Saturday, 14 December 2013

Atticus Finch

Atticus Finch is one of the main characters in the text.  He is seen as a hero within the text and helps Maycomb County understand it's problems, even if they don't overcome them.

As Miss Maudie rightly states: “I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs ofr us.  Your father’s one of them.” (page 221)

So who is Atticus Finch?
He's the single parent father of Jem and Scout.  He's the lawyer and conscience of Maycomb, who defends a black man accused of rape.

Key quotations about his character:

Quotation
Means
We were … free to interrupt Atticus for a translation
Atticus uses formal language but is patient and happy to explain things.  He believes in being honest, respectful and straightforward with his children.
Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public street
Atticus is always consistent and courteous.  This is usually a good thing, but his ideals and principles can put him and his family at risk in society.
He sat in the living room and read
He is a studious lawyer, not young and active.  He does not conform to society’s view of what it is to be a Southern gentleman and is something of a loner
He’s the only man in these parts who can keep a jury out so long
A persuasive lawyer, he is determined that Tom Robinson gets a fair trial.  Racial prejudice means he can’t win, but he will try to change things.

Throughout the text, Atticus is displayed as the hero for Maycomb County.  This is done in many ways.  One of the best examples is when he shoots the rabid dog, Tim Johnson.  Throughout this passage, Lee uses metaphorical imagery to show the views of Maycomb and also demonstrates how Atticus is the only person who can overcome these problems.



What's especially interesting in the passage above, is that the chapter it's from, X, Scout starts off the chapter by saying "Atticus was feebel; he was nearly fifty."
TASK ONE: Describe how the initial quote of the chapter contrasts the actions of Atticus throughout.  Use the word juxtaposed within your answer.



While this is one example of Atticus standing up to his community, through the use of metaphorical imagery, Lee also explicitly states that Atticus is a hero of his community.

She does this when Atticus is talking about the reception his family and he will receive from the community.  He talks to Scout and Jem about the fact that they will be negatively received by the community, but that they need to try and let it not effect them, because just because they're "licked a hundred years before we started [it] is not a reason for us not to try to win".


TASK: Discuss how the above extract highlights Atticus' views about Maycomb and why he took the Tomb Robinson case.






98 comments:

  1. This is my short answer to the question:

    The initial idea of Atticus being “feeble… [and] nearly fifty” (p98) is juxtaposed later in the text with him bringing “the gun to his shoulder… [as] the rifle cracked.” (p106) This means that at the beginning of the chapter, Atticus is shown to be a very old and unable person who can only do simple things, but later in the chapter, he is presented very differently. In this, he seems to be a lot younger and more able as he has the ability to kill the dog with one “dead shot” (p108), thus highlighting that he is not as frail as shown at the beginning of the chapter. It also emphasises that Atticus has the capability to change his characteristics depending on the situation and what reputation he wants to uphold.

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    1. Hey Amy, I like this paragraph as it clearly adresses how Atticus' actions contrast his 'feeble' reputation given by everyone. To prove this point further, maybe you could refer to another event in the text such as the trial :)

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    2. This is a good paragraph as you have clearly described how the quote contrasts with Atticus' actions. It is also easy to understand and well written :)

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    3. This is a good paragraph as you have analysed Atticus' actions and described how Atticus was perceived at the beginning of the text.

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    4. This is a good paragrpa as you have talked about the different ways atticus was seen in the book, your analysis is really good throughout all of the paragraph

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    5. What happened in the text has been analysed very well. You could have mentioned how Tim Johnson is used as a metaphor.

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    6. This is very well written because you have made it clear about the contrast between Atticus' actions and how he was described and the start of the text :)

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    7. This is a good paragraph because you have correctly identified Atticus' initial portrayal and how this was juxtaposed through his actions. Well done :)

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  2. Within this quote, lee paints Atticus Finch as “feeble” and powerless “because he was nearly fifty” (pg 98) however; this juxtaposed that of his actions throughout the text. When analyzing certain passages, Harper Lee makes it clear that Atticus is not weak, this is presented during the trial where he proves that Tom Robinson is innocent of the crime he was accused of. This is proof that Atticus isn’t feeble as he starts challenging the disease of Maycomb however, as Tom Robinson is found guilty anyway, Atticus’ feeble reputation stands.

