Chapter 1
Who is the narrator of this story?
Sarny
How did Sarny's Mammy pray?
She put her head in the kettle
What does the narrator tell us about how Nighjohn was brought in?
He was pulled out of a wagon and had lashings on his back, tied at his ankles and hands, and a rope on his neck.
Why were the dogs so mean when they found someone?
They were trained that way
Describe what Sarny is learning in her lessons with Nightjohn.
She is learning lower case and upper case letters
What did the slaves on the plantation call their master (behind his back)?
Dog Dropings and Pig Slop
What did Mammy pray for when she did?
Freedom
What was Nightjohn willing to trade for a "lip" of tobacco?
Letters- reading
Why does Mammy react so angrily when she sees Nightjohn teaching Sarny? What are her fears?
She was afraid Sarny was going to get caught!
Describe what happens when Waller catches Sarny. What was she doing? And what does she tell Waller?
She was writing in the dirt, and he hits her hard across the head. She tells Waller that she was copying what she saw on the feed bag.
Who was the master on the Plantation?
Clel Waller
How much money did Clel Waller pay for Nightjohn
$1000
What did Nightjohn tell Sarny about why they couldn't read?
He said they didn't want them to know what was going on in the world and fight them about it.
Nightjohn says, "Trouble with reading is you get to know things." What does he mean by this? How might knowing things be "trouble" for a slave?
Because sometimes you don't want things you never knew existed.
What is Waller's response to Sarny learning to read? Who takes the blame at first...
Mammy tries, but Waller doesn't believe her. He whips her bloody still and leaves her hanging there...
What does Sarny do at night and WHY?
Sarny reflects on all the parts of her day and remembers as far back as she can. This helps her show her intelligence.
Why does Sarny need to chew tobacco for part of her job?
To spit tobacco on the leaves to kill the bugs.
What were meals like on the Plantation? What page number do they explain this?
The meals for the slaves were horrible and sometimes, the kids never got a chance to eat. On page 29, it states, "...Except the little ones don't always get much of a turn and have to lick the bottom of the trough..."
What does Sarny learn about the consequences of trying to escape by observing Alice? How does this affect Sarny's understanding of freedom?
She learns that you will be caught and they will punish you if you try to run. She learned it wasn't worth it.
After Waller doesn't believe Mammy, what happens?
Nightjohn takes responsibility. Waller chops off his big toes.
Why does Sarny's mammy pray into a pot?
So the master wouldn't hear her and punish her for praying.
How much money does Sarny have and how did she get it?
1 penny and she found it in the dirt
What was the consequence for slaves if they were caught writing or reading?
Whip you until your skin hangs like torn rags, or cut off your thumbs.
What do we know about Nightjohn's past?
He ran away
He got free
He came back to teach people to read.
How does Sarny react to Waller’s treatment of Nightjohn and Mammy?
She is deeply upset, espeically of the treatment of Mammy. She wants to read even more...