Shame Question # 7

7. Reread this essay's first and last paragraphs, and compare how much more one emphasizes shame.  Which emotion other than shame does Gregory reveal in the first paragraph, and does it play a role in the last one?  Is the last paragraph an effective ending?  Explain.

 Paragraph 1

Last Paragraph

Shame Question # 6

6. Specific details can enhance the reader's understanding and appreciation of a subject. Gregory's description of Helene Tucker's manners or the plaid of his mackinaw, for example, makes his account vivid and interesting.  Cite several other specific details he gives, and consider how the essay would be different without them. 

Shame Question # 4

4. What is the teacher's attitude toward Gregory? In arriving at your answer, consider her own words and actions as well as Gregory's opinion?

Shame Question # 3

3. In a word or phrase, how would you describe Gregory's tone?  What specific words or phrases in his essay lead you to this conclusion?

Shame Question # 2

2. What does Gregory mean by "shame"?  What precisely was he ashamed of, and what in particular did he learn from the incident? 

"Shame" Question # 1

 I never learned hate at home, or shame. I had to go to school for that. I was about seven years old when I got my first big lesson. I was in love with a little girl named Helene Tucker, a light-complexioned little girl with pigtails and nice manners. She was always clean and she was smart in school. I think I went to school then mostly to look at her. I brushed my hair and even got me a little old handkerchief. It was a lady's handkerchief, but I didn't want Helene to see me wipe my nose on my hand.
     The pipes were frozen again, there was no water in the house, but I washed my socks and shirt every night. I'd get a pot, and go over to Mister Ben's grocery store, and stick my pot down into his soda machine and scoop out some chopped ice. By evening the ice melted to water for washing. I got sick a lot that winter
because the fire would go out at night before the clothes were dry. In the morning I'd put them on, wet or dry, because they were the only clothes I had.
     Everybody's got a Helene Tucker, a symbol of everything you want. I loved her for her goodness, her cleanness, her popularity. She'd walk down my street and my brothers and sisters would yell, "Here comes Helene," and I'd rub my tennis sneakers on the back of my pants and wish my hair wasn't so nappy and the white folks' shirt fit me better. I'd run out on the street. If I knew my place and didn't come too close, she'd wink at me and say hello. That was a good feeling. Sometimes I'd follow her all the way home, and shovel the snow off her walk and try to make friends with her momma and her aunts. I'd drop money on her stoop late at night on my way back from shining shoes in the taverns. And she had a daddy, and he had a good job. He was a paperhanger.



1. How do the first three paragraphs of the essay help establish a context for the narrative that follows?

First time out the gate...

Hi!  I'm trying out this blog because I don't use Moodle and I need a forum type area. Today, you will respond to your "Shame" questions for study and discussion in comments for this blog.  I'll create a new post for each question so that it is clear which question you are responding to.  This is a trial in that in the future you will only respond to one blog post at a time.  You must have 2 posts per question, your response and then you must respond to one of your classmates.  It's an area for discussion about your questions, so use it as such.