Their Eyes Were Watching God

# Discussion Questions: *Their Eyes Were Watching God* by Zora Neale Hurston 1. **Voice and Identity** — Janie tells her story to her friend Pheoby, framing it in a way that influences how we perceive her voice and self-identity. What impact does her choice of audience have on our understanding of her narrative? 2. **The Horizon as Symbol** — The horizon appears throughout the novel as a symbol of dreams, freedom, and self-discovery. How does Janie's connection to the horizon change from her childhood experience under the pear tree to the end of the book? 3. **Power and Silence** — Janie's three marriages showcase different dynamics of power and silence. In what ways does Hurston use Janie's voice, and her moments of being silenced, to address issues of gender, race, and autonomy in the lives of Black Southerners in the early 20th century? 4. **Community and Judgment** — The story begins and ends with the porch-sitters in Eatonville judging Janie. How does the community influence the perception of a Black woman's value? Ultimately, does Janie conform to or reject their expectations? 5. **Love vs. Security** — Nanny, Janie's grandmother, encourages her to prioritize safety over love in marriage. How does the novel explore the conflict between financial security and emotional or spiritual fulfillment? Which perspective does Hurston seem to support, and why? 6. **Language and Dialect** — As both an anthropologist and a novelist, Hurston authentically portrays African American Vernacular English (AAVE). How does employing dialect serve as a form of cultural affirmation? What reactions might readers from different backgrounds have to this choice?

ap_lit · common_core_ela · ib_lang_lit · harlem_renaissance

## Discussion Questions: *Their Eyes Were Watching God* by Zora Neale Hurston 1. **Voice and Identity:** Janie's story unfolds as she shares it with her friend Pheoby. How does this storytelling format influence our understanding of Janie's identity and her control over her narrative? What significance does it hold for a Black woman in the early 20th century to narrate her own life story? 2. **The Horizon as Symbol:** Throughout the novel, Hurston employs the horizon to symbolize dreams, freedom, and self-discovery. How does Janie's connection to the horizon evolve from her childhood under the pear tree to the closing scene of the novel? Ultimately, what does the horizon signify for her? 3. **Power and Silence:** Both Logan Killicks and Joe Starks seek to silence Janie in various ways. How does each man's attempt to dominate Janie's voice reflect the wider social and gender dynamics of that era? In what ways does Tea Cake's relationship with Janie differ, and is it genuinely free from power dynamics? 4. **Community and Belonging:** The porch of the store in Eatonville acts as a social platform. How does the community both uplift and restrict Janie? How does Hurston illustrate the conflict between being part of a community and preserving one's individuality? 5. **Love and Self-Discovery:** Hurston implies that Janie's journey is more about discovering herself than merely finding love. Do you believe that Janie reaches self-actualization by the end of the novel? What textual evidence supports or complicates this interpretation? 6. **Language and the African American Vernacular:** Hurston intentionally incorporates African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in the dialogue. How does this choice impact your reading experience? What does it reveal about the significance and authenticity of Black cultural expression?

ap_lit · common_core_ela · harlem_renaissance · african_american_lit