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Thank You, Ma Am By Langston Hughes

1000 Words4 Pages

Everyday, the world drifts farther and farther away from peace. Crime rates of children are tragically increasing because parents are running away from the burden of raising them, failing to realize that they play a significant role in their lives. In return, children are left to grow up in a cruel world by themselves with little to no knowledge of how things go. In the story, Thank You, Ma’am by Langston Hughes, A little boy named Roger attempts to steal the purse of a older lady named Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. During his attempt, he falls and Mrs.Jones picks him up and takes him to her house. Throughout the story, she learns that Roger has no one at home and just wanted some money to buy some shoes. Instead of taking him to jail, …show more content…

She finds out that he is by himself and that’s why he's acting the way he is. According to the article Learning from Our Mistakes, for Kids and Ourselves, it states, "It drives me nuts, but that's how it works: Children repeat our mistakes, because they aren't born with their parents' formative experiences baked into their brains" (Philpott). This demonstrates that children need their parents to help guide them through situations so that they don’t make the same mistakes as them. Without their parents, children will have to learn the hard way by doing things on their …show more content…

In the story it says, “I wanted a pair of blue suede shoes,” said the boy. “Well, you didn’t have to snatch my pocketbook to get some suede shoes,” said Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. “You could of asked me.” “M’am?” (Hughes). In this quote, Mrs.Jones tells the boy that he didn’t have to try and steal from her and all he had to do was ask. The boy is surprised because he was probably thinking she would say no if he did that’s why he tried to steal the purse. In the article Learning from Our Mistakes, for Kids and Ourselves, it also states, “They also have to figure out for themselves that putting off projects to the last minute doesn't pay off, that manners matter, that you'll almost always regret cutting your own hair in the mirror with kitchen scissors” (Philpott). This quote shows that children won’t know the correct way to do something until they experience it. If their parents were in their life then they could inform them of this to prevent these situations from happening but without them, children have no choice but to learn by trial and

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628 Words | 3 Pages

Roger said he wanted to steal from her so he could buy some blue suede shoes. If Roger had money this story would not even need to be written and he would have never tried to steal because he would have been able to afford his own blue suede shoes. Even if a family has money they would still need a proper parent figure to teach them wrong from right. Roger said he did not live in a household so he has never learned what is good or bad for him. What Roger learned from the Miss he attempted to steal from will change his life because he learned more in this situation from doing wrong than doing

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409 Words | 2 Pages

The purpose of “Why, You Reckon?” by Langston Hughes is to accurately display, through the times of that century and human emotion, that despite money, power, and the color of your skin there can still be an unhappiness of the soul. There is evidence in the beginning of the short story of two men’s unhappiness in life the symbol of them being uncontent was their hunger. “Man, ain’t you hongry.... Well, sir, I’m tellin’ you, I was so tired and hongry and cold that night.” (253- 254).

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168 Words | 1 Pages

“Thank you M’am” is a piece of Prose written by Langston Hughes. Roger tries to steal Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones’s purse to get some Blue suede shoes. Instead of taking Roger to the authorities, she shows Roger kindness. The author uses suspense through setting, mystery, and dilemma. Without a doubt, the author uses the setting in the text by, stating that Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones was walking home alone when someone came up behind her and tried to steal her purse.

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481 Words | 2 Pages

A short story called "Thankyou Ma'am" by Langston Hughes is about a young teenage boy who tries to steal an old women's purse. But this old woman is no average old person... she dragged the boy all the way to her house. Then told him "I were young once and I wanted things I couldn't get.

