Reading Schedule (PDF):
Week 1 (10/25-10/31) chapters 1-5 Week 2 (1/1-1/7) chapters 6-12 Week 3 (1/8-1/14) chapters 13-20 |
Reading Comprehension and Discussion Questions:
Chapters 1-4:
1. Discuss the quote that starts the novel, "Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board." Why might Hurston have begun the novel with this metaphor?
2. The dialogue between Janie's neighbors gives the reader insight into Janie's character. What do you learn about her from her neighbor's conversations? Do you think their characterization of her is totally reliable? Explain.
3. This novel is a frame narrative. Define the term and explain how this story may be a frame narrative.
4. How is the pear tree symbolic for Janie?
5. Compare and contrast Janie's and Nanny's perspectives on love and marriage.
6. With a motif of male dominance throughout the novel, how does Logan, Janie's first husband, fulfill that role?
7. Why is Janie so attracted to Joe Starks, and what motivates her to leave Logan?
Chapters 5-6:
1. Thinking back about the discussion of male dominance as a motif throughout this novel, what kind of power does Jody begin to represent in these chapters?
2. How does Hurston make a connection between power and voice/language?
3. Discuss what Janie's hair symbolizes. Make a prediction about how this may be an important symbol for Janie throughout the rest of the novel.
4. What did you think of Janie's outburst to the gathering on the porch? How might that scene lend to question #1?
5. Discuss the conflict revealed in the conversation between Pheoby's husband and Lige Moss. How might this conflict start to reveal a major theme in the novel?
6. What seems to be Jody's motivation for suppressing Janie? Discuss your personal reaction to this.
Chapters 7-11:
1. How does Janie reassert herself in chapter 7? How does Jodie react to it?
2. Discuss the Biblical allusion, “The thing that Saul’s daughter had done to David.” Do a little research on this Biblical text if you need to in order to make the connection to Janie and Jody.
3. In chapter 8, what does the 3rd person omniscient narrator reveal to the reader about Jody that Janie does not know? (Hint: What motivates Jody?)
4. What is the (symbolic) significance of Janie burning her head rags?
5. What does it mean when Hurston writes that Nanny choked Janie with the horizon? What do you think of Nanny’s intentions?
6. Identify an example of Hurston’s mention of God. What do you think of this description as it relates to the story?
7. In chapter 10, what might be the (symbolic) significance of the checker game between Janie and Tea Cake?
8. How might Tea Cake fulfill Janie’s youthful desires she had under the pear tree?
9. Describe the type of conflict in the chapter 11 passage, “In the cool of the afternoon the fiend from hell specially sent to lovers arrived at Janie’s ear. All the fears that circumstance could provide and the heart feel, attacked her on every side. This was a new sensation for her, but no less excruciating. If only Tea Cake would make her certain! He did not return that night nor the next and so she plunged into the abyss and descended to the ninth darkness where light has never been.” (p. 108)
Chapters 12-15:
1. Contrast Janie’s feelings toward the community (as revealed through the porch sitters) when she was married to Jody and now that she is with Tea Cake.
2. Why do you think Janie keeps the $200 she hid in her clothes secret from Tea Cake even after they were married. Do you think this is right or wrong? Does this action reflect her character?
3. What is the significance of the character of Mrs. Tyler? How does Janie relate to her and how does that influence Janie?
4. Compare and contrast all three of Janie’s marriages at this point.
5. Why is the change of setting, from Eatonville to the Everglades significant to the plot? What is the symbolic significance of the Everglades?
6. What do you think of chapter 15, which focuses on Janie’s jealousy of Nunkie? How might these details foreshadow the ending (make a prediction)?
Chapters 16-18:
1. How do you feel about the things that Mrs. Turner says to Janie? Why might Hurston have included this scene?
2. Is Tea Cake acting out of character when he beats Janie? What motivates him to do this?
3. Why does Janie keep quiet about the abuse? How might this relate to the motif of the relationship between power and voice/language?
4. What do you think is the purpose of the hurricane at this point in the story? How does this conflict further the plot in an important way that symbolically reflects Janie and Tea Cake’s relationship?
5. How does the theme reflective of community evolve before, during and after the hurricane?
Chapters 19-20:
1. What is significant about the instructions to the black workers by the white workers in reference to how they are to bury their dead? Why might Hurston have included this detail?
2. How do you feel about the way Tea Cake dies? What does this scene reveal about Janie?
3. What is symbolic about the seeds Janie wants to plant in remembrance of Tea Cake?
4. What theme has now come full circle as Janie shares her story with Phoeby in chapter 20 (hint: thing about the relationship between power and voice)?
5. What has Janie finally discovered as she returns to her bedroom, which she last shared with Tea Cake?
6. Hurston masterfully utilizes imagery throughout her novel. Describe some of the imagery from the very beginning (first sentence) to the imagery she uses to end the novel and how they relate to each other.
