Mockingbird Motif

In the beginning of the year when we had to know all the definitions of the literary terms, Motif was one of the literary terms I just couldn't grasp. None of the definitions could explain well enough what exactly a Motif was. After reading To Kill a Mockingbird I finally understand what exactly a Motif is. A Motif is a reoccurring symbol or event in a novel that enhances the theme/themes in a novel. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the 'Mockingbird Motif' was a symbol meaning that it's a sin to kill a mocking bird.

Harper Lee says it's a sin to kill a mockingbird, because they don't ever do anything wrong they're put on the Earth to do good things. In the novel, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are considered mockingbirds. They were both innocent people who were trying to do something good for someone else. Tom Robinson was considered a mockingbird because he was put on trial and then killed because the jury thought Tom was guilty of the raping and beating of Mayella Ewell, even though he did not do anything to her. And Boo Radley is considered a mockingbird because he was always there for Jem and Scout and he was always doing something right for them, and people were always brought up thinking he was a bad insane man, but he really was a good man. Both Tom Robinson and Boo Radley were good, innocent people trying to do good for other people - They are like mockingbirds.

-Nicole Dandridge

Life Lessons

Through out my life, my parents have always had many little lessons for me but there is one that has proved to be the toughest one to learn, but is also the best one they have ever given me. Their lesson to me is, once a person shows you who they really are, you need to believe them. I have most recently discovered how true this is. People can be very hurtful and cruel, and they often make bad choices. So, once a person shows you that they do these things, you need to know that's how they really are. You need to learn it, accept it, and move on.


The reason this has had such a strong influence over me, is that I have had friends in my life who I thought were the best, and that I cared for strongly, who made really dumb choices or treated me badly; They just weren't good friends to me. They showed me what kind of people they are and what kind of choices they choose to make on a regular basis. No matter how much it was upsetting to give them up, I accepted them for what kind of people they are, and I moved on. After a few weeks, I have realized how much better off I am without people like that in my life. I have learned a lot from my parents, and their opinions and lessons they teach me almost always have an impact on my opinions and thoughts.

-Nicole Dandridge