In front of the Radley gate, Tim Johnson had made up what was left of his mind.

He had finally turned himself around, to pursue his original course up our street. He

made two steps forward, then stopped and raised his head. We saw his body go

rigid.

  With movement so swift they seemed simultaneous, Atticus’ hand yanked a

ball-tipped lever as he brought the gun to his shoulder.

  The rifle cracked. Tim Johnson leaped, flopped over and crumpled on the sidewalk

in a brown-and-white heap.  He didn’t know what hit him.

 

 

How does the writer use language here to describe Tim Johnson?

You could include the writer’s choice of:

•words and phrases

•Language features and techniques

•Sentence forms

 

The writer uses language to describe Tim Johnson as inhuman and not significant. We see this when he described as a “heap”. The word choice of heap has suggestions of being rubbish, of insignificance and of being something that is discarded and uncared for and unwanted. Also a heap suggests that he is hard to distinguish and his features are not obvious or noted. This suggests that he is not valued or look at carefully, that he is an unwanted pile of rubbish. Also the writer uses a list which is anticlimactic showing that he has lost power and significance. The list begins with his leaping, the word choice of leaping suggests strength but also of trying to get away from something, and perhaps suggests fear however the list ends with Johnson “crumpled”. The word choice of “crumpled” has suggestions of being weak, again of not being fully visible and of being seriously diminished. Furthermore it suggests weakness and of being beyond help. It creates a tone of pity, also coupled with him being described as a “heap” which furthers the tone of pity as he language is used to describe him as not being human and fully seen/visible.

This is slightly contrasted with the description that he had made up what was left of his mind, this implies that he has lost a lot of his mind and so is diminished. It suggests he in in a weak emotional state, whereas later he is in a weak physical state.