After the protagonist of this novel encourages a character to record his thoughts in a notebook, the resulting diary entry forms the ante-penultimate chapter.
Hours before his death, a character in this novel begs the protagonist: "tell them im strong tell them im a man." The protagonist of this novel alone remains depressed during a rousing rendition of "Twas the Night Before Christmas." After the protagonist of this novel encourages a character to record his thoughts in a notebook, the resulting diary entry forms the ante-penultimate chapter. The protagonist of this novel alienates Reverend Ambrose with his atheism and his married lover (*) Vivian with his selfishness. A character in this novel repeatedly demands "corn for a hog," having deeply internalized his attorney's argument that he would sooner put a hog in an electric chair than his client; the protagonist's Aunt Mamie implores him to turn the prisoner back into a man. For 10 points, name this novel in which educated black schoolteacher Grant Wiggins struggles to educate the innocent death row inmate Jefferson, by Ernest Gaines.
Hours before his death, a character in this novel begs the protagonist: "tell them im strong tell them im a man."
A Lesson Before Dying 