An indepth discussion of different literary and writing techniques used throughout their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston. Their eyes were watching god is primarily a novel about love, the transcendent nature of love, and how it affects ones identity and independence. In the novel their eyes were watching god, hurston uses several literary devices to help make points or draw the readers attention to something. Their eyes were watching god literary terms examples. As author neal hurston introduces new characters into janies life, one of her attributes seems to have an effect on all of them, this being janies hair. 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. Ap lit literary terms 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. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Their eyes are watching their eyes were watching god. Their eyes were watching god is the story of zora neale hurstons janie who, at sixteen, married a grubbing farmer at the anxious instigation of her slaveborn grandmother. Literary device analysis by joshua gewecke zora neale hurston expresses her views in their eyes were watching god in many different metaphorical phrases. Hair is used to symbolize sexuality many times throughout the novel.
Identifying and understanding the foreshadowing in the story has helped to make the plot and the roles of certain characters more understandable for. This website has been created to provide two types of information about their eyes were watching god. Their eyes were watching god questions and answers. This literary device helps to describe janie starks need for love, to clearly foreshadow an event, to explain an outcome. This information is labeled as contextual elements. They were about twoandahalf to three inches long and were sold in a box, the side of which contained a strip of abrasivelike fine sandpaper. In their eyes were watching god, zora neale hurston uses a variety of literary devices. Literary devices play an enormous role in stories, especially in their eyes were watching god. Their eyes were watching god ap lit unit plan by katie. First is information about the novel and its author. Jan 03, 2011 their eyes were watching god zora neale hurston. Literary devices in their eyes were watching god in the novel their eyes were watching god, hurston uses several literary devices to help make points or draw the readers attention to something.
In their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston, the author weaves words together to create a poetic view of the characters. This literary device helps to describe janie starks need for love, to clearly foreshadow an event, to explain an outcome, to show tea cakes importance to janie, and to demonstrate that. In her novel their eyes were watching god, zora neale hurston powerfully uses metaphors to deepen the understanding of the plot and of the main characters. Their eyes were watching god chapter 7 passage prezi. Irony an example of irony that i came across was in chapter 2 when nanny. It was during those years that she wrote her autobiography dust tracks on a road, worked with the federal writers project in florida, received a guggenheim fellowship, and wrote four novels. Start studying their eyes were watching god from test. In the first quote, hurston in many ways accuses blacks of looking to whites to learn what their futures hold.
Her most productive years were the 1930s and early 1940s. Start studying their eyes were watching god literary terms examples. Jody shuns her, and he gets sicker but doesnt allow her to see him. She uses metaphors rather than just saying her thoughts as a way of intriguing the reader. One of the most important works of twentiethcentury american literature, zora neale hurstons beloved 1937 classic, their eyes were watching god, is an enduring southern love story sparkling with wit, beauty, and heartfelt wisdom. Their eyes were watching god is one of those books that you feel you ought to love because it occupies such an iconic position in 20th century literature. An ageing grandmother marries off her granddaughter almost a child to a middleaged man for securityand she leaves him when she finds that her dreams are dying, and goes.
In chapter six hurston shows the importance males put on feeling superior to their female partners and forcing them in. It is interesting that hurston starts off her novel by calling into question a womans ability to accurately look at her past because their eyes were watching god is largely one woman telling her life story. One of the most important and enduring books of the twentieth century, their eyes were watching god brings to life a southern love story with the wit and pathos found only in the writing of zora neale hurston. Necessary narration in their eyes were watching god. Metaphors, a comparison between unrelated ideas, can add creativity to the most basic sentence.
