Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Discussion Guide

Questions for Chapters 1-4

Comprehension and Recall

1. What does T.J. want Stacey to do about Mrs. Logan's tests?

Get the answers beforehand

2. Why does it take the Logans and their friends an hour to walk to school?

Only white children have a bus; few provisions are made for educating black children.

3. What happens to the Berrys?

White men set them on fire; John Henry dies.

4. Why doesn't Cassie like T.J?

He's sneaky; cheats and gets Stacey in trouble.

5. Why does the Great Faith School start later and end earlier than the Jefferson Davis County School?

Black children must work in the fields from early spring until October.

6. How do the Logan children get back at the bus driver?

They dig a ditch which fills with rain; the bus breaks an axle.

7. Why does Stacey disobey Mama and go to the Wallace store?

To get T.J. who got him in trouble

8. How do the landowners and storekeepers take advantage of the sharecroppers?

Landowners sign to get credit for sharecroppers at store; store then charges huge interest on sharecropper purchases. When crops come in, landowners take half the profit, store gets paid back and charges fees for extending credit. Sharecropper never gets any cash and is always in debt.

Higher Level Thinking Skills

9. Why is the land so important to the Logans?

It represents freedom from being a sharecropper; a kind of pride and independence.

10. Why is Miss Crocker so pleased with the old, dirty books?

It's the first time the school has had any books; she is probably used to being treated shabbily; she “knows her place.”

11. Why does Miss Crocker say Mama is “biting the hand that feeds” her?

Mama isn't grateful for the old books; she speaks of other things the school needs.

12. Why does Mr. Grimes, the bus driver, go out of his way to get the black children dirty?

Possible: He's prejudiced; thinks it's funny.

13. Why does Stacey say he'll tell Mama what happened at the Wallace store?

He knows it's the right thing to do; Mr. Morrison has let him make his own decision.

14. What problems do you predict for the Logans and others in the rest of the story?

Answers will vary.

Literary Elements

15. Voice: Who is telling this story?

Cassie

Personal Response

16. How do you feel about the way black children were educated in the 1930s?

Questions for Chapters 5-8

Comprehension and Recall

1. How does Mama want to retaliate for the burning of the Berry men?

She wants people to boycott the Wallace store.

2. How does Mr. Granger threaten the Logans?

He says they'll lose their land f they stir up trouble because the bank won't honor their mortgage. He also says the sharecroppers will get less for their cotton and won't be able to pay their debts.

3. How does Mr. Granger take his anger out on Mama?

He gets her fired.

4. Why does Stacey drop T.J. as a friend?

T.J. is responsible for getting Mama fired; T.J. speaks negatively of her because he failed her class.

Higher Level Thinking Skills

5. Why does Big Ma take Cassie and Stacey to market?

She has to take T.J. and doesn't want to put up with him alone.

6. Why doesn't Cassie understand Mr. Barnett's behavior?

She sees that it is rude and unfair, but doesn't realize this is how African American people are usually treated.

7. Why does Big Ma make Cassie apologize to Lillian Jean?

She's afraid of trouble and violence; she's protecting Cassie.

8. What kinds of arguments do you think Mr. Morrison used to persuade Uncle Hammer not to visit the Simms?

Possible: You'll get hurt or killed; think about your brother; Mama and the children will get hurt. Wait, find another way to handle this. Turn the other cheek — there is more at stake here than Cassie's pride.

9. How would you describe Uncle Hammer?

Possible: proud, angry, resentful, tough, impulsive, hot-headed, defiant, generous

10. Why does Cassie think Uncle Hammer's tongue-lashing is worse than her father's whipping?

Uncle Hammer is very angry, gets cold look in his eye, shows his disgust with Stacey's stupidity. She's more sure of Papa's love and values.

11. Why will boycotting the Wallace store be dangerous?

Harlan Granger owns the land the store is on and gets part of the income. It means pointing a finger and saying the Wallaces should be punished for burning and killing a black man.

Literary Elements

12. Mood: What is the mood of the story at the end of Chapter 7?

Ominous, dangerous, threatening, defiant

Personal Response

13. How do you feel about the way Cassie handles her problem with Lillian Jean?

Questions for Chapters 9-12

Comprehension and Recall

1. Who kills Mr. Barnett?

R. W. hits him with an ax.

2. How does Papa get Mr. Granger to stop the crowd at the Averys?

He sets fire to the cotton.

Higher Level Thinking Skills

3. In what ways are Mama and Papa brave?

They are risking a lot — friendships, their land, their family's safety, their lives — to stand up to injustice.

4. Why does Papa defend Mr. Avery's and Mr. Lanier's decision to back out of the boycott?

He understands what is at stake for them — being sent to a chain gang; they are sharecroppers and don't own any land.

5. Why does Papa think Stacey should go with him when he asks people about Vicksburg?

He feels Stacey should be strong and learn how to handle himself.

6. How does Stacey grow up after the wagon accident?

He feels responsible; tries to protect his brothers and sisters from harshness of story.

7. Why is the revival so important?

It's a chance for people to get together, feast, reaffirm beliefs.

8. How does Uncle Hammer show that the land is important to him?

He sells his car to raise money for the mortgage.

9. Why does T.J. believe the Simms brothers care about him?

He isn't very bright; he wants to feel important; he thinks highly of himself.

Literary Elements

10. Character: Why does Stacey decide to help T.J. after the robbery at the Barnetts' store?

He understands that T.J. is vulnerable and in real trouble. He feels responsible for T.J.'s safety; he's loyal.

11. Mood: How does the author create an ominous mood in Chapter 11?

Storm, thunder, lightning, heavy air

Personal Response

12.What is your response to the story's ending?