Atticus finch summation to the jury from to kill a mockingbird by. Indicating that atticus is referring to the ewells as white and tom robinson as black. Why did atticus remove his coat, loosen his tie, and. Atticus finch walks out of the court after tom robinson is found. It means we can challenge the powerful without fear and give a voice to.
Watch the clip from the film adaptation and read the transcript of his speech. A rhetorical analysis of atticus finchs speech to the. As atticus continues to utilize ethos to influence the jurors about toms innocence. According to atticus, the cunninghams had some sense of justice and pride, whereas the ewells had none. Chapter 20 the remainder of his summation was a plea to the jury to accept toms version of the events, to make the unheard of leap of believing a black mans word over the ewells. Atticus finch closing speech to the jury ashley hackett. Classical rhetoric in atticus finchs speeches jstor. A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up. In the last section of the argument, atticus says one more thing, gentlemen, before i quit. Atticus finch delivers his closing argument at the trial of tom robinson. Why we have them, why the bill of rights guarantees that we can have them, and why my right to have a gun is more important than your right to rail. Robinson, a 25 year old black father of low social class, ends up being wrongly convicted of a crime by a corrupt legal system, despite the best attempts of scout and jems father, atticus, toms defense attorney, to prove toms innocence. Distribute the atticus s closing speech notecatcher and orient them to the two parts. Toms experience suggests that africanamericans in maycomb have a whole additional set of fears to those of the white residents.
In reminding the jurors of this essential duty, atticus tries to give them a sensation of nobility that they ought to do the same for tom robinson. Closing argument in atticus finchs to kill a mockingbird. This paragraph can be omitted in the interest of time. Atticus s reply suggests that the racism inherent in the guilty verdict is part of the past, present, and future of the community. In the book, atticus is made out to be a very mature person and that he has a. Referring to something as black and white is a common saying that means. What were atticus closing remarks to the jury answers.
Choice of diction atticus uses elevated diction to show the court that tom is a human as well. Obviously this case has everything to do with race and skin colour. First, he asserts that the state has not produced one iota of medical evidence that the crime tom robinson is charged with ever took place. He paints a picture of tom for the court to see with his words. Told through the eyes of scout finch, you learn about her father atticus finch. When atticus was making his closing statements he was talking about how the jury should do the right thing and how the courtroom was the one place where everyone should be treated equally. Protagonist atticus finch, a knowledgeable attorney, is faced with the daunting task of defending a convicted black man in a hostile court filled with. This will be helpful to those of you who are studying the novel andor preparing for your oral presentations. Here, jem asks atticus how the jury could find tom robinson guilty. The book is about tom robinson, a negro, who was charged with raping a white girl.
Tom is innocent because he could not have wrapped his hands around mayellas neck and punched her in the right the eye. Atticus used two rhetorical devices anaphora and polysyndeton to get his point crossed. Reminding the jury that a conviction can come only if there is certainly beyond reasonable doubt, atticus refers to the substance of this trial as dependent mainly upon the questionable testimony of two witnesses, testimony that has been flatly. The purpose of atticus speech was to convince the jury that tom robinson is not guilty of raping mirella ewell. Atticus s closing speech is found at the end of chapter 20 where he begins by saying that there arent many complicated facts in this case. Get an answer for what is atticus actually condemning in his closing remarks to the jury, and what is atticuss final plea in to kill a mockingbird. Students will complete a graphic organizer to track and analyze atticus use of ethos, pathos, and logos. Atticus also suggests that only people that the members of the jury wont feel any remorse about their actions, as children like jem, who weeps. Atticus finchs speeches provides answers to ciceros question and.
