In the first six chapters of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred Taylor describes many objects and events that become symbolic of the novel’s broader themes: the used school books, the burnings carried out by the nightmen, and Uncle Hammer’s Packard, to name a few. What helpful clues about the novel’s themes will appear in Chapter 7? To find out, you’ll need to apply your knowledge of how symbols and themes are related.
Read Your Text
Read Chapter 7 today, looking for symbols—both new ones and ones that you’ve seen before in the novel—and consider how these objects or events relate to the story’s themes.
As you read Chapter 7, see if you can answer these questions for yourself:
| What happened to Stacey’s coat, and how will it change the symbolic meaning of Uncle Hammer’s gift? |
| What is Mr. Morrison’s story? What was his life like before he joined the Logan family, and what does the family mean to him now? |
| How does Jeremy Simms feel about Stacey and the way things are between blacks and whites, and what risks will he take to show it? |
| Is there anyone in Strawberry who can help the Logan family and their friends? |
When you finish the reading assignment for this lesson (Chapter 7), return to this lesson to complete the remaining activities and the lesson quiz.
