Shame

“Shame” Response Questions

1. What’s unexpected or surprising about where Richard Gregory first experienced shame?

• ·         Richard experienced shame at school. I was expecting this from the beginning sentences of his narrative. Children can be cruel because they are not aware of all of the ways that they can hurt other individual’s feelings. Surprisingly though it was the teacher that made poor Richard ashamed. He was trying to be considered as any other child in the class but she singled him out as being on welfare and accused him of wasting her time because they were collecting the money for “his kind of people.”

2. How long did Gregory’s shame last? What (or who) finally allowed him to overcome his

shame?

• ·         Gregory’s shame lasted most of his life. He became aware of his situation and how obvious it was to other individuals. He noticed how easily it was to single the boys on welfare out from other boys around him. Gregory finally overcame his shame when he had a job and family of his own to be proud of.

3. What all does Gregory do in order to impress Helene Tucker?

• ·         Gregory decides that he will match little Helene Tucker by matching her father’s intentions to donate to the Community Chest.

4. There are three main characters in the story, don’t you agree? The protagonist and

antagonist in this narrative are pretty clear, but what’s interesting is that one of these

main characters isn’t actually given a proper name…why do you think Gregory made this

choice?

• ·         Gregory made this choice to impact how Helene had an impact on his life. He felt ashamed because she felt sorry for him. The teacher was the antagonist.

5. Gregory uses a lot of dialogue to tell his story—what effect does it have on a reader?

• ·         The impact of using a lot of dialogue brings the reader into the story. It makes the situation seem like it is happening to not only Gregory but to the reader as well.

6. In the final paragraph, Gregory states: “Now there was shame everywhere.” Why do you

think he says this? What examples illustrate his point?

• ·         Gregory notices that shame was everywhere around him. It becomes obvious to him that he is different from other children in the neighborhood. When he sees that his teacher and class are aware of his situation he feels that everyone around him is also notices that he is on relief.