Essay #9

  Equally Wise Connections:
         An Essay Relating A Quote From To Kill A Mockingbird To My Life and To The Book
Mia Perry
      8th Grade English
       February 10, 2012

Atticus Finch is an extremely wise man. Although he may not exist in real life, Harper Lee created his character to be witty and understanding. Atticus has moral courage and is intelligent with his thoughts and words. He also has some quotes that are able to relate to, and were very important at the time.

(TS) “We know all men aren’t created equal in the sense some people would have us believe- some people are smarter than others, some people have more opportunity because their born with it, some men make more money than others, some ladies make better cakes than others- some people are born gifted beyond the normal scope of most men.” (SD) This quote from chapter 20 of To Kill a Mockingbird was said by Atticus during his final statements to the Jury in Tom Robinson’s trial, but they also relate to the characters in the novel. (CM) Scout and Jem, unknowing and thoroughly thinking through every moment, were born with more opportunity than people such as Boo Radley or Dill have access to, partially because they don’t have supportive parents like Atticus, and probably have parents that are as precautionary as Aunt Alexandra. (CM) Although Calpurnia isn’t as well educated or appreciated in Maycomb County as Aunt Alexandra is, she has better judgment and family skills, and Aunt Alexandra does not seem as if she knows that she is lacking in many areas. 

Atticus Finch Defending Tom Robinson

(CM) In addition, Atticus Finch was born with many gifts that helped him defend Tom Robinson, and Atticus always does what is right in his eyes.

(SD) This quote also relates to my personal life, because there have been many experiences l was able to have and enjoy that others are not so fortunate to undergo. (CM) Some people envy my abilities at different sports that I was gifted with, while I am not so accomplished at others. (CM) Sadly, in my lifetime my eyes have seen many people who are experiencing homelessness, which reminded me of how Mr. Finch explained that some men make more money than others. (CM) Also, I’ve been to many places across the country and in the world that so many people, as Atticus said, are not born with the opportunity to explore. (CS) Atticus made valid points in his speech to his jury, and possibly Scout and Jem will grow up knowing that message, and everyone who reads the book will understand how we are all different yet alike.

As children, you grow up thinking that owls are the wisest animals. They are often portrayed in movies and books as the smart person who speaks up and gives the greatest advice that there is to be given. If that is actually true, then I wonder if the owls think the same way that Atticus Finch thinks. Maybe owls give advice, similar to the advice of Atticus, to their owlets.

Self Assessment
1) One issue that I am continuing to work on is that I sometimes repeat words without being purposeful.
2) One strong point that I see in this piece of writing is my varied lengths of sentences.
3) One possible weak point I see is that the flow of my sentences from one to the next aren’t always equal.