An essay or paper on symbols in their eyes were watching god. A great memorable quote from the their eyes were watching god movie on janie starks. Ordinary, everyday objects become the most powerful symbols in her writing. While he is away, one of the local men tries to work up a conversation with janie, yet. Many of the characters strive to obtain power and agency, often by means of using one another, as they navigate the demands of their social hierarchy.
Think youve got your head wrapped around their eyes were watching god. Characters and symbols their eyes were watching god. Joe seems to want everyone to envy him, and they do. First, it represents her independence and defiance of. A group of men and a few women who sit on the porches of their homes, as well as on the porch of joe starks crossroads store, and diligently mind everyone elses business, especially janies. Zora neale hurstons cast of characters in their eyes were watching god demonstrates the complicated gender dynamics of african americans in the early twentieth century. The sun demonstrates, by rising day after day, that life goes on.
Lamp posts are also a reference to the bible in that god is the one that brings light to the community. More their eyes were watching god quizzes their eyes were watching god chapter 1 reading check quiz. Jan 08, 2009 their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston. Her hair symbolizes the white supremacy and power in that janie holds the power and she has what others want. Checkers symbol in their eyes were watching god litcharts.
Hurston repeatedly poi the head rag is a symbol of oppression. When jody brings lamps to eatonville, it shows that he believes he is as important as god, and wants the people to treat him in the same way. When the men torture the animal, the mule fights, but the men only tease him more. Along with samuel clemens huckleberry finn, fitzgeralds the great gatsby, and harper lees to kill a mockingbird, zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god is surely one of the most american of great novels.
Janie despises working at the store, only looking forward to the entertaining stories and chats of the people sitting on the porch. The pear tree symbol in their eyes were watching god. Myth and violence in zora hurstons their eyes were watching god daniel wenger writers comment. Start studying their eyes were watching god symbols. Professor kristen over of northeastern illinois university provides an in. Their eyes were watching god symbols flashcards quizlet. In their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston, the author weaves words together to create a poetic view of the characters. Symbolism in their eyes were watching god essay example. Occupation, attitude, description, etc what obstacles does the character face.
Janie, like the majority of the town is a possession, owned by joe. Joe, out of selfishnes the mule is a symbol of the position of black women. With this voice, joe makes his opinions loudly known, often silencing others dissent and giving his words the force of law. A symbol to janie of the ideal relationship, one in which pass represents human nature and life as full of varied experiences represents change and potential.
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. Their eyes were watching god full book pdf by harper collins. I placed janies hair as the most important symbol because of two reasons. This is why marriage is such a big deal in the world of hurstons novel. Throughout the whole novel janie is seeking after it, trying to obtain it. Zora neale hurston uses symbolism creatively throughout her novel, their eyes were watching god. Starkss arrival on the scene of eatonville signals a change in their governance and both progress and the loss of independence for the townspeople. Janies beauty makes her husbands and other men fall in love with her. Li terary crossword puzzle answer key their eyes were watching god g 1 r a n d m a n 2 f 3 f 4 a l 5 a l o m s 6 a 7 j 8 o h n n y t a y l o r b e c g n s k l m q a y h l.
He also stubbornly refuses to see a medical doctor, preferring instead to seek cures from quacks and charlatans. Their eyes were watching god character graphic organizer as. Symbols take the form of people, objects, and events, adding to the color and meaning of the story. Their eyes were watching god is a 1937 novel by africanamerican writer zora neale hurston. She was pushed into a marriage, bullied by her second husband, and even teacake was constantly trying to push her to do what he thought she wanted to do.
They sat in company with the others in other shanties, their eyes straining against crude walls and their souls asking if he meant to measure their puny might against his. In their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston, it isnt hard to feel like you are in the middle of the story thanks to the authors striking word choices. The their eyes were watching god quotes below all refer to the symbol of the pear tree. The their eyes were watching god quotes below all refer to the symbol of the horizon. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. Janies hair is a symbol of her power and unconventional identity. Women are not only considered the weaker sex, but theyre fundamentally defined by their relationship to men. Janies second husband, joe starks, forces janie to wear a headrag when in public. The author illustrates the struggles black women face growing up in the midthirties when discrimination and unequal rights existed. Feb 22, 2019 a quiz for english intercession on the book their eyes were wathcing god, find out more about it by taking this quiz. The horizon quotes in their eyes were watching god the their eyes were watching god quotes below all refer to the symbol of the horizon. Start studying characters and symbols their eyes were watching god.
