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symbolism in fiction: mastery test
select the correct answer
in harper lee's to kill a mockingbird, the image of the mockingbird carries great symbolic weight based on the following excerpt, what could the
mockingbird symbolize?
mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. they don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in comcribs, they don't do one thing
but sing their hearts out for us. that's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.
a.
the mockingbird symbolizes the beauty of music because it gives immense pleasure to people through its melodious singing.
the mockingbird symbolizes the softer side of nature, because unlike most wild creatures, it doesn't harm human habitat.
b.
c.
the mockingbird symbolizes life that should be preserved for the nonmaterial value it provides people through its singing
d.
the mockingbird symbolizes the aesthetic beauty of nature because it lifts the moods of people by singing its heart out.

B. The mockingbird symbolizes the softer side of nature, because unlike most wild creatures, it doesn't harm human habitat.

Explanation:

Symbols help us connect ideas from a text with previous real life knowledge or things that most likely represent the same to a big audience.

On the excerpt, mockingbirds are represented as innocent creatures that 'don't do anything but to bring joy'. As said on answer B, mockingbirds as nature doesn't harm us, but only is in charge of give resources in order for us to have a joyful life.

source text: from the sketch here given it will be seen, that our good grandmothers differed considerably in their ideas of a fine figure, from their scantily dressed descendants of the present day. a fine lady, in those times, waddled under more clothes even on a fair summer's day, than would have clad the whole bevy of a modern ball room. nor were they the less admired by the gentlemen in consequence thereof. on the contrary, the greatness of a lover's passion seemed to increase in proportion to the magnitude of its object—and a voluminous damsel, arrayed in a dozen of petticoats, was declared by a low-dutch sonnetteer of the province, to be radiant as a sunflower, and luxuriant as a full blown cabbage. certain it is, that in those days, the heart of a lover could not contain more than one lady at a time; whereas the heart of a modern gallant has often room enough to accommodate half a dozen - - the reason of which i conclude to be, either that the hearts of the gentlemen have grown larger, or the persons of the ladies smaller — this however is a question for physiologists to determine. add punctuation to the following excerpt. writing under the name of diedrich knickerbocker washington irving aimed his potent satire at as diverse topics as political rivals such as thomas jefferson to the very ideal of looking back on the past affectionately: a fine lady, in those times, waddled under more clothes even on a fair summer's day, than would have clad the whole bevy of a modern ball room. a voluminous damsel, arrayed in a dozen of petticoats, was declared by a low-dutch sonnetteer of the province, to be radiant as a sunflower, and luxuriant as a full blown cabbage. in those days, the heart of a lover could not contain more than one lady at a time; whereas the heart of a modern gallant has often room enough to accommodate half a dozen

part a.   = c.)

part b. = a.)

explanation: