As you read, stop and jot your notes in the charts on each page.

TKAM Annotations Chart - Round Robin Name ___​Bradley Alford​________

Harper Lee uses rhetoric and various language styles in her novel ​To Kill a 
Mockingbird.​ ​She created characters such as Atticus, who mostly speaks in a formal 
tone and uses rhetoric towards his children, people throughout the community, and 
the jury in the courtroom. Harper created a 6 year old narrator that uses many styles 
of language as she speaks to her father (Atticus), her brother (Jem), her house maid 
(Calpurnia or Cal), her fiance’ (Dill), and neighbors.  

Language styles created by authors: 

​Rhetorical Appeals:​ the language authors, speakers, or ANYONE uses to make an 
impression or persuade others. Rhetoric is considered the art of persuasion. 
1. Ethos​ - speaker’s ability to establish himself as credible or an expert on the 
matter 
2. Pathos​ - speaker’s ability to appeal to the emotions of the listeners/audience. (a 
“play” on emotions) 
3. Logos​ - speaker’s ability to use logic, reason, facts, statistics to prove his/her 
point 
 
​Rhetoric can also be in the form of literary devices: ​allusions, irony, imagery, simile, 
metaphor, hyperbole, oxymoron, parallelism, repetition, personification, and more! 
 
Style: formal language vs. informal language:​ ​everyone switches up how they use 
language depending on where they are or who they’re with. The language we use 
depends on our circumstances. Author’s switch up the type of language they use 
when they write. 
1. Informal language ​- personal or slang language that we use with someone we 
know very well. We use personal pronouns and contractions when we speak to 
family or friends. Uses active voice. 
2. Formal language​ - professional and business-like language we use with people 
we don’t know. Uses passive voice and higher level words. 
3. Objective tone​ - States the facts or what was heard, seen, or said; no opinions. 
Can sometimes be used with formal language 
4. Subjective tone​ - speaks using opinions; usually associated with informal 
language 
 
Allusions: ​when authors refer to famous people, characters, stories, myths, to 
emphasize their point. Lee Harper uses a lot of unfamiliar allusions in TKAM. 
 
Fallacious reasoning/fallacies: ​a deceptive or misleading statement. A fallacious 
argument can fool human reasoning. 
 
 As you read, stop and jot your notes in the charts on each page.

Rhetorical Devices  
Required  Character  Quote from character  Type of  What effect did it have on the 
chapter  (label formal or informal)  Rhetoric  situation? 

    “I said if he wanted to     

    take a broad view of the    The effect that the quote has 
1  thing, it really began  on the situation is that it put 
 
  with Andrew Jackson. If 
Allusion 
the reader in perspective of 
Scout   
  General Jackson hadn’t    how the actions taken long ago 
  run the Creeks up the    has eventually led to the 
Page #3  creek, Simon Finch  Logos  situations that we read about 
would have never  in the book and gives an outer 
paddled up the 
  view of the story. 
Alabama, and where 
would we be if he 
hadn’t.” 

        The effect that this quote has 

2    “Molasses buckets  Personification  on the situation is that it 
  Scout  appeared from nowhere,    showed the reader how the 
 
Page #21    and the ceiling danced 
Pathos 
light was reflecting off the 
  with metallic light.”  metal on to the ceiling, letting 
the reader better understand 
the setting. 

3    “You never really truly    The effect that this quote has 
  Atticus  understand a person  Personification  on the situation is that it 
    until you consider things    explains how Scout needs to 
  from his point of view-    see other people’s points of 
 
  until you climb into his  Ethos  view while he doesn’t actually 
    skin and walk around in  mean to climb into their skin. 
Page #33    it.” 

    “Some tinfoil was     

    sticking in a knot-hole    The effect that this quote has 
4    just above my eye level,    on the situation is that it 
    winking at me in the  Personification  expressed to the reader the 
  Scout  afternoon sun. I stood    time of day and showed that 
 
    on tiptoe, hastily looked 
 
there was trash in the tree 
    around once more,  which is blowing through the 
Pathos 
Page #37  reached into the hole,  air. This also shows that is 
  and withdrew two pieces  currently windy, explaining the 
  of chewing gum minus  weather. 
their outer wrappers.” 

