To Kill a Mockingbird the movie

Today we will be taking a quiz and moving through the book a little more. Additionally, we will start the film and get a feel for Maycomb and the characters. To Kill a Mockingbird is an Academy Award winning film. Once we view even a part of it, I would like you to make a connection to why you think it may have won awards. The acting? The filming? The set? The costumes? The screenplay? What makes it a great book-made-movie.

Also, take a book that you have read that has been made into a movie that you have seen. Compare the two. I just saw The Kite Runner over break and was astounded at how close it stayed to the text. This was because the author was directly involved in the filming. What do you think are the difficulties in putting a known story into a motion picture? What can be improved? What is lost? What have you found is better?


Hope this gets your brain back in gear for the New Year. Mine is still a little mushy, but once we dig deeper into Mockingbird, I will be back in the swing!

Miss Holmes :)

What's in a name? Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird

Wow! We are off and running with our mockingbird symbol posts. Some of the responses have brought tears to my eyes! I really think that we are going deeper than we ordinarily would in class simply because of this blog! Yay! You should be proud of yourselves!

Now onto other discussion points. Why do you think Scout and Jem call their father by his first name? We know that Harper Lee was being tricky with us with the name of Scout, now what about Atticus?

Consider the following:

Atticus being a mentor and teacher
Atticus is an older parent
No mother figure for Scout and Jem
Miss Maudie's comment that Atticus is the same on the town streets as he is at home.

Your Homework over break:
Read Chapters 11, 12, 13 and 14. Continue using your chapter log! There may be a pop quiz!

Blog Posts:
Also, there will be some blog activities that I would like everyone to participate in! So, starting this week, I would like everyone to make at least TWO blog postings by Friday! (Refer to all the postings labeled To Kill a Mockingbird) Those of you that posted up until this point will receive extra credit, but any posts after today will be for a grade.

Keep on posting! I love it!

Miss Holmes!

REMINDER: It's a Wonderful Life is going to be shown after school on Thursday! Be there or be square!

Discussion Post Chapters 8-10: To Kill a Mockingbird

In class today (Thursday, December 13th and Friday, December 14th), we discussed the symbol of the mockingbird. The title To Kill a Mockingbird relates to the events in the novel in more than one way. In chapter 10, we begin to understand where the title comes from. For your response to this post, consider the following:



-Who are the "mockingbirds" in this novel?
-Who attempts to "kill" a mockingbird in the town of Maycomb?
-How might you relate a mockingbird to a ghost? (Remember Atticus's comment, "There are other ways of turning people into ghosts.")
-Consider this wikipedia entry information about a mockingbird


Post as a comment to this posting. I will post another "Discussion Post" tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Let's consider the definition of the word 'scout'

I have found a defintion of the word scout using an online dictionary. After considering the following definitions, I would like you to consider how this nickname functions in the novel. How does the character relate to these definitions?

Scout
v. scout·ed, scout·ing, scouts
v.tr.
1. To spy on or explore carefully in order to obtain information; reconnoiter.
2. To observe and evaluate (a talented person), as for possible hiring.
v.intr.
1. To search as a scout: scout around for some gossip.
2. To search for talented people: scouts for a professional basketball team.
n.
1.
a. One that is dispatched from a main body to gather information, especially in preparation for military action.
b. The act of reconnoitering.
2. A watcher or sentinel.
3. One who is employed to discover and recruit talented persons, especially in the fields of sports and entertainment.
4. Sports One who is employed to observe and report on the strategies and players of rival teams.
5. often Scout
a. A member of the Boy Scouts.
b. A member of the Girl Scouts.



Think about the events so far that we have seen Scout observe. Pay close attention to her thoughts about Jem's actions particularly. Also, consider how the story is told and how Scout seems to be learning "the ways of the world" as the novel progresses.

This will be included in topics we will cover in class at the end of this week leading into next week.

Happy reading!

Miss Holmes