaphor: Boo Radley is "a malevolent phantom." George and Lennie want to live off  "the fat of the land," a metaphor for the abundant crops the Earth produces for us.

    Parallels: Tom Robinson parallels the mockingbirds Atticus says must not be shot; like them, Tom is innocent, gentle, and harmless. Slim's shooting his dog parallels George's shooting Lennie; both are very pain-filled acts of kindness

    Archetypes: Atticus can be seen as the archetype of courage and integrity. George and Lennie are archetypes of those who live on the fringes of society, never experiencing the good things life has to offer.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/mockingbird/summary-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/ofmice/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/ofmice/style

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    Posted by mshurn on Wednesday January 28, 2009 at 12:16 AM