    “Well how’d you feel if    The effect that this quote has 
5    you’d been shut up for a  Hyperbole  on the situation is that it 
  Dill  hundred years with    expresses to the reader how, 
  nothin’ but cats to eat? I    even though it hadn’t been for 
 
  bet he’s got a beard  Pathos  a hundred years, that Boo 
Page #52    down to hear-.”  Radley had been inside for a 
  long time. 

    “Jem’s white shirt-tail    The effect that this quote has 

6    dipped and bobbed like  Simile  on the situation is that it helps 
  Scout  a small ghost dancing    the reader to visualize Jem’s 
Page  away to escape the  Pathos  shirt and better understand 
#63-64 
  coming morning.”  the setting and situation. 
 As you read, stop and jot your notes in the charts on each page.

    “Jem stayed moody and    The effect that this quote has 
7    silent for a week. As  Hyperbole  on the situation is that it shows 
  Scout  Atticus had once    how Scout is trying to 
    advised me to do, I tried  Ethos  understand Jem’s point of view 
Page #65    to climb into Jem’s skin  but she doesn’t literally mean 
  and walk around in it…”  she’s getting in his skin. 

    “Mr. Avery said it was     

    written on the Rosetta     
    Stone that when    The effect that this quote has 
8    children disobeyed their    on the situation is that it shows 
    parents, smoked  Allusion  the superstitions that people of 
    cigarettes and made    this time would have about how 
  Mr. Avery  war on each other, the    random actions could cause 
  seasons would change:    bad events to take place. The 
  Jem and I were    adults telling the kids this 
Page #72  burdened with the guilt  Ethos  represents how this and many 
of contributing to the  other things are passed down 
aberrations of nature,  through the generations 
thereby causing  creating legends and these 
unhappiness to our  odd superstitions. 
neighbors and 
discomfort to ourselves.” 

    “It’s different this time.    The effect that this quote has 
    This time we aren’t    on the situation is that the 
    fighting the Yankees,    situation by showing Scout that 
9  Atticus  we’re fighting our  Pathos  even though these people are 
  friends. But remember    treating them horribly like this, 
  this, no matter how    they are still they’re friends and 
  bitter things get, they’re    they need to make it through 
Page #87  still our friends and this  the situation so they can be 
is still our home.”  friends again. 

    “With these attributes,     

10    however, he would not     
    remain as  Personification  The effect that this quote has 
  Scout  inconspicuous as we    on the situation is that it shows 
  wished him to: that year,    the reader how the school's 
 
Page  the school buzzed with  students were all talking about 
Pathos 
#103  talk about him  Tom Robinson and Atticus. 
defending Tom 
Robinson…” 

    “I wanted you to see    The effect that this quote has 

11    what real courage is,  Metaphor  on the situation is that it shows 
  Atticus  instead of getting the    that courage is not just having 
Page  idea that courage is a  Pathos  the tools and being physically 
#128  man with a gun in his  powerful but is instead 
  hand.”  emotional. 

        The effect that this quote has 

12    “She had put so much  Simile  on the situation is that it 
  Scout  starch in my dress it    expresses to the reader what 
  came up like a tent when    Scout’s dress looked like and 
Page  I sat down.”  Pathos  better help to visualize the 
As you read, stop and jot your notes in the charts on each page.

#134  situation. 
 

Examples of Fallacious Reasoning 

Chapter  Character  Fallacy Used  What effect did it have? 

    Slippery Slope   
       
“Mr. Avery said it was written   
     
on the Rosetta Stone that 
    when children disobeyed  The effect that this fallacy had was 
8    their parents, smoked  that it shows the illogical beliefs 
    cigarettes and made war on  that many people in Maycomb and 
  Mr. Avery  each other, the seasons  at town had. Believing that children 
  would change: Jem and I  acting up could cause changing 
were burdened with the guilt  seasons shows the superstitions 
 
of contributing to the  people have in this time. 
Page 
#72  aberrations of nature, 
thereby causing 
unhappiness to our 
neighbors and discomfort to 
ourselves.” 

