thank you ma'am essays

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“Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes: A Critical Analysis

“Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes was first published in 1958 in the collection “The Selected Short Stories of Langston Hughes”.

Introduction: “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes

Table of Contents

“Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes was first published in 1958 in the collection “ The Selected Short Stories of Langston Hughes “. This story showcases the qualities of responsibility, morality, and kindness in the context of a young boy’s encounter with a strong and compassionate woman, Mrs. Jones. The story explores themes of crime, guilt, and redemption, set against the backdrop of a urban African American community. Through the protagonist’s journey, Hughes highlights the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions and the transformative power of kindness and forgiveness.

Main Events in “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes

• Encounter with Mrs. Jones : Roger, a young boy, attempts to snatch Mrs. Jones’s purse but fails. She catches him and drags him home.
• Acts of Kindness : Rather than turning him over to the police, Mrs. Jones takes Roger to her home, providing him food and cleanliness.
• Revelations about Roger : Mrs. Jones learns about Roger’s troubled home life and lack of guidance.
• Mrs. Jones’s Moral Guidance : She shares her own experiences and imparts wisdom to Roger about making better choices in life.
• Roger’s Guilt and Remorse : Roger starts to feel guilty for his actions and becomes remorseful for trying to steal from Mrs. Jones.
• Transformation through Responsibility : Mrs. Jones gives Roger the opportunity to wash his face and teaches him the importance of personal responsibility.
• Redemption through Kindness : Despite Roger’s attempted theft, Mrs. Jones treats him with kindness, showing him that he is worthy of respect and care.
• Impact of Forgiveness : Roger experiences the transformative power of forgiveness as Mrs. Jones chooses to trust him and gives him the money he wanted for his blue suede shoes.
• Character Growth : Roger learns valuable lessons about accountability, empathy, and the importance of second chances.
• Symbolism of the Blue Suede Shoes : The story ends with Roger’s decision not to buy the blue suede shoes he desired, symbolizing his newfound understanding of the value of hard work and earned rewards over easy gains through theft.

Literary Devices in “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes

Characterization in “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes

Major characters:.

• Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones : Mrs. Jones is a strong, no-nonsense woman who displays both toughness and kindness. She is portrayed as a maternal figure who takes responsibility for Roger’s actions and offers him guidance and compassion instead of punishment. Mrs. Jones is resourceful, as seen when she drags Roger home and provides for his immediate needs, showcasing her practicality and empathy. She shares her own experiences with Roger, imparting valuable life lessons about responsibility and making better choices. Through her actions and words, Mrs. Jones becomes a catalyst for Roger’s transformation, demonstrating the power of forgiveness and second chances.
• Roger : Roger is a young boy characterized by his desperation and lack of guidance. Initially, he attempts to steal Mrs. Jones’s purse out of a desire for material possessions. However, as the story progresses, Roger’s character undergoes significant development. Through his interaction with Mrs. Jones, he begins to feel guilt and remorse for his actions. Roger learns valuable lessons about accountability, empathy, and the importance of personal responsibility. By the end of the story, he experiences a transformation, choosing to forgo his desire for the blue suede shoes and instead embracing the principles of honesty and hard work.

Minor Characters:

• None specifically named : Other characters in the story, such as the people on the street who witness Mrs. Jones’s encounter with Roger, serve to highlight the community context and the impact of Mrs. Jones’s actions. Their reactions, though brief, contribute to the overall atmosphere and themes of the story.

Major Themes in “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes

• Compassion and Forgiveness: Even though Roger attempted to steal from Mrs. Jones, she chooses not to punish him harshly. Instead, she takes him home, feeds him, and even offers him money for the shoes he desired. This is evident in the passage: ““Then we’ll eat,” said the woman, “I believe you’re hungry—or been hungry—to try to snatch my pockekbook.” Here, Mrs. Jones recognizes Roger’s need and prioritizes his well-being over her anger.
• Understanding and Empathy: Mrs. Jones seems to understand the root of Roger’s actions. She shares her own past struggles, acknowledging, ““I were young once and I wanted things I could not get.” This moment suggests she sees Roger’s desperation and connects with him on a deeper level.
• Importance of Dignity and Respect: Despite Roger’s mistake, Mrs. Jones treats him with respect. She doesn’t belittle him and even offers guidance: ““Um-hum! You thought I was going to say but, didn’t you? You thought I was going to say, but I didn’t snatch people’s pocketbooks. Well, I wasn’t going to say that.” Here, she avoids shaming him and instead offers him a chance to learn and grow.
• Hope and Second Chances: The story emphasizes the power of offering someone a second chance. Mrs. Jones’ act of kindness gives Roger a chance to make better choices. This is shown in the ending: ““Now, here, take this ten dollars and buy yourself some blue suede shoes. And next time, do not make the mistake of latching onto my pocketbook nor nobody else’s—because shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet.” Here, she empowers Roger to improve his life and avoid future mistakes.

