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Metaphor: Obviously the ham costume isn't an actual prison, but in this moment Scout can't run very fast or escape the danger because of it. The word itself has many negative connotations such as confinement and restriction, both of which are happening to Scout. The prison metaphor could also like to the constant theme of the justice system running throughout the book, in terms of Tom Robinson's case.
Juxtaposition: Comparing the costume to a prison shows the change in setting as moments before it was a humorous, light hearted part of the story, and now ends up both hindering Scouts get away and saving Scout's life.
In conclusion, Harper Lee uses emotive language, sentence structure, and a range of language techniques such as metaphors, similes, onomatopoeia, etc, to create a haunting and eerie atmosphere in this scene of To Kill a Mocking Bird.
“Jem knew as well as I that it was difficult to walk fast without stumping a toe, tripping on stones, and other inconveniences.”
There are other quotes where there is no specific literacy device used, however the vocabulary alone creates the atmosphere.
“He coughed violently, sobbing, a bone-shaking cough.”
“I felt Jem’s hand leave me, felt him jerk backwards to the ground.”
Authors have to think carefully about their use of words, Harper Lee could have chosen a variety words such a stumbling, struggling or flailing. Yet she chose floundering, which I feel really portrays Scouts actions and her helplessness in this scene, and is an effective use of vocabulary.
The rule of three is used in writing to increase the memorability of the text. It helps the sentence to flow, and makes the reader take it what they're reading.
“More scuffling, and there came a dull crunching sound and Jem screamed.”
“Our company shuffled and dragged his feet, as if wearing heavy shoes.”
“Whoever it was wore thick cotton pants; what I thought were trees rustling was the soft swish of cotton on cotton, wheek, wheek, with every step. “
Remember this quote from the start?
This scene creates a mystery with the things it doesn't say as well as what it does. Instead of saying things like "Jem was scared." she uses quotations such as the one below to imply how the characters feel.
The night was still. I could hear his breath coming easily beside me.... This was the stillness before a thunderstorm
“He was up like lightning and pulling me with him."
“Hay-e-hay-e, answered the schoolhouse wall”
The use of the onomatopoeia is effective in creating an atmosphere in any text, especially here. Like with the senses, using what the character can hear makes the reader feel as though they too can hear the attacker getting closer, and feel as though they are there with Scout.
“I felt his fingers press the top of my costume, too hard, it seemed.”
The length and complexity of the sentences build up after this to the attack
“His stomach was soft but his arms were like steel.”
Personification is an effective way in which Harper Lee can enhance the super natural, creepy element of the chapter, by giving the school house wall a voice, the sinister atmosphere is built on further
Showing is an important technique used by writers to make the reader feel as though they're there, it evokes a response from the audience.
"From somewhere nearby came scuffling, kicking sounds, sounds of shoes and flesh scraping dirt and roots."
Repetition is a technique used to add emphasis to something, and the repetition of the echo, heightens the emptiness of their surroundings, and show's how alone they are.
And then, this sentence feels like a closure to the panic hysteria.
Similes are used to create an image for the reader, and are often chosen to emphasise a characteristic or point in the plot. Lightning is often associated with speed and recklessness and Steel with strength and lack of emotion.
“Stunned, I stood there dumbly. The scuffling noises were dying; someone wheezed and the night was still again.”
This scene is effective for many reasons, one of which being the use of Scout's senses. Harper Lee does not just tell the reader what they can see, but also what they feel, hear, and touch:
Using different senses is very important in creating an atmosphere. By describing what the character can hear, feel, smell, see, and taste, it makes the story seem multi-dimensional, and less 'flat'.
“He slowly squeezed the breath out of me.”
“The night was still. I could hear his breath coming easily beside me."
“Still, but for a man breathing heavily, breathing heavily and staggering.”
“I felt the sand go cold under my feet"
Sibilance is a literary technique often used to create an unsettling and threatening atmosphere, which is highly appropriate and effective in this scene.
“My toes touched trousers, a belt buckle, buttons, something I could not identify a collar and a face. A prickly stubble on the face told me it was not Jem’s."
Again the use of repetition emphasises the mans lack of breath, and general unfitness. Lee drops many hints as to who is after Scout and Jem, and the fact that he's staggering gives us further clues of whom their attacker is
"I smelled stale whisky.”
“From somewhere nearby came scuffling, kicking sounds, sounds of shoes and flesh scraping dirt and roots.”
In my opinion, this scene of the book can be split into a beginning, a middle and an end
The night was still. I could hear his breath coming easily beside me. Occasionally there was a sudden breeze that hit my bare legs but it was all that remained of a promised windy night. This was the stillness before a thunderstorm
In the text around this quote, the sentences are quote short and simplistic.
"It was not my costume"
"We slowed the a crawl."
"We had not increased our pace"
From the beginning this scene is set up to be one of a scary nature, as it's set on Halloween.
The two of them talk about scary things from their childhood: Haints, Hot Steams, Incantations, Secret signs, and the Radley House.
In the previous walk to the school house they were pranked by Cecil Jacobs, this is significant foreshadowing and lulls the reader into a false sense of security for the return trip.