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    1. Hello. Your paragraph ia really good. You have clearly stated why he is different than that shown at the beginning of chapter 10, and backed it up. To make it even better you could add in a quote to show he is different. Well done :-)

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    2. I like the way that you have mentioned the disease of Maycomb here, however I do think that maybe you could have developed the sentence a bit further to mention why it's a bad thing to challenge the disease of Maycomb, as this would show the strength that he has to go against racism and the role of black/white people within Maycomb's society

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    3. thank you guys that has helped a lot :)

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    4. Hey this is a good paragraph as you have shown what's different from the beginign to the chapter to the end, it good that you talked about the disease in maycomb but maybe to improve it you can analyse that more so that's it a stronger point

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    5. Well done on explaining the two contrasting ways Atticus is presented, however you should have written about the rabid dog too.

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  3. Within the text, Harper Lee describes Atticus Finch as being "feeble" and frail "because he was nearly fifty" (page 98), but this juxtaposed Atticus' actions throughout the novel. At several points within the novel Lee shows that Atticus is actually a strong man and is not at all feeble, through the display of his actions and exemplary behaviour. Lee proves that Atticus is a strong man by demonstrating the ways in which he is able to prove that Tom Robinson, a black man, is not guilty of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman, during the trial. Therefore, Lee outlines Atticus’ true character as being strong and challenging; due to the fact that he is constantly trying to abolish the disease of Maycomb County, despite the fact that his position in the trial caused him to become the object of scorn in Maycomb.

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    1. This is really good Steph! You have used a lot of sophisticated vocabulary within your paragraph and have clearly explained why Atticus goes against what is said at the beginning of chap. 10. Also, you have related it to the the 'disease' and backed it up. To make it even better, you might like to add another quote to further reinforce your analysis. Well done :)

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    2. I agree with Amy, this is really good, i like the sophisticated language and i like how the whole concept is clearly explained. I also think that adding another quote from another point in the text will make it better. Good job! :p

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    4. I think you have made very good points here, all you need to do to improve is add more quotes ᵔᴥᵔ

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    5. You have gone into great detail about how Atticus is shown to be strong, but you could have written a little more about him being 'weak' at first.

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  4. Within chapter 10 Atticus is initially presented by Harper Lee as being “feeble” (page 98) since he is “nearly fifty” (page 98) However this idea is juxtaposed later in the text because he brings “the gun to his shoulder” (p106) and kills Tim Johnson with “one dead shot” (page 108). This illustrates that Atticus is not as frail and useless as he is portrayed as at the beginning of the chapter which contrasts Scouts views on him.

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    1. This is a good paragraph as it is well written, and gets straight to the point. You could improve this by using a second piece of evidence, maybe writing just one sentence about the trail and how Atticus is shown to be strong as he stands up for Tom Robinson

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    2. This is a well written paragraph as you have shown how Atticus' actions contrasts to Scouts views at the beginning

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    3. This is a good paragraph as you have shown the contrast between the ways lee represents atticus, to improve it though you could extend your answer so that it is further analysed

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  5. Hey. You have clearly shown how he is different from Scouts views by using the different quotes. Also, you have stated what this means of how Atticus is shown to the reader. To make it better, you could add how this affects Atticus and Scouts lives. Well done :)

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  6. Within the text, Harper Lee describes Atticus Finch as being “feeble” and frail as he is “nearly fifty” (Page 98). This idea is juxtaposed further in the text when Atticus’ actions show he is not weak, frail or acting old when he is able to kill a diseased dog in “one dead shot” (pg108). This displays that Atticus is not a frail old man, he still has the skills needed to save Maycomb County, he isn’t as old and useless as Scout makes out further back in the text.

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    1. Hey Briony, this is a well written paragraph and outlines the veiwson Atticus. However to make this better you could use more sophisticated vocabulary and also refer to another point in the text to argument this point further :)

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    2. This is a very good paragraph as it outlines the basic points of Atticus' change throughout the chapter as well as Scouts' view on her 'feeble' father :D.

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    3. This is a good paragrpah as you have clearly defined what scout believes Atticus is like and her change in perspective throughtout chapter 10, to emphaise your point you could link your analysis to another point in the book

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    4. Hi, you've made your points clear in your paragraph, however need to go into much more depth rather than just describing what happens in the text.