Writing Style in “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes

• Simple and direct language : Hughes uses straightforward and uncomplicated language, which suits the narrative’s tone and themes.
• Conversational tone : The story is told in a conversational style, which creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy.
• Dialogue-driven narrative : The story is largely driven by dialogue, which reveals character traits, relationships, and themes.
• Use of dialect : Hughes employs African American Vernacular English (AAVE) to create an authentic and immersive experience.
• Symbolism : The story features symbolic elements like the purse, blue suede shoes, and food, which carry meaning beyond their literal interpretation.
• Realistic portrayal : Hughes presents a realistic depiction of urban African American life, exploring themes like poverty, desperation, and redemption.
• Emphasis on character development : The story focuses on the transformation of Roger and the kindness of Mrs. Jones, highlighting their emotional journeys.
• Use of humor : Hughes incorporates subtle humor, often through Mrs. Jones’ witty remarks, to balance the narrative’s tone.
• Themes and moral lessons : The story explores themes like responsibility, morality, and kindness, conveying moral lessons through the characters’ experiences.
• Economic use of language : Hughes uses language efficiently, conveying much meaning and emotion through simple, well-chosen words and phrases.

Literary Theories and Interpretation of “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes

Topics, Questions and Thesis Statements about “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes

Short Questions/Answers about/on “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes

• What does Roger want that leads him to confront Mrs. Jones?
• Roger desperately desires a pair of blue suede shoes. The story subtly reveals this through his confession after Mrs. Jones confronts him. While explaining his actions, the text mentions, “There’s nobody home at my house,” and then quickly follows with, “Then we’ll eat,” said the woman, “I believe you’re hungry—or been hungry—to try to snatch my pocketbook” (pg 3). This suggests his hunger might be a symptom of a larger issue, hinting at a lack of basic necessities like food and nice clothes, which fuels his desire for the shoes.
• How does Mrs. Jones initially react to Roger’s attempt to steal?
• While surprised, Mrs. Jones’ initial reaction is a surprising display of strength. The text describes her immediate action: “The large woman simply turned around and kicked him right square in his blue-jeaned sitter” (pg 1). This swift response demonstrates her ability to defend herself and likely discourages Roger from further attempts.
• What does Mrs. Jones offer Roger besides money?
• Mrs. Jones offers Roger not just money, but a glimpse of stability, kindness, and a chance to be seen. She takes him home to a safe space, provides him with a hot meal and even cocoa, a treat typically associated with comfort and home. The story highlights this by saying, “She heated some lima beans and ham she had in the icebox, made the cocoa, and set the table. The woman did not ask the boy anything about where he lived… Instead, as they ate, she told him about her job” (pg 3). This act of sharing a meal and conversation suggests a desire to connect with Roger on a human level.
• What is the significance of the title “Thank You, M’am”?
• “Thank You, M’am” goes beyond a polite expression. It signifies a shift in Roger’s perspective. Throughout the story, he is unnamed, highlighting his anonymity and potential lack of a positive role model. The act of thanking Mrs. Jones, with the respectful term “m’am,” suggests a newfound respect for her and possibly a recognition of her kindness. The ending emphasizes this with, “He barely managed to say ‘Thank you’ before she shut the door. And he never saw her again” (pg 3). The brevity of his thanks underscores the weight of his gratitude and the impact Mrs. Jones has on him.

