I have a question for school over Ernest Gaines's A Lesson Before Dying that I can't answer because I don't remember it and don't have the book anymore (I borrowed it from the library and already returned it).

What does Jefferson mean when he says, “I know y’all, every last one of y’all”?

Does anyone recognise that quote and can help me?

If this site doesn't help you, I suggest you check the book out of the library again.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/lessonbefore/

what are two plot related titles and their pose or tone related title?

Choose the most effective thesis sentence from the following:

 

A. I learned a valuable lesson.

 

B. Life is full of valuable lessons.

 

C. The saying “Honesty is the best policy” is a valuable life lesson.

 

D. Valuable lessons are important in life.

Certainly! "I know y’all, every last one of y’all" is a quote from Ernest Gaines's novel A Lesson Before Dying. To answer your question, we'll need to analyze this quote in the context of the novel.

Jefferson is the protagonist of the story, a young Black man who has been wrongly convicted of murder and is now facing the death penalty. This quote comes from a crucial scene in the novel when Jefferson is speaking to his defense attorney and witnesses during his trial.

In this moment, Jefferson is expressing his frustration and anger towards the racial prejudice and discrimination he has experienced throughout his life. By saying, "I know y’all, every last one of y’all," he is addressing the white jury, judge, and other individuals in the courtroom. Through these words, Jefferson is essentially accusing them of seeing him and others like him as less than human, reinforcing the unequal power dynamics and dehumanization experienced by African Americans during that time.

While it is important to remember the specific details and context of the scene, this analysis should provide you with a general understanding of what Jefferson means when he says, "I know y’all, every last one of y’all."