9th Literature: To Kill a Mockingbird

Character Analysis

MIRRORING PAIRS

Many characters in the novel share similar characteristics or purposes. For each pair listed below, describe what is similar about them. Give specific examples from the novel. Include the page numbers where you find the information. Use the first pair as an example.

Character Pairs / Similarity / Examples from Novel
Atticus &
Mr. Cunningham / Both men are good fathers. They teach their children common values. / Atticus says, “If you can learn a simple trick Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee 33).
Mr. Cunningham taught Walter never to take anything that he couldn’t pay back (Lee 23).
Miss Maudie & Calpurnia
Scout & Dill
Dill &
Burris Ewell
Mr. Underwood & Heck Tate / SKIP THIS / SKIP THIS
Mr. Cunningham &
Mr. Underwood / SKIP THIS / SKIP THIS
Cousin Francis & Cecil Jacobs / SKIP THIS / SKIP THIS
Boo Radley & Tom Robinson
Bob Ewell & Nathan Radley

FOIL PAIRS

A technique an author uses to make his or her characters’ traits more obvious to the reader is that of pairing together foils—two characters who are very different in terms of their values, traits, and goals. The purpose of employing this technique is to make the contrast even more visible; that is to make the “bad person” seem very corrupt while highlighting the excellent qualities of the “good person.”

The following pairs are foils, and therefore, they are placed opposite one another on the chart. In the middle of the two characters, list the qualities or values that are highlighted by this pairing. Give specific examples from the novel. Include the page numbers where you find the information. Use the first pair as an example.

Character / Highlighted Qualities / Foil
Calpurnia / Mother Figures
Calpurnia is stern, but she genuinely loves the Finch children. After she scrubbs them for church, Cal says, “I don’t want anybody sayin’ I don’t look after my children” (Lee 134).
Aunt Alexandra thinks only of how the children might affect her reputation. Scout says that Alexandra told her she “could not possibly hope to be a lady if [she] wore breeches” (Lee 92). / Alexandra
Jem & Scout / Family Relationships / Dill
The Ewells / Responses to Poverty / The Cunninghams
Mrs. Dubose / Courage in Overcoming Problems / Bob Ewell
Nathan Radley / Treatment of Children / Atticus
Scout / Lives of a Daughter / Mayella
Miss Maudie / Influential Neighbors / Miss Stephanie