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Thank You, Ma’am: Summary, workbook solutions of ISC Class 11 English (Prism)
Get notes, summary, questions and answers, workbook solutions (Beeta Publication/Morning Star), critical analysis, word meanings, extras, and pdf of Langston Hughes’ story Thank You Ma’am: ISC Class 11 English (Prism). However, the notes should only be treated for references and changes should be made according to the needs of the students.
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Workbook solutions/answers
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. The story opens with a large woman having a large purse. The purse was large is implied by the fact that ______________
(a) it contained everything, just short of hammer and nails
(b) its strap snapped
(c) it contained hammer and nails
(d) All of the above
Answer: (a) it contained everything, just short of hammer and nails
2. Why did the woman not loosen her grip on the boy’s shirt?
(a) She suspected that he would run away
(b) She asked him and he confessed that he would run.
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) She was going to take him to the police
Answer: (c) Both (a) and (b)
3. Name the figure of speech in: shook him until his teeth rattled
(a) Sarcasm
(b) Hyperbole
(c) Dialect
(d) Alliteration
Answer: (b) Hyperbole
4. How did the boy put himself ‘in contact with’ the woman?
(a) He attempted to snatch her purse
(b) He spoke to her to ask for help
(c) He allowed himself to be caught by her
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (a) He attempted to snatch her purse
5. What, according to the lady, was the reason for purse snatching?
(a) The boy was hungry
(b) The boy was poor
(c) The boy had no family
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (d) All of the above.
6. What was Roger’s motive behind the theft?
(a) Hunger
(b) Poverty
(c) Absence of family
(d) Urge to obtain blue-suede shoes
Answer: (d) Urge to obtain blue-suede shoes
7. What does the pair of blue suede shoes symbolise?
(a) Luxury
(b) Hunger
(c) Poverty
(d) All of the above
Answer: (a) Luxury
8. ‘You a lie!’ is an example of
(a) Dialect
(b) Hyperbole
(c) Sarcasm
(d) Humour
Answer: (a) Dialect
9. Given below are some actions. List them in the right sequence as they occur in the story:
(i) The purse’s strap breaks
(ii) The lady kicks the boy
(iii) The boy falls
(iv) The lady grips the boy by his shirt front.
(a) (iii), (i), (iv), (ii)
(b) (i), (iii), (ii), (iv)
(c) (i), (iii), (iv), (ii)
(d) (iii), (i), (ii), (iv)
Answer: (b) (i), (iii), (ii), (iv)
10. What was the boy’s dilemma when he went towards the sink?
(a) To run or to obey the lady
(b) To escape or to follow the lady
(c) To steal her purse or to run away
(d) To wash his face or to eat lima beans
Answer: (a) To run or to obey the lady
11. The lady showed that she trusted the boy by
(a) not watching over him
(b) feeding him
(c) leaving her purse behind
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer: (d) Both (a) and (b)
12. The lady lays stress on being presentable
(a) She asks the boy to wash his face
(b) She asks the boy to comb his hair
(c) She asks the boy to buy his blue suede shoes
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer: (d) Both (a) and (b)
13. How did Mrs Jones interpret the boy’s frown?
(a) That the boy wanted to escape
(b) That the boy was hungry
(c) That the boy thought she too stole purses
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (c) That the boy thought she too stole purses
14. Jack’s meal at Mrs Jones house comprised
(a) lima beans and ham
(b) cocoa
(c) ten-cent cake
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (d) All of the above.
15. According to the lady what would be the outcome of wearing shoes procured by unethical means?
(a) The wearer’s feet would get burnt
(b) The wearer would enjoy the comfort of the shoes
(c) The wearer’s feet would grow
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (a) The wearer’s feet would get burnt
Complete the sentences
1. Roger fell on his back because_____________.
Answer: the combined weight of his own frail body and the large, heavy purse caused him to lose his balance.
2. Roger was unable to snatch the purse and run because _____________.
Answer: the purse strap broke and he lost his balance from the combined weight of himself and the purse, causing him to fall.
3. Roger did not run away despite the open door because _____________.
Answer: he was moved by Mrs. Jones’s unexpected kindness and trust, and he did not want to be mistrusted by her now.
