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Vocabulary Web 1

Vocabulary Web 2

In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the people at the cynosure of the story live in a southern town called Maycomb.  The story takes place during the 1930s and ipso facto the members of the community were pauperized. For some families, this time period only amplified their state of pre existing indigence.  The Cunninghams are an example of an expressively poor family. Walter Cunningham, who appeared in Scout’s first grade class (Scout being the narrator of the novel), came to school lacking both a lunch and shoes and instead brought hookworms. Miss Caroline, the grade one teacher, inefficaciously attempted to give Walter money to buy lunch. Scout tried to elucidate to Miss Caroline why Walter would not accept the money and why her attempt was futile by telling her that “the Cunninghams never took anything they [couldn’t] pay back,” (Lee 26). Since the Cunninghams had no money, they paid people in things such as stove wood.  Despite their apparent inability to afford anything, they did their best to remain self sufficient The Cunningham family represents the honest, hardworking and righteous yet poor members of society.

In contrast to the upright demeanour of the Cunninghams is the ignoble Ewell family. One member of the Ewell family, Burris, was also present in Scout’s class on the first day. He, and his family, were characterized as being “the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations,”(Lee 40).  The Ewell family did not conform to the laws and people saw that it was not worth the tribulations that would be caused by forcing them to abide by the law. As a result, Burris only attended the first day of school each year. When Miss Caroline requested that Burris go home and bathe, after a colourful encounter with a louse, both the reader and Miss Caroline are acquainted with the malevolent and rancorous nature of Burris Ewell. In response to Miss Caroline’s entreaty, Burris says “I’ve done my time for the year,” which indicates his fervent disregard to school (Lee 35). This line signifies the Ewell’s attitude and approach to situations involving anything institutionalised. The Ewell family represents another category of poor citizens who do not attempt to overcome their state of destitution. 

Works Cited:

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Grand Central, 2010. Print. 

   This picture is a metaphor for the curiosity that Scout and Jem have towards Boo Radley and the Radley house.  The house in the picture is clearly uninviting except for the vibrant red roof, which creates a certain level of intrigue. This is a parallel to Jem and Scout’s interest in the Radley place. Also, the growth around the house symbolizes the conversation that is generated by the residence.