A Gathering of Old Men

A Gathering of Old Men A Gathering of Old Men, by Ernest J. Gaines, begins with the child narrator, “Snookum”, who spreads the word that there has been a shooting on a Louisiana plantation. The person killed is a white, Cajun farmer, named Beau Boutan. He has been killed in the yard of an old, black worker, named “Mathu”. Because of the ongoing conflict between Cajuns and blacks in South Louisiana, the fear of the …

…done eventually the way that I want to do it (89). Example: Gil and others begin to get restless at Mapes because they do not think he knows what he is doing. Ambitious Quote: “The quiet before the storm,” Mapes said to Lou. “He’ll be here when he get them all together.” (110). Paraphrase: When they get here, we’ll be ready for them (143). Example: Mapes, Clatoo, and Lou are waiting for some suspects to arrive.