Literary Analysis Assignment #1: Thesis building

Literary Analysis 1: To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 1-7

“As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.”

–Proverbs 27:17

Analyzing characters’ relationships reveals how people can be either torn down or built up by one another, and how one tends to become like those he/she admires, or how one defines him or herself against those that are scorned, or different. Sometimes, it may be unclear who to admire and who to avoid; conflict may reveal that one’s perceptions of these were misguided in the first place.

Prompt: How does Harper Lee use a minor character to emphasize or contrast a trait, or traits, of a major character? What theme does this relationship develop?

SAMPLE RESPONSE: Homer uses Polyphemus’ appetite for humans to contrast Odysseus’ sense of hospitality and respect for guests, developing a theme of hunger’s potential to respect or diminish humanity.

BRAINSTORMING – (major and minor characters? Traits? Theme?)

Tentative Thesis (follow the model of the example):

GATHER EVIDENCE (solid quotes that reveal qualities related to your thesis, with page citation):

Revised Thesis (in light of your evidence, altered or specified):