Students will demonstrate their understanding of the text. Their eyes were watching god themes zora neale hurston this study guide consists of approximately 93 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of their eyes were watching god. Need help on themes in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching. Women are not only considered the weaker sex, but theyre fundamentally defined by their relationship to men. Themes of their eyes were watching god african american. Their eyes were watching god themes and motifs prezi. Through reading their eyes were watching god, students will analyze characters and their situations to better understand the themes of the novel. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Tea cake refuses to believe the impending storm is reason to abandon a full days. Their eyes were watching god focuses its plot both on janie s series of romantic relationships as well as on janies individual quest for selffulfillment and spiritual nourishment. In this book, god isnt so much the traditional deity as he is deeply connected with fate and nature. In their eyes were watching god, men and women occupy very different roles. Their eyes were watching god idaho commission for libraries.
When janie finally finds a bee for her blossom, it is the man that she has been most sexually attracted to in her life. Books similar to their eyes were watching god their eyes were watching god. As janie returns to eatonville, the novel focuses on the porchsitters who gossip and speculate about her situation. Finding meaning in their eyes were watching god besides being a key member of the harlem renaissance, hurston also belonged to the group of great 20thcentury american modernists. Speech and silence their eyes were watching god is most often celebrated for hurstons unique use of language, particularly her mastery of rural southern black dialect. Their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston is a novel about social class, discrimination, domination, and love. A search for self although the novel follows janie through three relationships with men, most critics see its. Their eyes were watching god is hurstons bestknown work, a novel that centers around janie, a poor black girl raised in florida by her grandmother, who is always searching for something more. She wrote their eyes were watching god in seven weeks, which was published on september 18, 1937. Its negro hair, but its got a kind of white flavor.
Symbolism in their eyes were watching god essay example. The shipsthe ships are only mentioned briefly in the beginning of the novel, but their image sets the overall tone of the work. Life with her husbands, at least the first two, is nothing but a string of broken promises. The main reason is that they convey the storys themes and their purposes. Ordinary, everyday objects a symbol is something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention. Their eyes were watching god is in many ways a novel about janies sexual awakening. Her exceptional fame culminates in her novel their eyes were watching god 1937. The recurring references to silence and speech support the theme of. Hurstons their eyes were watching god presents several themes such as speech and silence, love and marriage, and finally gender roles. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.
Hurstons success in their eyes were watching god comes largely from her ability to tie these two. Symbolism in their eyes were watching god zora neale hurston underscores her timeless classic, their eyes were watching god with several important symbols. Throughout the novel, she utilizes an interesting narrative structure, splitting the presentation of the story between high literary narration and idiomatic discourse. A teachers guide to zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god 3 note to teachers the questions and activities in this teaching guide were written to support standardsbased instruction. Free essays on themes of their eyes were watching god. Similarities to hester prynne their eyes were watching god. The most prominent five of these are the pear tree, janies hair, the horizon, death, and the hurricane. Set in florida in the early 1900s, this is a frame story where the main character, janie, tells her life story. As a result of her quest for this love, janie gains her own independence and personal freedom, which. How does the title their eyes were watching god capture some of the main themes of the book. In order for students to reach an understanding of the meaning behind hurstons use of symbolism, metaphor, and figurative language, students will be given a series of websites that provide contextual information and sources about zora. Their eyes were watching god is a 1937 novel by africanamerican writer zora neale hurston. Motifs are unifying ideas that are recurrent elements in a literary work, and are used in this novel for numerous reasons. A summary of motifs in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god.
Zora neale hurston utilizes symbolism in their eyes were watching god to portray janie crawford as a character who realizes that, through hard work and perseverance, one may find out who he or she really is on the inside rather than the imperfections on the outside. Have study documents to share about their eyes were watching god. These sitters had been tongueless, earless, eyeless conveniences all day long. Symbols, metaphors, and figurative language in zora neale. The focus of the task is to identify and be able to explain the symbolism, metaphors, and figurative language in hurstons novel their eyes were watching god. Their eyes were watching god is in many ways a novel about. One commonly found symbol is janies hair, which represents her personality, individuality, and character. Throughout the novel, she utilizes an interesting narrative structure, splitting the presentation of the story between high literary. Their eyes were watching god sparknotes by sparknotes. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. Conversely, what weaknesses or flaws might a feminist see in her.
Their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston is one of the best known and acclaimed novels, a classic of black literature. Rather, their eyes were watching god looks at black life on its own terms, with an eye to its beauty and vitality. Zora neale hurston uses symbolism creatively throughout her novel, their eyes were watching god. Zora neale hurstons use of symbolism in their eyes were.
Fair and longlegged, independent and articulate, janie crawford sets out to be her own person no mean feat for a black woman in. The beauty of nature exists because it all has a divine quality to it, and for that we have the god of the novel to thank. Their eyes were watching god tells the story of janie crawford, a thrice married woman on a journey to find true love and discover herself. Their eyes were watching god celebrates a womans awakening to her own place in the world and. If youre thinking that their eyes were watching god sounds like a serious book, then youll be glad to meet the riotous community in zora neale hurstons story.
