Thank You, M'am Questions and Answers
Thank You, M'am
What are three themes in the story "Thank You, M'am"?
When one treats others with respect and compassion, it is more impactful than derision and judgment. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones treats the boy who tries to steal her purse, Roger, with care...
Thank You, M'am
How does Mrs. Jones's response to Roger's actions contribute to the development of the theme in "Thank You, M'am"?
In spite of Roger’s attempt to rob her, Mrs. Jones shows the boy nothing but kindness, advancing the story’s themes surrounding empathy, compassion, dignity, and trust. One of the first questions...
Thank You, M'am
How would you compare and contrast the characters of Roger and Mrs. Jones in the short story "Thank You, M'am"?
In the story, Roger is much younger than Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones and lacks a support system, which is why he is dirty, unfed, and desperate enough to try to steal Mrs. Jones's purse....
Thank You, M'am
In "Thank You, M'am," what does Roger do when Mrs. Jones leaves him alone with her purse? Why does he do this? How...
In Langston Hughes's celebrated short story "Thank You, M'am," Mrs. Jones drags Roger to her home after he attempts to steal her purse and shows him kindness by making him feel comfortable and...
Thank You, M'am
What are Mrs. Jones's character traits in the story "Thank You, M'am"?
As a result of her behavior throughout the story, Mrs. Jones is revealed to be a strong, compassionate, empathetic, and generous woman who genuinely cares more about Roger’s well-being and...
Thank You, M'am
Why does Mrs. Jones treat Roger the way she does in "Thank You, M'am"?
Mrs. Jones treats Roger with kindness and compassion because she sympathizes with his difficult situation and knows firsthand the hardships of poverty he is experiencing. When Mrs. Jones grabs...
Thank You, M'am
Why did Roger try to steal Mrs. Jones's purse in "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes?
At the beginning of Langston Hughes's celebrated short story "Thank You, M'am," Roger attempts to steal Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones's purse but ends up falling on the sidewalk. Mrs. Jones...
Thank You, M'am
What is a character sketch of Roger in "Thank You, M'am"? The answer should be illustrated.
In Langston Hughes's celebrated short story "Thank You Ma'am," Roger is a young African American teenager who does not have enough money to buy a new pair of blue suede shoes and attempts to rob...
Thank You, M'am
What are some conflicts in Langston Hughes's short story "Thank You, M'am"?
The primary conflict in Langston Hughes's short story "Thank You, M'am" is considered a man versus man conflict between Roger and Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. This conflict takes place at...
Thank You, M'am
Do you think that Roger has changed at the end of the story "Thank You, M'am"? Explain.
From the beginning, Roger proves that he has the capacity to change and has been caught in the middle of a horrible decision which he comes to regret. After trying to mug Mrs. Luella Bates...
Thank You, M'am
What do you think Roger learned from the way Mrs. Jones treated him in "Thank You, M'am"? Name two things.
Young Roger has learned (1) to respect people and their property, and he has learned that (2) there are people who are genuinely concerned about the welfare of others. (1) When Roger attempts to...
Thank You, M'am
What is the conflict in "Thank You, M'am"?
Roger places himself in direct physical conflict with Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones when he tries to mug her. Unfortunately for him, Mrs. Jones is not a woman who is easily taken advantage of,...
Thank You, M'am
What lesson do we learn from "Thank you, M'am"?
One of the principal lessons of Langston Hughes's "Thank You, Ma'am" is that one cannot make judgments based on appearances. When Roger first sees Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, alone at...
Thank You, M'am
Where exactly is the rising action in the story "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes?
In literature, the rising action relates to the events which take place before the climax, the most intense and dramatic point of the story. In "Thank You M'am," the rising action happens after the...
Thank You, M'am
What are the major character traits for Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones in the story "Thank You, M'am"?
The character traits displayed by Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones include kindness, forgiveness, generosity, compassion, and grace. She also displays a particularly trusting nature. The story...
Thank You, M'am
Regarding the short story "Thank You, M'am," Roger and Mrs. Jones meet 10 years later. Write their conversation. I...
Roger: "Oh my God! You're Mrs. Jones! It's been so long since I've seen you. How are you, and how is your life?"Mrs. Jones: "Oh, Roger, my dear! I'm fine. It's been so long since I've seen...
