Harper Lee
TKAM Chapter 1, By Nicholas
The author introduces us and starts the book off in an odd way. Is this used to create a bit of mystery to captivate the readers? On the first page we are introduced to quite a few characters. These characters where strangers to me when I first started reading the book, but later on become more clear. The narrator talks about its ancestors. I wonder why the author included the passage about the narrators ancestors? Will these ancestors come into play later on in the book? We learn who the narrators father is, Atticus Finch, a friendly law abiding citizen. The way the author describes Maycomb is very effective and makes it easy to imagine exactly what type of town Maycomb is, slow, hot, dreary and poor. The narrator says that Maycomb has nothing to fear but fear itself. Why did the author include passage? Is it to infer that something is wrong with Maycomb? We are introduced to Calpurnia, the Finch family cook. The narrator explains how her (the narrators) mother had died when she was two. Does Calpurnia act as a mother-like figure in the Finch family? The author introduces Dill through an awkward conversation. I think that the author did this to, not only introduce Dill as a character, but also introduce his personality. The author immediately makes it clear that Boo Radley is a town mystery and this is how he is introduced to us. With all the mystery involving Boo Radley you can not help but wonder, will Boo Radley be a big part of the novel. The author goes into great detail on Boo Radleys past. By doing this the author is writhing more to the theme of mystery Boo Radley presents. We are introduced to more towns folk through this topic. A theme of childhood innocence is clearly visible in the children. They are constantly curious and have big imaginations. We learn more about Dills sense of curiousity when he dares Jem to touch the Radley house. We also learn more about Jem as a character, Jem claims to never have backed down from a dare. This raises the question, will these dares go to far and get Jem into trouble? At the end of the chapters Jem follows through with the dare and touches the Radley house. The author adds a brief description of some movement inside of the house, which only furthers the theme of mystery and adds an eerie affect to the already mysterious Radley family.