To kill a mockingbird-please critique!?

Question

Here are some q and a's on To Kill A Mockingbird. Please critique!(not spelling)

3q)When Scout thoughtlessly remarks on the impoverished Walter Cunningham's bad table manners, Calpurnia takes her aside and explains, "There's some folks who don't eat like us...but you ain't called on to contradict 'em at the table when they don't. Thar boy's yo' comp'ny and if he wants to eat up the whole table cloth you let him, you hear?"(27) What important lesson Is Calpurnia trying to impart to Scout in this scene? How is this lesson related to the novel's larger themes? Why is it significant that it come, in this instance, from Calpurnia?

3a.)Calpurnia was trying to teach Scout that Walter was a guest , and just because he is of a lower class, he is not to be treated so. Calpurnia wants Scout to know that a guest is to be treated politly no matter what social standing they have. She tells Scout how its inappropriate to point out a guests bad table manners. This lesson had a great impact because not only did it root from the story'stheme of the existence of social equality, but it was also taught from Calpurnia, a black women.

11.) When Atticus gives Heam and Scout air rifles, he tells them:"Shoot all the Blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird"(103). Why does Atticus feel this way? Why do you think Lee chose this phrase for her title?

11a)Atticus feels that the mockingbirds are innocent animals that only sing for the joy of human people. I think Lee chose "to Kill a Mockingbird" as the title because it symbolic to one of the subthemes. It shows hoe prejudice,hatred, and ignorance threaten the innocent. For example: boo Radley and Tom Radley where innocent and harmless characters that other people destroyed carelessly or intentionally. The title reflects the moral point and is a symbol of all innocence lost.

Answer 1

In the first answer you could also mention about how it points out that all people deserve respect and dignity, no matter what their situation in life.

In your second answer mention also that the mockingbirds are harmless and bring joy and pleasure.  You sort of imply it, though you don't mention it.

You have the idea for sure.  There are numerous on line resources to help you with this novel, and with questions such as this one.  Many of them offer chapter summaries, list of characters, character sketches, discussions of themes, setting, imagery, and symbolism, etc.  Do a search for “study guides for To Kill a Mockingbird” etc., and you will find many sites.  Also, do a search here on yahoo answers for To Kill a Mockingbird and you will find a wealth of information.  

http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Belmont_HS/tk...

http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/gcse/...

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mocking/

Answer 2

Your observations are good ones. You might want to add that Calpurnia was underscoring Atticus' point that everyone should be treated with respect, rich, poor, young or old.

In your second answer, do you want to add May Ella Ewell to your list of innocents. She too had no voice of her own, and in a way that is true of her father as well. He had no original thinking or independent thinking. He went along with the commonly accepted but incorrect idea, as Atticus said at Tom Robinson's trial, that all white men were superior to all black men.

Good job.