Their eyes were watching god study guide literature guide. By kiah larson their eyes were watching god literary elements a literary device, also known as a literary technique, refers to methods authors use to convey what they want to the reader to understand. However, in reality, janie feels free, having burned all of her headrags and now wearing her hair in a braid below her waist. In 1965, their eyes were watching god was republished, after which it began to receive a great deal of attention and to be reevaluated by many as a staple of the american literary canon. The beginning of the end of janies and jodys relationship. Their eyes were watching god study guide course hero. Zora neale hurston and her famous novel their eyes were watching god. Examples of literary devices their eyes were watching. Their eyes were watching god themes, symbols, and literary. Their eyes were watching god perfectly combines folklore and literature in the theme of black and female empowerment. Pdf narrative structure and textual architecture in zora neale. Irony is defined as a reality different from what appears to be true. Pdf downloads of all 1291 litcharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. This file contains materials for a complete 7class period unit 90minute classes on zora neale hurstons novel their eyes were watching god.
Figurative language in their eyes were watching god. Immediately download the their eyes were watching god summary, chapterby chapter analysis, book. They answer a set of higherlevel questions concerning such elements as theme, point of view, literary devices, etc. Writing techniques in their eyes were watching god. A metaphor, however, is a figure of speech containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used for one thing is applied to another. In their eyes were watching god, there are many different ways people see janie. Told in the captivating voice of a woman who refuses to live in sorrow, bitterness, fear, or foolish romantic. 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. Create marketing content that resonates with prezi video. In her new state of being alone, which janie really sees as a state of freedom and independence, janie thinks more critically about. Style is the writers distinctive manner of arranging words to suit his or her ideas and purpose in writing.
Told in the captivating voice of a woman who refuses to live in sorrow, bitterness, fear, or foolish romantic dreams, it is the story of fairskinned, fiercely. Literary device analysis their eyes were watching god. Unsigned publishers foreword, first edition of their eyes were watching god philadelphia. Their eyes were watching god is an inspiring and motivating piece of literature. Analysis about their eyes were watching god english. In their eyes were watching god, miss hurston has fulfilled the early promise of her first books. In this way, women ensure that they see themselves as living out their dreams. Dec, 2011 in the novel there eyes were watching god, readers take a journey through the life of janie crawford. Their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston chapter 1 ships at a distance have every mans wish on board. A literary device, also known as a literary technique, refers to methods authors use to convey what they want to the reader to understand. She is most remembered for her novel their eyes were watching god, published in 1937. In chapter 5, janie marries her second husband, joe starks, but learns that this relationship.
Definitions and examples of 301 literary terms and devices. This assignment allows students to work together to come to a deeper understanding of the novel, their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston, and its components. Styletheir eyes were watching god linkedin slideshare. A simile is a comparison that uses the following words. Their eyes were watching god hurston group critical. The romantic janie, in the highlycharged language of miss hurston, longed to be a pear tree in blossom and have a dustbearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom. One of the most prominent of the literary devices found in zora hurstons story is foreshadowing. In her novel, their eyes were watching god, zora neale hurston uses the metaphors of a. Because death is the start of the novel, it clues us. Irony, symbolism, point of view, metaphor, simile, sensory imagery, and foreshadowing. Hurston uses many symbols and metaphors in their eyes were watching god to develop janies story.
Whatis hollered, slammed, challenged, and laughed an example of. Literary terms in their eyes were watching god metaphor simile personification alliteration hyperbole archetype diction onomatopoeia synecdoche verisimilitude aphorism assonance consonance allusion portmanteau now find examples of as many of the following literary devices in the text. 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. The second type of information provided here are interpretations of the novel through projects centered on worldview, literary criticism or literary. Their eyes were watching god is one of the texts which were written during that time, and hurston succeeds in presenting the black protest literature. There are numerous literary devices used throughout zora neal hurstons their eyes were watching god. Symbols stand for, represent, or suggest another thing. The folklore elements were so well immersed that they could easily go unnoticed. Janies grandmother marries her off without taking into account love as an important factor for happiness. The unit is designed to help students recognize elements of a novel that are worthy of critical analysis, including narrative voice, complex characterization, setting, theme, and symbolism. I loved jonahs gourd vinethought some of her short stories very fineand feel that this measures up to the promise of the early books. Gender roles and relations voice, language and storytelling.
The ccc civilian conservation corps program created by congress helped create jobs. Authentic picture of negroes, not in relation to white people but to each other. Hurston uses foreshadowing in chapter 2 when janie and nanny were talking after nanny had seen janie kissing johnny taylor. The teaching unit for their eyes were watching god gives you a comprehensive academic framework. Understanding janie by josiah scheumann throughout their eyes were watching god, zora neale hurston uses different literary devices that help to understand more clearly the protagonist. The best study guide to their eyes were watching god on the planet, from the creators of sparknotes. When employed properly, the different literary devices help readers to appreciate, interpret and analyze a literary work. May 11, 2015 their eyes were watching god literary elements.
The literary device used throughout their eyes were watching god is irony. Her writing is of the essence of poetry, deeply communicative, possessed of a primitive rhythm that speaks truly to the consciousness even before thought can form. Editions of their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston. I cant say i found it an easy read for the reasons ill set out shortly but i certainly admired it and felt more kindly towards the book in the second half. As janie returns to eatonville, the novel focuses on the porchsitters who gossip and speculate about her situation. According to claire crabtree, there are four major aspects. Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help to develop and inform the texts major themes. Sep 26, 2011 i loved jonahs gourd vinethought some of her short stories very fineand feel that this measures up to the promise of the early books. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by time. Besides showing what janie is thinking, hurston gives a glimpse into many other peoples minds. Their eyes were watching god literary terms flashcards. Zora neale hurstons use of symbolism in their eyes were.
Their eyes were watching god lessons from literature. Without delay, on first page of the book, hurston substantiates the contrast between men and women by initiating janies quest to reach fruition of her own dreams and presaging the female quest theme throughout. Print or download the full ncte education standards. Does this imply that we arent supposed to trust janie. Their eyes were watching god critical evaluation essay. Critical analysis of zora neale hurstons uw courses web. In her novel, their eyes were watching god, zora neale hurston uses the metaphors of a horizon, mules.
Start studying their eyes were watching god literary terms. Clearly with the recommendations of teachers of literature, literary critics, and oprahs book club backing it, their eyes surely possesses a. Whether it is a figure of speech or a symbolic for something else, metaphors are effective in adding meaning within stories. In their eyes were watching god, hurston celebrates janie as an artist that enriches eatonville and details her selfdiscovery. In her novel their eyes were watching god, zora neale hurston presents the theme of gender roles and their significance in african american culture during the 1930s. Save hours of prep time with this readytouse resource to guide your students through a close. Throughout their eyes were watching god, zora neale hurston uses different literary devices that help to understand more clearly the protagonist.
By kalley lichty one of the most interesting literary devices, in my opinion, is the metaphor. The literary devices chapter of this their eyes were watching god study guide course is the most efficient way to understand these elements of the novel. The essay offers an analysis of the text in reference to other african american literary works. Janie attends jody s funeral and pretends to be in mourning in order to convince the townspeople that her love for jody was authentic. Literary device evaluation their eyes were watching god. Their eyes were watching god literary devices videos. She uses verbal irony in the beginning when the old women are gossiping about janie. Syntax diction tone figurative language imagery point of view organization musicality rhyme use of time repetition. Need help on symbols in zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god.
Out of print for almost thirty yearsdue largely to initial audiences rejection of its strong black female protagonisthurston. We follow janie as she searches to find her true identity. One out of every four americans was unemployed, and jobs were hard to find. Their eyes were watching god from test flashcards quizlet. Their eyes were watching god is the story of janie crawford, told by her best friend pheoby watson, and the three major periods in her life, which relate to her marriages to three extremely different men.
Janie, throughout the novel, bounces through three different marriages, with a brief stint at being a widow in between. Their eyes were watching god zora neale hurston hardcover. Examples of literary devices their eyes were watching god. Their eyes were watching god set up for other portions janie already felt stuck in the relationship. Zora neale hurston wrote their eyes were watching god during the great depression. In depth summary and analysis of every chapter of their eyes were watching god. Through these different peoples perspectives, a person can learn about janie and her social status. In the novel their eyes were watching god zora neale hurston portrays a woman named janies search for love and freedom.
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