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Their Eyes Were Watching God
Zora Neale Hurston
Study Guide
Summary
Plot Overview
Five Key Questions
What Does the Ending Mean?
Summary & Analysis
Chapters 1–2
Chapters 3–4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapters 7–8
Chapters 9–10
Chapters 11–12
Chapters 13–14
Chapters 15–16
Chapters 17–18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Characters
Character List
Janie Mae Crawford
Tea Cake
Jody Starks
Nanny Crawford
Mrs. Turner
Main Ideas
Themes
Plot Analysis
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Motifs
Symbols
Genre
Style
Point of View
Tone
Foreshadowing
Key Facts
Is Tea Cake a good or bad person?
Quotes
Important Quotations Explained
Quotes By Theme
Language
Marriage
Gender Inequality
Race
Quotes By Section
Chapters 1–2
Chapters 3–4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapters 7–8
Chapters 9–10
Chapters 11–12
Chapters 13–14
Chapters 15–16
Chapters 17–18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Quotes By Character
Janie Mae Crawford
Tea Cake
Jodie Starks
Nanny Crawford
Mrs. Turner
Further Study
Context
The Harlem Renaissance
Movie Adaptations
Full Book Quiz
Section Quizzes
Analysis of Major Characters
Chapter 1
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 19
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapters 11–12
Chapters 15–16
Chapters 17–18
Chapters 3–4
Chapters 7–8
Chapters 9–10
Character List
Context
Plot Overview
Themes, Motifs & Symbols
Suggestions for Further Reading
Companion Texts
Writing Help
How to Write Literary Analysis
Suggested Essay Topics
Sample A+ Essay
How to Cite This SparkNote
Further study
Themes, Motifs & Symbols Quiz
Themes, Motifs & Symbols Quiz
1
of 5
What does Janie learn about silence?
It can be a form of power.
It can lead to misunderstandings.
It is sometimes safer than speaking.
It is often taken as agreement.
2
of 5
What negative aspect of community life does the novel reveal?
The emphasis it places on tradition
The power it puts in the hands of the young
The restrictions it puts on independence
The distrust it generates toward outsiders
3
of 5
Whom does racism affect in the novel?
The black characters
The white characters
The former slaves and their descendants
Everyone who lives within an inherently racist society.
4
of 5
What does Janie's hair represent?
Her youth and beauty
Her strength and individuality
Her arrogance and aloofness
Her ambition and recklessness
5
of 5
Which two symbols are opposed in the novel?
The hurricane and the pear tree
The porch and the pear tree
Janie's hair and the sunset
Janie's hair and the fishing net
Previous section
Plot Overview Quick Quiz
Next section
Their Eyes Were Watching God: Popular pages
CHARACTERS
Character List
CHARACTERS
Janie Mae Crawford: Character Analysis
MAIN IDEAS
Plot Analysis
MAIN IDEAS
Is Tea Cake a good or bad person?
QUOTES
Quotes by Theme
FURTHER STUDY
Review Quiz
