The literature of the 1920s, a period of postwar prosperity, was marked by a sense of freedom and experimentation, but the 1930s brought the depression and an end to the cultural openness that had allowed the harlem renaissance to flourish. The best study guide to their eyes were watching god on the planet, from the creators of sparknotes. In the novel their eyes were watching god, hurston uses several literary devices to help make points or draw the readers attention to something. Logan was known as an ugly or a very unattractive old man, whereas janie was a beautiful young lady. Their eyes were watching god tells the story of how janie lives her life in search of love. Janie is a quiet and submissive girl at the beginning of the story but during. The era of her writing was known as the harlem renaissance because it was based in the city of harlem new york harlem renassiance, 2012. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. Like all of the other men in janies life, he plays only a supporting role. Character comparisons their eyes were watching god portrays major influences and the majority of the time parallels zora neale hurstons own life through the characters and events within the novel. Historical context by joshua gewecke zora neale hurston wrote their eyes were watching god during a very difficult time for african americans. Pheoby watson is janie s closest friend in eatonville, and repeatedly defends janie against the meanspirited gossip of the townspeople. Joe had created a vision that he felt was necessary for the people to live upon.
Their eyes were watching god by millie butera on prezi. Nanny born into slavery on a plantation near savannah, she bears leafy, her white masters child. How many times was janie married in their eyes were watching god. A vocabulary list featuring their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston, chapters 15.
Twentyfour years and three marriages later, janie has experienced both love and personal growth. Throughout the book she endures several trials and tribulations. Their eyes were watching god is a bildungsroman that follows janies formative years, beginning in her youth. Goodreads members who liked their eyes were watching god also. A list of important facts about zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god, including setting, climax, protagonists, and antagonists. Nanny, janies grandmother then comes to tell her she has to marry an older man, logan killicks. Janie didnt love logan but she had great hope that the longer they were married the stronger her affection for him would grow. Pheoby proves to be loyal and understanding, which helps janie feel welcome and at peace with her life. A summary of chapters 12 in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god. Character profiles from the beginning of her story under the pear tree janie undergoes the process of selfdiscovery, as she evolves through her experiences with three distinctly different husbands. One of the most politically notable aspects of their eyes were watching god, a decidedly apolitical novel, is the concept of black autonomy. Janie was raised by her grandmother, nanny, after her mother was raped in school by her teacher and completely disappeared.
Janie sixteenyearold janie crawford dreams of love and wonders whether love will come with marriage. Pheoby watson character analysis in their eyes were watching. Her fictional characters are known for their storytelling skills, creative use of language and unmatched humor. Twentyfour years and three marriages later, janie has ex. At the beginning of the novel, she decides to tell her story to her. She learns something new from each event that occurs in her life. She gets stuck in the ways of the normal black woman living in the south during the 30s. The film was directed by darnell martin and produced by oprah winfreys harpo productions winfrey served as. Captain eaton character timeline in 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. Disappointed with this child, nanny, who has no given name, dotes on her granddaughter janie.
Janie mae crawford, tea cake, jody starks, logan killicks, pheoby watson, nanny crawford, mr. Considered a seminal work of africanamerican literature, their eyes were watching god is notable for its strong and independent female protagonist. Their eyes were watching god study guide literature guide. In their eyes were watching god, idealized romantic love is the protagonists ultimate goal. In their eyes were watching god, by zora neale hurston, janie mae crawford flaunts her independence from her husband by voicing her own beliefs and opinions to him as he helplessly listens. Foreword, chapters 15, chapters 610, chapters 1115. Their eyes were watching god mwds ap english name thalia. Character zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god. No persons wordlview is exactly the same because their life circumstances, upbringing, and a host of other influences make. The timeline below shows where the character pheoby watson appears in their eyes were watching god.
But she does not do so until she is nearly forty years old. A list of all the characters in their eyes were watching god. Joe has a common postmodern attitude of doing whatever it takes to get what he wants, even if it hurts others. Their eyes were watching god study guide course hero. Their eyes were watching god is one of the most important novels of the twentieth century. Pheoby is the character who listens to janie tell her story the body of the novel and in this way, is the character in the novel who most actively recognizes janies newfound capacity for selfexpression. Her vision of true love is associated with innocence, openness, understanding, and equality between the lovers. Their eyes were watching god character graphic organizer as you read, fill in observations for each chapter. Their eyes were watching god is a 1937 novel by africanamerican writer zora neale hurston. Folklore in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god. Janie crawford the novel is the story of janies coming to selfawareness, living her life according to her own purpose. Tea cake functions as the catalyst that helps drive janie toward her goals.
She spends most of the book searching for love and never finding it. Find books like their eyes were watching god from the worlds largest community of readers. This site is designed to give you a more in depth look at the book their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston. Figurative language in their eyes were watching god. The time was past for asking the white folks what to look for through that door. Pheoby watson character analysis in their eyes were. At the beginning of the book janie was 16 years old and unmarried. Genre main ideas genre their eyes were watching god is primarily an example of bildungsroman in that it follows janies transition from childhood to adulthood, is told mostly in flashback as janie recounts her life to pheoby, and depicts janies selfdiscovery as she embarks on a search for meaningful existence. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Her character is somehow altered through each vicissitude. It tells the story of the main character janies growing up from early teen years to adulthood and her.
