Reader's Interpretation
Do you feel sympathy for the narrator? Why or why not?
Answers may vary – many say yes because of her situation, or no because of her choices
What kind of environment does the narrator live in?
A poor community with limited opportunities.
What point of view is the story told from?
1st Person
What makes the narrator unreliable?
She admits to lying and keeping secrets.
Who is the main narrator of the story?
A young girl who tells her own story.
What emotion do you think the author wants readers to feel?
A mix of pity, understanding, and frustration.
How does poverty shape her choices?
She believes lying and stealing are necessary to get ahead.
How does the first-person perspective affect readers?
We only see events from her personal view, not others’.
How does the narrator describe manipulating Willie Greentea?
She says she “wrapped him ‘round her finger.”
Who is Mable Lee, and how does she talk?
An older woman who speaks in riddles or sayings.
What lesson can readers learn from the narrator’s story?
Poverty can lead to difficult choices, but honesty matters.
What does her mother teach her about “extras”?
That poor women should take what they can because life is unfair.
What would change if Mable Lee told the story?
The narrator’s actions would seem less excusable or sympathetic.
Why might readers doubt everything she says?
She hides information and tells half-truths to make herself look better.
What does the narrator say Willie Greentea does for her?
He buys or steals her things when he has no money.
How does the unreliable narration make the story more interesting?
It forces readers to question the truth and form their own judgment.
What does the lawyer woman say about light-skinned babies?
Couples pay more for babies who are “close to white.”
How does the narrator’s tone reveal her personality?
She’s confident, sly, and unapologetic.
What does her dishonesty reveal about her character?
She’s resourceful but willing to deceive others
Why doesn’t the narrator tell Mable Lee about Willie Greentea?
Because Mable Lee would disapprove of stealing.
Why is this story powerful when told from her point of view?
It helps readers understand her struggles firsthand and question their own judgments.
What social issues does the setting reveal?
Racism, class inequality, and exploitation.
What effect does an unreliable first-person narrator have on readers?
It makes readers question what’s true and think critically about her motives.
Why might the narrator justify her actions?
She feels survival is more important than honesty due to her situation.
What does the narrator reveal about her parents?
Her mother is white, and her father is Black.