Thank You, M'am
In the Langston Hughes story "Thank You, M'am," how does the culture of the the characters affect their decisions?
The culture in which we are raised affects all of our decisions, one way or another. We cannot identify exactly what sort of culture Mrs. Jones and the boy in this story have been raised in,...
Thank You, M'am
What is the point of view/perspective in "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes?
The short story Thank You M'am by Langston Hughes is told from an omniscient third person perspective. The narrator sets the scene by describing Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones on her route home...
Thank You, M'am
What is the setting of "Thank You, M'am"?
"Thank You, M'am" was first published in 1958 and appears to be set in the present or recent past. Roger wants a pair of blue suede shoes, which were fashionable in the 1950s and were even the...
Thank You, M'am
What are some differences and similarities between "Thank You, M'am" and "Mother to Son"?
One of the most striking similarities between these two pieces of literature is the characterization of a strong female. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones is determined to steer young Roger back...
Thank You, M'am
What are the character traits for the characters in "Thank You, M'am"?
There are two characters in this great story by Langston Hughes. The first is Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, and the second is her would-be assailant, Roger. The first thing we learn about...
Thank You, M'am
What literary devices are used in "Thank You, M'am"?
In the first paragraph of "Thank You, M'am," Langston Hughes uses hyperbole and auditory imagery to create a vivid picture of the encounter between Roger and Mrs. Jones. The purse Roger tries to...
Thank You, M'am
What is the climax of "Thank You, M'am"?
In a story, the climax is the moment of greatest tension and takes place just before the resolution. If successfully deployed, the climax should represent the dramatic high point of the story. In...
Thank You, M'am
Write a different ending to the story "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes. It must be in third person.
The first point to consider is where the ending begins. "Thank You, Ma'am" is short even by the standards of short stories, so the part that counts as the ending is not a lot of text. Perhaps a...
Thank You, M'am
What does Langston Hughes mean by his first sentence, "She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything...
This first sentence is an example of hyperbole (an exaggerated statement) because it is impossible to carry around a bag so large that it contains all of your personal possessions. However, by...
Thank You, M'am
In "Thank You, M'am," what are the similarities between Roger and Mrs. Luella Bates Washington?
Both Roger and Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones are African Americans, who share similar backgrounds and come from poor homes. Through Roger's comments, one can surmise that he comes from a...
Thank You, M'am
Regarding the short story "Thank You, M'am," I wrote Roger's letter to Mrs. Jones the day after the incident takes...
Overall, I think you've done a great job with this letter. I just have a few pointers to offer: You don't need to introduce yourself at the beginning of a letter, as you will sign your name at the...
Thank You, M'am
What is the tone of "Thank You, M'am"?
Tone is the attitude the author takes toward the subject of the text. The primary conflict in this story is between Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones and Roger, a young boy who tries to rob her....
Thank You, M'am
What is the exposition and resolution of "Thank You, M'am"?
Both the exposition and the resolution of short stories are essential elements. Interestingly, in "Thank You Ma'am" by Langston Hughes, the exposition is much more developed than the resolution....
Thank You, M'am
"Roger looked at the door—looked at the woman—looked at the door—and went to the sink." Why did the author choose...
Roger looked at the door--looked at the woman--looked at the door--and went to the sink. The appearance of the italicized words differs from the upright letters, suggesting the leaning of a...
Thank You, M'am
Regarding "Thank You, M'am," why does Mrs. Jones take Roger home, and what is some evidence that proves this?
At the very beginning of “Thank You, Ma’m” by Langston Hughes, we are introduced to a tough woman named Mrs. Jones. Roger, a 14- or 15-year-old boy, attempted to steal her purse. Since the strap of...
Thank You, M'am
What effect will Mrs. Jones have on Roger's future in Langston Hughes's short story "Thank You, M'am"?
In Langston Hughes's short story "Thank You, M'am," Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones significantly influences Roger through compassion, care, and generosity. When Roger tries to steal her purse,...
Thank You, M'am
What is the mood of "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes?
The mood of a story consists of the elements the author uses to make us feel a certain way while we are reading. This can include elements like description, setting, metaphors, and similes. The...
Thank You, M'am
What is the moral of the story "Thank you, M'am"?
In the short story "Thank You, M'am," by Langston Hughes, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones is walking home late at night. A young man approaches her and tries to steal her purse. The story...
