Discussion Topic
Character Memory Boxes in To Kill a Mockingbird
Summary:
In To Kill a Mockingbird, memory boxes for Scout and Jem Finch encapsulate key moments and lessons from their childhood. Scout's box might include items like a newspaper, representing her learning to read with Atticus, and the blanket Boo Radley placed on her shoulders, symbolizing her realization that people aren't always what they seem. Jem's box could hold his football magazines, the mended pants from the Radley yard, a silver pocket watch from the knothole, and items representing his experiences with Boo Radley and lessons in courage from Mrs. Dubose.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, what five items could be included in a memory box to represent Scout?
The items from the tree are important to Scout because they symbolize one of the greatest lessons she learns in the novel. The person she once believed was a monster and a killer was actually the person who saved her life.
Boo is best seen as being identified with the little gifts in the tree, which Scout realizes. She was wrong to simply accept popular rumors as truth. The gum and soap statues are proof of this.
What items would Jem Finch's memory box contain in "To Kill a Mockingbird"?
Jem's memories of the time when Atticus , his father, defended Tom Robinson unfortunately include Jem's broken arm. Bob Ewell broke Jem's arm in an attack on Atticus's children in retaliation for Atticus's defense of Tom Robinson. Therefore, Jem's memory box might include the cast he wore after Bob Ewell's attack. He might also include the ham costume that Scout wore to the Halloween pageant on the day Bob Ewell attacked...
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them.
Jem would also include the items that Boo Radley left for him and Scout in the knothole in the tree, including sticks of gum, coins, twine, soap figures that look like Jem and Scout, an old watch, spelling bee medals, and a knife. Finally, Jem might put into the box the air rifle and chemistry set that he received for Christmas. Atticus advises Jem to shoot cans in the backer. If Jem insists on going after birds with his new rifle, Atticus tells him only to shoot bluejays, not mockingbirds, because mockingbirds are defenseless creatures. This is essentially the lesson of the book--not to injure creatures or people who have no means to protect themselves.
I agree that the things Boo left them in the tree should go in the memory box. I would also add a quarter, to represent the lesson Scout and Miss Caroline learned about social class. If the box is big enough, I'd put a piece of wood, a bit of fishing line, a Bible and a paper pumpkin.
What would you include in Jem's "treasure" box in To Kill a Mockingbird?
There would be several items that I would include in a box of "treasures" that belong to Jem. The first items I would place in the box would be several football magazines. Jem is obsessed with football and wishes to start on Maycomb's football team. There are several scenes throughout the novel that depict Jem flipping through football magazines, daydreaming about being a star one day. Depending on the size of the box, I would include the pair of pants Boo Radley stitched in Chapter 6. When Jem ripped his pants escaping from the Radley yard, he returned to find them sewn and folded on the fence. I would include Jem's favorite item that he found in the knothole of the Radley tree, which was the silver pocket watch. Scout mentions that Jem was obsessed with the item and continually checked the time just to look at the watch. I would also include a copy of the novel Ivanhoe. In Chapter 11, Jem is forced to read Ivanhoe to his racist neighbor, Mrs. Dubose, as a punishment for ruining her camellia bushes. Jem learns a valuable lesson about "real courage" after he finds out Mrs. Dubose conquered her morphine addiction in the last days of her life. The last item I would include in the "treasure" box would be his air rifle. Uncle Jack gets Jem an air rifle for Christmas, and Atticus teaches Jem never to kill a mockingbird because they are innocent beings that do nothing but bring joy to the world.
What items would you include in a memory box for Jem?
I'd start with the embarrassing but obvious: his ripped pants (or something to represent them) . Sure, they are mended now, but they were a big adventure.
If there's any leftover material from the cast for his broken arm (or something
to represent it), I'd put that. I'd add something to represent Mrs. Dubose's
flowers—maybe his switch. Something to represent Miss Maudie's cakes, of
course. If this isn't too subtle, maybe something to represent the collar where
he grabbed Scout to shake her at the end of Chapter 26. That's about the most
intense anger he showed towards her, and at an important time.