By Langston Hughes
 One of the first African
American writers to
make a living as a
writer/speaker
 Was elected class poet
in the 8th and 12th
grades
 Had lived in Missouri,
New York, Ohio,
Mexico, Kansas,
Colorado, and Illinois
by the age of 20
 Experienced prejudice
and his own personal
ups and downs in his
early years
 Worked as a truck
farmer, cook, waiter,
sailor, and doorman
 Experimented with
jazz and blues
rhythms in his poetry
 This story was written during the 1950’s. Things
cost a lot less than they do today. For example, a
nice pair of shoes might cost $5 to $10.
 A lot of this story takes place in Mrs. Jones’s
rooming house. A rooming house is a place
where people rent rooms to live in. Often, the
renters shared a living room and kitchen.
 Blue suede shoes: men’s
shoes made of soft
leather. They became
popular in the 1950’s
when Elvis recorded a
hit called “Blue Suede
Shoes”
 Gas plate: a small
version of a stove top
 Icebox: a refrigerator
 http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=NrjbwVhQO
Aw
 slung: hung or thrown loosely
She wore the shawl slung across one shoulder.
 frail: weak; easily broken
The young boy looked thin and frail.
 barren: bare; empty; dull or uninteresting
The front porch was plain and barren.
 Read about denotation and connotation.
Connotation: When a word calls up feelings or
images that can be right or wrong for what the
writer is trying to say, for the feeling in the
writing, or for the style.
Denotation: The meaning associated with a word.
 How does Mrs.
Jones influence
the boy, and
how do you
think the boy
influences her?
 Does Mrs. Jones
treat the boy
fairly?