What are examples of symbolism, imagery, allusion, irony, tone, mood, style, inference, and resolution in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

Examples of many literary devices can be found all throughout Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. One example of symbolism can be seen in references to the oak trees on the Radleys' property.

In Chapter 4, on their way home from school, Scout and Jem begin finding gifts stashed in a knothole of an oak tree on the Radleys' lot. Scout is the first to make a discovery, and her newfound treasure is two pieces of wrapped chewing gum. Their discoveries continue in Chapter 7 and include such treasures as two highly polished pennies dating back to 1906 and two bars of soap carved to look exactly like the children. What is particularly significant is that the children find these items in an oak tree.

Oak trees have a great deal of symbolic meaning. They are particularly known for their resilience, which permits them to live a very long time, growing massive in size. Due to their endurance, oak trees have become known to symbolize life, strength, and wisdom. Plus, since longevity allows for a great deal of fertility, oak trees have even become know to symbolize family and loyalty. As the novel progresses, the children learn that their beliefs about who their neighbor Arthur (Boo) Radley is as a person have been wrong, and his true character is actually symbolized in the oak tree.

Due to myths and rumors, the children believe Arthur is an insane and dangerous person. Their beliefs about Arthur have particularly been shaped by Miss Stephanie Crawford, the neighborhood gossip, who once said, according to Jem, that "she woke up in the middle of the night one time and saw him looking straight through the window at her" (Ch. 1).

Yet, contrary to these rumors and myths, Arthur demonstrates throughout the book that he is actually a very caring and loyal person. He especially cares for Jem and Scout, whom he seems to care as much for as if they were his own children. The gifts he leaves for the children in the oak tree are indicators of how much he cares, showing us just how much the oak tree symbolizes Arthur's sense of family and loyalty. By the end of the novel, just like the oak tree, Arthur demonstrates his strength, his wisdom, and how much he values life by putting his own life in jeopardy to save the lives of Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell.