In this unit, you focused on skills and strategies necessary to analyze literary texts by implementing these learning goals:

Question

Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to order events (e.g. parallel plots) or manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) in a literary text creates a narrative effect such as mystery, tension, or surprise.
Analyze how the author creates such effects as suspense or humor through differences in the points of view of the characters and the reader, including the use of dramatic irony.
Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States.
Relate the figurative language of a literary work to its cultural or historical setting.
Compare point of view from two literary texts.
Evaluate the contribution to society made by works of literature that deal with similar topics and themes, including cases in which a character’s point of view and actions signal acceptance or rejection of cultural norms or intellectual ideas within a historical context.
Compare the text and other media presentation of a story or key scene, including what is emphasized or absent in each treatment.
Investigate how literary texts and related media allude to themes and archetypes from historical and cultural traditions, including the influence of mythic, classical and traditional literature on 20th and 21st century literature.
Analyze how an author draws upon and transforms source material in a specific literary work.
Now, you will have an opportunity to show what you have accomplished and apply your learning to the unit text, To Kill a Mockingbird. If you haven’t already done so, take time now to finish reading Harper Lee’s novel.

Then, spend a few minutes discussing your reading with your Learning Coach using these activities as a guide. Notice that the activities are open-ended; there are no “correct” answers to the questions, but they will help you to focus on the text as you get ready to apply the learning goals you have mastered in this unit.

Tell your Learning Coach your honest opinion of To Kill a Mockingbird, noting aspects of the novel that you did or did not like. Which character did you find most relatable? Explain your thinking.
Describe how the language in the story affected your impressions of the time and place it is set. Note in particular what the dialect conveys about race relations in the southern United States in the 1930s. Discuss how racial issues today are similar and different from those at that time of the story.
Compare or contrast Scout Finch to another character you have read about in any other text from this unit. Consider her experiences, thoughts, and actions as you make your comparison.
Finally, review your notes, and get ready to answer the text-related questions that follow.

Answer 1

It sounds like you have a rich opportunity to engage deeply with "To Kill a Mockingbird." Here are some insights and prompts to guide your discussion with your Learning Coach:

Personal Impression

Opinion of To Kill a Mockingbird:

• Likes: You might appreciate the novel's exploration of themes such as racial injustice, moral growth, and empathy. The storytelling through the innocent perspective of Scout Finch allows readers to witness complex societal issues with clarity and warmth.
• Dislikes: Some may find the pacing slow at times or feel that certain characters could have been developed more fully. Discussing specific scenes or elements that resonated with you can lead to an engaging conversation.

Relatable Character:

• You may find Scout Finch relatable due to her curiosity and experiences growing up in a racially divided community. Her innocence and gradual understanding of societal complexities reflect a universal journey of maturation and moral awareness.

Language and Setting

Language Impact:

• The dialect used in the novel effectively captures the southern setting of the 1930s. Conversations among characters like Calpurnia, Jem, and Atticus reveal cultural nuances and the deep-seated racial divides of the time.
• The language conveys a sense of authenticity but also highlights the prejudices of the era. Terms and attitudes present in the text may open discussions about how language can both reflect and shape societal views.

Racial Issues:

• Discuss similarities, such as systemic inequality and societal divisions, while noting differences like how overt racism was more prevalent then compared to more subtle forms of prejudice today. This connection can lead to a fruitful exploration of progress and ongoing challenges in race relations.

Character Comparison

Comparing Scout Finch:

• You might choose a character from another literary text that also experiences the world through a child’s eyes or confronts issues of justice and morality, such as Doodle from "The Scarlet Ibis" or even another protagonist from a contemporary novel facing societal norms.
• Compare how Scout's innocence contrasts with the harsh realities around her and how this shapes her growth, paralleling or deviating from the experiences of other characters.

Final Thoughts

Using these points to guide your conversation, be open to exploring various themes, character motivations, and the historical context of "To Kill a Mockingbird." Your reflections and analyses can bring new perspectives to the novel and deepen your understanding of its cultural significance.

When you're ready, tackle any specific questions related to the text, using insights drawn from your discussions and personal interpretations.