From To Kill a Mockingbird
In a Critical Analysis of Theme Essay, you must
prove how a theme is displayed throughout a
novel, using specific examples from the text.
To do this, you will use embedded quotations,
which are exact lines from a written
document.
In your case, the written document is
To Kill a Mockingbird.
You may choose ONE of the following 6 themes:
  Prejudice
and Tolerance
  Courage and Cowardice
  Morality and Ethics
  Loss of Innocence
  Justice
  Parents and Children/Role of Family
  Compassion and Forgiveness
For this example, I’m going to use a theme
that’s not an option: Poverty.
In my essay, I will prove how poverty is present
throughout To Kill a Mockingbird by using
specific examples and direct quotations from
the book.
Please notice that the above is NOT an
example of a good thesis.
Before writing my thesis, I need to get my thoughts
together about my topic. I’ll quickly write a
loose outline:
1.  Intro, ending in thesis statement.
2.  Poverty is displayed in respectable, poor,
white farmers.
3.  Poverty is displayed in unemployed “guests of
the county.”
4.  Poverty is displayed through black citizens in
Maycomb.
5.  Conclusion about how the theme of poverty is
present throughout To Kill a Mockingbird.
The theme of poverty is displayed throughout
To Kill a Mockingbird by many types of
people: white rural farmers, unemployed
white citizens, and the black population of
Maycomb County.
Choose short, concise quotes that can be
explained in depth.
Ask yourself, "How does this quote
demonstrate _____________ (your theme)?”
* If you can't answer this question, choose
another quote!
  End
each quotation with the author’s last
name and page number (Lee 29).
  The period goes AFTER the parenthesis
because the quotation isn’t finished without
the citation.
  Introduce and/or conclude EVERY quotation
with your own words.
  Include only the most important part of the
quotation so you don’t waste time writing
unnecessary words.
  Use “Text” for Lee’s descriptions
  Use “‘Text’” for character’s words.
  Wrong:
Mrs. Maudie explains That’s why it’s
a sin to kill a mocking bird.
  Correct:
Mrs. Maudie explains, “‘That’s why it’s
a sin to kill a mocking bird’” (Lee 98).
  Wrong:
Scout reflects Mayella Ewell must
have been the loneliest person in the world,
something she had not considered before.
  Correct:
Scout reflects, “Mayella Ewell must
have been the loneliest person in the world,”
something she had not considered before (Lee
256).
Notice there are a couple of ways to embed or “set up”
quotations.
1. Text, “Quotation” (Last Name #).
Ex: Scout could sense the level of respect the black
community had for her father when Rev. Sykes said,
“‘Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s
passin’” (Lee 211).
2. Text, “Quotation,” more text (Last Name #).
When Tom stood up, “His left arm was fully twelve
inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his
side,” and it was obvious that he couldn’t have been
the one who attacked Mayella (Lee 186).
3. “Quotation,” text (Last Name #).
“’Atticus doesn’t drink whiskey,’” Scout proclaimed as
she attempted to have an adult conversation with Miss
Maudie about foot-washin’ Baptists (Lee 45).
  Be
certain to introduce WHO says the quote.
  Example 1: He commented, “Tell them I’m
very grateful…tell them they must never do
this again. Times are too hard…” (Lee 213).
  Example 2: “Tell them I’m very grateful…tell
them they must never do this again. Times
are too hard…” Atticus commented (Lee
213).
  Avoid
overusing the word SAID:
  Explained
  Asked
  Begged
  Related
  Exclaimed
  Protested
  Reflected
Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee displays poverty in
respectable, poor, white farmers. One family included in
this group is the Cunninghams. Atticus explains to Scout,
“the Cunninghams are country folks, farmers, and the crash
hit them the hardest…acres not entitled were mortgaged to
the hilt, and the little cash he made went to interest” (Lee
21). The author shows how the Cunninghams try hard, but
are only able to earn just enough money to survive. Even
the children of these hardworking people suffer. Near the
beginning of the novel Scout defines her friend Walter’s
situation by thinking, “He didn’t forget his lunch, he didn’t
have any. He had none today nor would he have any
tomorrow or the next day. He had probably never seen
three quarters together in his life” (Lee 20). Harper Lee
clearly has the utmost respect for this class of people in the
novel. Because of the Great Depression, an entire class of
hardworking people has very little money, which leads to
great debts and extreme financial burden.
The opposite of respectable low-income white people,
unemployed “guests of the county” also live in poverty. They
live in poverty by choice, as they never make any attempt to
find employment. Scout explains, “No economic fluctuations
changed their status – people like the Ewells lived as guests
of the county in prosperity as well as in the depths of the
depression” (Lee 170). Most wealthy citizens feel
compassion for low income citizens like the Cunninghams,
but their compassion for people like the Ewells is
inconsistent. The townspeople provide these “guests of the
county” with pity and handouts at holidays, but do not offer
the consistent help they obviously need. Atticus recognizes
that people feel more sympathy towards the children on the
Ewell property than for Mr. Ewell himself. He tells Scout,
“when a man spends his relief checks on green whiskey his
children have a way of crying from hunger pains” (Lee 31).
The Ewell house and children are so filthy that they were
described as living like animals, showing the author’s belief
that people who do not try to help themselves are not better
than animals.
Another group who lives in poverty are the black citizens of
Maycomb. Scout and Jem first notice the economic situation
of the black community when they visit the First Purchase
Church. The church is “unceilied and unpainted within.
Along its walls unlighted kerosene lamps hung on brass
brackets; pine benches served as pews…there was no sign of
piano, organ, hymnbooks, (or) church programs…” (Lee 120).
This is just one time Scout and Jem notice the economic
differences. They also notice the impoverished living
conditions of the black people when they drive by the “negro
cabins” near the dump. Atticus also acknowledges the
extremity of the situation when he starts crying upon
receiving so much food after the trial. He comments, “Tell
them I’m very grateful…tell them they must never do this
again. Times are too hard…” (Lee 213). The Depression
caused economic stress on all families in Maycomb County,
regardless of race. It seems to be one’s efforts to work hard
that make the difference in this novel. Harper Lee shows her
great respect for these hardworking black citizens through
her descriptions of their efforts in the face of extremely
difficult situations.
  Briefly
summarize.
  Explain
why the author included this
theme.
  What
does she want the reader to
understand or do after reading this?
  How
does this theme relate to our real
lives today?