I enjoy taking 2 pieces of literature and being able to compare and contrast the characters, themes, and philosophies portrayed throughout them. She experiences different kinds of love throughout her life. What themes are indicated by the following symbols, images, or motifs found in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god. Zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god charts the development of an african american woman living in the 1920s and 1930s as she searches for her true identity. Because it was written in the conservative 1930s, much of this sexuality is masked in metaphor. The concept of love and marriage in zora neale hurstons. Nature themes in hurstons novels, their eyes were watching god and seraph on the suwanee nature themes resound throughout hurstons their eyes were watching god and seraph on the suwanee. This sparknote delivers knowledge on their eyes were watching god that you wont find in other study guides.
In the novel their eyes were watching god, the author, zora neale hurston uses a technique called symbolism with the characters to create a story. Need help on symbols in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god. Her struggle with who she wants to be versus who others expect her to be is a central conflict throughout the novel. Our teacher edition on their eyes were watching god can help. This is our study guide for their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston in microsoft word ms word doc format. In the novel, janies marriages are what most concretely impede upon her individual quest, but in doing so they actually force janie to become aware of what it is. Document the confluence of folklore, feminism and black self. Their eyes were watching god is most often celebrated for hurstons unique use of language, particularly her mastery of rural southern black dialect. Zora neale hurston does an outstanding job of instituting what men such as joe starks believed were the standard roles for the african american female. Their eyes were watching god chapter 16 summary course hero. The ships carry dreams, and some men are fortunate enough to grasps those dreams. About their eyes were watching god their eyes were watching god summary character list glossary themes chapters 14 chapters 58 chapters 912 chapters 16 chapters 1720 hurston.
In the 1940s, her dream was to join scribners, which published hemingway, fitzgerald, wolfe, and rawlings. In their eyes were watching god, community is a motif. Their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston. Learn more about the motifs used throughout their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston in this study guide for their eyes were watching god. Their eyes were watching god themes, symbols, and motifs. In their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston, the protagonist janie learns and grows from each of her relationships. Their eyes were watching god test study guide themes. Their eyes were watching god consortium of christian. Find a summary of this and each chapter of their eyes were watching god. Theme is an important element in their eyes were watching.
Discussion of themes and motifs in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god. The sun was goneit was the time to hear things and talk. Consider the important scene of young janie underneath the pear tree. Related links essay questions quiz 1 quiz 2 quiz 3 quiz 4 citations. Hurston was an african american author, born in eatonville, florida on january 7, 1891. Zora neale hurston, their eyes were watching god philadelphia.
It is considered a classic of the harlem renaissance of the 1920s, and it is likely hurstons best known work. A a happy marriage makes for a happy life b the need to dominate others is destructive and counterproductive. Ordinary, everyday objects become the most powerful symbols in her writing. Recent years have seen a renewal of interest in the work of zora neale hurston marked by the.
Themes of their eyes were watching god novel summaries. This is why marriage is such a big deal in the world of hurstons novel. But now, the sun and the bossman were gone, so the skins felt powerful and. Free symbolism in their eyes were watching god essay. This study guide consists of approximately 93 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of their eyes were watching god. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of their eyes were watching god and what it means. The scene in which tea cake, janie and motor boat watch the violent storm embodies this chapters overall exploration of human survival and man versus nature and god. Their eyes were watching god meets the standard for range of reading and level of text complexity for grades 1112. What are similarities in the narrative structures of ethan frome and their eyes were watching god. Janie, tea cake and motor boat stand outside and take in the storm, their eyeswatching and questioning god.
Throughout the novel, she utilizes an interesting narrative structure, splitting the presentation of. Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help to develop and inform the texts major themes. Chapter summary for zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god, chapter 16 summary. A few examples of motifs introduced in their eyes were watching god include a blossoming pear tree, horizon, death, and spouse abuse. Their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston summary. Because zora neale hurston was a famous black author who was associated with the harlem renaissance, many readers assume that their eyes were watching god is concerned primarily with issues of race. How do the concepts of god, faith, destiny, or sight tie into the plot. Their eyes were watching god in their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston, symbols are implemented to help the readers identify and understand the leitmotif of the novel. Motifs used in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god. Explanation of the key themes, motifs, and symbols including.
Their eyes were watching god and the scarlet letter have so many similarities among the societies despite being in way different time periods and settings. This novel is a story about the awakening of a black womans soul, about her search for selfhood, and. Although race is a significant motif in the book, it is not, by any means, a central theme. But the community doesnt just provide welcome levity. Theme is an important element in their eyes were watching god. Perhaps two of the most notable instances where the lush florida scenery augments the novels plot lines. Their eyes were watching god illustrates how no human pursuitsfor love, money, or selfworthcan stand against god or the forces of nature. Lippincott, 1937 summary one of the preeminent writers of the harlem renaissance, zora neale hurston wrote their eyes were watching god, the first novel to ever feature a black female protagonist.