ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY

Below are some questions that you should answer in full paragraphs, find at least one quotation to support each answer; use your textbook to answer them. These questions will ensure that you understand the story… it is your responsibility to make sure you know it well.

When you have finished the questions you can make a start on the extension questions and activities at the bottom, which will help you further identify with the characters.

1. How is Cassie’s school different from the one that the white children attend?(1)
2. Why do other children often ridicule Jeremy? Why do you think he persists in walking with Cassie’s family?(1)
3. Why is Little Man so upset about the schoolbooks? Do you think he should have refused the book?(1)
4. Why does Papa tell the children not to go near the Wallace store?(2/3)
5. What is Stacey’s plan for revenge against the Jefferson Davis school bus?(2/3)
6. Why does Stacey feel differently about Mr. Morrison from the way that the other children feel?(4)
7. Why does Stacey accept punishment for cheating when he isn’t guilty?(4)
8. Why does the visit to Mr. Berry teach the children a better lesson than a scolding or a whipping?(4)
9. Why doesn’t Big Ma take Cassie’s advice to move the wagon forward where customers will notice them?(5/6)
10. Why does Bog Ma insist that Cassie apologize to Mr. Simms’s daughter in the degrading way that he requires?(5/6)
11. Why doesn’t Uncle Hammer want Stacey to get the coat from T.J.?(7/8)
12. Why is Cassie’s revenge against Lillian Simms so appropriate?(7/8)
13. What evidence shows that the Logan family is feeling the effects of the loss of Mama’s job?(9/10)
14. Why do you think T.J. came to the revival with R.W. and Melvin?(9/10)
15. Why doesn’t the white mob lynch T.J.?(11/12)
16. What do you think Cassie means when she says at the end, "I cried for T.J….and for the land"?(11/12)
17. Were you satisfied with the ending of the book? If so, tell why you liked it. If not, tell how you would have preferred the book to end.
18. In some ways this book is about Cassie’s education in the real world of her time and place. Coming from a loving, protected family environment, she was innocent of many things. Tell what Cassie learned and how she changed during the course of the book.

 Answer one of the following questions in detail.

1. Stacey Logan is an important supporting character in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Assuming the role of Stacey, try to explain how you feel about T.J. Use quoted passages from the story to support your opinions.
2. Which character do you most--or least--admire in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry? Use plenty of examples and evidence from the novel, including quoted passages, to support your choice.
3. Ten years have passed since the events depicted in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Write a sequel to the story, telling what has happened to the major characters. Be sure events and characters in your sequel are consistent with events and characters in the novel