Their Eyes Were Watching God
Winter Assignments
(This novel includes southern African-American dialect from the 1930’s.
You might want to consider reading it out loud in order to understand what they are saying! J)
1. Complete a Double-Entry Journal
For each chapter, you will need to identify 2 to 3 quotations that have some sort of meaning. They can include symbolism, metaphor, imagery, or life lessons; they might also be descriptions of characters, places, and/or events. In the left hand column, you will write the quotation (word for word), the page number, and if it is the words of a character, who said them. In the right hand column, you will explain why the quotation is significant and explain its meaning. [I recommend that you make comments about the clothing, houses, and husbands that Janie encounters during her journey in order to prepare for an assignment you will work on when class starts.]
Sample:
Quotation & Page Number / Importance and/or Meaning of Quotation"Ah don't mean to bother wid tellin' 'em nothin', Pheoby. 'Tain't worth de trouble. You can tell 'em what Ah say if you wants to. Dat's just de same as me 'cause mah tongue is in mah friend's mouf" (6).
~ Janie / Janie is talking with her friend Pheoby about the nosey neighbors that live next door. She essentially tells Pheoby that they can hear the story, but she does not want to bother with them to tell it. She gives Pheoby permission to repeat what she is saying.
2. Write a Personal Narrative
Choose an event in your life that had a significant impact (Ideas Include: birth of a younger sibling, major injury, winning a state championship, parent’s divorce and/or remarriage, etc.) Write about this event as if you were writing it for your autobiography/memoirs. Remember that you need to set up the event with background information, to fully describe the places and characters, and to end it with how it changed your life. This should be at least two pages typed (double-spaced and in 12 point font with 1” margins). [Sample Personal Narratives can be found at: http://thewritesource.com/models.htm à Make sure you choose the 9-12 grade models; They are “The Climb,” “Caught in the Net,” and “The Boy with John Travolta Blue Eyes.”]
Extra Credit: Complete the Study Guide (It must be fully completed in order to receive credit; however, I advise you use it to help you understand sections that are confusing you! You can also find important quotations for your journal.) The study guide can be found on the AP English Literature website that is accessible through Teacher Webpages.