Atticus Finch - TKAM Flashcards
What are some of Atticus Finch’s traits?
Fair Stern Forward-thinking Just Reasonable Humble Honest Moral Kind Loving Wise Progressive Genuine
In chapter 9 Atticus…
Atticus has agreed to take the case. The town reacts. Atticus explains to Scout he won’t win because of racism in society, but that’s not a good enough reason not to try
In chapter 10 Atticus…
Atticus and the mad dog. Atticus surprises Jem and Scout by shooting a mad dog. We learn Atticus is ‘Ol One Shot’ and has the deadest shot in Maycomb. But he never shoots because he feels he has an unfair advantage over nature
In chapters 11 and 12 Atticus…
Atticus gets Jem to read to Mrs Dubose
In chapter 14 Atticus…
Atticus defence Cal. Aunt Alexandra questions Cal’s presence but Atticus quickly jumps to her defence and says Cal is part of the family. This shows how different Atticus is to the people of Maycomb
In chapter 15 Atticus…
Atticus goes to defend Tom from a lynch mob. He sits outside his cell, unarmed, knowing he will come up against the lynch mob. He is prepared to do this to protect Tom
In chapter 17 to 20 Atticus …
The trial. We see how much the case means to Atticus personally in his closing speech
In chapter 30 Atticus…
Atticus thinks Jem stabbed Mr Ewell. He doesn’t want to cover it up and have people forever talking about Jem
LESSON Atticus says this early in the novel. He tells Scout to see things from other’s perspective. He wants her to learn and understand empathy and not have a prejudice view
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of you… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”
LESSON Atticus tells this metaphor to explain to the children they must protect the innocent. This comes up later in the novel in Tom’s trial and when Boo saves the children
“Shoot all the Bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”
LESSON Atticus says that, because of racism, they probably won’t win the trial, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try. He is trying to teach the children about perseverance
“Simply because we were licked 100 years before we started is no reason for us not to try and win”
LESSON you need to be okay with yourself and how you behave before you concern yourself with other people
“Before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself”
LESSON The whole family comes under pressure during the trial. Atticus is warning the children that things will get difficult but they must stay strong and hold their heads high
“This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still are friends and this is still our home”
LESSON Atticus wants to show Jem real courage. He respects and admires the fact Mrs Dubose knew she was dying but still wanted to overcome her addiction
“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know your licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do”
