Langston Hughes : Thank You, M’am : Practice Questions

In Thank You, M’am, what does Mrs. Jones insist that Roger do immediately after they enter her furnished room?

Mrs. Jones tells Roger, “Shoes got by devilish ways will burn your feet.” What is the primary moral lesson she is attempting to impart with this statement?

Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones is described as a “large woman” with a “large purse.” Beyond the physical description, how does this “largeness” function as a symbol in the story?

In Langston Hughes's Thank You, M'am, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones's unconventional response to Roger's attempted theft goes beyond immediate punishment or simple charity. Which of the following best describes the profound, long-term moral lesson she aims to impart to Roger?

What item does Roger attempt to steal from Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones in Langston Hughes's "Thank You, M'am"?

When Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones brings Roger to her apartment in Langston Hughes's Thank You, M’am, what does she offer him to eat?

After Roger attempts to steal her purse, what specific acts of physical care does Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones perform for Roger when she takes him back to her apartment in Langston Hughes's Thank You, M’am?

In Langston Hughes's Thank You, M’am, Roger experiences a significant internal transformation during his encounter with Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.

(a) Describe Roger's initial emotional state and motivations when he first encounters Mrs. Jones and attempts to steal her purse.
(b) Explain how Mrs. Jones's actions and words throughout their time together challenge Roger's expectations and contribute to a noticeable change in his behaviour and feelings by the end of the story.