“Thank You,
Ma’am”
By Langston Hughes
Quickwrite

Have you ever wanted something so badly
you stole it?



Describe the item
What was your action plan?
What was the outcome?
What are we going to do with this
story?



Pre-read: familiarize yourself with
vocabulary, terms, pictures, Langston
Hughes etc.
Read
After-Reading:

Analyze the elements (setting, characters,
conflict, plot, theme, etc.)
Group Activity:
Pre-read
1. What was the
“Harlem
Renaissance?”
2. Who was Langston
Hughes?
Group
Questions
3. What does it feel
like to have something
stolen from you?
4. Why do people
steal?
Pre-Read
Harlem,
New York City


New York City
neighborhood
“Harlem Renaissance”

Outpouring of art and
music from AfricanAmericans in 1920s and
1930s
Language/Vocabulary

presentable:



respectable, fit to be
seen, acceptable
Not dressed in blue
jeans, tee shirt, dirty
“You might run that
comb through your
hair so you will look
presentable.”
mistrusted



distrust, doubt,
suspect, be wary of,
be afraid of
Crime scene in
Harlem
And he did not want to
be mistrusted now.
latching:


clutching, grasping,
holding, grabbing,
seizing
…do not make the
mistake of latching
onto my pocketbook
nor nobody else’s …
barren:


unproductive, sterile,
desolate, bleak,
infertile, unfruitful,
inhospitable
…he couldn’t even say
that as he turned at
the foot of the barren
stoop and looked up at
the large woman in the
door.
Blue Suede ShoesPopular in 1950s -Elvis
During Reading
“Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes.
As you read, keep write a list of five to ten
events that happen in the story.
After Reading




What do you think Roger will do next?
Do you think Mrs. Jones successfully taught
Roger that stealing is wrong?
Do you think that Mrs. Jones has influenced
Roger’s life in a positive way?
Do you think that Roger will lead a “straight” life in
the future?
After Reading…
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How did Roger feel when Mrs. Jones said that she, too,
had once wanted things that she could not have?
What was Roger thinking about when Mrs. Jones left
her purse out in the open where he could easily snatch
it if he wanted to?
What was going on in Mrs. Jones’ mind when she gave
Roger money?
What did Roger mean when he said that he “did not
trust the woman not to trust him”?
Why do you think Roger could only utter a “Thank You”
before Mrs. Jones closed the door?
Group Activity:
Short Story Element Analysis
Characterization of Mrs.
Jones
Characterization of Roger
Title and Group
Members
Conflicts of Mrs. Jones
Conflicts of Roger
Setting

Place
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
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Harlem, New York
Dark walkway
Mrs. Jones’ small flat
 One room: bedroom, kitchen, living room, bathroom

Time


Late at night
1950’s
 Clues: Blue Suede shoes
Characters
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Roger
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Main: conflict revolves
around him

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Both Internal and
External Conflict
Dynamic: changes


Starts out a thief and
liar
Wants Mrs. Jones to
trust him at the end
Characters

Mrs. Luella Bates
Washington Jones

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Main: is involved in the
conflict
Static: doesn’t change

Always caring and
strong
Conflict
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External

Man vs. Man
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Roger steals Mrs. Jones’ purse.
Internal
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Man vs. Self
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Roger wants to run away but doesn’t want to
disappoint Mrs. Jones.
Theme
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Right vs. wrong
Just because you’re poor, doesn’t mean
you should steal from others—Roger
Take care of others who need to be cared
for—Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones
Forgiveness
Restitution
How to Write Literary Analysis



We are dissecting the writing to examine its
elements.
Writing is professional, not casual (no “I” or
“You” statements).
Let’s look at examples.
Sample response:

I don’t like this story. It’s stupid and boring. I
don’t understand any of it. I don’t like to
read. I don’t
The understand
key is to writesome
what of the words
you are
gettingmake
from the
and the story
doesn’t
any sense to
reading;
you must
be getting
me. I have
no idea
what’s
going on.
something. You can
only be wrong if you get
 This response
isor
weak
nothing
don’tbecause
supply it is just an
OPINION that isevidence!
not useful for the purpose
of literary response.
Sample response

This story is about a kid who tries to steal an old
lady’s purse. Her name is Mrs. Luella Bates
Washington Jones. When he tries to steal her purse,
she grabs him and then yells at him. She takes him
home and gives him something to eat. Then she gives
him the money for the blue suede shoes he wanted, and
lets him go.

This is considered a weak response because it is only a
PLOT SUMMARY.
You will never be asked to simply summarize the plot on
a literary or academic essay, on the exam, and
especially in college.

Sample response:


This story is interesting. I like the way the
old lady takes the kid home. It’s interesting
how the writer describes her clothes and
stuff. It was weird when she took him home
instead of to the cops. Mrs. Jones seems
like a nice lady, but she’s a little crazy. I
don’t know why she did that.
It shows the reader beginning to think
beyond the text, but it’s really more of a
reaction than a response.
Sample response:

That kid in the story reminds me of my cousin
Steve. He tried to steal some sodas from a deli one
time. He was so ready to do it; he scouted out the
store, waited until the guy wasn’t looking. I was
waiting outside; my friend Jose went in with him.
But he got caught trying to stuff the bottles in his
bookbag. The lady who works there called the guy
out of the back and started yelling at them.

It’s wonderful that text reminded the student of his
own life, but the writing here drifts too far away from
the text.
As interesting as it is, the writing doesn’t show
evidence of reading without making specific
connections.

Sample response:

Luella Bates Washington Jones is one of the
most remarkable characters I’ve encountered in
short fiction. She’s a strong woman, both
physically and mentally, who knows exactly
what she thinks and feels and believes,
especially when it comes to right and wrong.
She knew instinctively that the best thing to do
for the boy was to give him what she knew he
probably lacked – parental attention and a
nurturing home environment. I don’t know if I
would have reacted the same way; do I have
that kind of patience? Maybe it’s because…
That was better, but…
But you must include the TAG!
T itle of the text
A uthor of the text
G enre of the text (short story)
Sample response:

Langston Hughes’ characterization of Mrs. Jones in his
short story “Thank You Ma’am” is full and interesting; he
provides just enough detail (the “purse with everything
in it but…,” etc.) to make her an individual, yet at the
same time expects us to call upon our own knowledge
and experience of women like her. Yet in a sly ironic
twist, he turns her from a frightfully aggressive woman
to a gentle, saintly, motherly type. He does this through
words and actions that are entirely unexpected. Instead
of. . .
What would I do if I were you?




In Langston Hughes short story “Thank
You, Ma’am”, he creates the character of
Roger who is . . .
Include info on how his character changes
Include some basic plot info
This is just your first literary analysis. Try
your best.