Thank you, ma'm by Langston Hughes (Study Questions)

 

Thank You, Ma’m

By Langston Hughes

 

What was the time when the boy tried to snatch the woman’s purse?

 

The woman was walking alone late night at 11 o’clock and it was dark when the boy tried to snatch her purse.

 

What happened to the boy when he tried to snatch the purse?

 

The strap of the purse broke down and the boy’s weight and the weight of the purse combined caused him to lose his balance. As a result, he fell down on his back on the sidewalk and his legs flew up.

 

What was the reaction of the woman?

 

The woman simply turned around and kicked the boy square in his blue jeaned sitter. After that, she reached down, picked the boy up by his shirt front. She started to shake him violently until his teeth rattled.

 

What was the conduct of the people when they saw the incident?

 

Some of the people who were passing by stopped, and turned to look. Some of them stood watching. None of them came close or intervened.

 

How did the boy look physically?

 

The physical condition of the boy was not very good. He was only fourteen or fifteen years old. His face was dirty and he was very frail and willow wild.

 

What was the condition of the boy when the woman gave him few jerks?

 

When the woman held him by the collar and gave him few jerks, the boy’s teeth started to rattle.

 

Why did the woman ask the boy to wash his face?

 

The boy’s face got dirty when he fell down on the sidewalk. The woman asked the boy to wash his face because he did not have any one at home to tell him to wash his face. She knew that the boy was not a professional pickpocket.

 

Why didn’t the boy run from the house of the woman?

 

The woman was very kind to the boy. She made him was his face and was preparing meal for him. She trusted the boy and left her purse near him. The boy did not want to break the trust of the woman. This is why he did not run from the house of the woman even though he had the chance to run away with her purse.

 

Why didn’t the woman watch the boy while preparing a dish?

 

The woman did not watch the boy while preparing a dish because she wanted to win his trust. She wanted to let him know that she trusted him. She also probably wanted him to take her purse if he wanted to because she knew that he had no one at home to look after him.