Question

What is Mrs. Jones's first reaction to Roger's attempt to steal her purse in "Thank You, M'am"?

a.She is puzzled.
b.She is frightened.
c.She is angry.
d.She is deeply hurt.

Answer 1

Mrs. Jones initially responds to Roger's theft attempt with surprise, followed by a composed and direct action by grabbing him and taking him to her home, which suggests a complex reaction not limited to anger.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the short story "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes, Mrs. Jones's first reaction to Roger's attempt to steal her purse was none of the emotions directly listed (puzzled, frightened, deeply hurt). Instead, she demonstrates surprise and composure, followed by a firm and direct response, grabbing Roger, shaking him, and bringing him to her home for a proper lesson and a meal. While it might be tempting to interpret her reaction as angry, this is not explicitly stated in the text and her subsequent actions show more complexity than simple anger.