Their Eyes Were Watching God

1
Their Eyes Were Watching God

• Zora Neale Hurston

2
Zora Neale Hurston

• Born in Notasulga, Alabama, on Jan. 7, 1891
• 5th child of a farmer/carpenter/preacher a
  school teacher
• Attended Howard University Barnard College
  (studied Anthropology)
• Known for her research in American folklore as
  well as Haiti and the British Isles
• Achieved fame sparked controversy as a
  novelist, anthropologist, essayist, lecturer,
  theatrical producer
• TEWWG published during the Harlem Renaissance
  (1937)
• Incorporates black folklife

3
Harlem Renaissance

• HR - period from the end of WWI through the
  middle of the 1930s Depression
• Talented African-American writers produce a
  sizable body of literature (poetry, fiction,
  drama, and essay)
• Two-ness divided awareness of ones identity
• Common themes alienation, marginality, the use
  of folk material, the use of the blues tradition,
  the problems of writing for an elite audience
• Racial consciousness back to Africa movement
  (Marcus Garvey), racial integration explosion of
  jazz, spirituals, and blues painting dramatic
  revues etc.

4
Local Color

• Culture (everything that humans do that isnt
  motivated by natural instinct)
• Tradition ( cultural behavior that exhibits
  continuity in time)
• Narrative (storiesdiffering cultures have a
  differing sense of story)
• Orality (anything that is spoken, changed,
  recited, sung, or read aloud)
• Performance
• Etiology (any explanation for the origin of
  something)
• Folklore (cultural behaviors or traditions)

5
Setting

• Eatonville, Florida 1930s
• The story is fictional, but Eatonville (a town
  created and governed by African Americans) is
  real.
• West Florida, Jacksonville, The Everglades, West
  Palm Beach

6
Characters

• Janie Crawford
• Nanny
• Logan Killicks
• Joe Starks
• Tea Cake
• Pheoby Watson
• Mrs. Washburn
• Mr. Turner
• Mrs. Turner
• Hezekiah
• Motor Boat

7
Literary Elements

• Personification (death)
• Frame narration
• Symbols
• Metaphor (mules/black women)
• Irony
• Characterization
• Folklore
• Legend
• Local color (historical, cultural setting)
• Dialect
• Conflict
• Character motivation

8
Symbols

• Janies hair
• Pear tree
• The horizon
• The hurricane
• Head rags worn by Janie / removal of hair rags

9
Themes

• Language
• Power
• Love
• Independence
• Community
• Race Racism
• History
• Religion / Spirituality

10
Themes (continued)

• Paths to God / seeking personal happiness and
  love
• People in power are often hated
• Men dont understand womens feelings
• Fate as a driving force in life

11
AP Questions Open Response

• 1988 2007
• 1990 2008
• 1991 2010
• 1996 2011
• 2004
• 2005
• 2006

12
Reading Schedule

• Chapters 1-5 Quiz 4-18-13 (Thurs)
• Chapters 6-10 Quiz 4-23-13 (Tues)
• Chapters 11-15 Quiz 4-25-13 (Thurs)
• Chapters 16-20 Quiz 4-29-13 (Mon)