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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the woman tell the boy she used to want when she was young?

2. What does the woman have the boy do as soon as he gets inside her room?

3. What does the woman say shoes "come by devilish" (5) will do?

4. What does the boy tell the woman he wanted to buy himself?

5. What does the woman tell the boy she is going to give him to drink?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the woman try to relate to the boy after he washes his face in her room?

2. What does the boy do so that he can be sure Mrs. Jones trusts he will not steal from her? Why?

3. In what ways does Mrs. Jones show the boy kindness as he gets ready to wash his face?

4. Where does Mrs. Jones live? How is the place described? How does the boy know there are others in the house?

5. What is the boy's name? What is the first thing Mrs. Jones has him do when they enter her room?

6. What does the boy tell Mrs. Jones when she asks if he has eaten supper?

7. When Mrs. Jones finally lets the boy go, what does he notice before going to the sink?

8. What does the boy tell the woman he wanted to buy when he tried to steal her purse? What does she say he could have done instead?

9. What does Mrs. Jones tell the boy about herself over supper? Why is she careful not to ask him any questions about his life?

10. What does the boy say to the woman before he leaves? What did he want to say?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a brief essay analyzing the title “Thank You, Ma’am." Explore the ways in which this title connects to the plot and themes of the story.

Essay Topic 2

Pick a character from the story and discuss their goals and motives. Do they achieve their motive? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing narrative voice in Hughes of “Thank You, Ma’am.” Include thoughts on how the narrative voice of the story is effective in conveying the story’s themes.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 737 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample