Characters
She is the strong, kind woman who takes Roger home.
Who is Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones?
What Roger tries to steal at the beginning.
What is Mrs. Jones’s purse?
The story takes place in this type of setting.
What is a city/street at night?
The story shows that people can change when given this.
What is kindness or trust?
Finish the quote: “You a lie!” said the woman. “You lie ______.”
What is “by trying to say your face is dirty”?
He is the boy who tries to steal a purse.
Who is Roger?
What happens when Roger tries to steal the purse?
What is he falls, and Mrs. Jones grabs him?
Mrs. Jones lives in this type of place.
What is a boarding house/apartment?
Mrs. Jones teaches Roger a lesson about this.
What is respect, honesty, or making better choices?
Who says: “I were young once and I wanted things I could not get.”
Who is Mrs. Jones?
This detail about Mrs. Jones shows she is not wealthy.
What is that she works at a beauty shop (or she only has $10 to give)?
Instead of taking Roger to the police, what does Mrs. Jones do?
What is she takes him to her house, feeds him, and talks to him?
The story was written in this decade.
What is the 1950s?
The theme of empathy is shown when Mrs. Jones does this.
What is shares her own mistakes and relates to Roger?
What does Mrs. Jones say Roger might want to buy with the money?
What is blue suede shoes?
This word describes how Roger feels when Mrs. Jones shows him kindness instead of anger.
What is surprised (or guilty, grateful)?
What does Mrs. Jones give Roger at the end?
What is $10 to buy shoes?
Why is the setting important for understanding Roger’s situation?
What is it shows he may not have guidance or stability in his life?
Instead of punishment, Mrs. Jones gives Roger this opportunity.
What is redemption/second chances?
What is the last thing Mrs. Jones says to Roger?
What is “Behave yourself, boy!”
Name one way Hughes contrasts Roger and Mrs. Jones in the story.
What is age, life experience, size, or strength?
Why does Mrs. Jones tell Roger about her own past mistakes?
What is to show she understands and to teach him empathy and responsibility?
How does Hughes keep the setting simple but meaningful?
What is he focuses more on character interaction than detailed description?
What overall message about human nature does Hughes suggest in the story?
What is that compassion can change lives and people are more than their mistakes?
Why is the quote “He did not want to be mistrusted now” important?
What is it shows Roger wants to earn Mrs. Jones’s trust and change?