Literary Works Similar to “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes

• “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara : This short story follows a group of underprivileged children who receive a life lesson from a woman named Miss Moore during a trip to a toy store in New York City. Like “Thank You, M’am,” it explores themes of socioeconomic inequality, morality, and the transformative power of education and exposure to new experiences.
• “ Everyday Use ” by Alice Walker : In this short story, a mother and her two daughters, Dee and Maggie, clash over the ownership and meaning of cultural artifacts. Similar to “Thank You, M’am,” it delves into themes of family dynamics, heritage, and the significance of personal integrity and identity.
• “ Sonny’s Blues ” by James Baldwin : This short story revolves around the strained relationship between two brothers, Sonny and the unnamed narrator, as they navigate issues of addiction, redemption, and the search for identity in Harlem. Like “Thank You, M’am,” it explores themes of redemption, empathy, and the complexities of human connection.
• “ A Good Man is Hard to Find ” by Flannery O’Connor : O’Connor’s short story follows a family’s disastrous road trip that culminates in a confrontation with an escaped convict called The Misfit. Like “Thank You, M’am,” it explores moral ambiguity, the consequences of actions, and the possibility of redemption in unexpected circumstances.
• “Boys and Girls” by Alice Munro : This short story depicts a young girl’s coming-of-age in rural Canada as she grapples with societal expectations, gender roles, and her evolving sense of self. Like “Thank You, M’am,” it delves into themes of personal growth, independence, and the pursuit of individual identity amidst societal pressures.

Suggested Readings about/on “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes

Primary source:.

• Hughes, Langston, and Willa Freeman. Thank you, m’am . Creative Education, 1991.
• Hughes, Langston, et al. The Collected Works of Langston Hughes: Essays on art, race, politics, and world affairs . Vol. 9. University of Missouri Press, 2001.
• Rampersad, Arnold. The life of Langston Hughes: volume I: 1902-1941, I, too, sing America . Vol. 1. Oxford University Press, 2001.
• Tracy, Steven Carl. Langston Hughes & the blues . University of Illinois Press, 2001.
• Harper, Donna Sullivan. Not So Simple: The” Simple” Stories by Langston Hughes . University of Missouri Press, 1995.

Secondary Sources:

• Langston Hughes. SparkNotes. https://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/harlem/about-the-author/ (Since you don’t have a direct link, you can use the website name and a bracketed URL pointing to the general website).
• Langston Hughes’s Thank You, M’am. LitCharts. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/thank-you-m-am (Same as above for LitCharts).

Representative Quotations from “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes

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Thank You, M’am

Langston hughes.

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Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Langston Hughes's Thank You, M’am . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Thank You, M’am: Introduction

Thank you, m’am: plot summary, thank you, m’am: detailed summary & analysis, thank you, m’am: themes, thank you, m’am: quotes, thank you, m’am: characters, thank you, m’am: symbols, thank you, m’am: theme wheel, brief biography of langston hughes.

Historical Context of Thank You, M’am

Other books related to thank you, m’am.

• Full Title: “Thank You, M’am”
• When Written: 1950s
• When Published: 1958
• Literary Period: Harlem Renaissance
• Genre: Short story
• Setting: An unnamed city at night
• Climax: Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones gives Roger ten dollars to buy a pair of shoes before sending him on his way
• Antagonist: Poverty 
• Point of View: Third person

Extra Credit for Thank You, M’am

Age-Old Parental Pressure. Hughes attended two colleges: first Columbia, which he left because of racial discrimination by his fellow students. Several years later, he took up studies at Lincoln College. At both schools, his father insisted he would only pay for his college if he studied engineering.

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Thank You, M'am

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Story Analysis

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

What is the significance of the title of “Thank You, M’am”? How does it reflect the story’s themes?

Discuss the meaning of the blue suede shoes . Why does Mrs. Jones decide to give Roger the money to buy them?

Consider Hughes’s physical descriptions of Mrs. Jones and Roger , as well as the focus on Roger’s hygiene. What role does appearance play in the story?

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Thank You Ma’am: Summary and Questions Answers

Table of Contents

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About Langston Hughes (1902-1967)

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Born in Joplin, Missouri, Langston Hughes moved often as a young boy. He turned to writing as a way of dealing with his ever-changing home address and the difficulties of being a young African American in the early 1900s. People first noticed Hughes in 1921 when his poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” was published shortly after he graduated from high school. He soon won other prizes and opportunities, including a college scholarship. His first book of poetry, The Weary Blues , was published in 1926. Hughes wrote fiction, plays, and essays; translated other poets; and collected African American folklore.

