Characters
Who are the two main characters in the book Nightjohn?
NightJohn and Sarny
Why does Mammy pray into a tea kettle?
So Waller cannot hear her and she can hide
In what condition was Nightjohn in the first night he arrives to Waller's plantation?
Rope around his neck, no clothing, and he is whipped as he is walking into the plantation
What is literacy?
The ability to read and write
Being forced to work and getting abused with no pay, the state of being owned
slavery
This character is who looks after Sarny on the plantation
Mammy
What does Sarny swap with Nightjohn for lessons?
Tobacco
What is Sarny's punishment for writing in the dirt?
She does not receive a punishment
What is the first lesson Sarny receives from Nightjohn?
How to write the letter A
How does sarny kill bugs on the plantation?
She chews tobbaco and spits it on the bugs
Multiple crops growing on a farm, planting, farm
plantation
What is the first word that Sarny writes?
Bag
How much was Nightjohn bought for?
1000 dollars
Where does NightJohn take Sarny in the last chapter?
To a school
Define stubborn.
Not willing to change your mind or give up.
Often times, slaves wore ragged clothes. What does the word ragged mean?
Torn, worn out, or in poor condition.
Beliefs and principles that help people decide between right and wrong
morality
Define "hush".
To make quiet or silent.
The name of the female slave who tried to escape Waller's plantation
Alice
What happens to Nightjohn after Waller finds out he knows how to read?
He cuts off his middle toes
What does nightjohn do the night his middle toes get cut off?
He runs away
What is a trough? Where do we see troughs being used in Nightjohn?
A trough is a receptacle that animals eat out of; it is seen in Nightjohn by slaves eating out of it
Define autonomy.
gaining the freedom and responsibility to make their own choices in learning and life
To think or suppose; to believe something is true
reckon
What happened to Sarny's birth mother?
She was sold into slavery when she was a young girl.
First, define courage.
Next, choose two characters and describe how they are courageous.
Courage is the ability to be brave even when it is difficult, or faced with adversity.
Answers may vary.
How many letters did NightJohn end up teaching Sarny?
10 letters
What were the names of the three slaves that try to leave Waller's plantation to escape to freedom?
Alice, Pawny, Jim
Define oppression.
when a person or group with more power uses that power in a way that is unfair, cruel, or limits the freedoms of others
Who is the author of Nightjohn?
Gary Paulsen