Short Story 1- Antonio Sims

Short Story Assignment 1

Short Story read: Thank You M'am
Author: Langston Hughes
Characters: Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones & Roger


My Summary Of The Story
What Happenend: In this story a boy (roger) tries to steal a woman's pocketbook (Mrs. jones), but his plan did go as he had planned it to go. So instead of stealing the womans' purse it getting away scott free his plan backfires. Now Mrs. Jones has Roger grasped so that he cant escape. She takes him home to teach him a lesson. She tells Roger to clean his face so that he can look presentable towards others. Then Roger explains why he attempted to steal the pocketbook, which was so that he could get some money to buy some blue suede shoes. She explains to him that you dont have to do "devilish" things to get blue suede shoes. She said "Because they will burn your feet."
After that she gives Roger something to eat, because she believed that he hadnt ate all day. Well her exact quotes were " I believe you're hungry-or been hungry-to try to snatch my pocket book." She doesn't ask him any personal questions or anything, she justs alerts him to be more wise about the decisions he makes. so they eat and she tells him about her life, her job in a hotel beauty shop, what work was like, and about all the different types of women that came to the shop. Afterwords she gives Roger ten dollars to purchase the blue suede shoes that he had wanted, then she once again reminds Roger to not go around stealing.
Roger then is escorted out of Mrs. Jones home, he tries to thank her for mercy and generosity but the he is so stunned at what all just had happened that he couldn't even get the words out to say "Thank You." But after he had came back to his senses he had thank Mrs. Jones for all she had did for him. He walks off and she shuts the door.
End.

My Opinions On The Characters:
Well I think that Mrs. Jones sort of is like the character Tyler Perry plays named "Madea."But if i had to say what my thoughts were specificly on the characters are: Mrs. Jones is like a Foster Mother of some sort slash enthusiastic/motivational speaker. what makes me think this are these quotes: "You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong." and "Next time do not make the mistake of latching on my pocketbook or anybody else's- because shoes got by devilish ways will burn your feet."
What I think of Roger is: he is a young adolescence who isn't in-line because there is never anyone at home that would discipline him,so he just feels that HE has to do for himself since no one will. ( I want to say a "rebel" amongst many words). A quote that supports that opinion is when Mrs. Jones asked "Maybe you aint had supper either, late as it be. Have you?" and he responded by saying " There's nobody home at my house". But he soons gets a taste of discipline when he runs into Mrs. Jones..

How the Author showed what the characters were like:
He portrayed Mrs. Jones as a person who doesn't tolerate any negativity, and as someone who doesn't mind speaking her mind- anywhere! A quote that supports this opinion is when Mrs. Jones took these actions towards Roger ( in public). She caught him trying to steal her pocketbook and instead of sreaming & yelling for help she takes actions into her own hands by snatching Roger up and firmly holding & shaking him. And as for Roger he appears to me as like I had said,a adolescent who is just trying to do things to better himself without thinking about consequences a sentence that supports this opinion is when the story says " instead of takin off full blast like he had hoped,the boy had fell on his back on the sidewalk and his legs flew up.
As far as me knowing what kind of people the characters were, i kind of just figured out from how the author portrayed the characters.

Definitions:
simile- A figure of speech in which two essentially unlike things are compared, often in a phrase introduced by like or as.

Metaphor- A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison.

Personification- a character portrayal or representation in a dramatic or literary work.

Allusion- a passing or casual reference; an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication.

Hyperbole- an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally.

Irony- a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated.

Examples from the story:
Allusion: Her pocketbook had everything in it except hammer and nails. This cooment was implying that her pocketbook was so loaded with things that it might as well have hammer and nails in it.
Hyperbole: Shook him until his teeth rattled. We know that you can't literally shake anyone until their teeth rattle.