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Thank You Ma Am Analysis

1014 Words5 Pages

If a thieving stranger had snatched your purse, would you offer him dinner? Themes are important story elements that help the reader understand the central idea of a story. They can vary based on their genre and setting of the story. "Thank You M 'am is a fiction piece, written by Langston Hughes. It is about an elderly woman, who 's purse is almost stolen by a troubled teenager, wanting to buy a pair of blue suede shoes. It shows how kindness could change people for the better, and that making the right decisions could benefit many. The theme in the story, "Thank You M 'am" is about making decisions for the greater good. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones had a choice between turning Roger into the police, or taking him to her …show more content…

Luella Bates Washington Jones could 've left Roger to go home hungry, without any friends or family, although she decides to shelter him, clean his face, and feed him. The text states, “Um-hum! And your face is dirty. I got a great mind to wash your face for you. Ain’t you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?” In this quote, Mrs. Luella is showing a large amount of compassion to the teenager, firstly forgiving him immediately, and then offering to clean him up, right after he was about to rob her. Moreover, Mrs. Luella is showing great affection towards Roger, as she could’ve left him on the street, hungry and lonely, although she offers him to visit her household, and wash up. Additionally, the text states, ""The woman said, “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?” This quote is explaining that Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones is trying to compromise with Roger, giving him permission to wash his face, and asking if he is hungry. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington is acting like a caring mother, saying that she would teach Roger right from wrong. She is questioning him, and asking him if he was hungry, and allowing him to freshen up. In conclusion, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones’s actions will allow Roger to feel welcome, and her words would make Roger reflect on his past

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On page 2, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones said to Roger “I believe you’re hungry– or been hungry– to try to snatch my pocketbook” trying to get him to eat and at the same time asking why he tried to take her pocket book without actually asking. He

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Short stories are written to share a lesson, or show and experience for the reader to relate to their own lives. Most stories show a challenge that someone has to overcome, such as a physical threat, or a mental confrontation that they have to face. In the story “Lemon Brown” by Walter Dean Myers, one of the two main characters, Lemon Brown, faced both types of challenges while having taught a message to the protagonist Greg Ridley. LIkewise, in the story “Thank You Ma’am” by Langston Hughes, Mrs. Jones caught a child named Roger who tried to steal her purse for a pair of shoes. When thrown into a problematic situation, even without a similar background in the slightest, Lemon Brown and Mrs. Jones address their problems similarly..

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It puts a smile on a frowning face. These people all aided others through their kindness. In some cases they might never see that person again but they know they have made a strong friend. Mr. Malter, Billy, and Mr. Savo all supported others in their world using their kindness, the simplest way possible. Now go help someone in your

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As Ruby attempts to answer them, Clemmy Sue and Estelle Louise sashay into the empty Diner making a beeline to their favorite booth and sit down. Whereupon, Estelle Louis promptly excuses herself, then scurry to the restroom. In a carefree manner, Ruby ambles over to the table and says in a cheerful voice, “Clemmy Sue, you’re a breath of pure sunshine on this dark and gloomy night. However, I’m a little curious about what brings you and Estelle Louise here in the middle of this outrages storm, besides my culinary skills and entertaining personality.”

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“Please eat it. Personally I couldn't touch a thing, certainly not what’s been in the house when he was here. But it’s all right for you. It’d be a favor to me if you’d eat it up. Then you can go on with your work again afterwards.

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“Don’t worry I won’t let anything happen to you,” James says to the cat. Then at the end of the story he does not talk to anyone at dinner. However he learns that you have to think of other people.

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The “Lady in Red” tells the story of a man, that used to have a good life, but something in his life goes wrong and he ends up homeless. Seeing himself without money, nor gas, on thanksgiving day, he decides to go out and beg for money, but to his luck everything goes wrong and he is just humiliated by the the people he asks money from. When he was about to give up a ‘lady in red’ comes up to him and gives him sixty-four dollars and fifty cents. LeMieux believes in the existence of kind people that don’t expect anything for their kindness. . LeMiuex tries to influence people that think kind people don’t exist

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In order to be accepted in the current social society, you must follow a certain set of norms throughout life. Social norms are the unwritten rules on behavior that are expected and established opinions on what is appropriate and what is not. People who do not follow these instilled norms may be casted aside, judged, or suffer a consequence. Society’s expectations have dictated what normal human behavior is that people conform to as a way of life. These norms, however, are not set in stone, so they may be challenged.

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“The Scholarship Jacket” by Martha Salinas and “Thank You Ma’am” by Langston Hughes are very different stories, but could they have anything in common? After reading both, I can tell the similarities are minor but the differences are pronounced. The stories are very unalike each other. “Thank you ma’am” is set farther back in times than “the scholarship jacket”.

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570 Words | 3 Pages

In the story 'Thank You Ma'am', Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones demonstrated the theme of helping others. In the text it shows this in the quote, "'You gonna take me to jail?'Asked the boy, bending over the sink. 'Not with that face, I would not take you nowhere,' said the woman. " This expresses the theme of helping others, because she could've taken him to jail but instead she took him in and cared for him. This theme is shown again when she fed him

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1647 Words | 7 Pages

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277 Words | 2 Pages

A central theme in the short story “Thank you Ma 'am” by Langston Hughes is a little kindness goes a long way. One act of kindness can change a person’s life forever. Her unnecessary kindness made a major impact on Roger and changes him. As the story progresses, we see that Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones shows empathy and kindness for Roger. That kindness appears to pass onto Roger near the end of the story.

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870 Words | 4 Pages

Jazmyne Nelson Dr. Rose English 101 December 11, 2017 Literary Analysis Langston Hughes’ short story entitled “Thank You Ma’am”, analyzes the interaction between Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones and Roger. It presents the readers, the idea of goodness, the theme of trust, forgiveness, and kindness. Hughes is able to convert a language that is easier to understand by characterizing the context of story, advancing important themes, and using dialogue among the characters. Trust is one of themes that stood out while analyzing the short story. Though Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones has been victimized Roger worries that she won’t trust him, so he moves.

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