“I would teach you right from wrong.”-Who said this, to whom and when? How did the speaker transform the person spoken to here?

Mrs Jones said this to Roger when she came to know that he had no one to look after him. 

Hearing the purpose of theft, Mrs Jones, like a mother, said affectionately, “You could have asked me.” This unexpected generosity moved Roger deeply. The trust bestowed upon him lighted up his soul and urged him to prove his trustworthiness. Mrs Jones cooked for him and they had supper together. While having supper she spoke to him about her workplace. This made him feel at home. Moreover, she offered him ten dollars to purchase his long-desired shoes and advised him not to steal. This advice of Mrs Jones and her motherly care made quite an impact in bringing about a complete transformation in Roger.

“When I get through with you, sir, you are going to remember Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones.”-Why do you think the woman would prove to be unforgettable for Roger and what kind of a person would he remember her as?


The unusual treatment of kindness and. trust that Roger received from Mrs Jones would make him remember her throughout his life. The way Mrs Jones told him “You could have asked me,” brought about a great change in the psychology of the young boy. As Mrs Jones gave him ten dollars and provided him with food, he considered her to be a noble individual. Moreover, the lesson, that things earned by the wrong means could not provide peace to the human mind, taught him to perceive life differently. So, the moment Roger would leave the house, he would remember Mrs Jones as a strong woman who knew how to get hold of difficult situations and at the same time as a soft and generous person at heart. Roger would remember her as the person who had helped him to change his outlook towards life.

“Sweat popped out on the boy’s face and he began to struggle.”-When did sweat pop out on the boy’s face? Why did he struggle? What next happened to the boy?

“You gonna take me to jail?”-Who said this? Why did the speaker think so? Was the speaker eventually taken to jail? If not, why?


“I wanted a pair of…shoes.”-What reply did the speaker get and how did he react?

“You could of asked me.”-What did the speaker expect to be asked? What light does it throw upon the character of the speaker?


“He could make a dash for it down the hall. He could run, run, run, run, run!”-Where do these lines occur? Who is the speaker? Who is he’? Why didn’t he run?

“I have done things, too,”—Who said this to whom? What do you think the speaker has done? Why did the speaker say this to the listener?


“I were young once and I wanted things I could not get.”- How does the utterance bridge the gap between the two characters?

“There was another long pause.”-What was the reason for this long pause? Was there any other pause previously? If yes, state the reason for that pause.


“There was a long pause. A very long pause.”-Bring out the significance of pause’.

“The woman did not watch the boy to see if he was going to run now.”-Why didn’t the woman watch the boy anymore?


“Do you need somebody to go to the store,… ?”-Who is the speaker? To whom did the speaker say this? Why did the speaker want to go to the store? What did they have in supper?

“And he did not want to be mistrusted now.” Who is referred to as ‘he” here? Whose trust did he want to win? Why didn’t he want to be mistrusted?


“Now, here, take this ten dollars…”-Who said this? Why did the speaker offer ten dollars? How did the speaker advise the person spoken to? What was the reaction of the person spoken to?

“Eat some more, son,…”-Who is the speaker? What is offered by the speaker to the listener? What picture of the speaker’s character is revealed in this line?


 “…. because shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet.”—Who is the speaker here? Whom was it spoken to? When did the speaker say this? What attitude of the speaker has been enlightened here?

“Goodnight! Behave yourself, boy!”-Who said this and to whom? What did the speaker mean by saying “Behave yourself”? How did the boy react at last?


“He barely managed to say “Thank you” before she shut the door-How does the ending appear to be in contrast to the way in which the story begins?

Describe the bag snatching incident. | What do you know about Mrs Luella’s home?