Concentration Camps Essay Example
Their Eyes Were Watching God Reading Questions
Chapter One
1. Describe the contrast made for the “porch sitters” as workers and as storytellers (1-2).
2. How do the porch sitters respond to Janie’s return to town? • Men • Women
3. What is Janie’s impression of the porch sitters?
Chapter Two
1. Janie has an identity problem until she is around six. Why? • racial identity problem • personal identity problem • social identity problem
2. On page 12, the narration changes. Why might it be necessary for someone else to begin telling Janie’s story now?
3. On pages 10-11, the narrator describes Janie’s awakening urges to experience life, love, etc… Where does she first notice this urge?
4. What does Nanny do to short circuit Janie’s longing to experience life?
5. What simile is used to describe the way Nanny treats Janie’s first kiss? (page 12) *hint: kinda gross
6. What are Nanny’s plans for Janie?
7. How does Janie feel about Nanny’s plans for her?
8. What metaphor does Nanny use to describe the plight of black women? What does she mean? (page 14)
9. What was Nanny’s mulatto daughter’s name? How might the name relate to Janie’s experiences under the pear tree?
10. What parallel experiences have implanted negative fears about men in Nanny’s head?
Chapter Three
1. What troubles Janie about her marriage to Logan Killicks? (pages 22-23)
2. What is Nanny’s definition of the good life? (What does Nanny think is important in life – especially in regards to Logan Killicks?)
3. Chapter three ends with Janie’s first dream dying. What had that dream been?
Chapter Four
1. Describe Joe Starks.
2. What metaphor does Joe use to describe his lifelong dream? What does he mean? (page 27)
3. What is the significance of Joe and Janie’s meeting under the trees?
4. What does Logan Killicks do to finally make Janie decide to leave?
5. What symbolic action does Janie do that indicates her readiness for change,
Chapter One
1. Describe the contrast made for the “porch sitters” as workers and as storytellers (1-2).
2. How do the porch sitters respond to Janie’s return to town? • Men • Women
3. What is Janie’s impression of the porch sitters?
Chapter Two
1. Janie has an identity problem until she is around six. Why? • racial identity problem • personal identity problem • social identity problem
2. On page 12, the narration changes. Why might it be necessary for someone else to begin telling Janie’s story now?
3. On pages 10-11, the narrator describes Janie’s awakening urges to experience life, love, etc… Where does she first notice this urge?
4. What does Nanny do to short circuit Janie’s longing to experience life?
5. What simile is used to describe the way Nanny treats Janie’s first kiss? (page 12) *hint: kinda gross
6. What are Nanny’s plans for Janie?
7. How does Janie feel about Nanny’s plans for her?
8. What metaphor does Nanny use to describe the plight of black women? What does she mean? (page 14)
9. What was Nanny’s mulatto daughter’s name? How might the name relate to Janie’s experiences under the pear tree?
10. What parallel experiences have implanted negative fears about men in Nanny’s head?
Chapter Three
1. What troubles Janie about her marriage to Logan Killicks? (pages 22-23)
2. What is Nanny’s definition of the good life? (What does Nanny think is important in life – especially in regards to Logan Killicks?)
3. Chapter three ends with Janie’s first dream dying. What had that dream been?
Chapter Four
1. Describe Joe Starks.
2. What metaphor does Joe use to describe his lifelong dream? What does he mean? (page 27)
3. What is the significance of Joe and Janie’s meeting under the trees?
4. What does Logan Killicks do to finally make Janie decide to leave?
5. What symbolic action does Janie do that indicates her readiness for change,