Introducing...

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most prominent writers of the Harlem Renaissance.  Along with Their Eyes Were Watching God, she has had many other published works, including poetry, short stories, and novels.  This particular novel is about an independent young woman named Janie Crawford who tries to endure life in the south after she realizes that she is not the same race as her friends.  Janie struggles through many hardships during the novel, but it all pays off after she discovers the woman that she really is.  Hurston uses her enchanting writing skills to polish this book with love, hope, despair, and happiness.

Image from: https://www.floridabooks.net/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=215&page=1&sort=3d

25 Random Facts About Me

1. I am the only one in my family with blue eyes and blonde, curly hair.
2. I was born with red hair.
3. I danced for 5 years; tap, jazz, and ballet.
4. I have been playing soccer since I was 3.
5. I cannot leave my house without wearing my Jesus bracelet and my necklace.
6. I still sleep with my baby blanket, and whenever I need to fall asleep, I hold a certain part of it.
7. I love Italian and Mexican foods.
8. I can't remember the last time I actually read a whole book.
9. When I was little, I never had any girl friends; I was always playing sports with the boys.
10. I love the San Diego Chargers.
11. I've been to a live Ozzy Osbourne performance.
12. I don't get embarrassed easily.
13. It takes me about an hour and a half to straighten my hair.
14. I used to hate my name, but I learned that it is very unique.
15. Oregon is my favorite state to visit.
16. Without Facebook, it would take me less than an hour to do my homework.
17. I'm afraid of Mr. Wojo.
18. I couldn't live a day without my cell phone.
19. My favorite celebrities are the Kardashians.
20. I absolutely love breakfast.
21. I cry very easily when I laugh really hard.
22. I have a ritual that I have to do every morning when I wake up and get ready for school.
23. My 4 friends and I have a language that only we can understand.
24. My sister and I are very close, even though we fight.
25. I dream big and pray to God that one day my dreams will come true.

Imagery

Imagery in Their Eyes Were Watching God

Example of Imagery (p. #)           Brief interpretation in your words

1.”From barren brown stems to glistening leaf-buds; from the leaf buds to snowy virginity of bloom.” (p.10)  This quote is explaining the differences in the blooming pear tree.

2. “It was like a song forgotten in another existence then remembered again.” (p.10)  This example is explaining Janie’s revelation under the pear tree.

3. “…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.” (p.11)  This example of imagery draws a picture of the environment surrounding the pear tree.

4. “…a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight.” (p.11) This quote explains the bee going into the pear blossom.

5. “…a citified, stylish dressed man with his hat set at an angle that didn’t belong in these parts.  His coat was over his arm, but he didn’t need it to represent his clothes.  The shirt with the silk sleeve holders was dazzling enough for the world.” (p.27)  This is explaining how Joe Starks is dressed.

6. “They sat on the boarding house porch and saw the sun plunge into the same crack in the earth from which the night emerged.” (p.33) This example of imagery says that day and night both come from the same place.

7. “She must look on herself as the bell-cow, the other women were the gang.  So the put on one of her bought dresses and went up the new-cut road all dressed in wine-colored red. Her silken ruffles rustled and muttered about her. The other women had on percale and calico with here and there a head rag among the other ones.” (p.41)  This is explaining how Janie and the other women are dressed.

8.  “And look at the way he painted it- a gloaty, sparkly white.” (p.47) This example of imagery explains the way Joe painted his house.

9. “..the joys of mule-heaven to which the dear brother had departed this valley of sorrow; the mule-angels flying around; the miles of green corn and cool water, a pasture of pure bran with a river of molasses running through it.” (p.60-61) This is explaining what mule heaven looks like.

10. “…those big black eyes with plenty shiny white in them that makes them shine like brand new money.” (p.67) This example of imagery is explaining Daisy Blunt’s eyes.


Images from: http://www.greenhousebed.com/images/Garden/pear%20tree.jpg https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiMqtpkxq2rHnfIvHm9Yr8AGTNMHSMH93S-sYdmzzqtkqe4eh4mPJ9C_2Dc7v13wEpJ6AyaWLy92yXxnTj60sRwqe-mhXnLq5hfdqaKNNVJP3nnoRC8rLOGNvhteR_tTiSns6ui54NuRb/s400/whitehouse.jpg

Symbols in Their Eyes...

1.      Janie’s hair symbolizes her freedom.  When her hair is not up in the head rag, she is free and being herself.  When Joe forces her to wear the head rag, she is hidden from herself; the rest of the world doesn’t see her as who she really is.

2.      The overalls that Janie wears when she first enters Eatonville symbolize a working class.  When everyone first saw Janie, they were gossiping about how poor she appeared to be.

3.      The pear tree parallels Janie blooming into a young woman.  When she spends time under the tree, she notices the bees pollinating and the buds bursting into flowers.

4.      The mule symbolizes Joe trying to win Janie back.  Joe purchases the mule to win back Janie’s affection.  It was said that “black people are the mules of the world.”

5.      The horizon symbolizes Janie’s future.  Janie hopes that one day she will stop being a dreamer and become an achiever.

6.      Joe Starks’ white, painted house symbolizes the dominance that he has over the town.  Compared to the other “shacks,” Joe’s house looks like it would be one of a plantation owner, while everyone else’s houses look like slave houses.

7.      The gate represents the fact that Janie is being held back in her life by Joe.  If the gate was opened, Janie could have so much potential to become the woman that she dreams of being.

8.      The head rag that Janie is forced to wear symbolizes Joe’s power over her.  He wants Janie to be all his and nobody else’s.  He restricts Janie from being who she really is.

9.      The sun rise represents “out with the old and in with the new.”  When Joe dies, Janie is free to be who she wants to be.

10.  The game of checkers that Joe plays with his friends symbolizes that he thinks men are better than women.  Joe doesn’t allow Janie to play because he thinks that she isn’t smart enough.
Images from: http://www.superiorpics.com/pictures/3C7V816775237.jpg http://www.birkenholz.com/IMAGES/MuleColt05Right.jpg http://www.brigdale.com/images/white%20gate%20(2).JPG http://web.njit.edu/~as423/SunRise.jpg

Of the olive tree...

I was born on March 28, 1995 as Olivia Julianna DiFonso.  When I asked my Mom about the symbolism behind my name, she was very enthusiastic to share.  She began to tell me that there was really no reason why she chose the name Olivia, other than that it was a beautiful name and unique during the time.  (Nowadays, it's very popular!)  However, she explained that my middle name, Julianna, was a combination between her great-grandmother's name, Julia, and her grandmother's name, Anna.  The name Olivia means peaceful; of the olive tree.  The name Julianna means youthful.  One other name that my Mom considered to be my first name was Rachel, and my middle name would have stayed the same.  If I was a boy, my name would either be Dominic Joseph or Anthony Joseph.  Dominic and Anthony are just names that my Dad liked, but Joseph is a big name in my family: My Dad, Uncle, Cousin, and Grandfather are all named Joseph.  As for how I feel about my name, I love it.  I used to highly dislike my name because it was different from everyone else's.  As I've grown older, I've started to embrace that my name is unique, and that my name describes my personality very well.  When I introduce myself at soccer camps, I tell everybody to call me Liv, because it's quicker to say when you're on the field.  Most of my friends call me Liv, too.  Just for fun, I've been collecting the "Olivia" book series ever since the first one came out.  

"Julianna - Meaning of Julianna Name." Baby Names | Name Meanings | Baby Boy Names, Baby Girl Names. Web. 12 May 2010. .

"Olivia." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 12 May 2010. .