A Lesson Before Dying Close Reading Questions
1.
For what reason does Grant not attend the trial?
2.
How does Jefferson’s story and the prosecutor’s story differ (6-7)?
3.
What strategy does the defense lawyer use to explain Jefferson’s behavior (7-8)?
4.
What disturbs Miss Emma the most about Jefferson’s sentence (13)? What is suggested to ease Miss Emma’s mind?
5.
Instead of helping, what does Grant want to do (14-15)?
6.
What does Miss Emma want (20)?
7.
Around what year is this story taking place (26)?
8.
What is Grant asking Vivian (28-29)? Infer why?
9.
What is the significance to Grant eating at Henri Pichot’s kitchen table (45-46)?
10.
Guidry asks why make him a man. For what purpose does Grant say (49)?
11.
Who convinces Guidry to let Grant see Jefferson (49)?
12.
What tone is being used when Grant says, “At least Dr. Joseph had graduated to the level where he let the children
spread out their own lips, rather than using some kind of crude metal instrument. I appreciated his humanitarianism”
(56).
13.
“They came to their feet, their heads up, their arms clasped to their sides. But instead of feeling pride, I hated myself
for drilling them as I had done” (57). What does Grant mean by this statement?
14.
While teaching, Grant observes his students. “That afternoon, I stood by the fence while the fifth- and sixth-grade boys
sawed and chopped the wood. The smaller boys and all the girls were inside. They wanted to know why they had to
study while the older boys were outside having fun” (61-62). How does this explain the mentality of his students?
What does Grant see as the point to educating these plantation children?
15.
What is Mr. Antoine’s, Grant’s former teacher, had what perspective on life for his students (62-64)? How does this
connect to Grant? How was Grant different from the other students?
16.
What is the significance to Mr. Antoine being “cold” (64)?
17.
What significance does Mr. Antoine give to being Creole (64-65)?
18.
What were Mr. Antoine’s last words to Grant (66)? What does he mean by them?
19.
“Go’n jeck that switch?” (74) says Jefferson to Grant. A syllepsis is a literary term for when one word is used in two
different senses. What does the “switch” mean in two different senses?
20.
What is the point of Grant’s rant on page 79?
21.
Explain how visit number four went.
22.
In chapter 12 to whom is referred and why?
23.
What makes Vivian appealing to Grant (92)?
24.
What does Vivian say keeps Grant in the South (94)?
25.
What does Grant say about religion (97, 102)? When did it change?
A Lesson Before Dying Close Reading Questions
26.
What information does Grant learn from Vivian (108-109)?
27.
What was the structure of Jefferson’s head (128)?
28.
What time of year is it (138)? To whom is Jefferson referring in this passage?
29.
What was under the school tree (147)?
30.
What is Grant’s observation on pg. 151?
31.
When is Jefferson to die (156-157)?
32.
What allusion is made on pg. 158?
33.
What is Grant explaining to Vivian (166-167)?
34.
Analyze deputy Paul’s character. What do you observe about him?
35.
What does Jefferson want for his last supper (170)?
36.
How did Grant pay for the radio for Jefferson (173)?
37.
Reverend Ambrose says, “ ‘He ain’t got but five more Fridays and a half. He needs God in that cell, and not that
sin box’ ” (181). What does the minister mean by God in this statement?
38.
What changes in Chapter 23?
39.
What does Grant say about a hero (191)?
40.
“I want you to chip away at that myth by standing” (192). What does Grant mean by the word “standing”?
41.
What does Grant need from Jefferson (193)?
42.
Why do mulattos feel they are different (197-198)?
43.
“I don’t know how long I stood there looking out into the darkness—a couple of minutes, I suppose—then I went back
into the kitchen.” (210). For what reason does Vivian figuratively push Grant out the door?
44.
The Reverend and Grant are in disagreement about what to teach Jefferson before his execution. The Reverend says, “
‘You think a man can’t kneel and stand?’ ” (216). To what concept is the Reverend referring?
45.
On page 218, Reverend Ambrose has a tirade about lying… “ ‘I know they done cheated themself, lied to themself—
hoping that one they all love and trust can come back and help relieve the pain.’ ” To what pain Ambrose is referring?
46.
What did they call the electric chair (240)?
47.
Why does Grant have Reverend Ambrose be with Jefferson at the execution and not him (249)?
48.
What is the “lesson” before dying for Grant? Jefferson? For the southern African-American community? For the
southern white community?
49.
Mr. Antoine is Grant’s former teacher. Contrast Mr. Antoine’s views on life in the South to Grant’s.
50.
Explain how “justice” is similar and different between A Lesson Before Dying and The Ox-Bow Incident.