    Hasty Generalization   
      The effect that this fallacy has is 
13    “Let a sixteen-year-old girl  that it shows the prejudices and 
  Aunt Alexandra  giggle in the choir and Aunty  assumptions that Alexandra and 
  would say, “It just goes to  others would make. 
Page  show you, all the Penfield 
#147  women are flighty.” 
 

    Faulty Analogy   
      The effect that this fallacy has is 
13    “but Aunt Alexandra was of  that it shows the idiocy people had 
  Aunt Alexandra  the opinion, obliquely  about how two things aren’t related 
  expressed, that the longer a  make something better than 
Page  family had been squatting  others. 
#147  on one patch of land the 
finer it was.” 

    Ad Populum   
       
“I got something’ to say an’   
18    then I ain’t gonna say no  The effect that this fallacy has is 
  Mayella  
more. That nigger took  that Mayella is able to appeal to 
  advantage of me an’ if you  the Jury’s emotions to make them 
Page  fine fancy gentlemen don’t  support and believe her over Tom 
#213  wanta do nothin’ about it  Robinson and Atticus. 
  then you’re all yellow stinkin’ 
cowards, stinkin’ cowards, 
the lot of you.” 

    Appeal to Fear   
       
20  Atticus  “It has relied instead upon   
the testimony of two 
  The effect that this fallacy has is 
As you read, stop and jot your notes in the charts on each page.

  witnesses whose evidence  that Atticus is able to slightly move 

  has not only been called into  the Jury towards acquitting Tom 
Page  serious question on  Robinson but painting a picture of 
#231  cross-examination, but has  Mr. Ewell as the perpetrator, 
been flatly contradicted by  inciting fear in them. 
  the defendant. The 
defendant is not humility, 
but somebody in this 
courtroom is.” 

Allusions (use the ​Allusions Survival Guide​ to help you ) 

Chapter &  Character  What allusion did they use?  How did it affect the meaning or 
Page #  tone? 

    “I said if he wanted to take a  This quote affects the 

Chapter     broad view of the thing, it really  meaning and tone of the 
    began with Andrew Jackson. If  story by putting the 
1  Scout  General Jackson hadn’t run the  reader in perspective of 
  Creeks up the creek, Simon  the outer view of how 
Page   Finch would have never  they had gotten to 
  paddled up the Alabama, and  where they were in the 
3  where would we be if he hadn’t.”  first place. 
 

    “In this matter we were lucky to   

Chapter     have Dill. He played the  This quote affects the 
    character parts formerly thrust  meaning and tone of the 
1    upon me- the ape in ​Tarzan​, Mr.  story by relating the 
  Dill  Crabtree in ​The Rover Boys​, Mr.  parts he played to 
Page  Damon in T​ om Swift​. Thus we  popular works so that 
  came to know Dill as a pocket  the reader could 
9  Merlin, whose head teemed with  understand that parts 
  eccentric plans, strange  that Dill was playing. 
longings, and quaint fancies.” 

    “Mr. Avery said it was written on   

    the Rosetta Stone that when  This quote affects the 
Chapter    children disobeyed their  meaning and tone of the 
    parents, smoked cigarettes and  story by showing the 
8    made war on each other, the  superstition among 
  Mr. Avery  seasons would change: Jem and  people of how actions 
  I were burdened with the guilt of  can cause what seems 
Page 72  contributing to the aberrations  unrealistic reaction in 
  of nature, thereby causing  nature changes. 
  unhappiness to our neighbors 
and discomfort to ourselves.” 

      This quote affects the 

Chapter    “See what you’ve done?’” he said.  meaning and tone of the 
8  Mr. Avery  “Hasn’t snowed in Maycomb  story by showing how 
  since Appomattox. It’s bad  long its been since it has 
As you read, stop and jot your notes in the charts on each page.

Page 74  children like you makes the  snowed since 

seasons change.”  Appomattox was very 
long ago.. 

Chapter    “You should like Cousin Ike  This quote affects the 
9    Finch,” I said. Cousin Ike Finch  meaning and tone of the 
  Ike Finch  was Maycomb County’s sole  story by relating to the 
Page 87  surviving Confederate veteran.  Civil War which we then 
know was recent.