To Kill a Mockingbird

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1. 
   malibrarian Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   Interesting question! I assumed both "Atticus" and "Calpurnia" came from Romans, but had to double check. Atticus was named for a Roman orator who remained impartial and fair during political turmoil (see wikipedia link below), while Calpurnia was named for the wife of Julius Caesar (check the eNotes link below for more information on Calpurnia from Julius Caesar).

   Sources:

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atticus_Finch

   http://www.enotes.com/jc/other-characters-descriptions

   http://www.enotes.com/mockingbird/characters

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   Posted by malibrarian on Saturday November 3, 2007 at 6:52 PM
   
   

2. 
   cldbentley Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   You ask an excellent question.  Names, particularly in stories, often serve many purposes.  In Harper Lee's story, the meaning of a particular name sometimes gives a clue to the character's personality.  Sometimes, even the sound of a name gives a hint to how Lee wants the reader to interpret a character.

   The name Calpurnia was also the name of Julius Ceasar's wife in Shakespeare's play.  In that play, Calpurnia's life was frequently subjected to tragedy or tragic elements.  In Lee's story, Calpurnia's life as a black woman of that time was difficult in many ways, and Tom Robinson's trial pressed Maycomb's black community into even more difficult situations.  The sound of the name Calpurnia denotes strength, which is obviously an integral part of Calpurnia as a character.

   Giving Arthur Radly the nickname "Boo" gives the reader a good idea of what kind of character he is.  Boo is a mysterious character, often believed to be a ghost, etc., so it is a very effective name.

   In order to better understand Lee's use of names, try to discover those names' particular meanings.  For example, the word "scout" can be found in the dictionary as a noun; when you know the definition, you can determine how it applies to Scout as a character.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/mockingbird/characters

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   Posted by cldbentley on Saturday November 3, 2007 at 7:00 PM
   
   

3. 
   jamie-wheeler Teacher
   College - Sophomore

   Your teacher is quite right.  I believe all of the names Lee selected were deliberately.  "Scout" is always searching for answers, her personality is such that she is always seeking. I argue that she spells "Jem" with an "e" to allude to the fact that the boy is like a "diamond in the rough."  We don't really see Jem's true capabilities until the very end. 

   "Boo" of course is meant to be scary, but it's such a childish word that it's terribly fear-inducing.  Also, Boo's proper name, Arthur, sounds completely harmless, and reflects his true nature.

   Think also of the Ewells, (the sound of "Ew" is a lot like "eew," indicating something unpleasant).

   Tom Robinson has a very "American" sounding name.  I believe she selected this name purposely to reflect his "ordinary" nature.

   Atticus' name is a nod to the Roman orator known for his just decisions.  Calpurnia also a Roman name.  She is a character from Julius Caesar.  Like the character who tries to protect her husband, she is protective of the Finch family, much like a mother bird would be to her offspring.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/mockingbird/characters

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   Posted by jamie-wheeler on Sunday November 4, 2007 at 4:35 AM
   
   

4. 
   fuzzykate93 Student
   High School - 9th Grade

   Wow! My teacher said the exact same thing, and my class even got asked to look up the meaning of one of the names. So after my research i have found that "Calpurnia" is the name of Julius Caesar's wife. In the Shakespeare play she was very protective of her husband (kind of like how Cal was in To Kill a Mocking Bird, except she was protective of the Finch children), also Calpunia suffered many hard ships, like Cal who as a black woman struggled in the south with so many racist people around. Then there is Atticus and his name, is the name of a man in Rome who was a just and fair orator, and made good decisions. So any how there are many different meanings to each of the names.  

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   Posted by fuzzykate93 on Wednesday November 21, 2007 at 10:38 AM
   
   

5. 
   fixme Student
   High School - 11th Grade

   The story of this novel is quiet captivating. The writer has choosen perfect names for the character that suit them perfectly.Scout and Jem have turned Aurther Radley into a ghost that shows the sense of humor from a child's percpective, and the way of lee's saggacity of presenting this story.

   Calpurnia is a women who's character completely potraits to the character of Calpurnia in shakespears novel.Her life is full of tragrdies.She works for Mr.Finch inspite of the fact that she is a black women.

   Mr.Finch is a man who is struggling to save the truth ,although he is aware of the fact that it is hardly possible to save a black man in a white dominant society.

   Scout is a tom boy,who eventually learns to be a girl .Her name implies to her character.  

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   Posted by fixme on Thursday August 14, 2008 at 12:50 AM
   
   

6. 
   soccorchick45 Student
   High School - 10th Grade

   hey were reading this book and the whole story is based off harper lees life!!!

    Atticus Finch= her dad

   Boo Radley= her neighbor that was "mysterious"

   and Scout= her!!!

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   Posted by soccorchick45 on Sunday September 7, 2008 at 9:25 AM
   
   

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