"A Good Man is Hard to Find"

Why would it have been beneficial for a woman to marry a wealthy man during this time period?

Women were not commonly allowed to work for themselves.

Why does the writer spend an entire paragraph describing the grandmother and the mother's clothing? What does the clothing reveal about each character?

We can tell a lot about a character through how they dress. The grandmother takes pride in how she looks and dresses very ornately, which shows that she might be a little too self confident and conceited. The mother dresses simply, which shows that she is meek and less concerned with her outside appearance.

What is the significance of the store sign that claims Red Sammy is a veteran? Why would this be important given the time period?

A veteran would be highly respected and people would treat him more nicely if they knew he was a veteran. He could have fought in a World War.

What does it mean to be a maiden lady? Why does the grandmother describe her younger self this way?

A maiden lady was a young, unmarried woman. The grandmother is trying to make it known that she was available and capable of getting a rich man.

What is a pickaninny?

A small black child

What is a valise?

A small traveling bag or suitcase

What is a plantation?

An estate where crops are cultivated by the owner. Slaves were commonly used on them.

What is the Misfit's black hat symbolic for?

Black is the color of death.

Why is the misfit embarrassed about not wearing a shirt? How is this indicative of the time period?

He is embarrassed because he is around women. Men used to respect women and act appropriately around them. This action was considered disrespectful.

What "terrible predicament" is Bailey referring to?

He is referring to the fact that they are stranded on the side of the road with the Misfit. He recognizes that they are in great danger.

Why won't the misfit answer questions about Bailed and John Wesley?

He is trying to keep the family calm and keep his intentions a secret.

How does Sam treat his wife? What does this suggest about the husband/wife relationship? How does this relate back to the poem "I Am Not Yours"?

He treats his wife rudely and tells her to get back to work; he doesn't treat her as an equal. Sam is very controlling of his wife and holds the dominant position in their relationship. He treats her almost like a child. The speaker in the poem does not want a controlling relationship like Sam and his wife's.

What are some important facts about her?

Her father died when she was only 15 because of lupus. This devastated her because she shared a close relationship with her father. She was also very well educated and attended two different universities.

What influenced her writing?

Her strong Catholic faith can be seen in her writing through ethics and moral philosophy. Women's rights and segregation were current issues during her time that are also included in her writing.

What can the reader infer about the white shoed, red ankled man?

His red ankles indicate that he might have been chained up. The white shoes could be a part of a uniform. This could mean that he was imprisoned.

The grandmother is entranced by the innocence and beauty of the negro child playing outside. How does this compare to the painting?

In the painting, the people could be seen as pure and innocent. Two small African-American girls are being pulled in a wagon by an older girl. They could just be playing and are pictured wearing white, which symbolizes purity.

Give an analysis of June Star. Based on her behavior how do you think the author feels about the younger generation?

June Star is very outspoken and disrespectful towards her grandmother. The author probably thinks that younger generations don't know how to properly act and that they are losing their respect for the older generations

The Misfit tells the grandmother that if she hadn't recognized him, things might have gone differently. Do you think it's true?

No, because he probably would have carried out the same actions regardless of the situation.

Where was Flannery O'Connor from?

Savannah, Georgia

What is the grandmother basing this "good family" assumption on?

She bases this on how he looks. She said he doesn't look like he has common blood, which means that she might think that his family is of the upper class. It is mentioned that he has nice, white teeth, which could be a sign of higher status. She also might base this off of his skin color.

What does the grandmother mean when she tells the Misfit that he doesn't come from "common blood?"

She can tell that he is not average and that he is a part of an elite class.

Why is the grandmother afraid to admit her mistake? What potential problem could this cause for her?

She doesn't want Bailey to be angry at her. This could cause the trip to take an unexpected turn and things might stop going the way she had planned.

How does the grandmother feel towards African-Americans?

She seems to take pity on them, and while she doesn't actually dislike them, she doesn't treat them with the same respect as she would a white person.

How does the reader know that the grandmother is a manipulator?

She tries to convince the family not to go to Florida and pretends like it is out of concern for them, but really she wants to go to Tennessee for her own interests.

What appeal does the grandmother use to try to convince the mother not to go to Florida?

She uses pathos when she tells her that she should take her children to new places and let them gain new experiences.

What appeal does the grandmother use to try to convince her son to not go to Florida?

She uses pathos when she tries to scare him by telling him about the misfit.

Why is the grandmother telling stories about the old plantation she once visited? What does she want?

She wants them to take her to the plantation

When was she born and when did she die?

She was born on March 25, 1925 and died on August 3, 1964 due to lupus.

How does the cat's name, Pitty Song, relate to the grandmother?

Sometimes, people might take pity upon the grandmother since on the outside she is viewed as a sweet old lady, even though she is manipulative on the inside.

What was her style of writing?

Southern Gothic

How does the writer create a feeling of suspense in this scene?

The Misfit keeps changing the subject whenever the grandmother brings up Bailey.

What is ironic about the Sam's statement to his wife, given his character's description?

The advertisement makes him seem friendly and happy, but he is distrustful and suspicious and treats his life badly.

How does the car that Red Sam refers to relate to some of the characters in the story?

The car could be related to the grandmother because she acts nice and pretends to have good intentions even though she is only serving her own interests.

Why are the children disrespectful towards the grandmother?

The children might have been raised differently and not taught how to treat elders with respect. They also seem to find pleasure in making fun of her.

How does the rest of the family regard the grandmother?

The family seems to find her annoying and intrusive. The son and mother completely ignore her while the children tease and insult her by being disrespectful.

The grandmother assumes the family and the cat really need her. What is ironic about this assumption?

The family would actually be better off without the grandmother.

What does pity mean?

The feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortune of others

The grandmother scolds the children for their disrespect and explains how respectful folks should behave. Why is this ironic?

The grandmother doesn't always treat others with very much respect and thinks she is above some people.

How does the status of the grandmother within the family compare to the poem "Youth and Age"?

The grandmother is selfish and conceited. She only wants to do things to satisfy her own interests. The poem makes it seem like growing old is very dreary and sad. The emotions shown about growing old in the poem are expressed through the grandmother in the story.

What caused the car to crash? What or who was at fault?

The grandmother startled the cat when she moved her feet causing the suitcase to fall over and the cat to jump onto Bailey, who was driving the car.

What kind of foreshadowing is taking place?

The men have guns and are acting suspiciously. Bad things have been happening to the family all day and it seems that one of the people in the car might be the Misfit.

How does the older generation feel about the younger generation?

The older people find the younger generation to be disrespectful. They think that they have lost sight of what's important.

What can the reader infer about the men who pull over when the family is injured?

The reader can infer that the men have bad intentions. They look rough and suspicious. They also all have guns in their possession.

How does the writer create suspense in this section?

The writer doesn't disclose the men's identities but describes them as looking rough and suspicious.

What time period is this story written?

This story was most likely written during a time when African-Americans still were not viewed as equals based on how the grandmother speaks of them.