4. It can be inferred that Roger was a weak boy because _____________.
Answer: he is described as “frail” and “willow-wild,” and his low body weight was not enough to keep him from falling when he tried to snatch the heavy purse.
5. We know that the large woman could take care of herself because _____________.
Answer: she turned around, kicked Roger, picked him up by his shirtfront, and shook him until his teeth rattled.
6. There was a long pause after Roger washed his face because _____________.
Answer: he was unsure of what to do next and was likely processing the woman’s unexpected kindness and wondering what would happen to him.
7. The boy did not want to be mistrusted by the lady because _____________.
Answer: her generosity and the trust she placed in him made him want to earn her goodwill and prove himself worthy.
8. ‘Let the water run until it gets warm’ shows Mrs Jones’ concern for the boy because _____________.
Answer: it is a caring, motherly gesture that shows she is genuinely concerned for his comfort and well-being, not just ordering him to wash his face.
9. The boy ‘dried it again’ because _____________.
Answer: he did not know what else to do while he was wondering what would happen next.
10. The lady wants Roger to look ‘presentable’ because _____________.
Answer: she believes that being clean and neat fosters self-respect, and she hoped that by looking presentable, he would feel the urge to be good and trustworthy.
Short answer questions
1. Briefly describe the house where Mrs Jones lived. (You may make use of the historical background of the author’s association with an art form).
Answer: Mrs. Jones lived in a kitchenette-furnished room located in a large boarding house. She was one of many “roomers” in the building, and the sounds of other residents laughing and talking could be heard, indicating it was a shared living space. Her residence is described as a tiny apartment. This type of dwelling reflects the historical context of the Harlem Renaissance, a period with which the author Langston Hughes is closely associated. During that time, many large, single-family houses in Harlem were converted into multi-person dwellings to accommodate the growing population, and Mrs. Jones’s home is evocative of such a place.
2. Mrs Jones was inordinately, focussed on looking presentable. Comment.
Answer: Mrs. Jones placed great importance on being presentable, a value she sought to impart to Roger. After bringing him to her home, she instructed him to wash his face and comb his hair so that he would look presentable. The story suggests a link between one’s appearance and one’s character. It is noted that once Roger looked presentable, he felt an urge to be good and did not want to be mistrusted by Mrs. Jones. Her focus on this was a way of teaching him self-respect and the importance of how one presents oneself to the world.
3. Briefly list the sequence of events that led to her says, ‘You a lie!’
Answer: The sequence of events began when Roger tried to snatch Mrs. Jones’s purse from behind as she was walking alone at night. The strap broke, but the combined weight of the purse and his own body caused him to lose his balance and fall. Mrs. Jones then turned around, kicked him, and picked him up by his shirt front. After making him pick up her purse, she asked if he was ashamed of himself, and he said yes. She then asked him why he did it, and Roger replied that he did not aim to. It was this response that prompted Mrs. Jones to exclaim, “You a lie!”.
4. Describe the young purse-snatcher.
Answer: The young purse-snatcher, whose name is Roger, is described as a frail, thin teenager, appearing to be about fourteen or fifteen years old. He is characterized as “willow-wild,” suggesting he was as slim and pliable as a willow branch. He was dressed in blue jeans and tennis shoes. His overall appearance, which included dishevelled clothes, a dirty face, and messy hair, indicated that he was a poor boy who likely had no one at home to take care of him.
5. The Roger stole because he wanted to procure blue suede shoes. Explain the symbolism used here.
Answer: Roger’s stated reason for attempting to steal the purse was to get money for a pair of blue suede shoes. In the story, these shoes are highly symbolic. They represent money, desire, and luxury. More than just a material item, the shoes symbolize the American dream of a better life and access to a lifestyle of privileged luxury that was far beyond Roger’s reach. His desire for the shoes was a desire for entry into a world that he had only dreamed about.
6. The two characters in the story, Thank You Ma’am are lonesome. Comment on the appropriateness of this statement.
Answer: The statement that both Mrs. Jones and Roger are lonesome is very appropriate. Mrs. Jones is a “roomer” who lives by herself in a boarding house. Although her three surnames suggest she may have been married more than once, she appears to have no family with her. Roger is also depicted as being alone. He is found wandering the streets late at night, unsupervised, hungry, and with a dirty face. He confirms that there is nobody at his home. This shared condition of loneliness and lack of family ties serves to connect the two characters, despite their other differences.