He is the hope of the new town, their savory and has come to fix all their problems. Their eyes were watching god symbols and themes by emily. Myth and violence in zora hurstons their eyes were. Joe starks insists that she wear her long, straight hair under a hair rag because he is jealous when other men look at her. Their skepticism is immense, but so is joe s selfconfidence. It is the possibility for som the bridge between janies current life and the horizon. It occurs the most often, and more importantly, it is the most important to janie.
Zora neale hurston displays a mastering of symbolism in her most important work, their eyes were watching god. Symbol evaluation kinney, interpretive symbols in their eyes were watching god 1. What is the significance of the mule in their eyes were watching god. Janies straight hair gives her beauty in the eyes of all men and is also a source of desire for a lot of characters in the book.
This study guide and infographic for zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Janies hair is a huge symbol in the book and is one that is repeated quite often. The time was past for asking the white folks what to look for through that door. Choose from 500 different sets of their eyes were watching god symbols flashcards on quizlet. Joe is also ambitious and willing to work hard and dream big. In this chapter, much of the conversation among the porch sitters centers on matt bonners helpless mule. Zora neale hurston is an author who predominantly wrote through the great depression to advocate for equality, specifically for african american women.
One of hurstons most celebrated novels is their eyes were watching god, in which she uses many examples of symbolism such as the mule, janies hair, and the pear tree to illustrate to the readers the many trials of which her characters overcome. An undertaker of a nearby town is courting janie, and moreover, suddenly men who were scarcely interested in her and joe are now driving distances to. Powerful symbols in their eyes were watching god by zora. The name joe starks is an allusion to joe clarke, the mayor of eatonville during hurstons childhood, and to dr.
Learn their eyes were watching god symbols with free interactive flashcards. There are different symbols that play a major role in their eyes were watching god, and you can assess your knowledge of these symbols with this quizworksheet combo. Analysis and explanation of major symbols and themes in their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston. Her light skin and long, wavy hair make some people, including african americans, think of her as higher in status.
However, when he achieves a position of power, joe takes it too far and, in janies eyes, becomes nothing but the big voice. Janie defies convention, however, by cultivating and preserving her own inner space in spite of the submission. Falzone on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. All this arrogance is made worse by the fact that joe is undeniably black, a man who is supposed to be their equal. Characters what factual details do you notice about the character. Their eyes were watching god symbolism help needed. Nanny, janies grandmother, was born into slavery and had a child, janies mother, by a white master. Captain eaton character timeline in their eyes were watching god the timeline below shows where the character captain eaton appears in their eyes were watching god. The their eyes were watching god quotes below all refer to the symbol of checkers. But now, the sun and the bossman were gone, so the skins felt powerful and human. Captain eaton character analysis in their eyes were.
They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching god. However, starks is a bit overzealous in his ambition. Their eyes were watching god meets the standard for range of reading and level of text complexity for grades 1112. The fact that janie learns to shoot effectively shows her crossing into decidedly male territory in an attempt to empower herself. In their eyes were watching god why is it important that joe starks becomes the mayor of eatonville and not some previously incorporated town. Their eyes were watching god character graphic organizer as you read, fill in observations for each chapter. Free essay on symbols in their eyes were watching god. Check out shmoop s visual take on what its all about. How symbolism is used in their eyes were watching god zora neale hurston uses symbolism to enhance characterization in her novel, their eyes were watching god, and symbolism is portrayed through the heroine of the novel, janie crawford. 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. Joe starks was the name, yeah joe starks from in and through georgy.
In their eyes were watching god, men and women occupy very different roles. Mar 30, 2010 their eyes were watching god is in many ways a novel about janies sexual awakening. Maybe he doesnt realize that with envy comes hate as well as admiration. For janie, the horizon represents the endless of opportunity a the image of the sun stand for rebirth. The mule serves to symbolize janie and her struggle with joe. Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Their eyes were watching god isnt a book about god, but the story of a woman of colour coffee and cream complexion with amazing hair. Zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god explained in just a few minutes.
