Document Information

• Chapter: Chapter 29
• Scene: Jefferson ponders the afterlife and love
• Draft: Manuscript
• File location: Box 11, folder 1

Discussion Questions

1. In this passage of Jefferson’s diary, he ponders the afterlife. What do we learn about Jefferson’s attitude towards death?

After Miss Felicia died he used to say it like that was fore she died cause fore she died her and Emma used to all ways be at the church praying but after she died Felicia Emma said where He at now any time I took him food out in the field at twelve oclock

Where He at now

I just can’t sleep no more cause every time I shut my eyes I see me walking down this long to this door but fore I get to the door I wake up and I dont go back to sleep cause I dont

want walk down to that door no more

What s in that door is that death is that the grave is that heaven?

Mr Grant you say you like what I got here but you say you can’t give me a A just a be

be B cause you say I aint gone deep

Document Information

• Chapter: Chapter 29
• Scene: Jefferson ponders the afterlife and love
• Draft: Typescript
• File location: Box 11, folder 23

Discussion Questions

1. In earlier drafts of Jefferson’s diary, he refers to Mr. Grant. In this later draft, Gaines has changed it so Jefferson refers to “mr wigin.” How does that change reflect on Jefferson and his relationship to Grant?
2. Why is it important to Jefferson to earn an ‘A’ from his teacher?

mr wigin you say you like what i got here but you say you stil cant giv me a a jus a b cause you say i aint gone deep in me yet an you kno i can if i try hard an when i ax you what you mean deep in me you say jus say whats on my mind so one day you can be save an you can save the chiren and i say i don’t kno what you mean an you say i do kno what you mean an you look so tied sometime mr wigin I just feel like tellin you i like you but i dont kno how to say this cause i aint never say it to nobody before an nobody never say it to me

i kno i care for nanan but i dont know if love is care cause cutting wood and haulin water and things like that i dont kno if thats love or jus work to do an you say thats love but you say you kno i got mo an jus that to say an when i lay ther at nite and cant sleep i try an think what you mean i got mo cause i aint done this much thinkin and this much writin in all my life befor and you order know mr wigin cause you was my teacher

its munday an i aint got but just a few days lef an i hope i see my nanan jus one mo time cause mis lou an reven ambros say she aint fairin too good an coudn make it wit them this time but the lord kno mr wigin i hope i can see her one mo time on this earth fore i go is that love mr wigin when you want see sombody bad bad mr wigin thank you for sayin im doin b+ work an you kno the a aint too far

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