Story Thank You Maam
Prepare to Read
Thank You, M'am
Take itto the Net
Visit vvvvvv.phschool.com for interactive activities and instruction related to "Thank You, M'am," including • background
• graphic organizers
• literary elements
• reading strategies
170
♦ Meeting Challenges
Preview
Connecting to the Literature
In "Thank You, M'am," a boy learns an important lesson about kindness and trust from a surprising source. Before reading, think about an unexpected act of kindness you have done for someone or someone has done for you.
Background
"Thank You, M'am," by Langston Hughes, is set in Harlem, a community in New York. Like many urban areas, Harlem experienced rapid population growth early in the twentieth century. Many single-family buildings were converted into small apartments. The character Mrs. Jones lives in one of these "kitchenette" apartments—a bathroom and one large room with a mini-kitchen in the corner of the room.
Literary Analysis
Implied Theme
The theme of a literary work is the major idea or underlying message that it communicates.
• A stated theme is directly expressed by the narrator or a character. theme is suggested by story events as well as the char• An implied
_
acters' actions and reactions.
"Thank You, M'am" has an implied theme about the effects of kindness and trust. Themes of kindness and trust appear in literature of all time periods. As you read "Thank You, M'am," identify what message this contemporary short story communicates.
Connecting Literary Elements
The theme or message that is suggested by characters' actions often depends on a character's motives the reasons for his or her actions. In this story, a boy snatches a purse because he wants money to buy shoes. By the end of the story, he discovers he wants something much more valuable.
When his motives change, so do his actions. Use these focus questions to help you recognize characters' motives in "Thank You, M'am":
1. How do Roger's actions change during the story?
2. Why do they change?
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Thank You, M'am
Take itto the Net
Visit vvvvvv.phschool.com for interactive activities and instruction related to "Thank You, M'am," including • background
• graphic organizers
• literary elements
• reading strategies
170
♦ Meeting Challenges
Preview
Connecting to the Literature
In "Thank You, M'am," a boy learns an important lesson about kindness and trust from a surprising source. Before reading, think about an unexpected act of kindness you have done for someone or someone has done for you.
Background
"Thank You, M'am," by Langston Hughes, is set in Harlem, a community in New York. Like many urban areas, Harlem experienced rapid population growth early in the twentieth century. Many single-family buildings were converted into small apartments. The character Mrs. Jones lives in one of these "kitchenette" apartments—a bathroom and one large room with a mini-kitchen in the corner of the room.
Literary Analysis
Implied Theme
The theme of a literary work is the major idea or underlying message that it communicates.
• A stated theme is directly expressed by the narrator or a character. theme is suggested by story events as well as the char• An implied
_
acters' actions and reactions.
"Thank You, M'am" has an implied theme about the effects of kindness and trust. Themes of kindness and trust appear in literature of all time periods. As you read "Thank You, M'am," identify what message this contemporary short story communicates.
Connecting Literary Elements
The theme or message that is suggested by characters' actions often depends on a character's motives the reasons for his or her actions. In this story, a boy snatches a purse because he wants money to buy shoes. By the end of the story, he discovers he wants something much more valuable.
When his motives change, so do his actions. Use these focus questions to help you recognize characters' motives in "Thank You, M'am":
1. How do Roger's actions change during the story?
2. Why do they change?
—