7. The nature vs nurture theory is brought to fore in the story, Thank You Ma’am. Comment.
Answer: The story explores the ideas of nature versus nurture by examining the factors that shape a person’s morality. Roger’s circumstances—his poverty and lack of supervision—represent the “nurture” aspect, which could be seen as a reason for his actions. However, the story does not simply excuse his behavior. Mrs. Jones acknowledges the difficulties of his situation, drawing on her own past experiences, but she also holds him accountable for his choice to steal. She provides a nurturing environment by showing him kindness and trust, giving him a safe space to learn that hardship is not an excuse for immoral behavior. The story suggests that while circumstances (nurture) are influential, individual choice (nature) remains paramount, and a positive influence can nurture a person toward making better choices.
Long answer questions
1. Roger was shocked twice in the story. Give details what he expected and what happened.
Answer: Roger was shocked multiple times in the story because Mrs. Jones’s reactions were the complete opposite of what he anticipated.
The first shock was her immediate response to his crime. After he failed in his attempt to steal her purse, Roger expected to either be screamed at or handed over to the police. He was so sure of the latter that he later asked her, “You gonna take me to jail?”. Instead of doing what he expected, Mrs. Jones physically subdued him and then, rather than taking him to the authorities, she dragged him to her own home.
The second, and more significant, shock came from her treatment of him there. He likely expected a stern lecture from a person who saw herself as morally superior. Instead, she shocked him by confessing that she too had “done things” she was not proud of in her youth. He also expected to be watched like a criminal, but she left the door open and her purse in plain sight, showing him an incredible amount of trust. The final shock was her ultimate act of kindness: instead of punishment, she fed him a warm meal and gave him ten dollars to buy the very shoes he had tried to steal for. Her empathy and generosity were completely contrary to anything he could have expected.
2. The large woman with the large purse is a symbol of ‘working-class Americans.’ Comment.
Answer: Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, the large woman with the large purse, serves as a powerful symbol of working-class Americans. Her life is one of hard work and modest living. She works a late-night job at a hotel beauty shop, returning home around eleven o’clock. She is not wealthy, living in a small kitchenette room in a boarding house. Her large purse, which is described as having “everything in it but hammer and nails,” symbolizes the heavy burdens and practical necessities that a working person carries through life. Her physical strength, resilience in the face of adversity, and immense generosity despite her own limited means are all qualities that represent the spirit and dignity of the working class.
3. The author’s background and language give the setting of the story. Elaborate.
Answer: The setting of the story, while not explicitly named, is strongly suggested by the author’s background and the specific language used by the characters. The author, Langston Hughes, was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement centered in the African-American community of Harlem, New York. This historical context points to Harlem as the likely setting. This is further supported by the description of Mrs. Jones’s home as a room in a boarding house, a common type of housing in Harlem during that era when single-family homes were converted to accommodate more people.
The language of the characters is a key element that establishes the setting. Mrs. Jones and Roger speak in a dialect known as African American Vernacular English (AAVE). This is evident in their use of words like “ain’t,” contractions such as “No’m” for “No, ma’am,” and grammatical structures like the double negative in “I would not take you nowhere.” The use of this dialect, which was characteristic of Hughes’s writing, firmly places the characters in a working-class, African-American community, consistent with the setting of Harlem during the time of the Renaissance.
4. Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least expensive and the most underrated agent of human change. Comment on this quote in light of the story, Thank You Ma’am.
Answer: This quote is perfectly demonstrated by the events in “Thank You, Ma’am.” Roger anticipates punishment for his crime, but what he receives from Mrs. Jones is completely unexpected kindness. This kindness proves to be a far more powerful agent of change than any punishment could have been. Instead of making him bitter or defiant, her actions cause a fundamental shift in his perspective.
Her kindness is shown when she takes him home, insists he clean himself up, shares her meager meal with him, and speaks to him with respect and empathy. This treatment, which costs her very little materially, has a transformative effect on Roger. He goes from wanting to run away to wanting to earn her trust. He makes sure to sit where she can see him and even offers to help her. Her final act of giving him ten dollars is not just a gift; it is an investment in his potential to be better. The story shows that this simple, underrated act of compassion, rather than force or retribution, is what sets Roger on a path toward positive change.
