“THE SCRIBE” STUDY GUIDE
1. THE NARRATOR LIVES IN AN APARTMENT ABOVE A
CHECK CASHING SERVICE CENTER. WHAT MIGHT WE
INFER ABOUT HIS NEIGHBORHOOD?
Check
cashing service centers
usually tend to be located in poor
neighborhoods. While we are not
certain, it is implied that the
narrator lives in a poor
neighborhood.
2. HOW DOES THE MAN BEHIND THE COUNTER TREAT THE OLD
WOMAN? HOW DOES THE NARRATOR FEEL ABOUT THIS? WHAT
CAN WE INFER ABOUT THE NARRATOR’S CHARACTER?
 The
man behind the counter is rude and
condescending to the old woman. The
narrator feels angry about the way she is
treated. We can infer that the narrator is
kind and caring. He has a sense of
integrity and does not want innocent
people to be taken advantage of.
3. THE NARRATOR SAYS THAT OLD MAN SILVER AND OLD MAN DOLLAR
CLEAN UP ON FOLKS WHO CANNOT FILL OUT THEIR OWN FORMS. WHAT CAN
WE INFER ABOUT THESE TWO CHARACTERS? WHY DO YOU SUPPOSE THE
AUTHOR GIVES THEM THESE NAMES?
 We
can infer that old man Silver and
old man Dollar exploit their customers
and look down on them. We can tell
that they are only concerned about
money, which is why the author gives
them the names “silver” and “dollar.”
4. HOW DOES JAMES’ MOTHER REACT WHEN JAMES
COMMENTS ABOUT ALL OF THE PEOPLE CANNOT
READ? WHAT CAN WE INFER ABOUT HER?
 James’
mother reacts calmly. She
points out that not everybody has had
the same advantages as James and
that it is not their fault. We can infer
that James’ mother has a sense of
wisdom and understanding about life.
5. WHY DO YOU SUPPOSE JAMES’ MOTHER
POINTS OUT THAT IT IS NOT A DISGRACE FOR
THE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT READ?
James’
mother likely does this
to humble James and to explain
to him that it is no fault of
those who have had difficult
lives.
6. WHY DO YOU SUPPOSE JAMES’ MOTHER
TELLS JAMES ABOUT THE SCRIBES? WHO CAN
WE COMPARE THE SCRIBES TO IN THE STORY?
James’
mother tells James about
the scribes to illustrate how he
should NOT act towards those who
cannot read. We can compare the
scribes to Mr. Silver and Mr. Dollar.
7. WHAT DOES JAMES DO THE MORNING AFTER
HE LEARNS ABOUT THE SCRIBES? WHAT CAN
WE INFER ABOUT HIS CHARACTER?
 James
sets up a booth outside of the
check cashing service center and
becomes a free-service public scribe.
We can infer that he is
compassionate and hates injustice.
He is a character of action.
8. WHAT DILEMMA DOES JAMES RUN INTO?
WHAT IS HIS INTERNAL CONFLICT?
 James
is confronted by a police
officer. He is not allowed to give his
services for free and he cannot
charge without a license. James’
internal conflict is that he is angry,
but cannot legally help those who are
being exploited.
9. JAMES LEAVES AFTER THE CONFLICT WITH THE POLICE
OFFICER. HE IS ANGRY, BUT DOES NOT SHOW IT. WHAT CAN WE
INFER ABOUT JAMES’ CHARACTER? WHAT DO YOU PREDICT
JAMES MIGHT DO?
 We
can infer that despite James’
young age, he is mature and has selfcontrol. Based on James’ previous
actions though, we can predict that
he will still try to find a way to help
elderly people.
10. JAMES’ MOTHER TELLS JAMES THAT, “A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE
ARE AFRAID OF BANKS.” WHAT CAN WE INFER ABOUT HOW LIFE
IS LIKE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THIS SETTING?
 We
can infer that life for many African
Americans in this setting is very
difficult. It is likely that the type of
exploitation happening at the check
cashing center is NOT rare.
11. WHAT DOES JAMES DO AFTER HE LEARNS
ABOUT THE BANK? WHAT CAN WE INFER ABOUT
HIS CHARACTER?
James
decides to secretly try to
convince people to go to the
bank. We can infer that he
does not give up easily and that
he is willing to take risks.
12. WHAT LESSON DOES THE OLD WOMAN
TEACH JAMES? HOW DOES IT AFFECT HIM?
 The
old woman tells James that he
should not be afraid of trying new
things. She tells him about how she
left Alabama. James then considers
going to City Hall and applying for a
business license.