Womack

Major American Writers

Name________________

Essay Option 1
Ships at a distance have every mans wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For
others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns
his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men.
Consider the main characters in the novel. Apply Hurstons opening metaphor (listed above) to
the characters in Their Eyes Were Watching God. Compose an essay in which you identify and
explain the characters whose dreams sail forever on the horizon and those whose dreams
come in with the tide. Who are the dreamers and what are their dreams? Focus on character
analysis and avoid excessive plot summary
Use the back of the paper to organize your thoughts. Identify dreamers, dreams, successes and
failures. Additionally, provide specific examples and textual citations.

Womack
Major American Writers

Name________________

Dreamer _________________________________________
Dream_________________________________________________________________________
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Success or Failure with explanation _________________________________________________
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Example from text (with citation) __________________________________________________
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Dreamer _________________________________________
Dream_________________________________________________________________________
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Success or Failure with explanation _________________________________________________
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Example from text (with citation) __________________________________________________
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Womack
Major American Writers

Name________________

Essay Option 2
They sat in company with the others in the shanties, their eyes straining against the crude walls
and their souls asking if He meant to measure their puny might against His. They seemed to be
staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God.
Consider the role of God as one of Hurstons characters. Although He never physically
manifests, His presence is alluded to throughout the story. How does Hurston develop the idea
of God? What role does God play in the world of the novel? Remember to avoid excessive
description of plot.
Use the back of the paper to organize your thoughts. Identify times in which Hurston indicates
God is present and His role in such situations.

Womack
Major American Writers

Name________________

Reference to God (with citation) ___________________________________________________

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Gods purpose in the passage______________________________________________________
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Describe the tone of the passage __________________________________________________
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Other characters response to God _________________________________________________
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Reference to God (with citation) ___________________________________________________

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Gods purpose in the passage______________________________________________________
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Describe the tone of the passage __________________________________________________
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Other characters response to God _________________________________________________
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Womack
Major American Writers

Name________________

Essay Option 3
[Janie] saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister-calyxes arch
to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming
in every blossom and frothing with delight. So this was a marriage! She had been summoned to
behold a revelation. Then Janie felt a pain remorseless sweet that let her limp and languid.
Their Eyes Were Watching God is often referred to and held up as a feminist novel. Defend and
develop the argument by defining literary feminism through careful consideration of Janie and
her presence throughout the novel. In what ways is Janie a strong female character? Focus on
character analysis and avoid excessive plot summary
Use the back of the paper to organize your thoughts. Identify multiple examples of Janies
independence and other examples of feminism.

Womack
Major American Writers

Name________________

Literary definition of feminism (with citation) ________________________________________

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Janies independence/Example of feminism (with citation)______________________________

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Analysis of example _____________________________________________________________
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Janies independence/Example of feminism (with citation)______________________________

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Analysis of example _____________________________________________________________
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