Thank You, M’am by Langston Hughes Review

1. What is characterization? The methods a writer uses to develop the personality of a character.

2. What kind of character is Mrs. Jones? She is a large woman who carries a big, heavy purse. She seems brave because she is walking home alone late at night. She is strong physically and mentally. She is determined to teach Roger a lesson, yet is sensitive enough not to hurt or frighten him. She is honest to admit to past mistakes and understanding to talk about them. She knows what it was like to want things. She is kind to think about the boy’s hunger. She is poor and has few possessions. She is generous because she shares her food and gives away her money.

3. How would you characterize Roger? He doesn’t have much of a family life because no one is at home, no one to cook. He is dishonest when he tries to steal Mrs. Jones’ purse. He is small and easy for Mrs. Jones to control. He is obedient by doing what Mrs. Jones tells him to do. He wants to be trustworthy and doesn’t run when he can. He is grateful and wants to say more than “Thank you.” He is polite and says “m’am.”

4. How can you tell that Mrs. Jones is physically strong? When her purse is grabbed, she turns around and kicks the boy and picks him up by his shirt. She shakes him until his teeth rattle. Then she is strong enough to drag him back to her room down the street.

5. How does Mrs. Jones develop trust in Roger? She leaves the door to her room open so that he could possibly run out if he wanted to. She is showing him that she trusts him enough to leave it open.

6. What is Roger’s main fear throughout the selection? He mostly fears that Mrs. Jones will turn him in to the police.

7. How does Roger view Mrs. Jones by the end of the story? Roger sees her as kind and helpful. He thanks her for helping him.

8. Why does Mrs. Jones say that she has “done things too”? She wants to show him that she understands his situation.

9. Why does Roger offer to go to the store for Mrs. Jones? He wants to show her that he can be a good person and be trusted.

10. Why does Mrs. Jones give Roger the ten dollars? She wants to show him that people can be kind and that he can trust them.

11. Why does Roger go to Mrs. Jones’ apartment? Mrs. Jones is dragging him there; he doesn’t have a choice.

12. What is a narrator? The person who tells a story.

13. What is third-person point of view? A narrator outside the story.

14. What is first-person point of view? A narrator who is a character in a story.

15. From what point of view is the story Thank You, M’am told from? Third-person point of view.

16. What is the definition of slung? Hung or thrown loosely

17. What is the definition of frail? Lacking in strength; weak

18. What is the definition of barren? Bare; empty; dull or uninteresting

The End