Occupation, attitude, description, etc what obstacles does the character face. The timeline below shows where the character captain eaton appears in their eyes were watching god. A janie crawford the heroine of the novel, janie, is the first black woman character in african american fiction to embark on a journey of selfdiscovery and achieve independence and selfunderstanding. Janie janie crawford is the books main focus, as well as the narrator throughout the book. Bucher aus verschiedenen genres wie frauenromane, historische romane. It is considered a classic of the harlem renaissance of the 1920s, and it is likely hurstons best known work. Raised by her grandmother, nanny crawford, janie is a precocious, romantic teenager. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach.
Janies second husband, joe, provides the greatest example of hurstons beliefs. 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. Character development in chapter two of their eyes were. Physical, mental, and emotional explain how this obstacle is or is not a human rights issue. Character analysis janie in their eyes were watching god. The importance of speech and humor in zora neale hurstons their. This lesson will discuss the books author, zora neale hurston, and to which genres it belongs. Hurstons second and bestknown novel their eyes were watching god focuses on the. The heroine of the novel, janie, is the first black woman character in africanamerican fiction to. He remains with tea cake and janie at their home during the hurricane, and the three of them eventually attempt to escape the rising waters of the hurricane together. Zora neale hurstons postmodern worldview is obvious in her most famous novel, their eyes were watching god. Simmons, johnny taylor, annie tyler and who flung, mr. Their eyes were watching gods important quotes, sortable by theme, character, or chapter.
Rather than selfdestruct under the constant realities of racism and misogyny she receives throughout her life, janie crawford does the opposite at the close of their eyes were watching god. This creates a change in the balance of power in the relationship between janie as a woman and jody as a man, thus breaking the common. Bildungsromans are a subgenre of comingofage stories, and their focus is on the growthboth moral and psychologicalof a young protagonist who matures as. Learn their eyes were watching god characters with free interactive flashcards. Their eyes were watching god is also included in the genre of african american literature. Zora neale hurstons novel, their eyes were watching god, is a third person narrative based around the life of a female protagonist, janie crawford. At the time, hurstons books were often criticized for not dealing more explicitly with racism.
Tea cake janies third husband, tea cake, is a freespirit. Character list their eyes were watching god hello world. Need help on characters in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god. Their eyes were watching god zora neale hurston isbn. The novel their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston revolves around the story of the main characters janies life.
Their eyes were watching god is an american broadcasting company television film that aired on march 6, 2005. The novels final image states what janie does throughout the story taking her difficult past in and growing stronger and wiser as a result of it. Their eyes were watching god character analysis litcharts. Character comparisons their eyes were watching god. He is charismatic at first, but also stubborn, hypocritical, and demeaning. Their eyes were watching god, zora neale hurstons third published fulllength work 1937, was written in the middle of a career rich in recognition and variety. Characterauthor worldview their eyes were watching god. Life changed at sixteen janie, the main character is 16 when she fist kisses her crush, johnny taylor. In the first quote, hurston in many ways accuses blacks of looking to whites to learn what their futures hold.
Their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston classics corner is a feature in which i highlight those classics that i am reading and offer my views and comments in the hopes that you will be inspired to read some of them in addition to all the great ya reads out there. Hurstons tone is one of deep appreciation and joyous celebration of the richness of africanamerican culture. Characters what factual details do you notice about the character. Their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston. Learn how writer zora neale hurston incorporated and transformed black folklife in her novel 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. Hurstons their eyes were watching god timeline created by cortniesb. The novel opens with janie just coming back from a grave and meeting up with her best friend, pheoby, proceeding to tell her her life story. A big reason why janie didnt immediately like joe was because of his looks. The work of zora neale hurston, in particular, the novel their eyes were. Turner, sam watson, leafy crawford, amos hicks, motor boat, hezekiah potts, dr. Hurston was one of many writers during the harlem renaissance to write about the african american experience. Start studying their eyes were watching god characters. She battles against the commonly held view of love as unimportant and frivolous compared to respectability and material security.
Their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston goodreads. Captain eaton character analysis in their eyes were. The book begins by introducing janie by describing her as a mysterious woman that is trudging down the main road of the town eatonville where she once lived. Her characters are all africanamerican who spoke their typical slang and the. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Have study documents to share about their eyes were watching god. Characters see a complete list of the characters in their eyes were watching god and indepth analyses of janie mae crawford, tea cake, jody starks, nanny crawford, and mrs. In their eyes were watching god, what kind of god are the. Specifically, you can find questions about janies obsession. Having set the novel in early twentieth century southern united states, hurston is able to use janie as a vehicle to portray the feminine roles bounded by the society of that time. Hurston reveals her personality through narrative events. No persons wordlview is exactly the same because their life circumstances, upbringing, and a host of other influences make slight differences in each persons worldview. The their eyes were watching god characters covered include.
Zadie smithone of the most important and enduring books of the twentieth century, their eyes were watching god brings to life a southern love. Jim crow laws were still in effect in the south during the 1930s, keeping blacks and whites in seperate schools, churches, and bathrooms. Zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god 1937 is today a. The novel explores main character janie crawfords ripening from a vibrant. Back to eatonville character analysis janie finds herself back in eatonville, and decides to confide in her old friend pheoby. Their eyes were watching god was published in 1937, long after the heyday of the harlem renaissance. Logan wants janie to be happy in her marriage and satisfied with her life because she is the mistress of 60 acres of land.
Logan is one of the numerous characters who try to impose materialistic values on janie. Analysis of major and minor characters their eyes were. Characters janie mae crawford although their eyes were watching god revolves around janies relationships with other people, it is first and foremost a story of janies search for spiritual enlightenment and a strong sense of her own identity. To ask other readers questions about their eyes were watching god, please. The main characters in their eyes were watching god are found in the questions on this quiz and worksheet. 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.
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