LANGSTON

HUGHES
February 1, 1901 –
f
May 22, 1967 Thank You,
Ma’m
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1901– May 22,
1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist,
playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. One of the
earliest innovators of the literary art form called Jazz
poetry(Jazz poetry has been defined as poetry that
“demonstrates jazz-like rhythm or the feel of improvisation” and
also as poetry that takes jazz music, musicians, or the jazz milieu
as its subject.), Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem
Renaissance(The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and
cultural revival of African-American music, dance, art, fashion,
literature, theater, politics and scholarship centered
in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, spanning the 1920s and
1930s.).
CHARACTERS
I. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington
Jones (Bold, compassionate woman, who is
forgiving and hospitable. Instead of punishing Roger for
attempting to steal her purse, Mrs. Jones exercises
sympathy towards him by giving Roger a hot meal and
ten dollars to buy a pair of blue suede shoes.)

II. Roger (A young boy, homeless, an orphan Timid,

tries to steal money for nice shoes.)
SUMMARY OF THE LESSON
It is eleven o’clock at night as a large woman carrying a
large purse slung over her shoulder walks down a deserted city
street. Suddenly a boy dashes behind her and with one tug jerks
the purse from her. Its weight throws him off balance and he
falls, legs flying up. The woman calmly kicks him.
Pulling the boy up by his shirt and shaking him, the large
woman demands that he return her pocketbook. When she asks if
he is ashamed, the boy finally speaks. He answers yes and also
denies that he meant to snatch the purse. Not deceived, the
woman tells him that he lies, discovers that he has no one at
home, and drags him off. Frightened, the boy begs to be released,
but the woman simply announces her name: Mrs. Luella Bates
Washington Jones. The now sweating boy struggles desperately
but finds the woman’s half nelson difficult to resist.
SUMMARY OF THE LESSON
As they enter her furnished room, Mrs. Luella Bates
Washington Jones leaves the door open. She asks the boy’s
name; he replies that it is Roger. Calling him by name, she tells
him to wash his face, then turns him loose-at last. Roger looks at
the open door and looks at the large woman; he chooses to wash.
When the woman asks if he took her money because of
hunger, the boy replies that he wanted blue suede shoes. The
woman only says that she has done things that she would tell no
one. Then, leaving him alone by her purse and the open door, she
steps behind a screen to warm lima beans and ham on her gas
plate. The boy does not run; he does not want to be mistrusted.
SUMMARY OF THE LESSON
While they eat, the woman asks no questions but
talks of her work on the late shift at a hotel beauty
shop. After they share her small cake, she gives the boy
ten dollars for some blue suede shoes and asks him to
leave because she needs her rest.
Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones leads Roger
to the barren stoop and says that she hopes he behaves
himself. He barely manages to say thank you before
the large woman shuts the door. He never sees her
again.
 IMPORTANT WORDS
 Snatch Grab, Steal, Make off with
 Take off Make away with, Rob, Steal
 Rattle Chatter
 Stoop Bend Down
 Ashamed Abashed, Shamefaced
 Turn Loose Free, Release
 Frightened Afraid, Scared, Fearful
 Frail Weak, Feeble
 Willow-wildThin, Lean
 IMPORTANT WORDS
 Half nelson The hold applied on one side
 Roomer Dweller
 Whereupon After which, And Then
 Suede Soft Leather, Hide, Skin
 Dash Rush, Dart, Move Violently
 Frown Scowl, Glare, Glower
 Fix Cook ,Prepare, Make
 Presentable Decent, Tidy, Fit, Suitable
 Canned Contained in a can
 IMPORTANT WORDS
 Folks Relatives, Family, Flesh and
blood
 Latch onto Take hold of
 Devilish ways Evil ways, Bad ways, Illegal
ways, Satanic ways
 Barren Deserted, Empty
 Stoop Platform, A raised area at the
door of the house
 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
1. Click to add text
Punctuation
well you didnt have to snatch my pocketbook to get
some suede shoes said mrs luella bates washington jones you
could have asked me

“Well, you didn’t have to snatch my pocket-

book to get some suede shoes”, said Mrs. Luella Bates
Washington Jones. “You could have asked me”.