Monday, November 17, 2014

What is a 3-5 sentence summary on Chapters 1-3 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

Chapters 1-3 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird are critical, as they provide important exposition for the rest of the novel. An example of a potential short summary of the first three chapters can be found below: 


In the first three chapters of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee introduces the Finch family, describing their lineage and relationship to Maycomb. Lee describes Maycomb as a small and sleepy town, and introduces us to her main characters: Atticus, Scout, and Jem Finch, their servant Calupurnia, and Scout and Jem's friend, Dill. Scout, Jem, and Dill play many childhood games, culminating in a series of dares involving Boo Radley, a local recluse widely feared by children. Then, Scout starts school and is discouraged by the backwards education system and confused by social differences between herself and the poorer students, especially the Ewells and Cunninghams. The third chapter ends with Atticus promising to continue to read to Scout if she promises to continue attending school.


As you can see, a summary is a quick and concise explanation of major events in a given text. Summarizing is an important tool for analysis, as it allows you to ensure that you fully understand the material you've read. Try summarizing these chapters yourself to make sure you understand the critical opening of Lee's magnificent novel.  

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