At christmas, Atticus gives Jem and Scout air rifles as gifts. He tells the two that he would prefer they shoot at cans, but wagers that they may be tempted to shoot at living things. He tells them if they must hunt birds, they can shoot all the blue jays they want to, but to never kill a mockingbird. "Remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." Scout realized it was the only time she had ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something.
Considering the characteristics of a mockingbird, it would be a sin to kill a mockingbird. Speaking of mockingbirds, there are quite a few people in this novel that, in analogy, are mockingbirds. For instance, Tom Robinson is great example. Tom is robbed of his innocence and is killed. He
Scout takes this lesson all through the book and keeps reminding the readers of this life lesson. The life lesson of it's a sin to kill a mockingbird is shown when Atticus buys Jem and Scout air rifles for Christmas. Upon receiving the air rifles Atticus tells Jem” Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." Scout asks Miss Maudie why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird "They don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" From this life lesson Scout learns that, that life lesson doesn't just apply to birds but also humans in fact Tom Robinson.
Also, his empathy for other beings is shown when later on in the book, Scout is about to crush a roly-poly. Right before she does, Jem says that she shouldn’t. In return, she asks why. He then says that it had never harmed Scout in any way so why should she harm it. This shows a reference to what Atticus and Miss Maudie had said earlier in the book about mockingbirds.
Contrasting areas between these two poems include the rhyme schemes. “A Barred Owl” is based on an AB rhyme scheme, whereas the structure of “The History Teacher” does not follow a particular format. In “A Barred Owl”, Richard Wilbur writes about how he knows that the real world is cruel. However in “The History Teacher”, Billy Collins is in denial of this cruel world and insists on saving his children and mind washing them to believe that the world is a perfect place where everyone is essentially good. The title of A barred Owl is ironic itself because
Innocence is shown through the characterisation of Boo as a harmless man, he lives with his brother and leaves the house rarely he has little protection from the outside world, this can be related to a section of the book where Atticus says to scout and jem "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." This symbolises the destruction of innocence in that killing a mockingbird is in a sense killing innocence as the birds are innocent, this can be related to Boo radley, he is
Atticus explains to Jem and Scout after receiving air riffles for Christmas that “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy... but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” This direct speech presents the idea to the reader that mockingbirds haven’t done anything wrong, they only try to please people and are defenceless against people. Later Atticus says that the worst thing a white man can do is cheat a black man. This is the case when Tom Robinson tries to help Mayella Ewell. Mayella tried to do the unthinkable – kiss a black man.
The symbol of the mocking bird, a sign of innocence, is present through many characters in Harper Lee's novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. In her telling of the powerful and moving story Lee portrays the messages of innocence being corrupted by characters through bigotry and intolerance. The co-existence of good and evil is shown by using characters to reflect each factor. Although there are no literal mockingbirds in the book, characters represent both mockingbirds that are harmed and those that are not. Throughout the novel, mockingbirds and other songbirds are representations of purity and generosity.
People in Maycomb know that killing a mockingbird is a sin, yet when they see a black man get executed, they see it as a normal, everyday occurrence. People recognize the bird as innocent and charming because it sits in front of their window and sing their hearts out. But if a black neighbor that has helped them numerous times is executed on their account, they don’t feel guilt, regret or any emotion. The long days of Maycomb return back to normal without any remorse. That is a very cruel thing.
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitN… Answer: Improve In this story the author uses the Mockingbird as a symbol for innocence. The title seems to have very little to do with the actual book but it is highly symbolic to the plot. Throughout the book many innocent people are hurt or destroyed by evil. Probably Atticus' most famous quote is 'Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird' pg 99. What Atticus meant by this statement was that mockingbirds aren't harmful at all, they only do one thing, sing their hearts out for people to enjoy and that is why it is a sin.