Code-Switching
What is code-switching?
Adapting your language or behavior depending on the social group you are interacting with.
What point of view is To Kill a Mockingbird narrated from?
First-person point of view, through Scout Finch.
What type of irony is used when the audience knows something the characters do not?
Dramatic irony.
Scout diffused the situation at the jailhouse by talking to Mr. Cunningham about his son Walter and ______.
entailments
Why does Atticus ask Mayella questions about her home life, specifically about her father?
To suggest her father, Bob Ewell, may be the real abuser.
Provide one reason why people code-switch.
To fit into different social groups, avoid judgment, or communicate more effectively.
What is dramatic irony?
When the audience knows something the characters do not.
Mayella thinking Atticus is mocking her by being polite is an example of this kind of irony.
Verbal irony.
To Kill a Mockingbird takes place during the (1) _______, which is defined by racial segregation laws and widespread discrimination against African Americans, and (2) ___________, marked by severe economic hardship.
(1) the Jim Crow Era; (2) the Great Depression
What is the importance of Tom Robinson’s left hand in the trial?
It’s crippled, proving he couldn’t have inflicted Mayella’s injuries.
Provide an example of code-switching in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Calpurnia at her church/in her community vs. with the Finches.
How is Tom’s point of view of the events of the case different from Mayella’s?
Tom’s point of view of the events of the case is significantly different from Mayella’s because he views himself as innocent and believes he acted kindly toward Mayella without any malicious intent. Tom recounts how he tried to help her with chores out of compassion, seeing her as a lonely and struggling individual. In contrast, Mayella’s point of view portrays herself as a victim, accusing Tom of attacking her in an attempt to shift blame and avoid societal backlash for her actions. Her testimony reflects fear and societal pressure, especially regarding the taboo of a white woman interacting with a Black man.
In Frozen, Olaf's song "In Summer" is an example of dramatic irony because
the audience knows he will melt in summer, while he is unaware
Why does Dill begin to cry during Tom Robinson's testimony?
Dill is upset by the way Mr. Gilmer is treating Tom Robinson, calling him "boy" and painting him as a horrible person.
Why might someone be unaware of their code-switching?
Because it can become an unconscious habit shaped by social norms.
In the Landlady, how does the difference between Billy’s point of view and the audience’s point of view create suspense?
Billy views the landlady's behavior as kind, harmless, and generous, while the audience is much more weary of her actual intentions.
During the jailhouse scene, what does the reader know about the situation that helps to explain why the arrival of the men outside of the Finch house creates suspense?
The men's presence outside the Finch house is connected to Atticus defending Tom Robinson.
Now that we have read more of the text, what could the mockingbird and mad dog symbolize in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Answers vary.
How do the testimonies contribute to the development of suspense in the novel?
The testimonies in To Kill a Mockingbird contribute to the development of suspense by gradually revealing conflicting accounts of the events and exposing the underlying biases of the characters and society.
What role does code-switching play in showing a character’s point of view in literature?
It reveals their awareness of social dynamics and relationships with other characters.
Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader (e.g., created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor.
How is there situational irony in the "Landlady" story?
The landlady appears kind, but her true intentions are sinister.
During Tom Robinson's testimony, Scout talks about the ‘subtlety of Tom’s predicament’. What is the ‘subtlety of Tom’s predicament’ as Scout sees it?
If Tom Robinson ran from the scene of the crime, he would look guilty. If he stayed, he would also look just as guilty.
During the courtroom scenes, this character stands up in the middle of the trial and talks about how Tom Robinson never gave him any trouble when working for him.
Mr. Link Deas