Song lyrics are incorporated throughout “Big Boy Leaves Home” in italicized lines. What role do they play in the story? How do they highlight differences between the Black and white communities represented in the narrative?

“Big Boy Leaves Home” takes place in a rural setting and includes rich descriptions of nature. How do Wright’s depictions of nature symbolically reinforce the story’s themes?

“Big Boy Leaves Home” was published as the first story in a collection called Uncle Tom’s Children. How does the individual story connect with the collection’s title?