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What are some items or objects that are symbolic to To Kill a Mockingbird, and how are they symbolic to the book?


  • The items left in the tree- Boo Radley leaves several small overtures of friendship in a tree knothole for Scout and Jem to find.  These include gum, pennies, a watch, a spelling medal, and two soap dolls carved to look like Scout and Jem.  The items symbolize friendship and the innocence of childhood.  Boo was missing out on life, and he wanted to be part of Scout and Jem’s childhood.


  • Jem’s pants- Jem accidentally loses his pants sneaking into the Radley house.  He does not want to tell Atticus because he wants his father to respect him.  The decision to go back and get the pants symbolizes Jem’s maturity.  Boo Radley sews them up and leaves them for him, again showing that he is a good person.


  • The baton and Mrs. Dubose- Jem uses Scout’s baton to destroy Mrs. Dubose’s flowers because he cannot understand why a person can be so angry and racist.  Mrs. Dubose herself symbolizes moral courage, because she fights against her addiction and eventually beats it.  She demonstrates that you have to keep fighting even when things seem impossible.


I wanted you to see something about her—I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. (Ch. 11)




  • The gun and Tim Johnson- The rabid dog symbolizes racism, and Atticus is the only one who can shoot it.  This is symbolic of his role in protecting Maycomb from itself, and from its racism.


  • The fire- When Miss Maudie’s house catches fire, all of Maycomb comes out to help.  This symbolizes the community spirit of Maycomb.  People are complicated; they are not all good or all bad.


  • Mayella’s flowers- The fact that Mayella keeps flowers is mentioned several times.  They demonstrate that she is trying to keep beauty and innocence around her even despite her dismal circumstances.  They symbolize Mayella’s role as a victim.  She did not mean for any of this to happen.


  • Bob Ewell’s knife- This symbolizes his anger, and the innate danger of racism and prejudice even when it does not seem dangerous.


  • Boo Radley’s porch- Throughout the story, Boo Radley’s house and porch is an area of interest.  At the end of the book, Scout looks out from the porch and sees her childhood from his perspective, demonstrating she has grown up.


Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough. (Ch. 31)


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