A Lesson Before Dying

Chapters 5-8

Describe Grants classroom and his role as a teacher. What does the ruler symbolize to him?

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Grant's school is in a church and his desk is actually the Sunday collection table. His students are gone close to seven months of the year because they must help with formwork at home. He has minimal resources to work with. Grant takes his role as a teacher seriously though he is very strict. He often hits his kids with a ruler for minimal infractions. The ruler comes to symbolize Grant's authority as well as his frustrations with how little opportunities blacks have in their own country.