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  7. At the beginning of chapter 10 Lee describes Atticus as being “feeble” (98) as he was “nearly fifty” (98). Lee then juxtaposed this idea later in the same chapter by suggesting to the reader that Atticus was no longer that weak character which was portrayed earlier as with “one dead shot” (108) he was able to kill Tim Johnson, this shows that Atticus was not what Scout first idea on her father was as she was first ashamed of him. Throughout the novel Lee further emphasises that Atticus was not weak, the idea of Atticus change in characteristics is mainly put across by the willingness of Atticus to defend Tom Robinson in court even though it went against the social structure where people were reluctant to help anyone that was not the same colour as themselves.

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    1. This paragraph is well written, as you have analysed how Atticus' actions contrast Scouts views on him from the beginning of the chapter, but also adding another point from the text where Atticus shows that he is not weak and feeble. I like how you referenced to the social structure of the time :)

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    2. You have clearly shown the change of opinion Scout has towards her father, as well as adding contextual detail, and referring to more than one point in the text.

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    3. I think this is a good answer because you've given the 2 quotes that explain the point you're making, your ideas are clear and well written:)

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    4. This is a good answer, you could go on to explain how Tim Johnson is a metaphor though.

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    5. I like this paragraph i think it is very clear and i like the way you had a few quotes to explain further about what was going on :)

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  8. At the beginning of chapter 10 Lee describes Atticus as being “feeble” (98) as he was “nearly fifty” (98). Lee then juxtaposed this idea later in the same chapter by suggesting to the reader that Atticus was no longer that weak character which was portrayed earlier as with “one dead shot” (108) he was able to kill Tim Johnson, this shows that Atticus was not what Scout first idea on her father was as she was first ashamed of him. Throughout the novel Lee further emphasises that Atticus was not weak, the idea of Atticus change in characteristics is mainly put across by the willingness of Atticus to defend Tom Robinson in court even though it went against the social structure where people were reluctant to help anyone that was not the same colour as themselves.

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  9. Initially, Atticus Finch is described as "feeble" as he is "nearly fifty" (p98). Scout is embarrassed of him at first and dislikes the way he declines from more strenuous activities, however becomes proud of her father later in the chapter. When he kills Tim Johnson, the rabid dog roaming the streets, she boasts, "Ain't everybody's daddy the deadest shot in Maycomb County." (p104). The way Atticus was the only one who could kill the infected dog, is a metaphor for him being the only person standing against the 'disease' of racism that has taken a hold of Maycomb in that era. Scout's pride for her father in this particular event stands for more than one dog being killed.

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    1. Your paragraph is very good, it highlights Scouts views on her father, how her views have changed from positive to negative and also Atticus' change in character :D.

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    2. Well done! your points are nicely embedded which makes the paragraph flow

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  10. Within the passage, Harper Lee depicts Atticus as a weak and frail character with very few 'useful' talents in the eyes of his children and within the social constructs of Maycomb County. Lee, by using the narrator, Scout, describes Atticus as being "…feeble; he was nearly fifty." (page 98). However, this initial quote is juxtaposed throughout the text by Atticus' actions. Atticus repeatedly does things that defy his initial presentation to the audience, such as killing a rabid dog who posed a threat to the citizens of Maycomb; "…he (Atticus) brought the gun to his shoulder…Tim Johnson leaped…He didn't know what hit him." (page 102). As well as this act showing extraordinary bravery and talent, it also highlights how Atticus was willing to stand up against the racism in Maycomb, as the rabies the dog is afflicted with is a larger metaphor for the disease which affects Maycomb County; racism. This is again outlined during the trial, where Atticus agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman. Therefore, the way in which Lee brings forth the idea of the juxtaposition of Atticus' original description and all of the above events proves his true attitude and character to be stronger and more determined than originally presented.

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    1. This is really good! You have used sophisticated language and a clear structure. To improve, you could try being more specific when it comes to picking out what part of the quote you are going to use. Well done! :D

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    2. I agree with Becca, your vocab makes you sound really sophisticated!! This is a really good paragraph because its really clear to read, well done!!

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  11. The initial perception the reader is given of Atticus that he is a “feeble” man; however, this is juxtaposed later in the text when “Atticus’s hand yanked a ball tipped lever as he bought the gun to his shoulder. The rifle cracked”. At the beginning of chapter ten, Atticus was presented as a weak fifty year old man, which Jem and Scout believed reflected upon his ability and manliness, however, this changes when Atticus is faced with a ‘crazy dog’ approaching the town. Atticus’s masculinity then appears as he kills the dog with one shot. This is a vast contrast to the way he was first portrayed to the reader, as he is no longer a frail man, but strong, and the only one capable of killing the diseased dog, much like he is the only one who can stand against the disease of racism that Maycomb County is infected with.

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    1. I think this is a well written and structured answer, you explained your points well and you used relevant quotes to the answer, well done:)

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    2. This is really good! You've explained the use of the metaphor well and the paragraph is well written :)

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    3. Your paragraph is really good because you've explained how Atticus has changed as well as linking it to the metaphor. Well done :)

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    4. You have clearly made your points and analysed the two ways Atticus is presented to the reader. However for a better answer, try not being too repetitive and adding new information at the end that you haven't explained.

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  12. At the beginning of Chapter 10, Lee describes Atticus as being "feeble...[and] nearly fifty"(pg98), but this juxtaposed Atticus' actions throughout the text when he brings "the gun to his shoulder" and kills Tim Johnson in "one dead shot"(pg108). This highlights that Atticus is not weak and frail, but the opposite through his actions throughout the novel. Lee further emphasises that Atticus is not weak, but strong, as he is able to defend Tom Robinson and prove that he is innocent, even though it went against the social structure of the time where people were hesitant to stand up for people that were not the same colour as themselves.

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    1. This is a good paragraph as you show Atticus's initial description and outline that it changes. To improve I would outline in more detail why Atticus is seen as the opposite due to him killing Tim Johnson :)

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    2. This is well written and you've used two examples to show a change in the way Atticus is presented, well done!

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  13. At the beginning of chapter ten, Lee describes Atticus as being “feeble… [and] nearly fifty” (p98) . This description is juxtaposed later in the text when he “brought the gun to his shoulder… [as] the rifle cracked.” (p106) This means that his presentation at the beginning of the chapter, as a weak man who can only do simple tasks is contradicted as Atticus is the only one with the ability to shoot the rabid dog. In this, he is presented as more able and capable of tasks that Scout and Jem previously thought he wouldn’t be able to do since he has the ability to kill the dog with one “dead shot” (p108), thus highlighting that he is not as frail as shown at the beginning of the chapter. It also gives the impression that there is much more to Atticus’ character than previously shown and emphasises the idea that Atticus can adapt to fit a situation and is very capable of difficult tasks.

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    1. This is a very good paragraph, it is detailed thoroughly and describes Atticus' change in character. It also shows the difference between the two events in which Scout describes :D.

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    2. This is a very good paragraph: you have used more than two quotes to explain your arguments clearly, giving information on how Atticus was vied by different characters :)

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    3. This is a good answer because you've used relevant quotes to show how Atticus has changed throughout the text. Well done :)

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  14. Within chapter 10, Atticus is described as “feeble [and] nearly fifty.”(page 98) highlighting Scouts views on him; he was weak and old. This is then juxtaposed further on in the chapter when Atticus is shown “[yanking] a ball-tipped as he brought the gun to his shoulder”(page 106). This demonstrates Atticus was described as a frail and old man, only able to do certain things, but towards the end of the chapter; in the Tim Johnson scene, this is contradicted. However, at the end of the chapter, Lee describes him as a strong and confident character; who is capable to shoot a dog. Overall outlining how Atticus is disguised as weak and old, but he can do anything to save Maycomb County.

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    1. This is a very good paragraph that clearly outlines your points; that Atticus was described as weak to begin with, but at the end, he is viewed differently :)

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    2. I think this is a good answer because you have relevant quotes and have shown how the idea is contrasted in the text, also you linked it to how Atticus is the only one who can save Maycomb :)

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  15. On behalf of Becca
    "At the beginning of chapter ten, Harper Lee uses Scout to describe Atticus as ''feeble...nearly 50'' (page 98). This causes the audience get the impression that Scout views her father as someone who is frail, and useless. Despite this, the idea of Scout believing this is juxtaposed at other parts during the text, as Lee begins to create traits within Atticus to portray him as a strong man, as he is the one that is able to kill Tim Johnson - especially with just ''one dead shot'' (page 108). This again, contrasts what Scout initially thought of her father previously in the text."

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    1. You've clearly discussed the difference between the presentation of Atticus at the start of the chapter and later. You should try analysing the quotes you chose in more depth and making your writing flow.