Atticus s closing speech 20 minutes invite students to take out their copies of to kill a mockingbird. Atticus moves on in exercising pathos in his talk by highlighting the reality that the jury has a substantial task to check out. In to kill a mockingbird, can someone paraphrase atticuss closing speech to the jury in just a. What was atticus trying to say in his closing speech at the end of the. It has relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses whose evidence has not only been called into serious question on cross examination, but has been flatly. In the book to kill a mockingbird, atticus says an. Now, gentlemen, in this country our courts are the great levelers. Examples of logos in to kill a mockingbird in atticus. Thomas jefferson once said that all men are created equal, a phrase that the yankees and the distaff side of the executive branch in washington are fond of hurling at us. By stating, but a court is only as sound as its jury, and the jury is only as sound as the men who make it up, finch proves that equality is in actuality determinate of the convictions and biases of the people, and that it is the responsibility of the common man to uphold the countrys epithet. Atticuss reply suggests that the racism inherent in the guilty verdict is part of the past, present. Those are twelve reasonable men in everyday life, toms jury, but you saw. This speech can be found in to kill a mockingbird by harper lee.
Atticus finch, an experienced lawyer, tried to prove the innocence of the robison. Atticus could have described tom as being a simple negro who had felt sorry for a white woman but eloquently describes. To kill a mockingbird at one point during his closing remarks, atticus says to the jury, this case is as simple as black and white. The closing remarks are summed up to mean that atticus wants to convince the jury to do their duty for once. Atticus points out that the case comes down to the word of a black man against the word of the white people, and that the ewells case depends upon the jury s assumption that all black men lie. As later becomes apparent, atticus doesnt really believe that the jury will set tom free, even though he hopes they will, as evidenced by. In five or six sentences, paraphrase atticus summation to the jury. Atticus unbuttons his vest and collar, loosens his tie, and takes off his coat. In atticuss closing argument in tom robinson s case from harper lee s notorious novel, to kill a mockingbird, and doctor martin luther king s well known i have dream speech, both speakers inflict emotions, use facts, and use numerous rhetorical devices to convey their powerful arguments to the their audiences. Atticuss closing statement to kill a mockingbird 710.
Paraphrase atticus summation closing speech to the jury, in the book to kill a mockingbird. Even though atticus proves that tom could not have beaten mayella and the only person who could have done it was her father, the jury believed that tom was. Gregory peck as atticus finch in to kill a mockingbird dir. Harper lee to kill a mockingbird atticus finchs closing speech. The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence that the crime tom robinson is charged with ever took place. He notes tom robinsons impeccable character and his crippled arm. Get an answer for what was atticus trying to say in his closing speech at the end of the tom robinson.
Logos atticus begins his speech with a logical appeal to the audience. Chapter twenty portrays atticus s plea to the jury to do their sworn duty, toss aside their predetermined views, and take account all the evidence present in order to free tom robinson. In chapter 20, atticus appeals to the jury s sense of dignity, and in putting together the facts of the case, he stresses the simplicity of the evidence and shows that the facts point toward toms innocence. Plus, he must break down the jury s mindset established in the precivil war ideas. Rhetorical analysis of atticus finchs speech to the jury in harper lees to kill a mockingbird atticus finch uses ethos, pathos, and logos in his speech to the jury to persuade them of toms innocence. After atticus s speech to the court in chapter 21, both the jury and the black community take a stand literally by watching tticus walk down the aisle and leaving the courtroom.
What the jury must remember, and what atticus does not. He begins by saying that there was not enough evidence for the court to even come to trial, stating, the state has not produced one iota of medical evidence that the crime tom robinson is charged with ever took place. Atticus finch s speech of equality harper lees renowned novel, to kill a mockingbird, depicts the racial injustices of the deep south during the early 20th century. Im no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and of our jury system. Miss maudie stopped rocking, and her voice hardened.
In the end, the jury convicts robinson, choosing to deliberately ignore. In his context, atticus uses ethos in his speech in an attempt to get across to the jurors what he believes is meant by proclaiming ones veneration of deities. The historical background of the book is the year of grace. Reminding the jury that a conviction can come only if there is certainly beyond reasonable doubt, atticus refers to the substance of this trial as dependent mainly upon the questionable testimony.
