Curated set · answers marked
In Ernest Gaines's A Lesson Before Dying, what dehumanizing term does Jefferson's defense attorney use to refer to Jefferson during the trial, which becomes a significant source of anguish and motivation throughout the novel?
A"animal"
B"hog"✓
C"savage"
D"beast" The defense attorney claims that executing Jefferson would be akin to putting a hog in the electric chair, suggesting he lacks the intelligence and humanity to be held morally accountable. This comparison deeply affects Jefferson and fuels Grant Wiggins's mission to ensure Jefferson dies with dignity as a man.
In Ernest Gaines's A Lesson Before Dying, which insulting term does Jefferson's defense attorney use to refer to Jefferson during the trial, later becoming a key symbol in the novel?
AA dog
BA hog✓
CA mule
DA beast The defense attorney refers to Jefferson as a "hog" to argue that he lacks the intelligence or moral responsibility for the crime — a degrading comparison that both Grant Wiggins and Jefferson must confront and rise above throughout the story.
At the start of the novel, Jefferson's defense attorney likens him to which animal to argue that he couldn't possibly plan a murder?
AA dog
BA hog✓
CA mule
DA horse
Rationale
In the trial, Jefferson's defense attorney refers to him as a "hog," suggesting that he isn't any more capable of planning a crime than a hog would be. This dehumanizing comparison serves as a key symbol throughout the novel, highlighting Jefferson's struggle to reclaim his humanity and dignity before his execution.