Seeking Justice: To Kill a Mockingbird (2020)

Lesson 23
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ELA

Unit 7

8th Grade

Lesson 23 of 35

Objective


Interpret figurative language and explain how Lee uses it to create meaning in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee  — chapters 22 and 23

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

On page 246, Jem says, “It’s like bein’ a caterpillar in a cocoon, that’s what it is.” What is he comparing? What is he trying to communicate with this simile? Provide evidence from the text to support your answer.

Key Questions


  • On page 224, Miss Rachel says, “if a man like Atticus Finch wants to butt his head against a stone wall it’s his head.” What does this metaphor mean? What does this reveal about Miss Rachel’s perspective?
  • On page 252, Atticus says, “Don’t fool yourselves—it’s all adding up and one of these days we’re going to pay the bill for it.” What is Atticus comparing in this metaphor? What does this reveal about Atticus’s beliefs about the future?
  • What is Atticus’s tone when he says, on page 253, that “this may be the shadow of a beginning.” What does he mean by this metaphor?
  • Discussion: Consider the conversation between Jem and Scout on pages 258–259. What does their conversation reveal about social hierarchies in Maycomb? How do their perspectives differ? How does this reveal changes in Jem and Scout?

Lesson Guidance


Notes

  • If possible, save significant time at the end of today’s class to devote to the discussion question. This is one of the most important turning points for Scout’s character.

Homework

  • Read To Kill a Mockingbird, chapters 24 and 25.

Common Core Standards


  • L.8.5 — Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
  • RL.8.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.

Next

Explain how specific incidents and lines of text reveal aspects of characters in To Kill a Mockingbird or cause them to change.

Lesson 24
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Lesson Map

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