To Kill A Mockingbird Comparative Analysis

1.  What do you think is the most important difference between the written and filmed version? Provide evidence with specific details.

      There were many differences between the movie and the book. One of those differences is that they completely cut out an important character that was in the second part of the book. In the second part of the book, Scout and Jem's Aunt Alexandra comes and stays with them to "teach Scout how to become a woman". We learn a lot about the town and the time period through her. As she says on page 127, "'We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence. It wont be many years before you become interested in clothes and boys--'" She ends up being a fairly important character in the second half of the book, but she is never mentioned in the movie. 

      Another big difference is with Mrs. Dubose. In the book, Jem learns a big life lesson because of her. In the book, she is described as a horrible, mean, nasty woman who insults Atticus and the children. When she dies, Atticus tells Jem her life story and how she was the bravest woman he ever knew. But, in the movie, she was only mentioned once: in the very beginning of the movie, she yells at Scout about being an ugly girl. They never mention her death, and Jem doesn't learn the lesson about courage.

3. What is the purpose in having different versions of a story? Think about how different versions contribute to the overall understanding and interpretation of that piece of work. Use specific concepts to support your opinion.

      There are many reasons for having different versions of a story. One reason could be different perspectives. For example, in the book, everything was from Scout's perspective, which meant that we could really see everything that as going on. But, in the movie, we got to see parts of the story that we couldn't see from the book, like Atticus going to visit Helen Robinson. Another reason for having different versions of a story is to understand it better. Sometimes during the book, I got a little confused as to what was happening, like when Mr. Ewell attacked the kids, but in the movie, I was able to understand it a little better.