Their Eyes Were Watching God Projects
Subject to change based on time and needs of the class
This unit will give you the opportunity to approach literature analytically and creatively.
Objectives:
1. To approach themes from a novel creatively.
2. To analyze how an author uses language and literary devices.
3. To analyze a novel in its historical and social context.
Step One: Dialectic Journal—Due Monday, November 9
In the reading response section of your notebook, complete a dialectic journal (instructions attached) on
the novel. You must include at least five total stylistic/literary element analysis examples in your
journal. Complete one journal per chapter. The book and the journal must be completed by November
9.
Step Two: Theme project—due Monday, November 30 (beginning of class)
Follow the attached instructions to complete one of the projects which relates to the theme of the
novel. You will be presenting these in small groups and be evaluated by your group members.
Step Three: Group Analysis—Due Monday, November 30 (end of the day)
As a group you will be writing an analytical essay on the novel. More details and instructions will be
given in class.
DIALECTICAL JOURNALS
The term “Dialectic” means “the art or practice of arriving at the truth by using
conversation involving question and answer.” Think of your dialectical journal as a
series of conversations with the texts we read during this course. The process is meant
to help you develop a better understanding of the texts we read. Use your journal to
incorporate your personal responses to the texts, your ideas about the themes we cover
and our class discussions. You will find that it is a useful way to process what you’re
reading, prepare yourself for group discussion, and gather textual evidence for your
Literary Analysis assignments.
PROCEDURE:
o
As you read, choose passages that stand out to you and record them in the lefthand column of a T-chart (ALWAYS include page numbers).
In the right column, write your response to the text (ideas/insights, questions,
reflections, and comments on each passage)
o If you choose, you can label your responses using the following codes:
o (Q) Question – ask about something in the passage that is unclear
o (C) Connect – make a connection to your life, the world, or another text
o (P) Predict – anticipate what will occur based on what’s in the passage
o (CL) Clarify – answer earlier questions or confirm/disaffirm a prediction
o (R) Reflect – think deeply about what the passage means in a broad
sense – not just to the characters in the story. What conclusions can you
draw about the world, about human nature, or just the way things work?
o (E) Evaluate - make a judgment about the character(s), their actions, or
what the author is trying to say
o Complete journal entries for at least two passages each week. You can earn up
to 25 points per week for your journals.
Sample Dialectical Journal entry: THE THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O’Brien
o
Passages from the text
“-they carried like freight trains;
they carried it on their backs and
for
all
the
shoulders-and
ambiguities of Vietnam, all the
mysteries and unknowns, there
was at least the single abiding
certainty that they would never
be at a loss for things to carry”.
Pg#s
Pg 2
Comments & Questions
(R) O’brien chooses to end the first section of the novel with this
sentence. He provides excellent visual details of what each
solider in Vietnam would carry for day-to-day fighting. He makes
you feel the physical weight of what soldiers have to carry for
simple survival. When you combine the emotional weight of loved
ones at home, the fear of death, and the responsibility for the
men you fight with, with this physical weight, you start to
understand what soldiers in Vietnam dealt with every day. This
quote sums up the confusion that the men felt about the reasons
they were fighting the war, and how they clung to the only
certainty - things they had to carry - in a confusing world where
normal rules were suspended.
CHOOSING PASSAGES FROM THE TEXT:
Look for quotes that seem significant, powerful, thought provoking or puzzling. For
example, you might record:
Effective &/or creative use of stylistic or literary devices
Passages that remind you of your own life or something you’ve seen before
Structural shifts or turns in the plot
A passage that makes you realize something you hadn’t seen before
Examples of patterns: recurring images, ideas, colors, symbols or motifs.
Passages with confusing language or unfamiliar vocabulary
Events you find surprising or confusing
Passages that illustrate a particular character or setting
RESPONDING TO THE TEXT:
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You can respond to the text in a variety of ways. The most important thing to
remember is that your observations should be specific and detailed. You can write as
much as you want for each entry.
Basic Responses
o Raise questions about the beliefs and values implied in the text
o Give your personal reactions to the passage
o Discuss the words, ideas, or actions of the author or character(s)
o Tell what it reminds you of from your own experiences
o Write about what it makes you think or feel
o Agree or disagree with a character or the author
Sample Sentence Starters:
I really don’t understand this because…
I really dislike/like this idea because…
I think the author is trying to say that…
This passage reminds me of a time in my life when…
If I were (name of character) at this point I would…
This part doesn’t make sense because…
This character reminds me of (name of person) because…
Higher Level Responses
o
o
o
o
o
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Analyze the text for use of literary devices (tone, structure, style, imagery)
Make connections between different characters or events in the text
Make connections to a different text (or film, song, etc…)
Discuss the words, ideas, or actions of the author or character(s)
Consider an event or description from the perspective of a different
character
Analyze a passage and its relationship to the story as a whole
Their Eyes Were Watching God Individual Projects
Choose one of the themes listed below or create your own theme. Then create your project to show
this theme.
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Gender/Racial—The effect of gender/racial discrimination on people.
Love—Difference between idealized and realistic love.
Fate/Free Will—How much of our life is decided by our birth? Are there things we can rise
above with our choices?
Morality/Social Class—Is morality linked to social class?
Beauty—What makes a person beautiful?
Dreams—Are they just something for naïve children? Can they be achieved?
Compassion/Forgiveness---Are they for the weak or is there strength in being able to forgive?
Visual Art: Charcoal, Colored Pencils, Paint, Photography, Cartoon Strip, Mural, etc. Through a visual
medium of your choice, capture one of Hurston’s themes. Your artistic creation may be a unified
product or a series of visual pieces that tell a story. Write a paragraph explaining how the piece
demonstrates the theme.
Film: Write, perform, and film an “additional scene” of Their Eyes that sheds light on a theme from the
novel. Be imaginative. Your scene can be a prequel (e.g. characters’ lost childhood/teenage years),
sequel (the characters’ lives ten years later), or anywhere in between. 3-5 minutes of polished, edited
film work.
Poetry or Creative fiction: Compose an original poem (10 stanza minimum) or creative fiction piece
(minimum 2 pages) that addresses a major theme from the point of view of one of the characters now
or in reflection. You will share the piece with the class.
Music Playlist and CD Cover: Create a music playlist of 7-10 songs that captures one of the novel’s
themes. You must design a CD Cover, however simple or complex, to go with your soundtrack. Focus
your written analysis (one paragraph each) on 3 songs. You must also include printed lyrics for each song
in addition to your written analysis.
Newspaper Articles: Create two one page length newspaper articles for the Eatonville Times. Make
sure these articles are written in journalistic style and choose scenes that highlight a chosen theme. Add
pictures and make it look like a newspaper.
If you have another project in mind, see me. Remember it must show one of the themes in a creative
way.