5. How does the story encourage the American Dream?
Answer: The story encourages a specific vision of the American Dream, one that is accessible through hard work and moral integrity, especially for African-Americans who have historically faced barriers to it. The American Dream is the belief that anyone can improve their situation through effort. Mrs. Jones is an example of this principle; she works hard at her job in a beauty shop to support herself.
She teaches Roger that while it is natural to want things—like the blue suede shoes that symbolize a better life—the method of obtaining them is what matters. She warns him that “shoes got by devilish ways will burn your feet,” directly contrasting the path of crime with the path of honest work. By giving him the money, she is not just giving him the shoes; she is giving him a clean start and demonstrating that goals can be achieved without resorting to “devilish ways.” Her actions reform him, showing that the American Dream is achievable through hard work and that evil ways only lead to destruction. The story suggests this dream belongs to everyone, including the colored community, and is built on a foundation of moral choices.
6. How did the boy’s attitude to his misdemeanour change from the beginning to the end of the story by Langston Hughes? Give evidences from the story to support you answer.
Answer: At the beginning of the story, Roger’s attitude toward his crime is defined by fear and a desperate desire to escape the consequences. His main objective after being caught is to run. This is shown when he admits to Mrs. Jones that he would run if she let him go. He is described as a “frightened boy” who struggles to get free. His shame seems to be more about being caught than about the wrongful act itself.
However, his attitude transforms dramatically as a result of Mrs. Jones’s kindness. In her home, his fear of punishment is replaced by a new desire to be worthy of her trust. There is clear evidence of this change. He chooses not to flee when he has the chance, with the door left open. He purposefully sits on the far side of the room where he thinks she can see him, because “he did not want to be mistrusted now.” In a complete reversal of his earlier behavior, he even offers to go to the store for her. By the end, he is no longer just a scared thief. He is a young man filled with a gratitude so immense that he is left speechless, only able to stammer, “Thank you, ma’am.” His wish to say more reveals a deep internal change, from someone sorry he was caught to someone who understands the weight of his actions and is grateful for the chance to be better.
Additional questions and answers
1. Where was Mrs Jones when a boy attempted to snatch her purse?
Answer: Mrs Jones was walking alone on the street when a boy attempted to snatch her purse.
2. What does the narrator say about the bag?
Answer: The narrator said that the bag had everything in it but hammer and nails. It had a long strap, and she carried it slung across her shoulder.
3. What happened when the boy tried to snatch the purse?
Answer: The strap of the purse broke when the boy tried to snatch it, causing him to fall on his back on the sidewalk. The woman then kicked him and shook him until his teeth rattled. She then asked him to pick up her purse and asked why he did it, to which he replied that he didn’t aim to.
4. Where did the woman take the boy and why?
Answer: The woman, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, took the boy to her home. She did this because she wanted to teach him a lesson about right and wrong. She also noticed that the boy was dirty and looked hungry, so she wanted to feed him and clean him up.
5. Why did the woman leave her purse unattended on the table near the boy?
Answer: The woman left her purse unattended on the table near the boy because she trusted him not to steal it again. She wanted to show him that she had faith in him, which was a part of her effort to teach him about right and wrong.
6. Why did the boy try to snatch the purse?
Answer: The boy tried to snatch the purse because he wanted to buy a pair of blue suede shoes. He was also likely hungry and didn’t have anyone at home to provide for him, which may have driven him to desperation.
7. What did Mrs Jones tell the boy about herself?
Answer: Mrs. Jones told the boy, Roger, that she had also done things in her past that she wouldn’t tell him or God if he didn’t already know. She also shared with him about her job in a hotel beauty-shop that stayed open late, describing the work and the different types of women who came in and out.
8. How did the woman treat Roger at her house?
Answer: At her house, Mrs. Jones treated Roger with a mix of sternness and kindness. She made him wash his face and combed his hair. She also prepared a meal for him, which included lima beans, ham, and cocoa. She did not ask him any questions that would embarrass him. After they ate, she gave him ten dollars to buy the blue suede shoes he wanted. She also gave him advice about not stealing in the future.
