Like any talented writer, Mildred Taylor chooses her words wisely, especially during her novel’s most important scenes. In this way, her diction creates a mood or overall feeling that supports each scene’s role in the entire story. What words stood out to you as you read Chapters 2 and 3 of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry? How did the connotations of these words make you feel about what was happening?
Locate each of the examples described on the slides below. When you have found the correct passage, try to answer the question on the slide.
Find the section in the beginning of Chapter 3 when Little Man arrived home from school, found Big Ma, and “exploded” his version of what happened during his walk to school. How does the word exploded affect the mood of that scene? Why didn’t the author use the word said or shouted instead?
.jpg)
Find the section at the beginning of Chapter 3 that describes how the Logan kids “plodded” along the muddy road to school while listening for the bus. What mood is created by Taylor’s use of the word plodded instead of a more neutral word, such as walked?
Find the section in the middle of Chapter 3 that describes the kids lying flat and “peering” through the bushes to catch a glimpse of the bus hitting the hole they dug during lunch. What is the effect of using the word peered instead of the more neutral word looked?
Find the section at the end of Chapter 3 where Mama becomes “silent” when Stacey asks if he can help with whatever is going on outside. This sentence appears just before Cassie sees some vehicles heading up the Logans’ driveway late at night. Why would Taylor choose the word silent instead of quiet?