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  16. To begin the chapter, Atticus is described as “feeble”, by his daughter Scout. She is almost embarrassed by his lack of ability to do the ‘normal’ things that the other Dads do. However, this idea of weakness is juxtaposed with the event involving the shooting of Tim Johnson – the local dog gone rabid is shot by Atticus (page 101-102). Through this action, Atticus is demonstrating how he is the only one to be able to rid Maycomb County of the racist disease which had taken hold of it – Tim Johnson, metaphorically speaking, being Maycomb county, and his rabies being the “Maycomb disease” of racism. As he is singly fighting most of the town and their opinions, it emphasises how he is not feeble, but stronger than first seems.

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    1. This is a good paragraph as it clearly outlines how views on Atticus have changed and why, well done :)

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    2. This is really well written. You've shown a clear change in the way Atticus was presented in the text :)

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    3. This is very clearly written and has good justification well done! ^‿^

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    4. This has been written with solid points and has been clearly outlined in the ideas of Atticus changing.

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  17. In Chapter Ten, Atticus is described as “feeble… [and] nearly fifty” (p98). However this description is later juxtaposed later when he “Atticus’s hand yanked a ball tipped lever as he bought the gun to his shoulder. The rifle cracked." His original presentation as a weak man who does not do the same things as other men or fathers no longer stands as he is the only man who can shoot Tim Johnson. He is now shown as a strong and capable man, who is able to make Scout and Jem proud through his actions; "ain't everybody's daddy the deadest shot in Maycomb County." (pg104) This description highlights how Atticus is no longer the weak and frail character as presented earlier on, but a man who is capable of difficult tasks and moulds to any situation.

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    1. I really like your paragraph Anna, because you've clearly shown the difference between Atticus' description at the beginning of Chapter 10 and how he's presented after shooting Tim Johnson. Well done :)

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    2. Your paragraph contains sophisticated language and you have clearly shown the difference between Atticus' two descriptions using good quotes. :)

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  18. At the beginning of Chapter 10, Lee describes Atticus as being “feeble” (98) as he was “nearly fifty” (98). Lee then juxtaposed this idea later in chapter by inferring to the reader that Atticus was no longer the fragile character which was first presented as with “one dead shot” (108) he was able to kill Tim Johnson, this highlights that Atticus proved he was not as weak as scout first believed him to be. Throughout the text Lee further emphasises that Atticus was not weak, by the willingness of Atticus to defend Tom Robinson in court even though it went against the general belief in Maycomb County that white people were inferior. This underlined to the reader that Atticus was a strong man that fought for what was right even if it didn't agree with the people of Maycomb.

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    1. This is a really good answer, you've clearly shown how Atticus has changed throughout the text and you also linked it to Tom Robinson. Well done :)

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    2. Your answer to the question is really good as you've clearly shown the change in Atticus using relevant vocabulary and have referenced different events in the text. :)

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  19. At the beginning of chapter ten, Scout describes Atticus as “feeble; he was nearly fifty“ (98) whereas, later in the text, he is able to hold “ [a] gun to his shoulder“ (106). By juxtaposing these ideas, the audience is able to see how strong Atticus has become. This is because when Atticus is needed, he is willing to push his abilities in order to help. Enforcing how his previous actions contrast to what he does later in the text, as he has turnt from weak, to strong.

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    1. This is a good paragraph, you've picked relevant quotes that prove your point well. To improve, you could maybe talk about anther instance in the novel that demonstrates Atticus' strength, to further emphasise your point. Overall well done :)

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    2. I agree; your paragraph is really good and you've used good quotes to prove your ideas. To improve, other events in the novel that emphasise your ideas could be referenced. Well done :)

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  20. Within this chapter, Lee defines Atticus as “feeble” and associates it with the fact that he was “nearly fifty”, yet this is juxtaposed when he is burdened with the task of killing the mad dog, Tim Johnson. Here, Lee uses metaphoric symbolisation to communicate how the dog represents Maycomb County and a majority of its residents, the rabies of which it has been afflicted with represents the infection of racism within Maycomb. Atticus is the one who kills the dog as “Mr Tate almost threw the rifle at Atticus”, and nobody else seemed able to shoot it. This highlights how in a small community like Maycomb, when someone finds a problem with the regime of the society, everyone else is too afraid to change it, as they may be shunned or looked down upon for doing so. Atticus needs to be able to make sure that, when he attempts to rid Maycomb of racism, it needs to be a “one-shot job” and it needs to be over quickly. After killing the dog, Atticus tells his children that “he’s just as dangerous dead as alive.” this illustrates that after he killed the mad dog, it may be put out of its pain, but the rabies is still potent as ever, showing how racism may never truly be abolished in Maycomb County, despite Atticus’s bravery and determination. The fact that Atticus isn’t ashamed of standing up and facing the mad dog alone whilst everyone else cowers in their homes demonstrates that he is far stronger than Scout had initially thought.

