Characters

Characters are our way into the story and it is through them we learn to understand the world of Maycomb and the events in the novel. An important part of the novel is Harper Lee's characterisation of the three children - Scout, Jem, and Dill, who gain life experiences and mature as they face different problems and interact with the adults in the novel.

Reflect on your reactions to the main characters in To Kill A Mockingbird - Scout, Atticus, Jem, Bill, Calpurnia, Tom Robinson, Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell, and Boo Radley and determine which characters are considered to be "flat" and presented by the author as one-sided and unchanging, behaving in ways that are predictable and which characters are considered "round" where they are depicted as having greater complexity and depth, some weaknesses and some strengths, and a wide range of human emotions.

Also consider the roles played by the minor characters such as Nathan Radley and consider how they add to our understanding of the other characters and the events in the novel.