Symbolism
Language Arts 10
To Kill a Mockingbird
Unit Target: I can read a variety of short stories, non fiction,
novels, technical selections, and classical works of literary
merit.
Daily Target: I can read and analyze symbolism used in
Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird.
What is a Symbol?
Definition:
Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or
colors used to represent abstract ideas or
concepts.
Example: What do these pictures symbolize?
What is Symbolism?
Symbolism is the practice of
representing things by symbols or
investing things with a symbolic
meaning.
Writers practice symbolism in their work
to support themes and emphasize
ideas.
What story is this picture telling the viewer about?
What is this story’s
symbolic meaning?
What idea is the
artist
trying to
emphasize?
Symbolism Worksheet Directions:
1. As a class, describe the physical
characteristics of each of the following
symbols.
2. Refer to your physical characteristics and
your knowledge of events in TKM to
decide what abstract idea or concept
each symbol is representing.
3. Fill in the chart on your worksheet as we
go through each in class.
The Mad Dog
“I swear to God there’s a mad dog down the
street a piece–he’s comin’ this way, yes
sir, he’s–Mr. Finch, I declare he is–old
Time Johnson, yes sir….yessir…yes–”
What are the physical
characteristics of the mad dog?
Using your knowledge of TKM,
what abstract idea or concept
does the dog represent?
Miss Maudie’s House Fire
“At the front door, we saw
fire spewing from Miss
Maudie’s dining room
windows. As if to confirm
what we saw, the town fire
siren wailed up the scale to
a treble pitch and remained
there, screaming”.
What are the physical
characteristics of Miss Maudie’s House Fire?
Using your knowledge of TKM,
what abstract idea or concept does the dog represent?
Snow
“‘The world’s endin’, Atticus! Please do
something--!’ I dragged him to the window
and pointed”. (64)
What are the physical
characteristics of snow?
Using your knowledge of TKM,
what abstract idea or concept
does the snow represent?
White Camellia
“Jem opened the box. Inside, surrounded
by wads of damp cotton, was a white,
waxy, perfect camellia. It was a Snow-onthe-Mountain”.
What are the physical characteristics
of a white camellia?
Using your knowledge of TKM,
what abstract idea or concept
does the white camellia
represent?
The Gun
“Marksmanship's a gift of God, a talent – oh, you
have to practice to make it perfect, but shootin’s
different from playing the piano or the like. I
think maybe he put his gun down when he
realized that God had given him an unfair
advantage over most living things.”
What are the physical characteristics
of a gun?
Using your knowledge of TKM,
what abstract idea or concept
does the gun represent?
Cemented Hole in the Tree
“Two live oaks stood at the edge of the Radley lot;
their roots reached out into the side-road and
made it bumpy. Something about one of the
trees attracted my attention.”
Describe the physical
characteristics of the
cemented hole in the tree.
Using your knowledge of TKM,
what abstract concept
or idea does the
cemented hole in the
tree represent?
Mockingbird & the Phrase:
“To Kill a Mockingbird”
“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but . . .
sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s
a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
What are the physical
characteristics of a
mockingbird?
Using your knowledge
of TKM, what concept
or idea does the
mockingbird represent?