Monday, April 7, 2014

What are some of Scout Finch's typical sayings in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Oddly, Scout does not seem to have any specific catch
phrases or oft-repeated quotes. She uses many Southern colloquial terms ("ain't,"
"reckon," "yonder"); is too young yet to understand the bigotry behind the word
"nigger;" and, like many young Southern children, she drops the "g" on many of her "ing"
words ("tryin'," "runnin' "). She also uses combined words such as "wanta" and "outa;"
abbreviated words, like " 'em" ("them"), and "c'n" ("can"); and non-abbreviated
combinations, like "nome" ("no ma'am") and "yessum" ("yes
ma'am").


A few examples of "Scoutisms"
are:


  • "... if you don't hush, I'll knock you
    bowlegged." (to Dill)

  • "Calpurnia says that's
    nigger-talk."  (to Miss Maudie)

  • "But what in the sam holy
    hill did you wait till tonight?"  (to Jem)

  • "You can just
    take that back, boy!" (to Cecil Jacobs)

  • "Pass the damn
    ham, please." (to Uncle Jack)

  • "... you better cut it out
    this red hot minute."  (to Cousin Francis)

  • "What's a
    whore-lady?"  (to Uncle Jack)

  • "Cecil Jacobs is a big fat
    hen."  (to Cecil and Sheriff Tate)

  • "Well, it'd be sort of
    like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it?"  (to
    Atticus)

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