Thank You, M'am by Langston Hughes

What does Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones mean when she says, "shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet?"

• She means getting shoes that way will hurt your feet and that Roger should find another way to get the shoes.

• She means getting things through dishonest means will have equally as bad consequences.

• She means Roger will get in trouble for what he has done.

Which of these is the BEST example of external conflict?

• Lines 21-22: By that time, two or three people passed, stopped, turned to look, and some stood watching.

• Lines 12-13: After that the woman said, "Pick up my pocketbook, boy, and give it here."

• Lines 8-9: The large woman simply turned around and kicked him right square in his blue-jeaned sitter.

Which of these is the BEST example of internal conflict?

• Lines 9-11: Then she reached down, picked the boy up by his shirt front, and shook him until his teeth rattled.

• Lines 55-56: Roger looked at the door--looked at the woman--looked at the door--and went to the sink.

• Lines 47-49: She switched on the light and left the door open.The boy could hear other roomers laughing and talking in the large house.

Read the passage below. Is it an example of internal conflict or external conflict?

The water dripping from his face, the boy looked at her. There was a long pause. A very long pause. After he had dried his face and not knowing what else to do dried it again, the boy turned around, wondering what next. The door was open. He could make a dash for it down the hall. He could run, run, run, run, run!

• Internal Conflict

• External Conflict

• None of the above.

How does Roger's perspective about life and people change after his encounter with Mrs. Jones?

• Roger learns that it's wrong to steal and probably never steals again.

• Roger's outlook was negative. It became more positive after meeting Mrs. Jones. Before, he probably thought life was hard and people were uncaring. Afterwards, he learned that life is more complex.

• Roger's outlook was negative. It became more positive after meeting Mrs. Jones. The encounter made him view life as an opportunity to use people like unfeeling pawns to help him get to the next level in life.

Which of these would MOST LIKELY be the resolution to the conflicts within the story?

• Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones takes Roger to her home. She treats him kindly and teaches him right from wrong by sharing her experiences with him. Then, she gives him money to buy his shoes.

• Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones gives Roger a beating. Then, she takes him home and asks him if he wants a piece of her ten-cent cake.

• Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones takes Roger to her home. She shares her experiences with him and kicks him out before he has a chance to say "Thank you, M'am."

Make an Inference: Why does Roger want to go to the store for Mrs. Jones?

• Roger wants to use it as an opportunity to finally escape.

• Roger wants to repay her kindness by doing something nice.

• Roger wants to take the money and buy some shoes.

Recall: What happens when Roger tries to steal Mrs. Jones's purse?

• Mrs. Jones shakes him until his teeth begin to rattle.

• Roger gets away and runs into the cops on the next block.

• The strap breaks from the tug Roger gives it and he falls to the ground holding it.

What is internal conflict?

• Internal conflict refers to the problems a character faces within the story.

• Internal conflict refers to the problems a character faces within himself, both mental and emotional.

• Internal conflict refers to the problems a character faces within himself, both physical and verbal.

What is external conflict?

• External conflict refers to the problems a character faces outside of himself, both physical and verbal.

• External conflict refers to the problems a character faces outside of the story.

• External conflict refers to the problems a character faces outside of himself, both emotional and mental.