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1683 Words | 7 Pages

The poem Langston Hughes wrote in 1936 called “Let America be America again”. Langston Hughes an afro American in the United States of America. Langston Hughes' philosophical idea was equality in the United States of America. The first way Langston Hughes shows his philosophical idea of equality is by showing he wants everyone to be treated fairly and have the government not allow people to be racist to the Afro-Americans, Indians, and other immigrants located in the United States of America. The second way Langston Hughes shows his philosophical idea of equality is by showing his desire and dedication towards of achieving equality and shows off his dedication of hard work to achieve his dream but can’t due to of the barriers he has to overcome

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1029 Words | 5 Pages

Close to twelve million immigrants came into the United States between the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. During the 1870s and 1880s, the vast majority of these immigrants arrived in America from Western Europe including Ireland, England, and Germany. Between 1849 and 1882, the United States saw a large number of Chinese immigrants arrive, largely because of the California gold rush. All these people were lured by America’s promise of prosperity, many fleeing the economic hardships of their country. In his poem “Let America be America Again,” Langston Hughes speaks of the American dream that could never be reached by the lower-class and social minorities and speaks on the equality and freedom that every immigrant hoped for but never were able

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485 Words | 2 Pages

In the poem, “I, Too, Sing America,” by Langston Hughes, the speaker creates a theme of resilience in the face of diversity by establishing an upbeat tone and a persistent attitude. Hughes ensures throughout this entire poem that the reader is never unsure how the speaker feels about his situation of being kept in the shadows. In every instance, the speaker always appears to be sure that change will come. At the beginning of the poem, it is noted that the speaker is always told to “eat in the kitchen,” (Hughes 3), away from the rest of the group.

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744 Words | 3 Pages

This tracks back to Hughes’ original message that he knows what inequality feels like and tries to spread awareness of the true realities of America. The use of the first-person point of view allows Langston to speak out of experience that it remains no equality throughout all ethnicities. The readers remain touched by Langston Hughes when he wrote this poem. The readers did not know how unfair life can seem and changed their perspective on how cruel America acts. This short phrase connects back to the 21st century.

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191 Words | 1 Pages

“Thank You M’am” Essay Response In the story “Thank You M’am” by Langston Hughes, the boy Roger, seems to be lonely. The story is about a boy named Roger who tries to steal Mrs. Jones purse, she takes him to her house and takes care of him. Roger could be described as lonely because he has nobody home at his home, he is very respectful of Mrs. Jones, and he tries to steal.

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581 Words | 3 Pages

Thank You Ma’am By: Kush Can you imagine a woman who would kick a stranger and then later in the story feed the same person? Well, in the short story, “Thank You Ma’am,” by Langston Hughes, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, the protagonist, does just that. She has a very complicated personality because she is hostile, but still lonely and caring. A big indication that Mrs. Jone hostile is, after, a boy made an attempt to steal her purse and failed, he fell.

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472 Words | 2 Pages

The poems, “Lineage”, by Margaret Walker, and “Helen Keller”, by Langston Hughes have many similarities and differences in the theme, imagery, and figurative language. The theme in Walker’s poem is about how grandmas are very tough, and you should respect your elders, while the theme in Hughes’ poem is about when times are hard, find your inner strength. A similarity between the two themes is that both idolize and admire strong women that have the power to find strength through dark times. For example, Walker’s poem states, “...full of sturdiness and singing. My grandmothers were strong”.

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504 Words | 3 Pages

Langston Hughes and America Langston Hughes, as renowned poet, a leader during the Harlem Renaissance, and a man of color, had written poetry during a particularly difficult time for people of color. Considered a founding father of Jazz Poetry, using various techniques, and styles of poetry to convey story in a rhythmic style. Many of Hughes’ poems focus heavily on America or the American dream. While reading “Let America be America again” it is evident that this poem is a description of the American Dream, “Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plain Seeking a home where he himself is free.”

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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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803 Words | 4 Pages

“When I get through with you, sir, you are going to remember Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones,” the large lady said fiercely. In the edge of your seat story, “Thank You Ma’am,” by Langston Hughes, the main character of the story is very entertaining with every action that she takes. The main event that had happened in the story is, a boy (Rodger) wanted to get blue suede shoes and he didn’t have enough money, so he tried to steal Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones purse, and that was a bad choice. After that, she caught him with a strong, bold arm and took him to her house. While there, she talks with the boy and feeds him.

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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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