Roll+of+Thunder,+Hear+My+Cry


 * Chapter 1**

__Vocabulary__
 * Raucous adj.** Rough-sounding and harsh
 * Pensively adv.** Deeply, often wistfully or dreamily thoughtful.
 * Sharecropping v.** Working (land) or growing (crops) as a sharecropper. (A tenant farmer who gives a share of the crops raised to the landlord in lieu of rent.)
 * Emaciated v.** Made or became extremely thin, especially as a result of starvation.
 * Undaunted adj.** Not discouraged or disheartened; resolutely courageous.
 * Morosely adv.** Sullenly melancholy; gloomy.
 * Disdainfully adv.** Expressively disdainful; scornfully and contemptuously.
 * Dismally adv.** Dreadfully; disastrously.
 * Knell n.** Sound of a bell
 * Transposed v.** Put into a different place or order
 * Milling v.** Moving around in churning confusion
 * Reverberated v.** Reechoed (a sound)
 * Dubious adj.** Fraught with uncertainty or doubt
 * Penchant n.** A definite liking; a strong inclination
 * Temerity n.** Foolhardy disregard of danger; recklessness.
 * Chignon n.** A roll or knot of hair worn at the back of the head or especially at the nape of the neck.
 * Maverick n.** One that refuses to abide by the dictates of or resists adherence to a group; a dissenter.
 * Imperiously adv.** Arrogantly domineering or overbearing.

__Comprehension__ 1. Describe the Logans. 2. What news did T.J. tell Cassie and her brothers? 3. Why didn’t these children have a bus to take them to school? 4. Why did Jeremy’s older sister, Lillian Jean, beat Jeremy? 5. What is the significance of the Confederate flag flying? 6. Why were there less students in the higher grade levels? 7. The school was given "brand new" books. Why were they soiled? 8. Why didn’t Cassie and Little Man want their books? 9. Why didn’t Miss Crocker get upset by the condition of the books? 10. What was Mama’s reaction particularly when Miss Crocker said, "I think you’re spoiling those children, Mary. They’ve got to learn how things are sometime?"


 * __Chapter 2__**


 * Vocabulary**
 * formidable adj.** inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder
 * ornate adj.** elaborately, heavily, and often excessively ornamented
 * chiffonier n.** A narrow, high chest of drawers or bureau, often with a mirror attached.

1. Who is Mr. Morrison and why has he come? 2. What happened to John Henry Berry? 3. What did Papa demand the children swear to? 4. Rewrite the second paragraph on pg. 40 in proper English. 5. What do you think will happen next in Chapter 3?
 * Comprehension**


 * __Chapter 3__**

__Vocabulary__
 * resiliency n.** shape or position after being bent, stretched or compressed
 * emitted v.** To give or send out a smell
 * donned v** to put on (clothing)
 * embittered v.** to arouse bitter feelings in
 * flippantly adv.** casually
 * moronic adj.** Regarded as very stupid
 * wafted v.** Conveyed or sent floating through the air
 * stealthily adv.** Marked by or acting with quiet, caution, and secrecy intended to avoid notice
 * oblivious adj.** Lacking conscious awareness
 * adamantly adv.** stubbornly
 * confer v.** To meet in order to deliberate together or compare views
 * precariously adv.** Dangerously lacking in security or stability

1. Why was Little Man always getting angry and frustrated? 2. How did Stacey plan to get revenge? What was the outcome of his revenge? 3. What danger were Cassie and her brother in? 4. Predict what will happen next in Chapter 4.
 * Comprehension**

__**Chapter 4**__

__Vocabulary__
 * Expounding v.** Explained in detail
 * Discourse n.** Conversation
 * Admonished v.** To counsel (another) against something to be avoided
 * Haughtily adv.** Scornfully and condescendingly proud
 * Riveted v.** To engross or hold attention
 * Feigned v.** Pretended
 * Fathom v.** To penetrate to the meaning or nature of; comprehend.
 * Proprietors n.** One who has legal title to something; an owner.

__Comprehension__ 1. What did the "men in the night" do to Mr. Tatum? Why? 2. What did Stacey do to help T. J. from getting into trouble? What does this tell you about Stacey’s character? 3. How did Stacey get caught cheating and what happened to him? 4. Why did Stacey and the others go to Wallace’s Store when they knew they would get whipped if they got caught? 5. What did Stacey decide to do after Mr. Morrison picked the children up at Wallace’s store? 6. Why does Harlan Granger haunt the Logans to sell their land to him? 7. Why did Mama bring the children to the Berry’s? 8. Why did Mama want the sharecroppers and the farm owners to shop in Vicksburg? What was the sharecroppers concern?