The story “Thank You, Ma’am” is about a boy who tries to pickpocket Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, but she catches him. She takes him back to her house, tells him to wash his face, gives him food, some money, and most importantly, her advice. She teaches/tells him that she wasn’t perfect either in her childhood and doesn’t make it right for Roger to do the same. When the boy leaves, he is so grateful. In his attempt to snatch the purse from the woman, the strap broke with the single tug the boy gave it from behind. But the purse was too heavy for him. His weight and the purse combined caused him to lose his balance, and he fell on his back on the sidewalk with his legs up. That is why he was not successful in his attempt. He couldn’t ever mutter a thank you or any thankful gesture of gratitude.

The story “Thank You, Ma’am” is about a boy named Roger and a large woman. The name of this large woman was Luella Bates Washington Jones. She had her purse with her while she was walking alone at about eleven o’clock in the evening. Out of nowhere, there was this boy who ran up behind her and attempted to snatch her purse. While running, the boy lost his balance because of the weight of the purse, and the woman caught him. She was mad because the boy tried to steal her pocketbook. The woman had a conversation with the boy; then later on, she was too bothered because his face was dirty; then she took him into her house.

At Mrs. Jones’ house, she asked the boy his name. And he said it was “Roger.” Then she let him wash his face in the sink. She invited him to eat with her, and she even suspected him of being so hungry for trying to steal her pocketbook. But he said that the reason why he tried to snatch it was that he desires to have a pair of blue suede shoes. Then Mrs. Jones said, “I was young once and I wanted things I could not get.”

2. Why was he not successful in his attempt? – Despite his intentions, the boy’s attempt turned out to be unsuccessful. With a single tug from behind, the strap of the purse broke, leading to a chain of events that caused him to lose his balance. The combined weight of the boy and the purse forced him to stumble backward, landing on his back on the sidewalk while his legs propelled upwards.

4. Why did the boy not run away when the woman finally let go of his neck? – The boy did not run away when the woman finally let go of his neck because he began to understand that the woman had no intention to take him to jail, and he was shown motherly affection by her.

6. Why did the woman stop watching the boy once she was inside the room? – The woman, by that time, was able to build trust in the boy. Her treatment of the boy in her house was that the boy had no reason to mistrust her. This natural feeling the woman must have is the reason why she stopped watching the boy once she was inside the room.

What did the woman give the boy to eat? What does this tell you about her financial situation?

8. Do you think the boy was worse off than the woman? Support your answer with two examples from the story. – I don’t. The woman too had been bad off in her past days when she was his age. For example: a) When she was young, there were times when she wanted things but she could not get them. b) She too had done things which she found it impossible to tell the boy or even to God.

10. Is the story always serious? Pick out two places where the tone of the writer is humorous. – The story is mostly of a serious nature. Some parts do contain humor. For example, the very opening sentence of the story is humorous. It says she was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but hammer and nails. Another example of humor is the lady’s assertion that she would not take him to jail with the face he had before it was washed.

B. Think and answer in 100-150 words.

– Roger, one of the two characters in the story ‘Thank You, Ma’am,’ is initially portrayed as indulging in a devilish act of snatching a woman’s pocketbook to buy a pair of blue suede shoes. His attempt fails when the woman, Mrs. Jones, catches hold of him. The boy never expected the lady to behave as she did because her words were intimidatory. That is why the boy struggled to free himself from the lady, forcing her to put a half-nelson about his neck. Once in her house, the boy searched for some possibility to run away by looking at the woman and the door in turn. The boy also asked the lady whether she was going to take him to jail. These are the examples to show that Roger did not expect the lady to behave as she did.

– One possibility is that if the boy had tried to run away, Mrs. Jones would have swung into action. She would lock Roger up and teach him lessons on good conduct. The other possibility is that if he really succeeded in running away, he would remain unchanged and attempt more robbery. He would continue to disturb society with his devilish actions. And one day or another day, he would be caught and booked to be sent to jail. In case of release, he would be always on the run.

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The Story “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes Essay

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Mrs. Luella Bates Washington reacts in a different way than what Roger expects after he tries to steal her purse. Roger’s attempt to steal money from her is thwarted by his fall. The lady manages to hold Roger by his shirt and pulls him to her house. From then onwards, Roger has to follow everything Mrs. Washington tells him to do.

The story illustrates how children who are deprived in society are tempted to engage in criminal activities just to survive. Roger personifies children lured into crime because of the harsh circumstances they are facing (McMahan et al. 541). Mrs. Washington intends to help the boy realise that there is a better way to get something apart from stealing. She discourages the boy from stealing people’s purses as a way to earn a living.

