To truly understand a novel’s round characters, you have to consider their words, thoughts, and actions. These details can slowly develop a character that seemed flat at the beginning of the story into a much rounder character. They can also demonstrate how the character is beginning to change—perhaps as a reaction to previous events in the story.
What clues in Chapter 6 of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry helped you see the roundness of the novel’s key characters? Study the examples below to make sure you recognized some important clues about each character’s personality.
By the end of Chapter 6, Mama has developed into a bold character who is determined to take a stand while also trying to protect her family. At the very beginning of the novel, she defiantly glues paper over the offensive charts in her children’s textbooks. Later she urges her neighbors to start shopping in Vicksburg rather than give their business to the Wallace store. At the end of Chapter 6, though, Mama persuades Uncle Hammer not to flaunt his wealth in Strawberry and worries that the Logan family will suffer because of his decision to drive across a bridge ahead of a white driver.
Question
Why does Mama react the way she does at the end of Chapter 6? What does this event tell you about Mama?
Several times throughout Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Big Ma reminds her children and grandchildren how hard they’ve had to work to keep their land. Big Ma is proud of this fact and explains to Cassie that she is lucky that her family owns land. One thing Big Ma is not proud of is what happened in Strawberry—even though she knows it was the safest thing to do at that moment. Big Ma does not want Cassie to tell Uncle Hammer about making her apologize to Lillian Jean. Surely enough, as soon as Uncle Hammer finds out, he storms out of the house.
Question
Why does Big Ma try to change the subject so that Cassie won’t tell Uncle Hammer about Lillian Jean and Mr. Simms? What does this event tell you about Big Ma?
Throughout the first half of the novel, Cassie is filled with worry about the nightmen and what they might do to her family. She also frets about the possible consequences of what she and her brothers did to the white children’s school bus. In Strawberry and at Mr. Berry’s home, Cassie sees firsthand how cruel people can be. Regardless of what she has experienced so far, however, Cassie is angry and frustrated when she finds out that Uncle Hammer did not visit Mr. Simms and demand an apology on her behalf.
Question
Why is Cassie so frustrated by Uncle Hammer’s lack of action? What does this event tell you about Cassie?
While Cassie considers her older brother a source of strength, information, and good ideas, she also knows that he isn’t always able to conceal his feelings—even when expressing them might get him in trouble. At the very beginning of the novel, Stacey stuffs his clenched fists into his pockets when T.J. teases him about being in Mama’s class. Later, after his friend betrays and embarrasses him at school, Stacey follows T.J. to the Wallace store and starts a fight. And it’s Stacey who organizes a way to disable the school bus when he can no longer contain his frustration about the way things are.
When Cassie tries to vent her frustration about Mr. Simms, however, Stacey tells her she should be grateful that Uncle Hammer changed his mind after taking off in his car. In a serious manner, Stacey explains to Cassie that Uncle Hammer could have gotten himself killed.
Question
What additional information does this interaction reveal about Stacey?