__**Chapter 5**__ __Vocabulary__
 * envisioned v.** pictured in the mind; imagined
 * retaliated v.** paid back (an injury) in kind
 * malevolently adv.** wishing harm to others; maliciously
 * sullenly adv.** morosely or sulkily
 * ambled v.** Walked slowly or leisurely; strolled

__Comprehension__ 1. What happened in Strawberry? 2. What did Mr. Barnett mean when he said to Stacey, "Then you get her out of here…And make sure she don’t come back till yo mammy teach her what she is"? 3. What did Stacey tell Cassie when they left the store about Mr. Barnett? 4. Describe the incident with Jeremy’s sister Lillian Jean. 5. How was Cassie rescued from Mr. Simms? 6. What feelings do you think Cassie had toward the way she was treated by Mr. Simms?

__**Chapter 6**__ __Vocabulary__
 * languidly adv.** Lacking energy or vitality; weakly

__Comprehension__ 1. Who was Cassie angry at and why? 2. Why does Uncle Hammer make a visit? 3. How did Uncle Hammer react to Cassie’s experience in Strawberry? 4. How did Mama explain to Cassie about…"how things are"? 5. What is the lesson that Mama teaches Cassie about respect? 6. What happened with Uncle Hammer? 7. During a Sunday drive near the Wallace’s Store, what did Uncle hammer say that shocked the family? 8. Uncle Hammer faked the Wallace’s out on the bridge who tipped their hats, and were shocked to see it wasn’t Mr. Granger. What did Mama mean when she said, "But one day we’ll have to pay for it. Believe me…one day we’ll pay."?

__Vocabulary__
 * Chapter 7**
 * interminable adj.** being or seeming to be without an end; endless
 * placid adj.** satisfied; complacent
 * boycott v.** To act together in abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with as an expression of protest or disfavor or as a means of coercion
 * insolently adv.** Audaciously rude or disrespectful; arrogantly

__Comprehension__ 1. After Uncle Hammer found out that Stacey "gave" his coat to T.J., what lesson did Uncle Hammer teach as he reprimanded Stacey? 2. What happened in Mr. Morrison’s childhood? 3. What did Mama want to do to stop the Wallace’s from destroying young black children’s lives and to protect the black families income? 4. What kinds of things did the Logan children get for Christmas? 5. Who was the unexpected visitor and why did he come? 6. What did Papa say about friendship between blacks and whites? 7. Mr. Jamison, the lawyer, offered to help out the thirty black families. How? 8. What reason did Mr. Jamison give for the Wallace’s not being arrested for burning the Berry’s home? 9. Mr. Jamison says that killing a black man is of a "minor consideration". Why? 10. What did Papa mean when he said, "I want these children to know we tried, and what we can’t do now, maybe one day they will." ? 11. How did Mr. Granger threaten the Logans? 12. What challenge did Papa make to Granger? How would you describe the mood and atmosphere at that moment?

__**Chapter 8**__ __Vocabulary__
 * jovial adj.** jolly

__Comprehension__ 1. How is Cassie "Uncle Tomming" (Miz) Lillian Jean? Why do you think she is doing this? 3. What lesson did Papa give to Cassie about respect? 4. What was the trick that Cassie played on Lillian Jean? 5. Mr. Granger, Kaleb Wallace, and a school board member came to watch 6. Mama teaching. What was the outcome and why? Was there any "hidden agenda"? 7. How did Mr. Morrison plan to help the Logans? What was Papa’s response? 8. What did Little Willie Wiggins tell Stacey about Mama? 9. What did Stacey mean when he said about T.J., "What he got coming to him is worse than a beating" ? 10. What do you think T.J. means when he says, "Got me better friends than y’all! They give me things and treat me like I’m a man and…and they white too…" ?