Mrs. Washington manages to care for the boy even though he has wronged her. She takes him to her house where she makes him wash his face. ”I got a great mind to wash your face for you. Ain’t you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?” (McMahan et al. 541). The lady takes time to understand the circumstances that have made the boy engage in petty theft.

As she is holding him tight, she observes his face and body structure. She realizes that the boy needs help because of the hardships he is going through at the moment (McMahan et al. 541). Her demeanor intimidates the boy, who expects a severe punishment from her. However, even though her tone is stern and menacing, she still takes the responsibility of letting the boy wash his face before advising him to stay away from crime.

Mrs. Washington takes responsibility for the boy’s plight and manages to show him, love. She teaches the boy proper social and moral codes, which everyone in the society needs to follow. The boy gets to understand that stealing is not the only way a person can get what he wants. She wants to make a positive impact on the boy and the only way she can do this is by being stern and uncompromising.

“When I get through with you, sir, you are going to remember Mrs. Luella Bates Washington.” (McMahan et al. 541). She makes the boy sit after washing his face before she tells him to have supper with her (McMahan et al. 541). Mrs. Bates’s approach makes the boy attentive and he gets to learn that he needs to make the right choices in life.

Mrs. Bates reveals to Roger that she did wrong things in the past but she managed to turn her life around and become a good person. She makes Roger understand that it is human nature to crave for things that we are not able to get. Roger gets to understand that he needs to be more responsible for his actions. The story teaches us to take time to understand a situation first before making any rash decisions.

Roger personifies deprived children who are tempted to steal to satisfy their basic needs (McMahan et al. 541). Mrs. Bates gives the boy some money to buy suede shoes. The interaction Mrs. Bates has with Roger makes him see things in a new light. He gets a valuable lesson on good behavior, which he will remember for the rest of his life.

Works Cited

McMahan, Elizabeth, Susan X. Day, Robert W. Funk, and Linda S. Coleman . Literature and the Writing Process. 9th ed. New York: Pearson Education, 2010. Print.

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Thank You Ma Am Short Story

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Thank You, Ma'am

By langston hughes, thank you, ma'am summary and analysis of paragraphs 33 – 40.

There is a silent pause. Mrs. Jones continues, stating that she has also done things—things she doesn’t want to tell him or God, if God doesn’t already know. She tells Roger to sit down while she prepares them a meal. She adds that he could run a comb through his hair to look more presentable.

In a corner of the room are a gas plate and an icebox behind a screen. Mrs. Jones gets up and goes behind the screen. She doesn’t watch to see if Roger will run away. She also doesn’t watch her purse, which she leaves on the daybed.

Roger sits on the far side of the room, where he thinks Mrs. Jones can easily see him out of the corner of her eye, if she wants to. He does not “trust the woman not to trust him.” He doesn’t want to be mistrusted by her now.

Roger asks if she needs someone to go to the store to get milk or something. Mrs. Jones says she doesn’t believe she does, unless he wants sweet milk for himself. She says she was going to make cocoa out of the canned milk she has. Roger says that will be fine.

Mrs. Jones heats lima beans and ham that she has in the icebox. She makes the cocoa and sets the table. Mrs. Jones doesn’t ask Roger any personal questions about where he lives, who his parents are, or anything else that would embarrass him.

Instead, Mrs. Jones tells him, as they eat, about her job in a hotel beauty shop. She says it stays open late, and talks about what the work is like, and how all kinds of women come in and out: blondes, redheads, Spanish women. Mrs. Jones cuts Roger a half-portion of her ten-cent cake. She tells him to eat some more.

When they finish eating, Mrs. Jones gets up and gives Roger ten dollars from her purse. She tells him to take it and buy some blue suede shoes. She tells him that next time, he is not to make the mistake of trying to steal her purse or anybody else’s. She says that shoes that come to him from devilish deeds like purse-snatching will burn his feet.

She says she has to get her rest now. She says she wishes he would behave himself from here on in. She leads him down the hall to the front door, which she opens for him. As he leaves, she tells him to behave himself and wishes him goodnight.

Roger wants to say something other than “Thank you, m’am,” but he finds he cannot say anything when he turns on the barren stoop and looks back at the large woman in the door.