The head rag that janie wears in the novel is a symbol of suppression and control. Checkers the mule represents how janie and really women in general was always put down and kicked around. Home marxist symbolism novel soundtrack author literary device symbolism. This is their eyes were watching god chapter 18 by mr.
Symbolism in their eyes were watching god zora neale hurston underscores her timeless classic, their eyes were watching god with several important symbols. Because it was written in the conservative 1930s, much of this sexuality is masked in metaphor. Trying to imagine symbolism in their eyes were watching god. When janie finally finds a bee for her blossom, it is the man that she has been most sexually attracted to in her life. Powerful symbols in their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston in 1937, upon the first publication of their eyes were watching god, the most influential black writer of his time, richard wright, stated that the novel carries no theme, no message, and no thought. Zora neale hurstons use of symbolism in their eyes were. Professor kristen over of northeastern illinois university explains the sy. The people were not educated, but enjoyed their lives in ignorance. Because janies hair is so attractive to men, joe jealously makes his wife bind her hair, constraining janies femininity and stifling her identity. Their eyes were watching god trivia quiz proprofs quiz. Raised by her grandmother, nanny crawford, janie is a precocious, romantic teenager.
Their eyes were watching god in zora neale hurstons contemporary novel, their eyes were watching god, she displays the fight between freedom and societal pressures. Publication date 20000420 usage attributionshare alike 3. Figurative language in their eyes were watching god. Joe starks is a citified, stylishly dressed man who walks like he knew where he was going. After her master died, nanny took her daughter and ran away because the masters widow threatened to sell janies mother. Throughout the novel, hurston keeps pointing out the position of the sun and in the end janie eventually comes to associate tea cake with it. First, it represents her independence and defiance of petty community standards. Over the past year, in an effort to achieve a deeper understanding of violence, i have been examining its mythological and aesthetic dimensions previously, i had analyzed and evaluated violence within a. Symbols are objects, characters, figures, and colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. The most important symbol in their eyes were watching god is the pear tree.
Their eyes were watching god friday, november 20, 2015. Their eyes were watching god questions and answers. Their eyes were watching god study guide course hero. The five main symbols are the pear tree, janies head rags, tea cake, the old mule, and the gate. From the beginning, joe makes it known that he desires to be a big voice. Joe s selfconfidence is bolstered by his having money and by acquiring janie, a beautiful wife.
Their eyes were watching god symbolism 1290 words 6 pages. In their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston, janie wants something out of life and love that seems unattainable and difficult to express in words, so she uses symbols to explain her. Symbols formalistic approach on their eyes were watching god. Hurston mentions this symbol repeatedly throughout the novel. Starke, a pioneer settler of orange county, in which eatonville is located. Their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston. After her master died, nanny took her daughter and ran away because the masters widow threatened to. In their eyes were watching god how does janies life journey from her childhood home in west florida to eatonville to the everglades reflect an exploration of black culture when janie lives in west florida, she lives at first in the backyard of the white washburn family, playing with the washburns grandchildren. Gender roles and relations voice, language and storytelling.
Joe moves out of their bedroom, and as his illness progresses, he refuses to let janie take care of him. The five main symbols are the pear tree, janies head rags, tea cake, the old mule. The sun is also a symbol in their eyes were watching god. Their eyes were watching god questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on their eyes. Need help on symbols in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the text on four levels.
Physical, mental, and emotional explain how this obstacle is or is not a human rights issue. The character of joe starks in the novel their eyes were watching god written by zora neil hurston is janies second husband and an entrepreneur who is very charismatic and well off financially. Their eyes were watching god is a bildungsroman that follows janies formative years, beginning in her youth. It is considered a classic of the harlem renaissance of the 1920s, and it is likely hurstons best known work. It took me a while to adjust to the ever changing play between lyrical narrative prose and the dialect the author uses when her characters speak. Their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston symbols. Janie is the novels hero as she narrates her life story to her friend pheoby watson. In their eyes were watching god how does the symbol of the horizon evolve over the course of the story it is clear that the horizon is a very important symbol, as it surfaces in the first paragraph of the novel and returns in the last paragraph. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in their eyes were watching god, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. 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. With this voice, joe makes his opinions loudly known, often silencing others dissent and giving his. The horizon is the most important symbol in their eyes were watching god. Lucy anne hurston will provide film commentary and answer questions immediately following the screening.