1. by Eloise Greenfield Review
Langston Terrace
by Eloise Greenfield
Review

2. 1. Why does Eloise’s family move many times before moving to Langston Terrace?
They keep moving to get more space and a better place to live.

3. 2. How is the family’s new home similar to the old home
2. How is the family’s new home similar to the old home? How is it different?
Both homes are houses, not apartments. The family lives in the new house alone and uses the upstairs and the downstairs.

4. 3. Why do some of the parents think of Langston Terrace as an “in-between place”?
They thought of it as an “in-between place” because they expected to be there only long enough to save enough money to buy a house of their own.

5. 4. As an adult, how does Eloise Greenfield feel about Langston Terrace?
She feels that it was a wonderful place to grow up.
Her and her old friends like to share warm feelings about the old neighborhood.

6. 5. Why does the author’s family want to move to the new project?
They want a house of their own.
However, one disadvantage was it was difficult to save money to buy their own home.

7. 6. Why does the author believe that life at Langston Terrace was good?
Langston Terrace was a community of people who cared about each other. They had family and friends. They had a lot of fun.

8. 7. Eloise Greenfield’s thoughts and feelings about Langston Terrace make up the main idea of this essay. List four key details that show Greenfield’s thoughts and feelings.
There were many games to play and things to do
The community “wrapped itself around us, put itself between us and the hard knocks, to cushion the blows”
“It was...a good growing-up place”
“It was home.”

9. 8. What is the main idea of this essay?
Langston Terrace was a wonderful place to grow up.

10. 9. In the chart, list cultural and historical factors that may have influenced Greenfield’s writing of “Langston Terrace.”
Time and Place
Cultural Background
World Events
She lived in Washington, D.C., in the 1930s.
She came from a working-class African American family.
She grew up in a time before civil rights laws were passed to stop discrimination against African Americans.
She grew up during the Great Depression when people in the U.S. had little money.

11. 10. Why did Eloise Greenfield like living in Langston Terrace?
Her family had a house of their own
They no longer had to share a house with relatives and friends
Greenfield had a room of her own
Everything was close by
The library and playground were minutes away
Langston Terrace was a friendly place with activities in the social room and play room and community-sponsored activities for the children, such as parties and bus trips
She was surrounded by neighbors and friends who protected her from the hard knocks of the outside world
She felt accepted and loved

12. 11. What is a main idea?
The main idea is the most important point in a literary work.
Sometimes it is stated directly.
Other times, you must figure it out by identifying key details in the text.

13. In her first summer at Langston Terrace, what did the author like best about living there?
Everybody was new to the community.

14. What happens when the author and her old friends talk about their childhood at Langston?
They share their warm feelings about the old neighborhood.

15. 12. Applications
Forms filled out to make a request

16. 13. Community
Group of people living in the same area

17. 14. Resident
Living in a place

18. 15. Choral
relating to a singing group or choir

19. 16. Reunion
Gathering of people who have been separated

20. 17. Homey
comfortable; having a feeling of home