Examples Of Figurative Language In To Kill A Mockingbird

The key of using figurative language in writing is to illustrate to the reader a descriptive image throughout their minds during the story. During the novel, the main characters undergo significant changes created by vivid descriptions with Lee’s use of language. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates to the reader in his novel, diverse ways of using figurative language to express the ideas he is trying to convey to us.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee introduces many ways to the reader of bringing moments in his novel realistic. During the scene of Walter’s dinner with the Finch’s, Lee includes many descriptive words and phrases that we use in our daily life. With Lee’s common phrase such that reveals what was going to happen such as the scene “It was then that Calpurnia requested my presence in the kitchen,” where the reader can relate the tension to what they had experienced in their life. Lee gives a Scout a childish and important role by making her confess out- loud about Walter’s wrong actions. The conversation of Atticus and Walter “like two men”, showing how grown up Walter is. Lee gives the reader a common daily lifetime experience to relate to
what he is showing clearer and practical.
Another example given by Harper Lee is when Lee illustrates to the reader an apprehensive scene of Jem’s journey to retrieve his trousers back.
During his journey of retrieving his trousers back, Lee creates a tense climate in the scene that draws the reader to want to know what was going to occur next. Jem confirmed with Scout of “Atticus ain’t ever whipped me since I can remeber” allowing Lee to make the reader to imagine what was going to happen by making Scout and Jem have their conversation of how serious it was going to be when Atticus found out that Jem had left the house. Lee includes Scout and Jem’s conversation with included pronouns to help him creates the scene simpler and reasonable. Harper Lee’s writing causes the reader to understand whatever he is trying to let the reader to
know.
Lastly, Harper Lee expresses what he wants to say to the reader by giving them a vivid imagination of what had occurred. During the scene of when Scout and Jem were coming back from school, Lee makes a it seem like it their was a horror movie going on. Lee creates the horror beat in the readers head when they read it. When Jem finally hears something chasing after them for sure, Lee makes this scene scary such as putting in phrases “Shuffle foot had not stopped with us this time. His trousers swished softly and steadily. Then they stopped. He was running, running toward us with no child’s steps”. In this scene, Lee specifically uses verbs and phrases to bring the moments alive. The figurative language that Harper Lee constantly uses helps her explain her ideas about what she believes into her novel. Lee’s creates the portrayal of childhood innocence, told from a matured adult understanding, and a progressive, enlightened message about racial prejudice, violence, moral tolerance and dignified courage to her audience.The usage of figurative language not only causes to create a vivid image to the reader but also an easier understanding of the novel.