A Lesson before Dying Questions and Answers
A Lesson before Dying
The reciprocal teaching and learning between Grant and Jefferson in "A Lesson Before Dying."
The reciprocal teaching and learning between Grant and Jefferson in A Lesson Before Dying involves both characters growing and changing through their interactions. Grant teaches Jefferson about...
A Lesson before Dying
Parallels between Jefferson and Jesus in "A Lesson Before Dying."
In A Lesson Before Dying, parallels between Jefferson and Jesus include their roles as sacrificial figures. Both face unjust trials and executions, symbolizing the redemption of their respective...
A Lesson before Dying
In A Lesson Before Dying, why is Grant Wiggins initially reluctant to help Jefferson?
Grant Wiggins is initially reluctant to help Jefferson because he perceives the task as hopeless, believing Jefferson's fate is inevitable. He is also averse to interacting with Henri Pichot, who...
A Lesson before Dying
Why does Grant say that Jefferson is already dead in A Lesson Before Dying?
Grant claims Jefferson is already dead to express his belief that Jefferson has been stripped of his dignity and humanity by his trial and unjust conviction. This perception is reinforced by the...
A Lesson before Dying
The setting and time period of A Lesson Before Dying
A Lesson Before Dying is set in the rural South, specifically in a small Cajun community in Louisiana. The time period is the late 1940s, a time when racial segregation and discrimination were...
A Lesson before Dying
Why does Reverend Ambrose call Grant uneducated in "A Lesson before Dying"?
Reverend Ambrose calls Grant uneducated because Grant lacks understanding of his people's history and spiritual needs. Despite Grant's formal education, the Reverend believes true education involves...
A Lesson before Dying
How was life in 1940s Louisiana, considering the climate and housing?
Life in 1940s Louisiana was mainly rural, with New Orleans as a trade hub. The climate was hot and humid, contributing to diseases like scarlet and yellow fever. The economy relied on agriculture,...
A Lesson before Dying
In A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines, how does one literary element develop the central idea?
In Ernest Gaines's A Lesson Before Dying, the development of Grant's narrative style illustrates the central idea of human growth and learning. Initially, Grant's narration is detached and factual,...
A Lesson before Dying
What caused the conflict between Vivian and her family, and Vivian and Tante Lou in "A Lesson Before Dying"?
Vivian's conflict with her family in "A Lesson Before Dying" arises because she is only separated from her first husband, preventing her from legally marrying Grant or leaving the area, which affects...
A Lesson before Dying
What is the significance of Jefferson’s last words in A Lesson Before Dying?
The significance of Jefferson’s last words is that they show he accepted his death with dignity and courage. When he said “Tell Nannan I walked” he meant that he walked to the electric chair without...
A Lesson before Dying
In A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, what is the author's message about life?
In many ways the novel is not about how to live life, but rather a depiction of the injustice and inhumanity in the world. However, there are still lessons that we can learn from the way in which...
A Lesson before Dying
What definition of manhood or humanity does A Lesson Before Dying provide?
The novel explores manhood and humanity through Grant's journey as he empathizes with Jefferson, an innocent man facing execution. Initially, Grant is disillusioned by systemic racism and reluctant...
A Lesson before Dying
What are three examples of segregation in chapters 1-7 of A Lesson Before Dying?
In the first seven chapters of A Lesson Before Dying, segregation is evident in several ways. Grant and other Black individuals must use the back entrance to homes, a practice reserved for servants....
A Lesson before Dying
Who is the narrator and what is the point-of-view of A Lesson Before Dying?
The narrator of A Lesson Before Dying is Grant Wiggins, and the story is told from his first-person point of view. This narrative style allows readers to experience the events and characters through...
A Lesson before Dying
In Ernest J. Gaines's A Lesson Before Dying, how was Grant and Miss Emma's first visit to Jefferson in jail?
During their first visit to Jefferson in jail, Grant and Miss Emma encounter silence and hostility. Despite Miss Emma bringing Jefferson his favorite foods, he remains unresponsive, fixating on his...
A Lesson before Dying
How is segregation depicted in Bayonne in A Lesson Before Dying?
Segregation in Bayonne is depicted as a deeply entrenched and systematic division between the white and black communities. The town is a plantation community with stark economic and social...
A Lesson before Dying
In "A Lesson Before Dying," why does Grant refuse supper while waiting for Henry Pichot?
Grant refuses supper at Mr. Henri's house because he does not respect Mr. Henri and rejects the notion of being treated as inferior. Although educated, Grant is not seen as an equal by the white...
A Lesson before Dying
How does Jefferson's worldview in A Lesson before Dying impact his self-perception and views of others?
For Jefferson in A Lesson before Dying, his knowledge that the world is unjust and his belief that he is worthless impacts his views about himself and other characters by making him deeply...
A Lesson before Dying
What is Miss Emma's concern about the use of the word "hog" in A Lesson Before Dying?
Miss Emma is deeply concerned about the use of the word "hog" to describe her godson Jefferson during his trial. His defense lawyer argues he is no more intelligent than an animal, a statement that...
A Lesson before Dying
What statement from Grant angers his lover in A Lesson Before Dying?
Grant angers his lover, Vivian, by expressing a desire to "pack up and leave," rejecting his commitments to society and his role as a teacher. This conversation highlights his frustration with...
A Lesson before Dying
What is Mr. Antoine's perspective on life for his students in "A Lesson before Dying"?
Mr. Antoine's perspective on life for his students is one of cynicism and superiority. He believes he is better than his students due to his lighter skin and internalizes racial stereotypes....
A Lesson before Dying
How does the defense attorney's statement about Jefferson echo throughout "A Lesson Before Dying"?
During Jefferson’s trial, the defense attorney says, “Why, I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this,” which words expose the deeply ingrained racism existing in the American South...
A Lesson before Dying
What is Jefferson's last name in A Lesson Before Dying?
Jefferson's last name is not provided in A Lesson Before Dying. His godmother, Emma Glenn, is not a blood relative, and the absence of a last name may symbolize Jefferson's universal connection and...
A Lesson before Dying
Compare Rev. Ambrose and Grant's methods and disagreements in helping Jefferson in "A Lesson before Dying".
Rev. Ambrose and Grant have differing methods in helping Jefferson face his death sentence. Rev. Ambrose focuses on religious salvation, emphasizing faith and community rituals to restore Jefferson's...
A Lesson before Dying
How does the opening sentence of A Lesson Before Dying set the novel's tone?
The author of A Lesson Before Dying immediately sets the novel's tone with the opening sentence: "I was not there, yet I was there. No, I did not go to the trial, I did not hear the verdict, because...