9. Describe the way Roger tried to snatch the purse of Mrs. Jones.
Answer: Roger, the boy, tried to snatch the purse of Mrs. Jones by running up behind her and giving the purse a single tug from behind. The purse had a long strap and was slung across Mrs. Jones’ shoulder. However, the strap broke with the tug, and the combined weight of the boy and the purse caused him to lose his balance. Instead of running away as he had planned, he fell on his back on the sidewalk.
10. How does the woman get hold of the boy and in what manner does she take him home?
Answer: After the boy’s failed attempt to snatch her purse, Mrs. Jones, the woman, got hold of the boy by picking him up by his shirt front and shaking him. She then commanded him to pick up her purse and give it to her. She kept a firm grip on him and did not release him even when he pleaded with her. She then started up the street, dragging the frightened boy behind her. When she got to her door, she dragged the boy inside, down a hall, and into a large kitchenette-furnished room at the rear of the house. She switched on the light and left the door open. The woman still had him by the neck in the middle of her room.
11. What does Roger find in the women’s house and what is he made to do?
Answer: In the woman’s house, Roger finds a gas plate, an icebox, and a day-bed. The woman, Mrs. Jones, asks him to sit down and comb his hair while she prepares something for them to eat. She does not watch him closely or guard her purse, which she leaves on the day-bed. Roger, however, chooses to sit on the far side of the room where he believes she can easily see him if she chooses to. He does not trust the woman not to trust him and does not want to be mistrusted. He even offers to go to the store for her, but she declines and prepares cocoa and a meal of lima beans and ham from what she has in the icebox. After they eat, she gives him ten dollars to buy the blue suede shoes he wanted and advises him not to snatch people’s pocketbooks in the future.
12. Summarise the conversation between the boy and the woman before she enters her house with him.
Answer: Before the woman, Mrs. Jones, takes Roger into her house, they have a conversation where she firmly tells him that he will remember her. She asks him his name and instructs him to wash his face. When Roger asks if she’s going to take him to jail, she responds that she won’t and instead, she’s trying to get home to cook a meal. She realizes that Roger might be hungry too, which could be why he tried to snatch her purse. Roger admits that he wanted a pair of blue suede shoes. Mrs. Jones tells him that he didn’t have to snatch her purse to get the shoes; he could have asked her.
13. Why did the woman leave the purse on the table? Why did Roger not run away with the purse?
Answer: The woman, Mrs. Jones, leaves her purse on the table because she trusts Roger not to run away with it. She does not watch him closely or guard her purse, which she leaves on the day-bed.
Roger, on the other hand, does not run away with the purse because he does not want to betray the trust that Mrs. Jones has shown him. He chooses to sit on the far side of the room where he believes she can easily see him if she chooses to. He does not trust the woman not to trust him and does not want to be mistrusted.
14. Comment on the ending of the story.
Answer: The ending of the story is quite touching and leaves a lasting impression. After they finish eating, Mrs. Jones gives Roger ten dollars to buy the blue suede shoes he wanted. She advises him not to snatch people’s pocketbooks in the future, as shoes obtained in such a way will “burn his feet.” She then leads him to the front door and wishes him goodnight, reminding him to behave himself. Roger wants to say something more than just “Thank you, ma’am” to Mrs. Jones, but he can’t find the words. He barely manages to say “Thank you” before she shuts the door. He never sees her again. This ending is impactful as it shows the profound effect Mrs. Jones had on Roger, and it leaves the reader wondering about the lasting impact of this encounter on Roger’s life.
15. Did the woman in the story behave with the boy in the expected usual way? How?
Answer: The woman in the story, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, does not behave with the boy, Roger, in the expected usual way. Instead of reacting with anger or fear when Roger tries to snatch her purse, she responds with understanding and compassion. She drags him to her home, not to punish him, but to feed him and teach him a lesson about right and wrong. She does not call the police or try to get him into trouble. Instead, she talks to him, feeds him, and even gives him money to buy the shoes he wanted. She treats him with kindness and respect, despite his initial attempt to steal from her. This unexpected behaviour likely has a significant impact on Roger, teaching him about empathy, trust, and the importance of making the right choices.
