Rhetorical Devices In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Age does not determine how well a person is able to understand a situation in fact, kids tend to have a better understanding as a result of having no bias toward one group of people. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee scout demonstrates her increased understanding after learning about Hitler in school. She recognizes the hypocrisy in people who detest Adolf Hitler due to how he treats Jewish people, but then treat African Americans the same way. This relates to the rest of the story because on multiple occasions, for example, Tom Robinson's trial, Scout realizes he is innocent, however the jury does not as a result of their prejudice.

(Need help making a transition) The moment from To Kill a Mockingbird occurs when scout comes home …show more content…
One rhetorical devices used often is the dash, Lee uses the dash when scout is talking to Jem after school, “Miss Gates was—she was goin‘ down the steps in front of us, you musta not seen her—she was talking with Miss. Stephanie Crawford” (Lee. 331). The use of dash boost’s immersion because it causes the quote to read as an actual conversation instead of unemotional dialog. Lee commonly uses slang which makes the tone much more casual than serious, slang is used when scout recalls, “I heard her say it’s time somebody taught ’em a lesson, they were gettin‘ way above themselves” (Lee. 331 ) In this passage the use of slang such as “em” and “gettin” shifts the tone because words such as these are commonly used by younger people who are normally less serious than older people who use proper words when trying to explain their point . Another rhetorical device used is metaphors. This device is effectively when scout makes her comparison between German and the U.S, “Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an‘ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home” (Lee. 331 ) This quote is a metaphor since Scout is directly comparing Germany and America. Finally, Lee uses Allusion when Scout is explaining her thinking to her brother “Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an‘ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home” (Lee. 331). The previous quote, is an example of Allusion as a …show more content…
After school Scout returns from school, she talks to Atticus and Jem about whether or not it is ok to hate Hitler. During her conversation with Jem, she recognizes that people despise Hitler because of how he is treating Jewish people, but then treat a separate group of people the same way. Scout points this out when she asserts, ¨ Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an‘ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home¨(pg. 331 ). This quote shows the theme because Scout -- who has no prejudice due to her age-- is able to point out the hypocrisy that other adults are not able to see. This theme is observable frequently throughout the novel, one notable time being Tom Robinson's
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