Their Eyes Were Watching God

A Novel by Zora Neale Hurston

JOURNAL TOPIC “I regret all of my books.” – Zora Neale

Hurston

What is something you’ve done that you regret?

ZORA NEALE HURSTON Last time we learned about a new author,

you gave me the facts in a brochure. This time, you are going to do it again. However, the format in which you complete the assignment is at your discretion.

The completed assignment is due Thursday! One document per group

So, how do you do this?

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY This document should fit in a binder, include

an image and include 20 facts about our newest author.

The document should be typed, creative and have a section that relates our authors’ life to our newest selection. Why did she write ”Their Eyes Were Watching

God?” How does it parallel to her life?

Cite your sources!

CONNECTIONS AND CONTEXT Question: What do we know about the

Harlem Renaissance?

The movement’s proponents felt that art should be primarily political and expose social injustice in the world.

CONNECTIONS AND CONTEXT Their Eyes Were Watching God was

published in 1937, long after the heyday of the Harlem Renaissance. 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.

A CONNECTION TO HURSTON In the text, you will be introduced to an

individual who aspires to be the town mayor.

This is something that was evident in the life of our author. Hurston’s family moved to Eatonville, Florida, the first all-black incorporated town in the United States, where, her father John Hurston served several terms as mayor.

THE CAST OF CHARACTERS

Janie Mae Crawford  Tea Cake Jody Starks Pheoby Watson  Logan Killicks Nanny Crawford Mr. and Mrs. Turner Sam Watson Motor Boat

Leafy Crawford Amos Hicks Hezekiah Potts Dr. Simmons Johnny Taylor Annie Tyler and Who

Flung - Mr. and Mrs.

Washburn -  Nunkie

THEMES Throughout the text these ideas will

present themselves.. (Write these down!)

Speech and Silence Power and Conquest

Love and Relationships Independence

SUMMARY Using the back of the book and other

resources be prepared to create a one page summary of the text. As we listen to the audio version you should be taking notes that will supplement the summary that you will create.