Thank You, M'am
Why do you think Roger decides that he does not want to be mistrusted in "Thank You, M'am"?
Arguably, Roger does not want to be mistrusted by Mrs. Jones, because he realizes that she wants to look after him. Despite Roger trying to steal her purse, Mrs. Jones has treated Roger with...
Thank You, M'am
In "Thank You, M'am," what does Mrs. Jones mean when she says "shoes got by devilish ways will burn your feet"?
I think that one of the most profound elements of the story is how Mrs. Jones achieves a quality of transcendence. She is clearly of this world, as is Roger. Yet, she speaks with an authority and...
Thank You, M'am
What do you think Roger wants to say, other than "Thank you, M'am," to Mrs. Jones at the end of Langston Hughes's...
What a great question that really takes into account many textual details toward character development. If I had to guess, here are some things that Roger would have liked to say that night in...
Thank You, M'am
Explain what an internal conflict is from the Langston Hughes story "Thank You, M'am."
First things first: what is an internal conflict? If an external conflict is a struggle that takes place between two characters in a story, then an internal conflict is a struggle taking place...
Thank You, M'am
How does the author use foreshadowing in the story "Thank You, M'am"?
Langston Hughes generates foreshadowing, or hints of things to come, with the characterization of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, a large woman who is both physically and spiritually strong....
Thank You, M'am
In the short story "Thank You, M'am," why did Mrs. Jones make Roger wash his face?
In the short story "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes, a boy named Roger tries to snatch the purse from the arm of a large woman named Luella Bates Washington Jones. She is too strong for him,...
Thank You, M'am
Why doesn't Mrs. Jones ask Roger about his home or parents in "Thank You, M'am"?
Mrs. Jones does not ask Roger about his home life because doing so is superfluous; her powers of perception tell her all about Roger. After Mrs. Jones foils Roger's attempt to steal her purse by...
Thank You, M'am
Mrs. Jones is a woman of modest income. Give three pieces of evidence from the text that show the $10 she gives Roger...
Roger finds himself in the grip of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones when he attempts to steal her pocketbook. She drags him to her residence. Here, evidence can be found in the description of her...
Thank You, M'am
What does the dialogue between Roger and Mrs. Jones in Langston Hughes's "Thank You, M'am" reveal about their...
Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones is a pretty fearless lady. After all, not many women (especially older women) would react to an attempted mugging this way: Then she reached down, picked the boy...
Thank You, M'am
What was Roger's motive when he snatched the purse?
In Langston Hughes short story “Thank You M’am,” Roger tells Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones his motive for attempting to steal her purse is to get money to purchase blue suede shoes. After...
Thank You, M'am
Why do you think Mrs. Jones handles the situation the way she does in the story, and how do you think the experience...
In "Thank You Ma'am" by Langston Hughes, young Roger meets his match when he attempts to steal the purse of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. Instead of grabbing the purse and running away, Roger...
Thank You, M'am
Do you think Mrs. Jones is rich? Why or why not?
It is clear that Mrs. Jones is not rich. She is working late at night: It is eleven o’clock at night as a large woman carrying a large purse slung over her shoulder walks down a deserted city...
Thank You, M'am
In "Thank You, M'am," how did Mrs. Jones react when Roger tried to steal her purse?
From the beginning to the end, Mrs. Jones reacts in a way that is completely beyond Roger’s expectation. In the first place, Roger is quite sure that he would be able to pull the purse slinging on...
Thank You, M'am
Who are the characters in the short story "Thank You, M'am"?
The two characters in Langston Hughes's short story "Thank You, M'am" are Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones and Roger. Roger is portrayed as a young, naive adolescent who makes the reckless...
Thank You, M'am
Did Roger's encounter with Mrs. Jones alter his life? In what way?
Once Mrs. Jones learns that Roger has no one at home to "'tell [him] to wash [his] face,'" that there is, in fact, "'nobody home at [his] house,'" she obviously softens toward him. She insists that...
Thank You, M'am
What do we learn about where Mrs. Jones lives in "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes?
In "Thank You, M'am," we learn that Mrs. Jones's home is a modest one. When Mrs. Jones drags Roger to her home, she is not taking him to an opulent mansion. Hughes gives us specific details about...
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