“Thank You, Ma’am”

By Langston Hughes

Quickwrite Have you ever wanted something so badly

you stole it? Describe the item What was your action plan? What was the outcome?

What are we going to do with this story? Pre-read: familiarize yourself with

vocabulary, terms, pictures, Langston Hughes etc.

Read After-Reading:

Analyze the elements (setting, characters, conflict, plot, theme, etc.)

Group Activity: Pre-read

Harlem, New York City New York City

neighborhood “Harlem Renaissance”

Outpouring of art and music from African-Americans in 1920s and 1930s

Pre-Read

Language/Vocabulary presentable:

respectable, fit to be seen, acceptable

Not dressed in blue jeans, tee shirt, dirty

“You might run that comb through your hair so you will look presentable.”

mistrusted distrust, doubt,

suspect, be wary of, be afraid of

Crime scene in Harlem

And he did not want to be mistrusted now.

latching: clutching, grasping,

holding, grabbing, seizing

…do not make the mistake of latching onto my pocketbook nor nobody else’s …

barren: unproductive, sterile,

desolate, bleak, infertile, unfruitful, inhospitable

…he couldn’t even say that as he turned at the foot of the barren stoop and looked up at the large woman in the door.

Blue Suede Shoes-Popular in 1950s -Elvis

“Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes.

As you read, keep write a list of five to ten events that happen in the story.

During Reading

After Reading What do you think Roger will do next? Do you think Mrs. Jones successfully taught

Roger that stealing is wrong? Do you think that Mrs. Jones has influenced

Roger’s life in a positive way? Do you think that Roger will lead a “straight” life in

the future?

After Reading… How did Roger feel when Mrs. Jones said that she, too, had

once wanted things that she could not have? What was Roger thinking about when Mrs. Jones left her

purse out in the open where he could easily snatch it if he wanted to?

What was going on in Mrs. Jones’ mind when she gave Roger money?

What did Roger mean when he said that he “did not trust the woman not to trust him”?

Why do you think Roger could only utter a “Thank You” before Mrs. Jones closed the door?

Group Activity: Short Story Element Analysis

Setting Place

Harlem, New York Dark walkway Mrs. Jones’ small flat

One room: bedroom, kitchen, living room, bathroom

Time Late at night 1950’s

Clues: Blue Suede shoes

Characters Roger

Main: conflict revolves around him

Both Internal and External Conflict

Dynamic: changes Starts out a thief and

liar Wants Mrs. Jones to

trust him at the end

Characters Mrs. Luella Bates

Washington Jones Main: is involved in the

conflict Static: doesn’t change

Always caring and strong

Conflict External

Man vs. Man Roger steals Mrs. Jones’ purse.

Internal Man vs. Self

Roger wants to run away but doesn’t want to disappoint Mrs. Jones.

Theme Right vs. wrong Just because you’re poor, doesn’t mean

you should steal from others—Roger Take care of others who need to be cared

for—Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones Forgiveness Restitution

How to Write Literary Analysis We are dissecting the writing to examine its

elements. Writing is professional, not casual (no “I” or

“You” statements). Let’s look at examples.

Sample response: I don’t like this story. It’s stupid and boring. I

don’t understand any of it. I don’t like to read. I don’t understand some of the words and the story doesn’t make any sense to me. I have no idea what’s going on.

This response is weak because it is just an OPINION that is not useful for the purpose of literary response.

The key is to write whatyou are getting from the

reading; you must be getting something. You can

only be wrong if you get nothing or don’t supply

evidence!

Sample response

This story is about a kid who tries to steal an old lady’s purse. Her name is Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. When he tries to steal her purse, she grabs him and then yells at him. She takes him home and gives him something to eat. Then she gives him the money for the blue suede shoes he wanted, and lets him go.

This is considered a weak response because it is only a PLOT SUMMARY.

You will never be asked to simply summarize the plot on a literary or academic essay, on the exam, and especially in college.

This is simply

not enough;

basic

comprehensio

n is no longer

our goal.

Sample response: This story is interesting. I like the way the

old lady takes the kid home. It’s interesting how the writer describes her clothes and stuff. It was weird when she took him home instead of to the cops. Mrs. Jones seems like a nice lady, but she’s a little crazy. I don’t know why she did that.

It shows the reader beginning to think beyond the text, but it’s really more of a reaction than a response.

Sample response: That kid in the story reminds me of my cousin

Steve. He tried to steal some sodas from a deli one time. He was so ready to do it; he scouted out the store, waited until the guy wasn’t looking. I was waiting outside; my friend Jose went in with him. But he got caught trying to stuff the bottles in his bookbag. The lady who works there called the guy out of the back and started yelling at them.

It’s wonderful that text reminded the student of his own life, but the writing here drifts too far away from the text.

As interesting as it is, the writing doesn’t show evidence of reading without making specific connections.

Sample response: Luella Bates Washington Jones is one of the

most remarkable characters I’ve encountered in short fiction. She’s a strong woman, both physically and mentally, who knows exactly what she thinks and feels and believes, especially when it comes to right and wrong. She knew instinctively that the best thing to do for the boy was to give him what she knew he probably lacked – parental attention and a nurturing home environment. I don’t know if I would have reacted the same way; do I have that kind of patience? Maybe it’s because…

That was better, but…

But you must include the TAG!

T itle of the textA uthor of the textG enre of the text (short story)

Sample response: Langston Hughes’ characterization of Mrs. Jones in his

short story “Thank You Ma’am” is full and interesting; he provides just enough detail (the “purse with everything in it but…,” etc.) to make her an individual, yet at the same time expects us to call upon our own knowledge and experience of women like her. Yet in a sly ironic twist, he turns her from a frightfully aggressive woman to a gentle, saintly, motherly type. He does this through words and actions that are entirely unexpected. Instead of. . .

What would I do if I were you? In Langston Hughes short story “Thank

You, Ma’am”, he creates the character of Roger who is . . .

Include info on how his character changes Include some basic plot info This is just your first literary analysis. Try

your best.