__**Chapter 9**__ __Vocabulary__
 * wisteria n.** any of several climbing woody vines in the pea family, having pinnately compound leaves and showy purplish or white flowers.
 * persnickety adj.** snobbish
 * amenities n.** social courtesies; pleasantries
 * chain gang n.** a group of convicts chained together, especially for outdoor labor

__Comprehension__ 1. Why doesn’t Jeremy like his older brothers? 2. What news did Mr. Jamison bring to Papa? 3. Why did Mr. Avery and some other sharecroppers decide not to shop at Vicksburg? 4. What would happen if the sharecroppers were put into a chain gang? 5. What is the lesson to be learned that Papa talked about regarding the fig tree? 6. What happened to Papa when he and Mr. Morrison went to Vicksburg?

__**Chapter 10**__ __Vocabulary__
 * lethargically adv.** causing sluggishness, inactivity, and apathy

__Comprehension__ 1. Why didn’t Papa want to borrow money from Uncle Hammer? 2. Why does Stacey blame himself for Papa’s broken leg? 3. How did Mr. Morrison show his great strength in front of the children? 4. What did Jeremy tell Stacey that T.J.’s been up to? 5. What news did Mr. Morrison bring back after paying the mortgage in Strawberry? 6. Where was Papa going to get the money to pay off the mortgage? 7. Why did Papa dismiss the court system as a means to stop Mr. Granger? 8. Why did Uncle Hammer walk to the revival? 9. Why was it better that Uncle Hammer return to Chicago? 10. On the last night of the revival, T. J. showed up with the Simmes brothers. What seems to be their relationship? What did they promise T.J.?

__**Chapter 11**__ __Vocabulary__
 * crescendo n.** a steady increase in intensity or force.

__Comprehension__ 1. Describe what happened to T.J. 2. Why did Stacey help after what he’s done to Mama? 3. After Stacey, Cassie, Christopher-John, and Little Man brought T.J. safely home, what happened?

__**Chapter 12**__ __Vocabulary__
 * traipsing v.** walking or tramping about
 * menacingly adv.** threateningly

__Comprehension__ 1. After Cassie told Papa the ugly details of what happened to T.J. and his family, what did Papa mean when he said, "I’ll do what I have to do, Mary…and so will you…" ? 2. After Papa and Mr. Morrison left in search for Stacey, what happened to the cotton? 3. Who helped put out the fire and how was the fire stopped? 4. What happened to T.J. once the fire broke out? 5. What news did Mr. Jamison bring about Jim Lee Barnett and what are the implications? 6. What was the secret that must never be told? 7. Why did Stacey and Cassie mourn for T.J. and predict what might happen to him? 8. How is the title __Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry__ appropriate for this novel?

__**Writing Prompts**__ Though she had been a teacher at Great Faith Elementary School for fourteen years, Mama was still considered by many of the other teachers as a disruptive maverick. What is a maverick? As a teacher, did Mama fit the definition? Give specific examples. In what way(s) was Mama a maverick as a mother and a member of the community?

Mr. Morrison lost his job with the railroad because he injured some white men in a fight, a fact that could lead someone to form a first impression of him as a violent, dishonorable man. Explain how Mr. Morrison's behavior as a part of the Logan family proved that he was both honorable and dependable. Do you beleive Mr. Morrison was justified in using violence to protect himself, Papa and Stacey? Why or why not? How was Mr. Morrison an asset to the Logan family? If Mr. Morrison had been allowed to be a mentor to T.J., how might his fate have been different?

Big Ma said one reason she loved Cassie's mama was because she had lost her own daughters when they were babies. However, the bond between the two women went much deeper. Tell how Big Ma and Cassie's mama were alike on the following points:
 * how they felt about the land
 * how they protected their children and taught them to cope
 * the ways they tried to bring about change
 * their service to people in the community
 * their pride in their past-both as family and as a race

Because of racial discrimination and poverty, Cassie and her brothers faced limited opportunities and the constant threat of harm. Today's young people must also cope with a mine field of temptations and pitfalls. Compare the problems Cassie faced to the hurdles that a young person of her age and economic level must deal with today. As you see it, what improvements have created a brighter future for modern children? In your opinion, what obstacles left over from the past or created in the present still need to change?

Uncle Hammer's eyes had a cold, distant glaze. Big Ma was worried about his angry reaction to Cassie's expereince in Strawberry. Obviously, Uncle Hammer dealt with racial discrimination with his temper. Why do you suppose Uncle Hammer did not live in Mississippi with his brother and mother? Was he running from something or was he searching for a better life? Could it have been a combination of both? Use events from the story and Uncle Hammer's own words to support your conclusions. In what way(s) was Uncle Hammer more successful than Papa? What important thing(s) did Papa have that Uncle Hammer didn't?