In chapter 20 of to kill a mockingbird, atticus says this. In reminding the jurors of the essential obligation, atticus tries to provide them a experience of nobility that they need to do the same for tom robinson. Atticus finch begins his closing statement with his claim to begin with, this case should have never come to trial. Also, scout may have reawakened the cunningham sense of pride and justice during that night at the jail. This is an example of ethos for the reason that in ethos, you struggle to show up yourself as plausible in order to influence the audience. In atticus s closing argument in tom robinsons case from harper lees notorious novel, to kill a mockingbird, and doctor martin luther kings well known i have dream speech, both speakers inflict emotions, use facts, and use numerous rhetorical devices. What were atticus closing remarks to the jury in to kill. Both communities take a stand figuratively because the jury took a negative stand for the back community and the black community took a stand for tom robinson. Im no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and in the jury systemthat is no ideal to me, it is a living, working reality. However, i do not understand why atticus is trying to persuade the jury with his speech, even though he knows that it is hopeless to save tom robinson. Atticus reminds the jury that bob is left handed and tom is right handed left hand useless. Overall, the book suggests that despite this inherent bias, each individual.
To kill a mockingbird atticus finchs closing speech. Martin luther king and atticus finchs compelling words atticus finch from the book to kill a mockingbird and martin luther king are both extremely eloquent speakers who conveyed their messages in such a powerful way that they changed history. This line comes from atticuss closing argument to the jury at tom robinsons trial. To kill a mockingbird chapter 20 flashcards quizlet. Towards the end of his speech, atticus challenges the jury to do their duty and not believe the evil. Ethos, pathos and logos in the trial of tom robinson. What does atticus say in his summation to the jury in to. Lee 272 atticus illuminates the correlation between the location of mayellas injuries and her fathers strong hand. His voice had lost its aridity, its detachment, and he was talking to the jury as if they were folks on the post office corner. On gun control atticus finch closing argument in to kill a mockingbird today i want to talk to you about guns. Atticus s closing statement in the tom robinsons court case. Atticus thought that a cunningham might sway the rest of the jury.
What is atticus actually condemning in his closing remarks to the. Extracts for book club discussion from harper lees to kill a mockingbird. Atticus uses anaphora when he says she is the victim of cruel poverty and ignorance. However, in this trial the lawyer, atticus, has a rough road ahead of him since he must defend a black man. Atticus was saying that mayella was abused by her father and she was blaming it on tom.
Here are the two reasons he gives to develop his argument. In his closing statements for the defense, atticus gregory peck, tries to convince the jury to believe tom robinson brock peters. Here, then, is a paraphrasing of the summation of atticus finch to the jury in a few sentences. This post will focus on atticus finchs closing argument in tom robinsons trial. Paraphrase atticus summation closing speech to the jury. Atticus finch used both anaphora and parallelism to get his point across to the jury. Atticus said to jem one day, id rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but i know youll go. He does not hesitate for a second but delivers a profound and moving speech which sears itself into the audiences brains. Atticus tells the jury that the idea that all black men are liars is just a lie that white men tell themselves. What was atticus trying to say in his closing speech at. This 2page handout will guide your students through a rhetorical analysis of atticus closing speech in chapter 20 of harper lees to kill a mockingbird.
In chapter 20, atticus begins his closing remarks by commenting, this case is as simple as black and white lee 124. There are white men who are liars, and there are black men who are liars. Gilmer is trying to suggest that tom didnt have any reason to be scared if he wasnt doing anything wrong, the fact that tom is in court on trial for his shows that his fears were very wellfounded. Atticus moves on in exercising pathos in his speech by highlighting the reality that the jury has a significant task to follow. Atticus finch summation to the jury from to kill a mockingbird by harper. According to scout, he never loosened a scrap of his clothing until he undressed at bedtime, and to jem and me, this was the equivalent of him standing before us stark naked. After atticuss speech to the court in chapter 21, how do. To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. During atticus s closing speech to the jury, he states, this case is as simple as black and white. Atticus finchs closing argument in the trial of tom robinson, from harper lees classic novel to kill a mockingbird 1960 an annotated text of the version delivered by gregory peck in the. He wants them to believe tom robinson is innocent and should not be convicted for. His effective use of these rhetorical devices ultimately demonstrates his values and ref. But the jury announced a verdict that robinson was guilty. Mockingbird discussion points penguin books australia.
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