Sanger Rainsford: Static or Dynamic

Rainsford certainly discovers "how a jaguar feels", but does he truly learn anything from his experiences on Ship Trap Island? Is he a dynamic or a static character? Please support your view with concrete details from the text.

The Scarlet Ibis

Before we discuss this in class, here are some points to consider:
If you read carefully, you will note that the story of the "Scarlet Ibis" unfolds against the backdrop of World War I. What commentary do you think Hurst is making in this tale?
What symbolic connection is there between the scarlet ibis and Doodle?
How is color imagery used in this story?
Why is the narrator known only as "Brother"?
Review the graphic description of Doodle's death at the end of the tale. What has metaphorically happened here?
How is the thematic concept of pride relevant to the tale? What theme can you derive from this concept?
How about brotherhood?

Did the children truly give Boo, "nothing"?

At the end of the novel, Scout remarks that “Boo gave us a broken watch, two dolls, and our lives ...neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad” (320). In fact, they never even got to put the thank you note inside the oak tree.

Is this true, however? Did they realize give nothing to Boo? Please support your response.

Epiphanies: Learning Something New Every Day

As Melissa so adorably said, "I want to read Mockingbird again; I think I read a different book this summer!". After discussing TKM in class, what is your favorite epiphany or revelation? What symbol, motif, or stylistic device have you found the coolest ? What passage did you reread for class that you missed the meaning of before? Share with the rest of us, please!

Study Group for Part One of Test: Hypocrisies and Secrets

To help you prepare for the short essays, I am setting up this thread. Identify examples of secrets or hypocritical statements/ beliefs/ actions from the first part of the novel. Why are they important to a theme of the book?

Debate #1: Name that Protagonist!

Obviously, Jean Louise Finch narrates the story...but is she the protagonist? Which character does Harper Lee put the most emphasis on in terms of character development and growth? Dialogue with each other...just remember to be courteous with your classmates!

Shhhhh! It's a secret! Mrs. Fischer's Forum #2

Secrets and hypocrisies are among the many motifs of To Kill a Mockingbird. While considering this perspective, explain what Miss Maudie means when she says, "The things that happen to people, we never really know." To whom does this quote apply in the novel. Prove it!