Their Eyes Were Watching God

Novel Analysis Project

Due Date: May 20, 2011

Project Instructions:

The following project options are designed to assess your culminating interpretation and analysis of the major themes, conflicts, and characters of Their Eyes Were Watching God through a medium that best fits your skills and interests. Please choose one of the following project options, all of which must be accompanied by the novel analysis writing assignment. If you would like to create your own project, you must have teacher approval first. All projects are to be completed individually.

Novel Analysis Project Requirements:

ALL projects will include the following:

·  CREATIVE PRODUCT: Artistic product of your choice (see choices below)

·  WRITTEN ANALYSIS: 900-1200 word, typed, double-spaced analysis on how and why your artistic product captures the major thematic ideas, conflicts, symbols, and characters of Their Eyes Were Watching God. Your analysis must integrate at least 4 significant quotes from the novel.

Your project must:

·  Demonstrate an accurate and thorough understanding of the whole novel on a literal level: major characters, plot, and setting.

·  Demonstrate an accurate and insightful understanding of the novel on an interpretive level: themes, symbols, and motifs are dealt with thoughtfully.

·  Demonstrates high quality work that is the product of significant time and effort.

Project Choices: Choose one of the following to complete.

·  Visual Art: Charcoal, Colored Pencils, Paint, Photography, or Mural- through a visual medium of your choice, capture one of the following:

o  Conflicts in Their Eyes Were Watching God

o  Symbolism and Motifs

o  Character Analysis- Choose a character or multiple characters and capture their voice, inner demons, dreams, virtues, vices (sins), etc. You may choose to be literal or metaphorical.

Remember that with each category, you must develop one of Hurston’s thematic ideas. Your artistic creation may be a unified product with multiple ideas fused into one photo or drawing or a series of visual pieces that tell a story.

·  Janie’s Road to Self Discovery: Create a map detailing Janie’s road to self discovery. Label each significant place Janie traveled throughout her journey, and at each place write a paragraph or two detailing what Janie discovered about herself in that place. You should focus on the cities Janie traveled to as well as the places within those cities that have significance - for example, Eatonville as well as the store Joe created in Eatonville. Use quotes from the novel to support your ideas. You may either use Google Earth to create this map or physically draw a map on your own. Please remember to be as descriptive, colorful and creative as possible.

·  Song Writing: Write and perform an original song about one or more of the novel’s major themes, characters, and conflicts. You will perform the song for the class, or you may play a recorded version. Your song should be 3-4 minutes in length. Your analysis will include how/why the song conveys the novel’s major themes.

·  Music Soundtrack, CD Cover and Lyrics: Create a music soundtrack of 7-10 songs that captures one of the following:

o  Character Analysis-Songs that capture characters’ evolution, inner demons, dreams, virtues, vices (sins), etc. You may focus on one character or multiple characters.

o  Conflicts- Songs that capture the major conflicts and themes the novel conveys.

You must design a CD cover, however simple or complex, to go with your soundtrack. You must also provide a copy of the lyrics for each song in addition to your written analysis. You may create the actual CD with the songs for extra points.

·  Newspaper or Magazine: Create a newspaper or magazine that explores at least one of the novel’s thematic ideas. It must be at least 2-4 pages in length and include items such as a front page worthy article on an event from the novel, an editorial or opinion article, cartoons, advertisements, real estate listings, gossip column, etc. You will present your newspaper/magazine to the class.

·  Poetry: Write a set of poems (4 poems with at least 10 lines each) in response to the novel. Include appropriate titles for each poem.

Project Rubric

Written Analysis
At least 4 quotes are used to support your stance. / /20
Clear understanding of Hurston’s themes, characters, motifs and/or symbols displayed. / /20
Thorough connection between your visual piece and the analysis of the novel. / /20
Creative Product
Evident connection between your visual interpretation and the themes, conflicts, characters and motifs found within the novel. / /20
Is done neatly and expresses creativity / /5
No spelling/grammatical errors / /5
Presentation
Voice while presenting is clear and loud enough for entire class to hear. / /5
Eye contact with the audience. / /5
Total / /100