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    1. This is a very good answer as it uses a wide range of vocabulary and your points are very detailed. Well done :)

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    2. This has been written with a lot of detail and also covers all the main points with good analysis and interesting ideas for all the points!

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  21. The original perception of Atticus at the beginning of the chapter presents him as being “feeble,’ giving the impression to the audience he is unable and weak. (Page 98) This is juxtaposed as the novel progresses as he ‘bought the gun to his shoulder…the rifle cracked.” (Page 106) This demonstrates how Lee portrays Atticus as fragile and unable to begin with, however later in the chapter he is presented vastly differently, specifically where he shoots Tim Robinson and is therefore the saviour of the county. In this scene of the novel, he is shown as an agile character and after many years is still able to live up to his old sobriquet, “One-Shot Finch.” (Page 107) This proves that the perceptions of Atticus were incorrect at the beginning of the chapter, and that he is an able man in many aspects, and the fact his children’s first views of him saw him as incapable highlights his ability to vary his character depending on the situation at present.

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    1. This is a good answer as it fully describes the difference in Atticus' character and it is very well written.

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  23. At the beginning of Chapter 10, Lee describes Atticus as being “feeble” (98) as he was “nearly fifty” (98). However this description is later juxtaposed by Atticus' actions involving the shooting, where he was able to execute Tim Johnson in “one dead shot” (108). This completely changes Scout's view of her father, whom she believed was frail and old and was ashamed of him due to this. Furthermore, it demonstrates how Atticus was not as weak as people thought, as he was the only person who was able to shoot and kill the rabid dog. By doing this, he removed the disease from the inflicted dog, much like how he was the only person who could cure Maycomb County of the disease of racism. Therefore, Lee illustrates how the primary portrayal of Atticus in this chapter is juxtaposed later on due to his actions, proving that he is not as weak as originally described. Lee further emphasises that Atticus is actually a strong character through defending Tom Robinson and proving that he is innocent. Despite contradicting the social intolerance of the 1930s Southern States of America, where people did not stand up for anyone from another race to them, Atticus stood up for Tom Robinson, thus proving how he is strong.

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    1. Your paragraph is very good because it's not only clear and flows well but you have also included a context comment to prove your point that Atticus was different than the description of him. Well done Tash :)

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  24. In this part of the text Lee describes Atticus as “feeble (and) nearly 50” (page 98) but later on in this chapter, his description is juxtaposed because when Atticus kills the Tim Johnson, dog with rabies that all the residence feared in “one dead shot” (page 108) it illustrates Atticus as a strong man because of his actions; this contrasts the thoughts of him being weak and frail. This demonstrates the fact that Atticus is not the feeble man he was portrayed as at the start of this text by his daughter Scout.

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    1. This is a good paragraph as you show good understanding when it comes to how Scout's opinions are contrasted. To improve, you could mention how Atticus is actually the only one physically able to kill Tim Johnson. :)

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  25. At the beginning of Chapter 10, Lee states, through Scout, that Atticus was "feeble.. [at] nearly fifty"(page 98). However, the reader later discovers initial perceptions of Atticus are juxtaposed when he sets out to kill Tim Johnson, and he used “movements so swift... as he brought the gun to his shoulder"(page 106). This enforces Atticus' courage and strength as he is the only one able to shoot Tim. As the novel progresses, Lee demonstrates Atticus' resilience, especially throughout the trial. Despite knowing they would lose the trial, Atticus stays faithful to doing what is right, and is able to prove that Tom was not guilty of raping Mayella Ewell, and although the court, and Maycomb county found Tom guilty, Atticus was able to teach his children to be honest people, and defy the racial inclinations of Maycomb and further defy his society’s initial perceptions of him.

