Procedure
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House-Keeping, Hand in Blogs, Homework, etc. ALL H.W. must be handed in on time from now on unless there is an emergency
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Alone in your seat, try to identify 3 literary terms/concepts/devices (terms from AP) be sure to cite page number and clearly identify 3 concepts
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Synthesize readings from previous night in groups
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Checking for understanding with class quiz
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Your Homework: Continue reading the novel “The Eyes Were Watching God,” Read chapters five and six.
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Monday, November 18, 2013
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In Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, there are three literary concepts which are gracefully woven into the text. These three concepts are juxtaposition, dialect, and imagery.
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Almost immediately Hurston sets up the juxtaposition of her novel. The beginning of the first chapter is poetic, her use of words is beautiful. However, once the dialogue begins it is at odds with her previous writing. Her use of dialect adds to the overall effect of the characters and setting. The dialect of the characters gives them a lifelike quality, a naturalness in the way they form their sentences. You can see in your mind's eye Janie walking down the street with the sun setting as the townspeople gossip.
DeleteIn Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston there are three literary concepts which are
ReplyDeletewisely woven into the texts. These three concepts are personification, simile and symbolism. In the beginning of the novel the author depicts the scenery and personifies the sun by saying "The sun was gone, but he had left his footprints in the sky (pg 1)." In the next chapter the author uses simile to introduce the mood. "Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, the things enjoyed, things done and undone (pg 8)." Later in chapter two the author uses symbolism as she compares Janie to a pear tree as Janie is maturing into a woman.
DeleteIn Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, there are three literary concepts artistically woven into the text. These concepts are personification, diction, and foreshadowing. “The sun was gone, but had left his footprints in the sky,” (Hurston, 1). This sentence uses personification to create a descriptive account for the reader. The characters talk in African American vernacular English, the author uses this diction to further characterize them and what kind of people they are. “What she doin’ coming back here in dem overhalls?” (2). Although mechanically incorrect, this sentence creates a character and setting. The foreshadowing is used when Janie returns to town and all the women make a big fuss. This informs the reader that something must have happened considering how eager the women are to hear why she has returned.
ReplyDeleteIn Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, there are three literary concepts which are impressively (add your own adverb or use mine) woven into the text. Those concepts are personification, anaphora, and diction. "The sun was gone, but he had left his footprints in the sky." (Hurston 1). Hurston is personifying the sun and at the same time using imagery to create a setting. Anaphora is used on page two when the porch sitters start off their questions asking "where?". "Where's that blue satin dress she left here in?- Where all dat money her husband took and died and left her?... Where she left dat young lad of a boy she went of wid... where he left her?" (2). The use of anaphora creates a sense of wonder and makes the reader wonder who Janie is. Diction is used in the novel to create character. "At dat she ain't so ole as some of y'all dat's talking." (3). The use of diction is an indication of character, giving a real feeling of the setting and the way the characters spoke.
ReplyDeleteIn Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, there are three literary concepts that are strikingly woven into the text. Those concepts are personification, symbolism, and metaphor. First in the novel is the use of personification to describe the sun's human-like qualities when setting. “The sun was gone, but he had left his footprints in the sky” (Hurston, 1). Hurston makes effective use to personification to the sun not only because of the literary term, but also because it omits a sense of imagery of a sunset with hints of color still in the sky. Also used by the author was symbolism associated with Janie's hair. When the members of the porch are critiquing her, Janie's hair is noticed. “The great rope of black hair swinging to her waist and unraveling in the wind like a plume” (Hurston, 2). Janie's hair is a symbol of her identity and insurrection to the standards of others around her. Finally, Hurston uses metaphor when Nanny is speaking to Janie. “De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see” (Hurston, 14). Here, African American women are compared to mules and how both follow what the white man says.
ReplyDeleteI reckon that the symbolism was the more powerful term used. It started a precedent that would be carried out in the novel about how different Janie is. Her hair, along with the rest of her features, represents her rebellious nature towards her town and those around her. It shows how she will behave later in the novel.
In Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, there are three literary concepts which are nicely woven into the text. These concepts are simile, personification, and diction. "The sun was gone, but he had left his footprints in the sky." (Hurston 1). Hurston is personifying the sun by saying that he left footprints instead of saying "it". This use of personification nicely fit the mood f the particular scene. It also created nice imagery for the reader. the use of simile is in the novel as well. "The men noticed her firm buttocks like she had gape fruits in her hip pockets" (Hurston 2). she uses simile the entire time when describing Janie to the reader. she is comparing Janie's backside to a grape fruit to give the reader more of an understanding. the last literary concept is diction. Diction is used in the book wherever there is dialogue between character of just to themselves. "Good Lawd, Pheoby! ain't you never goin' tuh gimme dat lil rations you brought me? Ah ain't had a thing on mah stomach today eceptin' mah hand" (Hurston 5). This is part of a conversation that Pheoby and Janie have. the use o the words and the spelling really is and understanding of how things were down south and this time. It gives the reader a clear look back to when Janie is living.
ReplyDeleteIn Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, there are three literary concepts that are neatly woven into the text which gives the story depth. Those concepts are diction, anaphora and personification. In chapter one, the first section of dialogue sets the tone for the manner in which people talk which gives you a feel for the setting, which is the South. The first line, “What she doin coming back here in dem overhalls?” (Hurston 2) both solidifies the setting but gives you an impression of the character’s personality. Within the same section of dialogue, anaphora is used frequently to emphasize the character’s point saying “What” and “Where” at the beginning of each sentence. The use of personification such as, “... the panting breath of the wind...” (10) gives a very poetic feel to the sections without dialogue and is used very frequently.
ReplyDeleteIn “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston, there are several great examples of literary devices which are used in order to elevate the text. Three prominent examples of this is the use symbolism, metaphors, and motifs.
ReplyDeleteAn example of symbolism can be seen on page 8 in the quote “Janie saw her life like a giant tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches.” This tree with several branches and different things going on represents how confusing and complex Janie’s life is. She has things hanging her past and things that are taunting her in her future. The many parts of her life all culminate into one combined life which is intricate and unforgiving.
An example of a motif in this novel is the motif of loneliness. A quote which supports this theme opens the third chapter on page 20 and reads “Did marriage end the cosmic loneliness of the unmated?” This question is one being asked by Janie to herself. Loneliness has followed her throughout her life and she hopes to find an escape. This idea of overpowering loneliness is strong in the novel, making it a good example of motifs in “Their Eyes Were Watching God”.
Metaphors are used throughout this novel, and examples of metaphors are numerous. A great metaphor in this novel is “Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board.” (1) This metaphor is the first line of the novel and therefore sets the tone for the entire novel. The metaphor represents the idea that life looks better from somewhere else. The men mentioned are actually representing the whole population and maybe even more than just man-kind, serving as a huge generalization. Janie lives this metaphor out because she is always trying to find a life that will suit her even better than the one she already has. She keeps remarrying and moving and trying to adjust her life until it is perfect. What she finds in doing in this is that there is no perfect life and that every time she finds a new life, she finds new predicaments.
In Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, there are three literary concepts which are impressively woven into the text. These concepts are mood, tone, and symbolism. Janie Crawford returns home after being away for a very long time. The townsfolk, particularly the women, are unfriendly towards her. They gossip about Janie and how Tea Cake was too young for her. The mood of the environment changes drastically to envy towards Janie. “Seeing the women as she was made them remember the envy they had stored up from other times. So they chewed up the back parts of their minds and swallowed with relish. They made burning statements with questions, and killing tools out of laughs. It was mass cruelty. A mood come alive.” (Hurston 2) But the men admired her beauty, and did not mind that she was back. Janie's best friend, Pheoby, is angry at the women and leaves their company to takes Janie her supper of mullato rice. The tone of this section was of a friendly relationship between two friends speaking with each other, you could tell Pheoby and Janie has a close relationship. “‘Aw, pretty good, Ah’m tryin’ to soak some uh de tiredness and de dirt outa ma feet.’ She laughed a little. ‘Ah see you is. Gal, you sho looks good. You looks like youse yo’ own daughter.’ They both laughed.” (Hurston 4). Janie tells Pheoby that she is wealthy, with nine hundred dollars in the bank. Tea Cake was a wonderful husband who never took a cent of her money. He recently died, and that is the only reason that she is back from the Everglades. Janie tells Pheoby the story of her life to so that Pheoby can explain her actions to the nosy community on her behalf. Throughout this chapter, porches are the usual place for community assembly, and are also the only place where people can truly feel human: all day the people feel like "mules and brutes have occupied their skins." (Hurston 1). But only on the porches, at the end of the day, do their skins feel "powerful and human." (Hurston 1). The porch is also the setting of Janie's revelations to Phoebe. “They sat there in the fresh young darkness close together. Pheoby eager to feel and do through Janie, but hating to show her zest for fear it might be thought mere curiosity.” (Hurston 7). Tone is found more in the text because tone describes the feelings of the characters. The characters always are effected by an event or discussion which they express their feelings through tone.
ReplyDeleteIn “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston, there are several great examples of literary devices, which are used in order to add dimension, depth, and texture to the novel. Three foremost examples of this are metaphors, symbolism and motif.
ReplyDeleteMetaphors are also present throughout the novel. A few examples are when Janie is compared to a pear tree: “She was sixteen. She had glossy leaves and bursting buds” (11). This is illustrating Janie's youth and beauty. In the previous paragraph, Janie admires the pear blossom for its 'glistening leaf buds' and its 'snowy virginity of bloom.' Her 'bursting buds' symbolize her youth, her virginity and readiness 'to bloom' into a woman. This desire to become a woman is what leads her to kiss Johnny Taylor.
Their Eyes Were Watching God is concerned with issues of racial and gender. Hurston records the female growth possible in relationships with supportive black men and the dangers in relationships with oppressive black men. One intermittent symbol throughout the first half of the novel is that of the mule. The use of the mule imagery depicts the way in which African American females have been neglected and dehumanized by society. This can be seen through Nanny’s observation of the circumstances when she says, “So de white man throw down de load and tell de nigger man tuh pick it up. He pick it up because he have to, but he don’t tote it. He hand it to his women folks. De nigger woman is de mule oh de world as fur as Ah can see” (Hurston 14).
Dreaming is a motif within Hurston's novel. Nanny has dreams for her own and dreams for her child and granddaughter. Janie dreams for love, happiness, and independence. For example after marrying Logan Killicks for the money and security he provided, Janie longs for love, especially because she cannot seem to find any love within her for Killicks. She consults Nanny in desperation, only to hear the worst news: You have to deal with this, and either force love or deal with it- in the bluntest terms. Janie then she resorted to loving nature and abandoning her dream of loving the man she married. This relates to the quote, "Now, women forget all those things they don't want to remember, and remember everything they don't want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly" (Hurston 1).
In Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, there are many literary elements and devices used within the novel that are skillfully woven into the text. Three of these concepts are diction, symbolism, and metaphor.
ReplyDeleteRight in the very first line of the book is a prime example of metaphor. The quote is, "Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. 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" (Hurston 1). Hurston is using the idea of a ship out on the horizon representing a man’s dreams and ambitions; sometimes it comes into the harbor at and at other times it stays out on the horizon to eventually sail away. This basically means that sometimes you explore and try to make your dream come to reality and other times you just let it fade away or leave it what it is; just a dream. Not only that, men see dreams differently than women do. For them they’re more out of reach but they know how to distinguish reality from an illusion. Women instead tend to live their dreams, thus they live more idealistically than men.
Also in chapter one is the use of diction which indicates character, personality traits, and even setting. There’s a difference between the narration and the dialogue. The narrator has a more poetic type voicing and the characters have a colloquial dialect. The dialogue sets up the way people talk and where they’re from and it can sometimes give a certain time period too. Overall it gives you an impression of the setting which is in the south. A quote that supports this device is, "What she doin coming back here in dem overhalls? Can’t she find no dress to put on? – Where’s dat blue satin dress she left here in? – Where all dat money her husband took and died and left her? – What dat ole forty year ole ‘oman doin’ wid her hair swingin’ down her back lak some young gal…” (Hurston 2). Not only does it give you a feel of the setting but also the characters personality.
Symbolism is commonly seen throughout the novel. The author uses symbolism to associate it to Janie’s hair. In the quote, “the great rope of black hair swinging to her waist and unraveling in the wind like a plume;” (Hurston 2) it shows how Janie’s hair is a symbol of her power in society, strength, individuality, and identity obviously. The women make obnoxious and mean jokes just because they’re jealous but the men admire her hair. They constantly stare and look at her which is the particular reason her husband forced her to tie her hair up. He didn't want to lose her to any of them and he also didn't want her to have any freedom or power. Janie’s hair is what makes her unique and special in society. It is what most of the men characters notice right away about her appearance and are very attracted to it. Her husband tried taking that away from her by prohibiting her from taking part and speaking in conversations.
"Their Eyes Were Watching God", by Zora Neale Hurston, there are three literary concepts which are woven into the text. These concepts are imagery, symbolism, and characterization, in one instance all in the same exact section. “It had called her to come and gaze on a mystery. From barren brown stems to glistening leaf-buds to snowy virginity of bloom. It stirred her tremendously.” (Page 10, Hurston.) First of all, this excerpt comes from a larger passage talking about a pear tree, heavy with young blossoms, attracting bees to come share its beauty. Just the simple description of this heavenly tree, bursting with fragrance and flowers, is a clear example of imagery. Hurston creates this image so well in our mind, and it calls to any flowering tree someone has seen before, evoking a very powerful reaction. This section is also symbolic, because it’s comparing Janie, a young girl who’s becoming a woman, to a flowering tree. She too, is a new blossom, waiting to open up and be loved by someone (and yes, I’m going to go ahead and assume that the flower is also a symbol for a vagina. It’s a relatively common symbol and it’s extremely applicable, considering how this relates to puberty, coming of age, womanhood, and all of that sort of stuff.) So, as the tree is being described with some beautiful imagery, it’s also serving as a symbol for Janie. Lastly, it’s also a form of characterization, because by saying that this beautiful, fresh tree with virgin blossoms and by using it as a symbol for Janie, it’s also characterizing her as someone who’s ready to find love and ready to experience things as a woman. It’s giving her a sense of hopefulness and beauty as well. Just that one passage had three different literary concepts woven into it, a testament to how amazing this writing is.
ReplyDeleteIn Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, there are three literary concepts which are flawlessly woven into the text. The first of these is the use of synecdoche. On page 2, all the gossipers sitting on the porch watching Janie’s return are referred to as “the porch.” They are all individuals sitting on the porch, but the author uses a part of this image to represent the whole situation. The second literary concept that Hurston utilizes is symbolism. “She had glossy leaves and bursting buds and she wanted to struggle with life but it seemed to elude her. Where were the singing bees for her?” The image of a blossoming tree, and of singing bees are used to represent Janie’s wish for the beginning of a life of fertility and love. A third literary concept is used to create the image of the kind of man that Joe Starks is. “Dat man talks like a section foreman….He’s mighty compellment.” This is a simile comparing Joe Starks to a foreman of a job. When he talks, everybody listens and feels compelled to obey. The use of the simile was most effective, because it gave the clearest idea on just what sort of person Joe Starks is, and foreshadowed potential character flaws that might surface over the course of the rest of the novel. Zora Neale Hurston used these three literary techniques to send significant messages to the reader on the characters, their personalities, and the events to come.
ReplyDeleteIn Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, there are three literary concepts which are impressively woven into the text. These three concepts are personification, anaphora, and metaphor. In the beginnning of the novel the author, Zora Neale Hurston, personifies the sun in order to provide a more vivid description of the scene she is trying to set. "The sun was gone, but he had left his footprints in the sky" (Hurston 1.) Also in the beginning of the novel, Zora Neale Hurston uses anaphora. "It was the time for sitting on porches beside the road. It was the time to hear things talk" (1.) This use of anaphora clearly illustrates to the reader the scenario in which Zora Neale Hurston is writing about. Zora Neale Hurston also uses metaphor in her writing demonstrated in chapter two. "She had glossy leaves and bursting buds and she wanted to struggle with life but it seemed to elude her" (11.) This is a metaphor for how Janie is growing up and becoming a lady. The bursting buds are a metaphor for how she still has a lot of time to grow before she is a woman, and she has most of her life ahead of her. Zora Neale Hurston used personification, anaphora, and metaphor to help develop her writing and provide clear descriptions to her audience.
ReplyDeleteZora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God" is a novel replete with literary devices. These devices are utilized to develop the lyricism and meaning of the text. Especially prominent in the first five chapters are the devices anaphora, simile, and personification. Hurston describes Janie's feeling of youthful curiosity and exploration: "From barren brown stems to glistening leaf-buds to snowy virginity of bloom. It stirred her tremendously. How? Why? It was like a flute song forgotton in another existence and remembered again. What? How? Why?" (Hurston 10). The comparison between the Janie's emotion and the flute song grounds an abstract concept in a definite experience, making the emotion accessible to the reader. Also utilized in this passage is the literary device anaphora. The repetition of the questions "How? Why?" continues througout the passage, "She felt an answer seeking her, but where? When? How?" (11). The repetition of these questions emphasizes the importance of Jainie's existential queries. It impresses upon the reader the idea that Janie is profound, aiding in the development of her character. Finally, the use of personification provides vivid imagery in the text. Hurston describes Janie watching the sunset with Joe, "They sat on the boardin house porch and saw the sun plunge into the same crack in the earth from which the night emerged," (33). Here, personification serves to express the fluidity of nature and the connections between night and day. These connections extend to illustrate the unity between Joe and Janie. Additionally, it indicates the ending of one part of Janie's life, and the beginning of her new life in a new town with her new husband. It explains that night and day emerge from the same spot, reflecting that no matter how unstable her life is, Janie herself remains true, drawing her strength from inside herself.
