1. Their Eyes Were Watching God
Written by Zora Neale
Hurston
Born 1/7/1891
Lived in Eatonville, FL
(first all-black
incorporated town in
U.S.)
Significant writer during
Harlem Renaissance
Published in 1937
Third person narration;
Frame story
Setting: 1920s/30s;
rural Florida
2. Major Characters
Janie Mae
Crawford:
protagonist
Nanny: Janie’s
grandmother
Pheoby Watson:
Janie’s best friend
3. Major Characters
Logan Killicks:
Janie’s first husband
(arranged marriage)
Joe (Jody) Starks:
Janie’s second
husband
Tea Cake: Janie’s
third husband (true
love)
4. Plot Overview
Janie returns to Eatonville after a long absence. (porch sitters,
gossip)
She shares her story with her friend, Pheoby. (frame
story/flashback)
Nanny forces her beliefs/experiences on Janie.
Nanny arranges Janie’s marriage to Logan.
Unromantic, “pack mule”
Married about a year
Janie runs away with Joe Starks.
Smooth-talking, ambitious; tries to silence Janie
Married about 20 years / Joe dies
Meets Tea Cake (love of her life)
Criticized by friends, sells store, goes to Jacksonville
moves to the Everglades (hard work, social life)
Hurricane, rabid dog, shooting, trial
Janie returns to Eatonville (at peace/horizon)
5. Themes
Language: Speech and Silence; Finding One’s
Voice
Fulfillment
Relationships vs. Independence (Love story? Or
Self-actualization?)
6. Literary and Rhetorical Devices
(Creating an Author’s Distinct Style)
Characterization Local Color
Conflict Mood
Dialect/Vernacular Motif
Diction Tone
Flashback Plot Line
Foreshadowing Point of View
Folk Tale/Folklore Protagonist/Antagonist
Figurative Language Quest
Irony Setting
Imagery Symbol
Theme
7. Motifs Symbols
Race and Racism Hair/head rag
Spiritual Quest:
Finding one’s place in Pear Tree
the world,
understanding of self,
Horizon
peace with one’s
environment
Community; Hurricane
communal bonds
Mules
Gates
8. Title Discussion
Significance of the title
“The wind came back with triple fury, and put out
the light for the last time. 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.
They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their
eyes were watching God” (Hurston 175)
Relates to Janie’s quest
Relates to central conflict in novel