Worksheet - Not Poor Just Broke

Institute of Foreign Languages NFL
Department of English LS201 2020-2021
Reading Activities
Not Poor Just Broke
By Dick Gregory
I. Pre-reading: General Discussion

Before you read the story, discuss the questions below. You may need to use the Internet
on some questions.
1. What is Hate? What is Discrimination? Do you consider these two things the
same? Why or why not?
2. What is Racism? Briefly explain the racism that has happened all over the world.
Bring up some examples.
3. In your opinion, do you think that there is a discrimination towards skin colour
and/or race? What are your thoughts on this matter?
4. In your opinion, what do you think about the divide between the rich and the
poor?
II. Pre-reading: Symbolism

Work out the symbols of the words in the table below. Give your reasons to support your
ideas.
Symbols Meanings/Representations Reasons
1. Pregnancy
2. Poverty
3. Payday
4. Father
5. Black
6. White
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III. Key terms

Read the definitions below and find an appropriate key term for each of them as you read
the story “Not Poor Just Broke”.
1. ________________: a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages

and be served food, and (historically) where travelers would rent rooms to stay.
2. ________________: feeling guilty or embarrassed about something you have done or
about a quality in your character.
3. ________________: the part of mathematics that involves the adding and multiplying, etc.
of numbers.
4. ________________: to go somewhere secretly, or to take someone or something
somewhere secretly.
5. ________________: the sound of people clapping their hands repeatedly to show
enjoyment or approval of something such as a performance or speech.
6. ________________: to move from side to side in an awkward way, sometimes because of
nervousness, embarrassment, or pain.
7. ________________: someone who intentionally causes problems for other people.
8. ________________: to get better after an illness, or feel better after something or
someone has made you unhappy.
9. ________________: a stupid person or someone who is behaving in a stupid way.
10. ________________: the people living in one particular area or people who are considered
as a unit because of their common interests, social group, or nationality.
11. ________________: a serious or formal promise, especially one to give money or to be a
friend, or something that you give as a sign that you will keep a promise.
12. ________________: in a way that has the same order as the letters of the alphabet.
13. ________________: food, money, or services that provide help for people in need
14. ________________: to work or operate.
15. ________________: deserving respect, admiration, or support.
16. ________________: happening once every year.
17. ________________: help given, especially by the state or an organization, to people who
need it, especially because they do not have enough money.
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IV. Comprehension Questions

Answer the questions below with what you have read from the story.
1. Who did Richard keep talking about? How did he think of her?
2. Why did he mention about being 29 years old?
3. Why was Richard seated at the back of the classroom with a chalk circle drawn
around?
a. Did Richard think his teacher’s decision was justified? Give reasons?
4. What was Richard’s living conditions/environment?
5. What did the teacher collect the money from the students’ dads for? Briefly describe.
a. What did Richard try to do for this? Why?
6. How did the teacher respond to Richard’s claim about the 15 dollars?
7. What did Richard do to the mackinaw?
a. What was his mother’s reaction?
8. How does Richard feel about the relief truck?
V. Quote Analysis
Read the quotes below and analyse them using what you have learnt from the story. Find
both the DIRECT and INDIRECT meaning of each quote.
1. I got sick a lot that winter because the fire would go out at night before clothes were
dry. In the morning, I’d put them on wet or dry, because they were the only clothes I
had. (line 10 -12)
2. Everybody’s got a Helene Tucker, a symbol of everything you want. (line 13)
3. Pregnant people get strange tastes. I was pregnant with poverty. Pregnant with dirt
and pregnant with smells that made people turn away, pregnant with cold and
pregnant with shoes that were never bought for me, pregnant with five other people
in my bed and no daddy in the next room, and pregnant with hunger. (line 40 – 43)
4. The eagle always flew on Friday. (line 49)
5. “We are collecting this money for you and your kind” (line 73)
6. We all know you don’t have a daddy. (line 79)
7. Now there was shame everywhere. … There was shame in going to the Worthy Boys
Annual Christmas Dinner for you and your kind. … There was shame in wearing the
brown and orange and white plaid mackinaw the welfare gave to 3000 boys. …
There was shame on running over Mr. Ben’s at the end of the day and asking for his
rotten peaches, there was shame in asking Mrs. Simmons for a spoonful of sugar,
there was shame in running out to meet the relief truck. (line 89 – 102)
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VI. Character Analysis

Answer the questions below with what you have learnt from the story.
1. What do these characters represent? Support your ideas with reasons and examples
from the story.
a. Richard Gregory
b. Helene Tucker
c. The teacher
2. What personality traits do you think Richard possess? Briefly explain.
3. Why do you think the teacher behave as she did? Do you think it was justified at the
time? How do you think people would react if her attitudes exist in your society?
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Institute of Foreign Languages NFL

Department of English LS201 2020-2021

I. Pre-reading: General Discussion

II. Pre-reading: Symbolism

III. Key terms

1. ________________: a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages

IV. Comprehension Questions

VI. Character Analysis

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