๐ Topic Summary
Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God is a powerful novel exploring themes of identity, independence, and love through the journey of Janie Crawford. Understanding the characters and their relationships is crucial to grasping the novel's deeper meaning. This practice focuses on key characters like Janie, Tea Cake, and Jody, as well as central themes such as voice, community, and the search for self.
๐ฃ๏ธ Part A: Vocabulary
Match the following terms with their definitions:
| Term |
Definition |
| 1. Mien |
A. Intense anger; rage |
| 2. Ostentatious |
B. To sympathize; feel pity or sorrow for |
| 3. Commiserate |
C. A person's appearance or manner, especially indicating their mood |
| 4. Desecrate |
D. Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice |
| 5. Indignation |
E. To treat with disrespect; violate the sacredness of a thing or place |
(Answers: 1-C, 2-D, 3-B, 4-E, 5-A)
โ๐พ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following paragraph with the missing words:
Janie's relationship with ______ initially seems promising, offering her ______ and security. However, his controlling nature and desire to mold her into his ideal wife ultimately stifle her ______. Tea Cake, on the other hand, encourages Janie's ______ and treats her as an equal, allowing her to discover her true self.
(Possible answers: Jody, stability, voice, independence)
๐ค Part C: Critical Thinking
How does Janie's evolving relationship with her hair symbolize her changing sense of self throughout the novel?