Go Bigger or go home
Where does bigger live?
Chicago South Side
Name one person hired by the Daltons
Peggy/black man that worked there for 10 years
Where was Bigger supposed to drive Mary?
University
"He's just scared," _ said. "Scared to rob a white man."
Bigger
What is the time period of the novel?
1930s
What job is Bigger applying for at the start of the novel?
chauffeur/driver
How did Mr. Dalton get his money?
Real estate company
What was Bigger's first time seeing Mary?
Movie theater
"Don't you think it would be a wise procedure to inject him into his new environment at one, so he could get the feel of things?"
Mrs. Dalton
What is Peggy's heritage?
Irish
Find a quote that shows Bigger's desire to make a difference or do something with his life
Mother
Name two things the Daltons did to "support" black people
Supporters of national association for the advancement of colored people, supported a black man to go to night school and work in the gov't, and gave 5 million to colored schools
Where was Mary planning on going to on Thursday?
concert at Orchestra Hal
"Well, I'm telling you agin! And mark my work, some of these days you going to set down and cry. Some of these days you going to wish you had made something out of yourself, instead of just a tramp. But it'll be too late by then."
Mrs. Thomas
Who went to the movie theatre with Bigger?
Jack
The rat scene at the beginning foreshadows which character's struggles? What does it foreshadow?
Bigger.
The rat scene at the beginning foreshadows Bigger’s continuance of violence after he had already killed someone. It could also foreshadow how Bigger felt as lots of people wanted to kill him after he killed Mary and he felt like he needed to run away.
How does Mr. Dalton react when Mary starts talking to Bigger about unions? How did this conversation make Bigger feel?
Mr. Dalton grow angry at Mary and says they can discuss unions later. Bigger felt that after the brief conversation with Mary about unions, Mr. Dalton would decide not to hire him.
Why was Bigger intimidated by Mary? What could this foreshadow?
Bigger was intimidated by Mary as he was worried she would asked him a question and he would get in trouble. Foreshadows him killing her.
Who said this quote? What does this quote reveal about Bigger? “You say I’m scared. It’s you who’s scared”
Gus. Reveals his violent tendencies when in fear.
What is the name of the man who Bigger and his friends wanted to rob? Why have they not robbed him before?
Mr. Blum. He is white and they are scared of robbing a white person
Why does Bigger's fight with Gus about the robbery at Blum's reveal an internal conflict?
Shows his internal fear of robbing a white man.
Argue whether or not the Daltons are contributing more to the hardships of black people or helping them (use specific paraphrased evidence)
The Daltons are contributing more to the hardships of black people as they own a lot of buildings inhabited by black people who are poor but they purposely raise prices in order to gain more money. This makes it harder for the black people to afford to live and thus succeed.
The Daltons are helping the black people more than causing more hardships for them as they helped donate $5 million to colored schools which help people get an education and jobs.
Compare two quotes/scenes that show how Mary acts differently around her family and around Bigger (one quote for each)
“The girl turned and poked out a red tongue at him. ‘All right, Mr. Capitalist!’”(53).
“She had a remote look in her face” (63).
Who said this quote and what does it foreshadow? "To make him ready for a job, you have to make him scared two ways. You have to make him more scared of what'll happen to him if he don't do the job than of what'll happen to him if he pulls the job"
Bigger says this quote and it foreshadows him killing Mary and Bessie. He does not kill Mary intentionally, but he is scared of what could happen if he doesn’t silence her which ultimately leads to her death. In Bessie’s case, Bigger killed her intentionally because he didn’t want her to give him away.
Explain how one of the Thomases' represent the effects of racism on people
The Thomases represent the effects of racism on people mainly through Bigger and his relationship with his mother. At the start of the novel, it is very clear that Mrs. Thomas wants Bigger to get a job because their family is struggling financially. The Thomases have such a difficult life because they have little money, and they have little money because they are black. The prejudice against them makes it difficult for them to succeed, and Bigger attempts to live his life fully to combat this.