A Lesson Before Dying

by

Ernest Gaines

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on A Lesson Before Dying makes teaching easy.

Fire, Heat, and Warmth

Throughout A Lesson Before Dying, there are images that mention heat, warmth, and fire. The most obvious such image is that of the schoolhouse, which can only remain open during the coldest months of… read analysis of Fire, Heat, and Warmth

Wood

In addition to the kindling the old men bring to the church to warm the schoolhouse through the winter, wood makes one other symbolically loaded appearance in A Lesson Before Dying. When Grant visits… read analysis of Wood

Food and Meals

A significant number of the key events in A Lesson Before Dying either happen directly because of food or happen while the characters are eating a meal: most of Miss Emma’s early interactions… read analysis of Food and Meals