He barely manages to say “Thank you” before Mrs. Jones shuts the door. The story ends with the narrator commenting that Roger never sees her again.

Mrs. Jones continues to gain Roger’s trust through empathizing with his poverty and desperation. She explains that she, like him, has done things she would rather not talk about—things so shameful she wouldn’t want God to know. Mrs. Jones’s honesty is a testament to the generosity of her spirit, and her behavior continues to disarm Roger, making him finally relax in her presence.

The theme of generosity builds with Mrs. Jones’s decision to share her dinner with Roger, and Roger politely sits and waits in her “kitchenette” apartment as she prepares the meal. The style of apartment would have been common in Harlem, New York—likely where the story is set. Because of a quickly rising population, landlords divided up large buildings in Harlem to rent to more individuals. The kitchenette apartment Mrs. Jones lives in likely comprises one room with a simple kitchen in one corner and a bathroom shared with other lodgers in the house. This detail in the story signals that Mrs. Jones is, like Roger, living in relative poverty, despite having a job at a hotel.

Separating her modest kitchen area from the rest of the room is a room divider. When Mrs. Jones goes behind the screen, Roger understands that he has been left alone with her purse. He knows he could steal it and run out the door, but Roger is sure to sit where she can see him. In this way, Hughes shows how the trust Mrs. Jones extends to Roger makes him want to prove himself worthy of her trust. He continues to try to ingratiate himself with the kind stranger, offering to pick up milk from the store.

Over a meal of lima beans and ham, Mrs. Jones tells Roger about the service-industry work she does at the hotel beauty salon. The theme of dignity comes up again when the narrator comments on how Mrs. Jones makes sure not to ask Roger any questions about his absent parents or his living situation: she is cautious not to make him feel ashamed of the circumstances from which he comes. The easy intimacy the two share in the scene presents yet another instance of situational irony: most readers might forget at this point in the story that only minutes earlier Roger tried to steal Mrs. Jones’s purse.

Hughes ends “Thank You Ma’am” with Mrs. Jones’s generous decision to give Roger ten dollars to buy a pair of blue suede shoes. The shoes symbolize the consumer-driven aspirations Roger has, and she knows he cannot afford the shoes by honest means. She warns him that if he did buy shoes using stolen money, the remorse he would feel would be so strong that it would be as though the shoes were burning his feet.

Overwhelmed by the woman’s unexpected generosity—and the unexpected turn the entire evening has taken—Roger tries to summon up the ability to say more than a simple thank you. However, he barely gets the words out before the woman closes the door, never to be seen by Roger again. Mrs. Jones's unsentimental exit from the scene implies that the generosity she has shown Roger that night is nothing out of the ordinary for her—perhaps Roger is one of many would-be thieves she has brought home to feed and speak with. However, her lessons on trust, dignity, and generosity are likely to have an outsized impact on Roger’s life. As she warns early in the story, his decision to come into contact with her will last a while.

Thank You, Ma'am Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Thank You, Ma'am is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Thank You M'am

Mrs. Jones response to Roger's attempt to steal her purse infer that she her main purpose is to make him take responsibility for his actions, in addition to the fact that she likely understands his circumstances.

Thank you Ma’am

I'm sorry, this is a short-answer literature forum designed for text specific questions. We are unable to assist students with speeches or other writing assignments.

Thank You Ma'm

A. "' You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong. Least I can do right now is to wash your face. Are you hungry?'" (Paragraph 16)

Study Guide for Thank You, Ma'am

Thank You, Ma'am study guide contains a biography of Langston Hughes, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Thank You, Ma'am
• Thank You, Ma'am Summary
• Character List

Essays for Thank You, Ma'am

Thank You, Ma'am essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Thank You, Ma'am by Langston Hughes.

• Character Comparison Essay: "The Scarlet Ibis" and "Thank You Ma'am"
• I wonder where Christ's gone”: A Marxist Critique of Organized Religion in Langston Hughes’ “ On The Road”
• Jazz Subculture in Short American Fiction: The Blues I'm Playing and Sonny's Blues
• The Bounds of Society Cripple Those Who Dare to be Different: Comparing "Seven People Dancing" and "A Perfect Day for Bananafish"

Lesson Plan for Thank You, Ma'am

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Thank You, Ma'am
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
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• Thank You, Ma'am Bibliography