Table Analysis
Characters Utterances Turn Structure Function
Elizabeth
Aibileen, the bridge club’s in an
hour.
1 Declarative Request
Elizabeth
Oh,and Hilly’s devilled eggs. No
paprika.
Minny Missus Walters, you need help coming down
1 Declarative Questioning
Minny It’s ninety eight degrees out there. 3 Aibileen You drunk up two glasses of grape
juice. I know you got to tee-tee.
2 Declarative Command
Hilly Minny, William took Billy over to
Brent’s Drugs for an ice cream.
1 Declarative Request
Elizabeth Aibileen, the girls are pulling up., and
the table isn’t set.
5 Declarative Command
Missus Walters I’m watching my story. 2 Declarative Command Hilly They’d be a fool not to hire you. 2 Declarative Threat Elizabeth Why can’t you just get in Constantine? 4 Interrogative Request
Aibileen May I take a message? 2 Interrogative Request
Johnny It’s lunchtime and I’m suddenly hungry.
Elizabeth Oh, Hilly. I wish you’d just go use the bathroom.
13 Declarative Request
Skeeter We ought to just build you a bathroom outside, Hilly
26 Declarative Command
Skeeter We ought to just build you a bathroom outside, Hilly
26 Declarative Command
Hilly You ought not to joke about colored
situation. I’ll whatever it takes to
protect our children.
27 Declarative Command
Skeeter Do you think you’d be wiiling to help
me with those “Miss Myrna” letters?
3 Interrogative Request
Elizabeth Hilly wants you to put her initiative in the League newsletter.
6 Declarative Request
Skeeter You couldn’t have known this. I’m allergics to almonds.
6 Declarative Request
Constantine I wish you would quit feeling sorry for yourself.
5 Declarative Command
Miss Stein Look, no maid in her right mind is ever
gonna tell you the truth. That’s hell of a
risk in place like, Missisippi.
5 Imperative Threatening
Miss Stein I guess I can read what you come up with. The book biz could use a little rattling.
9 Declarative Request
Hilly We got to run back to the car. 8 Declarative Command
Skeeter There’s something else I want to write
about… I need your self. I want to
interview you.
Elizabeth Hilly’s covering the cost and you can
just do William’s taxes to pay her back.
1 Declarative Order
Elizabeth Aibileen, Mae Mobley’s crying her eyes out.
5 Declarative Command
Elizabeth I’m sorry Skeeter, but I think it’s the best if you leave now.
6 Declarative Request
Minny Why don’t you sit down here for a spell?
3 Interrogative Request
Missus Walters You go on ahead and use the bathroom inside, Minny.
6 Declarative Command
Aibileen You get some more Miss Myrna questions for me.
15 Declarative Question
Aibileen You gone have to change my name.
Mine, Miss Lefolt’s.
7 Declarative Request
Aibileen Can we move on the next question? 4 Interrogative Request Yule May Would you consider giving us a loan? 4 Interrogative Request
Minny You cooking something 4 Declarative Question the whole bottle and a straw.
4 Declarative Question
room. That how it work.
Celia May be we ought to burn the chicken a little.
7 Declarative Request
Minny You have already making up names. 4 Declarative Command Hilly There are real racists in this town! If
the wrong person caught you with
anything like that you’d be in serious trouble.
3 Declarative Threat
Skeeter Well, I haven’t. So you can just go. 5 Declarative Request Stuart Would you like to come have dinner
with me?
16 Interrogative Request
Stuart Skeeter, I hope you get to write something really good. Something you believe in.
1 Declarative Request
Henry You want me to walk ya 3 Declarative Question
Mr. Blackly Miss Phelan! Presses are heating up! I
needed “Miss Myrna” thirty minutes
ago.
1 Declarative Request
Minny Next one gonna catch, Miss Celia. You just wait and see.
1 Declarative Request
Henry Miss Skeeter, you best get over to Miss
Aibileen’s house now.
1 Declarative Command
Miss Stein I leave early this week for thanksgiving
and then our last edotor’s meeting is
December 17th. If you want a prayer of this getting read, I need it by then.
1 Declarative Request
benefit, Miss Celia. Did you hear me? You just stay home.
Aibileen We can’t put that story in the book. 3 Declarative Request Skeeter No.no. that’s too dangerous. 7 Declarative Request Minny All right, y’all two brought me into
this, but I’m gonna finish it! Either put
it in or pull my parts out together. y’all
pick!
8 Declarative Threat
Johnny Honey, don’t you think you’ve had
enough drink? I wish you’d try and eat
something.
3 Declarative Request
Minny You can’t move back to Sugar Ditch. 2 Declarative Command Charlotte I’m entertaining. Why don’t you go
around back and wait in the kitchen.
4 Declarative Request
Missus Walters You should read the book, Hilly. 3 Declarative Request Hilly I’ve contacted my lawyer, Hibbie
Goodman. He’s the best libel attorney in the state. oh Missy, you’re going to
jail.
3 Declarative Threat
Johnny No. you’ve got a job with us for the rest of your life, if you want it.
6 Declarative Request
Hilly Aibileen, you have to go now. 28 Declarative Request Aibileen Baby, you need to get back to bed. 30 Declarative Request Aibileen Baby, baby, I need you to remember
ever thing I told you. Okay?