ReplyDeleteZora Neale Hurston frequently uses literary devices in order to enhance the experience of her readers. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, written by Hurston, there are three literary concepts which she often utilizes in the novel. A small group of these devices include personification, irony, and metaphor.
ReplyDeleteHurston uses personification in ways where it can also be identified as other literary concepts saying," She left the porch pelting her back with unanswered questions" (Hurston 4). She personifies the porch as if it were talking to Janie and not he nosy women. This also can be utilized to create an atmosphere of uncomfortably for Janie in which she is being bombarded with questions she may or may not be comfortable answering.
Hurston uses irony an innumerable variety of ways commencing the book saying, "Ships at a distance have every mans wish on board" (1). She may have said this with the intention of confusing the reader or possibly just ironically starting the book with a statement about men when the book will be about a woman. Another element of irony can be found in the way she characterizes the friends of the protagonist. Black women are often depicted as sisterly and amiable, however the women in this story often are portrayed as malicious and slanderous. "What she doin' coming back here in dem overalls? Can't she find no dress to put on?-- Where's dat blue satin dress she left here in?-- Where all dat money her husband took and died and left her?-- What dat forty year ole 'oman doin' wid her hair swinging down her back lak some young gal?-- Where she left dat young lad or a boy she went off here wid?-- Thought she was going to marry?-- Where he left her?-- What he done wid all her money?-- Betcha he off wid some gal so young she ain't even got no hairs-why she don't stay in her class?--" (2). This quote illustrates the unscrupulous fashion in which the acquaintances of Janie are depicted.
Hurston uses metaphors on almost every page of this novel with the intent of adding depth and quality to it. A significant metaphor is used as the opening sentence of the novel, which says, “Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board” (1). This metaphor is significant because it allows the reader to foreshadow the rest of the novel and set a tone for the speaker. It can be read both figuratively and literally basically everything seems better from a distance, but do not work up to be as great as they seemed up close. Hurston, like many others of her generation, use the word "men" as a generalization of all humans, both men and women. This metaphor is the first of many utilized by Hurston in Their Eyes Were Watching God.
In Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston literary concepts are impressively woven into the text. Those concepts are found throughout the novel and can include diction, personification and metaphors. Hurston uses certain diction for the dialogue specifically to set the tone of the south during this time. The diction of the novel by far carries a large importance for and throughout the novel. The novel’s language goes from an almost poetic style of writing to a very sharp and contrasting dialect of African American Vernacular English (AAVE). “If she ain’t got manners enough to stop and let folks know how she been makin’ out, let her g’wan“(Hurston, 3)! The placement of the dialect throughout the novel shows the artistry of Zora Neale Hurston. Because of the placement of AAVE, Hurston’s style of writing can be compared to other forms of art during the time such as Jazz music. Hurston uses personification to provide vivid imagery throughout the novel. “She was stretched on her back beneath the pear tree soaking in the alto chant of the visiting bees, the gold of the sun and the panting breath of the breeze when the inaudible voice of it all came to her”(11). The use of personification helps develop aspects of the novel for the reader along with the use of metaphors. “The dream is the truth”(1). These three literary concepts are found throughout Hurston’s novel In Their Eyes Were Watching God.
ReplyDeleteIn “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” by Zora Neale Hurston, there are three literary concepts which are impressively incorporated into the text. These concepts are diction, figurative speech, and imagery. The author uses diction to tell the reader where they are and who is speaking, “At dat she ain’t so ole as some of y’all dat’s talking.” (3). This one sentence reveals that they are in the South and that it is likely an African American is speaking. The figurative language used by Hurston is, “Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board.” (1). This figurative language means that whenever there is something in the distance that has something unknown on board, any man who sees it will hope that whatever he wants in life will be on board, whether it be a wife, riches, or perhaps tea. Hurston also uses imagery very powerfully in the novel. “That was before the golden dust of pollen had beglamored his rags and her eyes.” (12). This imagery helps illustrate that there is a serene moment happening, and that the moment is beautiful. The most powerful of the literary devices used by Hurston would have to be diction in this novel, because it reveals so much into the minds of the characters, the setting, and the way in which things happen throughout the novel.
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