Chapters 1-4:
1. Discuss the quote that starts the novel, "Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board." Why might Hurston have begun the novel with this metaphor?
2. The dialogue between Janie's neighbors gives the reader insight into Janie's character. What do you learn about her from her neighbor's conversations? Do you think their characterization of her is totally reliable? Explain.
3. This novel is a frame narrative. Define the term and explain how this story may be a frame narrative.
4. How is the pear tree symbolic for Janie?
5. Compare and contrast Janie's and Nanny's perspectives on love and marriage.
6. With a motif of male dominance throughout the novel, how does Logan, Janie's first husband, fulfill that role?
7. Why is Janie so attracted to Joe Starks, and what motivates her to leave Logan?
Chapters 5-6:
1. Thinking back about the discussion of male dominance as a motif throughout this novel, what kind of power does Jody begin to represent in these chapters?
2. How does Hurston make a connection between power and voice/language?
3. Discuss what Janie's hair symbolizes. Make a prediction about how this may be an important symbol for Janie throughout the rest of the novel.
4. What did you think of Janie's outburst to the gathering on the porch? How might that scene lend to question #1?
5. Discuss the conflict revealed in the conversation between Pheoby's husband and Lige Moss. How might this conflict start to reveal a major theme in the novel?
6. What seems to be Jody's motivation for suppressing Janie? Discuss your personal reaction to this.
Chapters 7-11:
1. How does Janie reassert herself in chapter 7? How does Jodie react to it?
2. Discuss the Biblical allusion, “The thing that Saul’s daughter had done to David.” Do a little research on this Biblical text if you need to in order to make the connection to Janie and Jody.
3. In chapter 8, what does the 3rd person omniscient narrator reveal to the reader about Jody that Janie does not know? (Hint: What motivates Jody?)
4. What is the (symbolic) significance of Janie burning her head rags?
5. What does it mean when Hurston writes that Nanny choked Janie with the horizon? What do you think of Nanny’s intentions?
6. Identify an example of Hurston’s mention of God. What do you think of this description as it relates to the story?
7. In chapter 10, what might be the (symbolic) significance of the checker game between Janie and Tea Cake?
8. How might Tea Cake fulfill Janie’s youthful desires she had under the pear tree?
9. Describe the type of conflict in the chapter 11 passage, “In the cool of the afternoon the fiend from hell specially sent to lovers arrived at Janie’s ear. All the fears that circumstance could provide and the heart feel, attacked her on every side. This was a new sensation for her, but no less excruciating. If only Tea Cake would make her certain! He did not return that night nor the next and so she plunged into the abyss and descended to the ninth darkness where light has never been.” (p. 108)
Chapters 12-15:
1. Contrast Janie’s feelings toward the community (as revealed through the porch sitters) when she was married to Jody and now that she is with Tea Cake.
2. Why do you think Janie keeps the $200 she hid in her clothes secret from Tea Cake even after they were married. Do you think this is right or wrong? Does this action reflect her character?
3. What is the significance of the character of Mrs. Tyler? How does Janie relate to her and how does that influence Janie?
4. Compare and contrast all three of Janie’s marriages at this point.
5. Why is the change of setting, from Eatonville to the Everglades significant to the plot? What is the symbolic significance of the Everglades?
6. What do you think of chapter 15, which focuses on Janie’s jealousy of Nunkie? How might these details foreshadow the ending (make a prediction)?
Chapters 16-18:
1. How do you feel about the things that Mrs. Turner says to Janie? Why might Hurston have included this scene?
2. Is Tea Cake acting out of character when he beats Janie? What motivates him to do this?
3. Why does Janie keep quiet about the abuse? How might this relate to the motif of the relationship between power and voice/language?
4. What do you think is the purpose of the hurricane at this point in the story? How does this conflict further the plot in an important way that symbolically reflects Janie and Tea Cake’s relationship?
5. How does the theme reflective of community evolve before, during and after the hurricane?
Chapters 19-20:
1. What is significant about the instructions to the black workers by the white workers in reference to how they are to bury their dead? Why might Hurston have included this detail?
2. How do you feel about the way Tea Cake dies? What does this scene reveal about Janie?
3. What is symbolic about the seeds Janie wants to plant in remembrance of Tea Cake?
4. What theme has now come full circle as Janie shares her story with Phoeby in chapter 20 (hint: thing about the relationship between power and voice)?
5. What has Janie finally discovered as she returns to her bedroom, which she last shared with Tea Cake?
6. Hurston masterfully utilizes imagery throughout her novel. Describe some of the imagery from the very beginning (first sentence) to the imagery she uses to end the novel and how they relate to each other.