Mockingbird Motif

Up until this year, I never really understood what motif meant. I learned what motif is in Honors English this year. Motif is a reoccurring subject with a symbolic meaning. However just knowing somethings definition doesn't necessarily mean you understand what it is. Reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" was a tremendous help for me.

Within the novel one motif occurs much more than others, it is the fact that it's a "sin to kill a mockingbird". This is another way of saying that the destruction of innocence is wrong. Many characters from the text are symbolized by mockingbirds; they are innocent characters who were harmed. Tom Robinson is a perfect example, and in fact a newspaper compares his death to "the slaughter of songbirds". Could this be a coincidence? During his trial Tom is wrongly convicted and sentenced to death, yet he was an innocent man. This is a form of the destruction of innocence.

This motif mainly assists the theme of good vs. evil.

Atticus Symbolism

This Symbol represents how Atticus believes in the equality of all humans. He is able to look past skin color, size, shape, attitude and race. Belief in equality is Atticus's best quality and he will never be convinced otherwise. An equal sign is the perfect way to represent Atticus Finch.

Life Lessons

My parents are both very wise and very aware of what life is all about; I on the other hand, am still learning. So they are always helping me along giving me helpful and insightful tips. The most important thing they have every told me, that has allowed me to get to where I am today is, "focus on your goals, and make an effort to do your best to reach those goals". They have always told me to give 100% in everything I do. Everything you do in life requires effort, so this lesson always applies.

Since I have been given this valuable knowledge, I try to use it to my advantage. This life lesson helps me with the two most important things in my life, school and soccer. It works like this, if I happen to have a difficult exam approaching my job is to study to make sure I know everything there is to know about that subject. Instead of going to an exam unprepared, I study until I am positive that I know the material. In soccer, while I'm on the field I need to put out the maximum amount of effort to show my coach and teammates that I deserve to be out on that field; I never give up. I have learned that commitment and effort are the difference between success and failure. Even if I fail, I am reassured that I tried my best and I am able to learn from the experience.