Hi Wonderful Novel Students--
Post your thoughts about your Hurston essay here. We will work on formulating a thesis or claim in class on Thursday, March 24.
Think about a question you want to answer. "How" and "what" questions can help you create a thesis that is not just summary. Answering the question gives you the thesis.
If you are interested in understanding black oral tradition, the "speakerly text" and Hurston's use of language as "hieroglyphics" here is her essay, "Characteristics of Negro Expression"
Possible topics that could become a thesis or claim:
How does the tree and pollen imagery reveal important moments of understanding for Janie?
What does each of Janie's husbands represent? What does each teach her about herself, about life?
How does Janie's "inside voice" grow? Trace that voice from early to late examples. What kind of knowledge goes with that voice?
How do the "big porch talkers" become an important "character" in the novel? What is their purpose?
Where does racism assert itself in the novel and why does Hurston include it? What lessons does it provide for Janie?
Examine the voice of the mythic narrator by choosing several examples. Is this narrator a kind of character? Explain.
Feel free to develop your own question and answer--just be sure to put your thoughts down by Wednesday March 23. Also feel free to respond to your classmates' ideas by offering suggestions.
For my paper I want to concentrate on the aspect of nature and to, more specifically, explore the relevance of the pear tree in Hurston's novel. I'm not sure if there is a thesis in here yet but this is what I have so far.
ReplyDeleteZora Neale Hurston uses the pear tree in Their Eyes Were Watching God to represent Janie’s coming of age, burgeoning sexuality and her desire to connect on a deeper level with all of nature. Her journey of self-discovery begins with the pear tree that “called her to come and gaze on a mystery” and from that moment on Janie is on a lifelong quest to experience love and nature in their purest forms (Hurston 10).
What does each of Janie's husbands represent? What does each teach her about herself, about life?
ReplyDeleteI want to choose this question to make my thesis, because Janie’s husbands are here presenting in big role in her life. It should how she developed her relationship and her life as well. Even the she had little time relationship between all these three husbands she still can remember all of them and teaches her what is or how relationship is looks like. By her action with her each husbands leads her to the path she wants to choose or chooses. Every relationship could end up in different way but all of them teaches one thing and helps to understand what is more important. Relationship between wife and husband either good or bad all of them gives a experience to person.. The way those problems happen is because we learn how to live and deal with life also communication with others. Although relationships are hard or easy either way we must understand the choices we make and where those choices leads us. Janie’s husbands gives her different experiences and that how she choose things according to her life experiences.
For my paper I want to concentrate on how Janie's life change completely after she meet Tea Cake. In my essay I'm going to describe what Tea Cake represent in Janie's life, like for example he represent happiness, freedom, security and love. Also I'm going to present all the things that Tea Cake teach her, like for example how to shoot and how to play.
ReplyDeleteWhat does each of Janie's husbands represent? What does each teach her about herself, about life.
ReplyDeleteMy essay I want show how Janie has changed through each husband and her mentally perception in different relationship what she learn through each husband.
In nurturing her growth from naive girl to woman she long to be free spirited , independent and loved.However, Janie is immersed in power struggle in asserting her own identified through each husband. In journey with each husband she learned about herself and what she wants from life become assertive.
Catherine Martinez
ReplyDeleteWhat does each of Janie's husband represent ? what does it teacher her about herself? About life ? For my paper I want to write about Janie in her 3 marriages with Logan and Jody and tea cake and how she was with each one and how it changed her and how she had no voice no control to eventually having a voice. She was always looking for love and even learned about love and marriage.
For my paper, I'd like to write about three marriages."What does each of Janie's husbands represent? What does each teach her about herself, about life."
ReplyDeleteI think most of classmates will choose this topic.
It is easier to organize and understand for me.
how she influenced from Logan, Jody and teacake and felt her emotions,self-esteem and status from them in the each different episodes and experiences.
For my paper i would like to talk about what Janie goes through and how she changes through out her 3 marriages. "How does Janie change through each marriage? Im going to talk about how each marriage changed her inside and out. How she began to grow from having no voice to letting her be herself. Through each marriage she learned more and more out love till she found the one she really loved.
ReplyDeleteHello! The topic of the paper I am presenting to you today is not my original topic. I reviewed the Novel again and realized that I had a strong connection with the feminist undertones and the ideas that Hurston presented, so I re-wrote my essay accordingly. I hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDelete