Essay on "To Kill a Mockingbird" and the Techniques Used: Characterisation, Structure, Point of View and Language

In "To Kill A Mockingbird", we are given impressions of incidents as young Scout experiences them. It is presented in first person point of view and there are many advantages to this. Firstly, this novel has a very violent story line and involves such things as hatred, rape and violence. By showing the story through a child's eyes, this violence can be softened, and Scout's innocence can be contrasted with the prejudice of the older generation. This point of view can also give the reader an insight into the story which Scout does not see in her innocent mind. She does not understand the meaning of rape, whereas the reader does '"what's rape?" I asked him that night...". She does not understand the issues of prejudice, however the reader does. Scout is also not aware of the meaning of the objects put in the knot hole by Boo, and again, the reader does.…