Roll of Thunder Journal Questions.docx

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Journal Questions

Chapter 1

1.      How do Little Man’s good clothes get dirty on the way to school?

2.      Why is Little Man upset with the textbook they are being given?

3.      Explain the last sentence in the chapter.

4.      Thinking Deeper:  What about TJ don’t the Logan children like? Why do you think Stacey remains TJ’s friend?

Chapter 2

1.      Describe Cassie’s actions when she thought she saw her father coming down the road. What can we infer about her relationship with her father?

2.      What is Papa’s warning about the Wallace Store?

3.      Name two character traits that describe Mr. Morrison.

4.      Thinking Deeper: What simile is used to describe Mr. Morrison’s voice? Do you think it has anything to do with the title of the novel?

Chapter 3 (to pg. 42)

1.      What does the white school bus driver do to the Logan children?

2.      What was Stacey’s plan for revenge against the white school bus?

3.      How does Stacey’s revenge plot work out?

Chapter 3 ( p. 42 – end)

1.      Why does Mr. Avery visit the Logan family?

2.      Why do Mama and Mr. Morrison get their firearms in this chapter?

3.      What was Cassie’s reaction when she saw the caravan of cars?

4.      Thinking Deeper: Why does the author talk about thunder?  Does it mean more or stand for something more than the beginning of a rain storm?

Chapter 4 (to break on p. 66)

1.      What do you think TJ was doing by Mama’s desk?

2.      How does Stacey first feel about Mr. Morrison coming to live with them?

3.      Thinking Deeper: Why does Stacey say he’ll tell Mama what happened at the Wallace store?

Chapter 4 ( from break on p. 66 – end)

1.      Why does Harlan Granger want the Logan land so badly?

2.      Why does Mama bring the children to the Berry’s?

3.      Mama wants the sharecroppers to do all of their shopping in Vicksburg instead of at the Wallace store.  What concerns do the sharecroppers have with this?

4.      Thinking Deeper: Name three words to describe the Wallace family.

Chapter 5

1.      Why does Big Ma hitch up the wagon on the second Saturday of each month?

2.      Describe the incident with Lillian Jean.

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

4.      Thinking Deeper:  What crucial lessons does Cassie learn during her visit to Strawberry?

Chapter 6 

1.      Name two descriptive character traits to describe Uncle Hammer.

2.      Why was Mama so afraid when Uncle Hammer left the house?

3.      How does TJ act when he sees Stacey’s new coat? Why do you think he acts this way?

4.      Thinking Deeper:  What is Mama trying to teach Cassie when she explains Big Ma’s handling of the situation with Mr. Simms?

Chapter 7 (to pg. 122)

1.      What is Uncle Hammer trying to teach Stacey?

2.      Why does Cassie think that Uncle Hammer’s tongue lashing is worse than her father’s whipping?

3.      Who was the unexpected visitor on Christmas? Why did he come over?

4.      Thinking Deeper: What did Papa mean when he said, “Maybe one day whites and blacks can be real friends...The trouble is, down here in Mississippi, it costs too much to find out.”?

Chapter 7 (p. 122 – end)

1.      How does Mr. Jamison, the lawyer, offer to help out thirty African American families?

2.      Describe how Mr. Granger threatens the Logans.

3.      Thinking Deeper: How would you describe the mood at the end of Ch 7?

Chapter 8

1.      What is Cassie’s revenge on Lillian Jean?

2.      Name two reasons given to Mama about why she was fired.

3.      Why does Stacey not want to be friends with TJ anymore?

4.      Thinking Deeper: What do you believe is the real reason Mama was fired?

Chapter 9

1.      Who are TJ’s new friends? Why do you think TJ has chosen to be friends with them?

2.      How does Mr. granger get back at the Logan’s for not selling him their land?

3.      Foreshadowing is when the author gives the reader clues about what will happen later in the novel. What are two examples of foreshadowing used in this chapter?

4.      Thinking Deeper: In what ways are Mama and Papa brave?

Chapter 10

1.      How does Uncle Hammer get the money to pay the bank?  What does this tell us about him?

2.      What does Stacey hear about TJ?

3.      Thinking Deeper: Why do you think the bank suddenly wants the Logans to pay their mortgage in full?

Chapter 11

1.      Why did RW and Melvin beat TJ?

2.      Although TJ has done nothing but hurt Stacey and his family, why does Stacey help him??

3.      How does the author create an ominous mood in this chapter?

4.      Thinking Deeper:  Would you have helped TJ if you would have been in Stacey’s place? Explain why or why not.

Chapter 12

1.      Who helped put out the fire?

2.      What happened to TJ once the fire started?

3.      Thinking Deeper: Why does Cassie cry for TJ and the land at the end of the book?

4.      Prediction: What do you think will happen to TJ?