The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. In CliffsNotes on A Lesson Before Dying, you get to know the story of a young man who returns to 1940s Cajun country to teach. He visits a black youth on death row for a crime he didn't commit, and together they come to understand the heroism of resisting. This concise supplement to Ernest J. Gaines' A Lesson Before Dying helps you understand the overall structure of the work, actions and motivations of the characters, and the social and cultural perspectives of the author. With expert commentaries and critical analyses, this study guide helps you explore the process of an oppressed people’s attempt to gain recognition of their human dignity, acknowledgment of their human rights, and freedom to pursue their dreams. Other features that help you study include A brief synopsis of the novel Chapter summaries and analyses A glossary that helps you get the most out of your reading In-depth character analyses Critical essays on plot and setting, and on the pre-Civil Rights South An interactive quiz to test your knowledge Essay topics and review questions Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure – you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.