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    1. I really enjoyed reading your paragraph Francesca! I like the language you used and you were also able to prove your point further by referring to more than one event in the text. Well done :)

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    2. I think this was a good response because you used good quotes and you added in things about the court case:)

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  26. At the beginning of Chapter 10, Lee suggests that Atticus is a man incapable of simple tasks by describing him as "feeble," because "he was nearly fifty" (Page 95). This idea is then juxtaposed when Atticus accomplishes a "one shot job" (Page 101), killing the rabbid dog Tim Johnson. Tim Johnson metaphorically represents Maycomb County, and his disease depicts the racism that controlled the majority of this society. By Atticus attempting to cure Maycomb's disease through killing the dog, the original portrayal of him as weak and inadequate is contrasted. Therefore the initial perception of him has changed, as through this and other progressive events throughout the text it is proven that Atticus is not only strong, but also a competent man.

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    1. This is a really good paragraph as you have been able to prove your point, and using relevant quotes. You also mentioned Maycomb's disease which shows that you have insight into multiple aspects of the text. Well done :)

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    2. This is a really good paragraph as you've fully answered the question. Also you mentioned the disease of Maycomb and how Tim Johnson is a metaphor or that. :)

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  27. Originally in chapter 10 Harper Lee presents Atticus Finch to be an elderly feeble man "was just too old for that sort of thing"(pg98).This idea is juxtaposed when Atticus is presented as capable strong man who can shoot "a one shot job", by making this presentation of Atticus he changes how the reader views him making him seem a much more capable character. When Atticus kills the dog its a metaphoric image of Atticus taking on Maycomb county as Tim Johnson the diseased dog represents Maycomb with there racist disease. This all changes Atticus position in the book and makes him look like he could be a character to do the job which makes the book more interesting.

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  28. Within the texts of To Kill A Mocking Bird, It's seen that Harper Lee suggests Atticus Finch as being a weaker man through the descriptions, "feeble" "because he was nearly fifty" (pg.98) since in the views of his children, while other men have physical jobs in Maycomb, Atticus works in an office instead. However this belief from his children is actually unreasoned as Atticus is seen to be a strong man through his actions in Maycomb county, such as when he killed the rabid dog 'Tim Robinson' who was a threat to the people of Maycomb, "...he brought the gun to his shoulder, the rifle cracked...(the dog) didn't know what hit him" (pg 106), as Tim Robinsons rabies was a metaphor of the disease which plagued Maycomb (racism), by Attitcus standing up to the dog and Atticus could be seen as the 'cure' metaphorically to the Racism in Maycomb, this shows how Atticus original portrayal of him being weak is contrasted. Also seen in the texts is how Atticus stands up to the 'strange disease' of racism which Maycomb has, by agreeing to defend Tom Robinson, who was accused of raping a white woman, but in reality was a victim of racism from the white community. By Lee using contradiction of Atticus's intial presentation, and through Atticus's demonstrations, shows how Atticus is actually seen to be a strong, willed man.

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    1. This is a very good paragraph, you go into lots of depth when backing up points. To improve, I think you should just double check that you aren't being too repetitive at some points. Well Done :)

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    2. This is a good response and you go into a lot of detail about your points:)

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  29. "At the beginning of chapter ten, Harper Lee uses Scout to describe Atticus as ''feeble...nearly 50'' (page 98). This causes the audience get the impression that Scout views her father as someone who is frail, and useless. Despite this, the idea of Scout believing this is juxtaposed at other parts during the text, as Lee begins to create traits within Atticus to portray him as a strong man, as he is the one that is able to kill Tim Johnson - especially with just ''one dead shot'' (page 108). This again, contrasts what Scout initially thought of her father previously in the text."

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    1. This is a good paragraph as it links back to the question at the end. To improve, i think you just need to proof read it to ensure it makes sense :)

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  30. On behalf of Fehad:
    Harper lee describes Atticus Finch as "feeble... And nearly 50" however Lee later in the novel juxtaposed this idea as Atticus finch gets handed a fun and kills tom Johnson which portraits Atticus as ruthless and changes the views of him being "feeble... Nearly fifty." Furthermore Lee once again proves that Atticus finch is not "feeble" as he is makes the stand to defend tom Johnson in the trial even though he himself knows that he will lose! His characteristics change through out the novel emphasising the point that Atticus is not "feeble... And nearly 50."

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    1. This is a very good paragraph; the point you're making is very clear, and you have backed it up with evidence. To improve, proof read to make sure you have capital letters for names :)

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