The coming-of-age as literary aesthetic in To Kill a Mockinbird (2002), by Harper Lee: childish innocence’s ends
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21680/1983-2435.2026v11n1ID40505Keywords:
Symbols and signification, Literary devices, To Kill a MockingbirdAbstract
This research aims to present a literary analysis of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird (2002), by Harper Lee, based on the themes and symbols of the narrative, here understood as literary devices. The methodology is bibliographic in nature and was developed through the reading of academic articles and dissertations in order to build the theoretical framework on the literary devices selected to investigate the work. As theoretical foundation, we draw on Freitas (2020) and Candido (1995), with their contributions regarding the importance of literary reading, as well as Thompson (1973), whose studies on literary devices served as a basis for this research. As results, it is indicated that symbols are fundamental to the construction of the novel, generating meanings for the reader. Through the discussion of specific concepts, such as the loss of innocence, it is understood that the coming-of-age process of the children in the narrative develops through the dialogue between the characters’ experiences, racial discrimination, and the very meaning of this journey for the reader. As final considerations, it is suggested that readers may make use of such interpretative devices throughout the reading of the novel, in order to promote a deeper understanding of the intrinsic meaning of the narrative, contributing to the development of critical and reflective skills.
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