We are studying short story elements. To help with understanding those elements, we read the story "Thank You, M'am" and applied those elements of short stories.

1. Thank You, M’am
Langston Hughes

2. Quickwrite
• Have you ever wanted something so badly you
stole it? Describe the item, your action plan,
and the outcome.

3. Essential Questions
• What is the plot of the story?
• What is the theme of the story?

4. Setting
Place
Harlem, New York
Dark walkway
Mrs. Jones’ small flat
One room: bedroom, kitchen, living room, bathroom
Time
Late at night
1950’s
Clues: Blue Suede shoes

5. • Roger
– Main: conflict revolves
around him
– Dynamic: changes
• Starts out a thief and liar
• Wants Mrs. Jones to trust
him at the end

6. What connection is there between
what Roger wants and what he does at
the beginning of the story?
• He wants blue suede shoes so he tries to steal
her purse to get them.

7. • He does not succeed.
• He does not get away and she drags him
home to clean him, feed him, and talk to him.

8. • Turn him over to the police

9. • She tells Roger to wash his face and cooks him
dinner.
• She tells him she has made mistakes of her
own.

10. • They talk about her job as a hairstylist.

11. • She doesn’t want to embarrass him.
• She wants him to feel comfortable and trust
her.

12. • She might want him to trust her so that he will
accept her advice.

13. • He looks up at her wanting to say thank you
and more but he says nothing.

14. • He realizes that he has been given something
so valuable and he does not know how to
express his thanks.

15. • He may stop stealing and find other ways to
make money.

16. • People can learn from their mistakes.
• Some people make bad choices due to lack of
guidance.
• Stealing is wrong.
• Trust and kindness can change someone’s life.

17. What type of theme does this story
have?

18. • To make an educated guess on what you think
will happen based on the information given in
the story.

19. – Urban - city
– Rural – country
He lives in an urban area.

20. • The good guy
• The protagonist in this story is…

21. • The bad guy
• The antagonist in the story is…

22. What type of conflict does Roger
face in this story?
• Man vs. Man
• Man vs. Himself

23. Plot Chart
• https://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/plot-chart-thank-you-mam-block-6/23685295/?s=lIvK6w&ref=link