Identity and

Folklore in Their
Eyes Were
Watching God
ENGLISH, GRADES 11-12
MISS. INGUANZO

Book cover of Their Eyes

Were Watching God (2006)
Lecture Objectives and CA
Content Standards
 Students will be able to discuss the goals of the Harlem Renaissance.
 Students will be able to analyze and understand the role of traditional
folklore and folk language in the overall literary impact of the novel.
 Students will be able to write their own “I am from” poetry piece.

 W.11-12.10. Write routinely over extended time frames (time for

research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single
sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
 RL.11-12.6. Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text in
which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and
content contribute to the power, persuasiveness, or beauty of the text.
Educational Hook

 Before we begin our lesson…

 What are some details that make a person who they are?
 Please answer in 2-3 sentences.
 Be sure to include any details or personal connections that you may have.
About Zora Neale Hurston
 Born January 7, 1891, Died January 28, 1960
 Grew up in one of America’s first all-black
incorporated communities (Eatonville, Florida)
 Attended Howard University and Barnard
College at Columbia University, where she was
the only black student
 Most popular female Harlem Renaissance writer
 Anthropologist, novelist, and folklorist
 Published research about Haitian voodoo
 Wrote more than 50 short stories, plays, and
essays
 Became more popular after death

Image of Zora Neale Hurston

About the novel: Their
Eyes Were Watching
God
 Published in 1937
 Hurston wrote the book in only 7 weeks while
doing anthropological research in Haiti
 First modern, feminist text written by an African-
American woman
 Hurston’s most popular novel
 Written during the Harlem Renaissance
 The novel follows Janie Crawford’s life as a
black woman living in the black town of
Eatonville, Florida
 Southern dialect is conveyed throughout the
novel
Harlem Renaissance
Inspired by “The Harlem Renaissance” PPT by Talasi Soria (2014)

 During the 1920s until 1937

 Ended after Great Depression
 Movement consisted of jazz, dance,
theatre, and African-American artists
 Goals of Harlem Renaissance:
 1. Respond to social conditions of African-
Americans
 2. Break 19th century stereotypes of
African-Americans
 3. Place emphasis on black folk culture
 Harlem Renaissance writers wanted to
express the African-American experience
and its complexity as realistically as
possible
“If you are silent about
your pain, they’ll kill you
and say you enjoyed
it.” ― Zora Neale Hurston

 Now you try…

 How does this quote
portray the goals of
the Harlem
Renaissance? Name
one goal that this
quote relates to,
 Please analyze this
quote and discuss with
your elbow partner.
Artistic Portrayal of a Jazz Bar
during the Harlem Renaissance
Checking for Understanding

 What important issues of the Harlem Renaissance does the novel,

Their Eyes Were Watching God, discuss? Please name one specific
instance.
Importance of Setting

 Zora Neale Hurston sets the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God in
her hometown of Eatonville, Florida
 The novel focuses on symbolism and mythological history
 Hurston also focuses on the Southern dialect spoken by African-
Americans in the black town
Now you try:

 Take a look at the two images.

 Which race is most dominant in the
graph? Which race is least dominant in
the graph?
 How does this graph give us information
about our family history?
What is Folklore?
Inspired by Oke Braden (2014)

 Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes,

popular beliefs, fairytales, stories, tall tales, and customs that are the
traditions of a culture.
 First coined in 1846 by William John Thoms, a British antiquarian
 Folklore can be divided into its two component words, folk and lore.
Folklore is thus all the lore shared by a particular folk.
 The things that a folk group shares in common are often traditions,
which help to create a shared identity for the group and its
members and which also help the group endure over time.
 EX. Knowing how to make BBQ = a folk tradition.
Folklore in Zora Neale Hurston’s
Their Eyes Were Watching God
 “But as de old folk always say, Ah'm born but Ah ain't dead. No
tellin' whut Ah'm liable tuh do yet.”
 What is Hurston attempting to express here?
 What does this quote tell us about her family’s histories and traditions?
What characteristics would we be able to give about her family?
Folk Groups in Their Eyes Were
Watching God
Name of Folk Group Identifying Characteristics Folk Genre

Ordinary townspeople of • Hard workers Folk language

Eatonville • Enjoy gossip Folk narrative
• Written with southern dialect
of African Americans in
Florida
• Hang out at Jody’s store,
play checker, tell stories
Now you try…
What group of folk do you belong to?
Please discuss with your group and fill in the table.

Name of Folk Group Identifying Characteristics Folk Genre

EX. Junior in High school • Sixteen years old Folk Dress

• Wear jeans, t-shirts Folk Language
• Love texting, hanging out

Inspired by Eileen Mattingly (2013)

“Where I’m from” Example

Yesika Salgado – “Brown Girl”

Now you try!

 After watching Salgado’s poetry piece, please reflect and answer

these three questions:
 1. What are some sayings or phrases that your family has taught you?
 2. What are some food dishes that your family eats on certain holidays?
 3. What places has your family lived in? How did your family end up in
this area?
 “Where I’m From poem” Example
by your teacher, Miss. Inguanzo
I am from Jenni Rivera on Saturday mornings
From tiger printed blankets and tamales in the winter
I’m from lunares en la cara
From Elena and Elias
I’m from “Quien te dio permiso?” and “Te mandas sola?”
I’m from uvas a las doce on New Years’ Eve
Sundays at Costco
Mondays at the laundromat
I’m from Dallas, Texas and Oakland and Anaheim and Mexico
And mole and choco-flan (which I need at my wedding)
From Mami’s dark curly hair
From Spanglish and thick Mexican accents
From women who call me “mija” at work
From customers who ask me “hablas espanol?”
From a culture who teaches women to be stronger than most
From orgullo (pride)
Now You Try!

 Discuss with an elbow partner about the city/town where you grew
up in. How would you describe it to someone who has never been
there?
”I am From” Template
Adapted by Levi Romero
Inspired by ”Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon

 I am from ________________________ (an everyday item in your home)

from ________________ and _______________ (products or everyday items in your home) I am from the
___________________________ (description of your home) _________________________________ (a detail about
your home – a smell, taste, or feel) I am from the____________________ (plant, flower, natural item)
The __________________________ (plant or tree near your home)
whose long gone limbs I remember
as if they were my own.
 I’m from _______________ and ________________ (a family tradition and family trait) from ______________and
______________________ (family members)
I’m from _________________and _________________ (family habits)
and from_____________________. (family habit)
 I’m from _______________ and _______________ (things you were told as a child)
and ____________________________________ (a song or saying you learned as a child) I’m
from_________________________ (a family tradition)
I’m from ____________ (place of birth) and ___________ (family ancestry, nationality or place)
_______________and _________________ (family foods)
From ___________________________________ (a story about a family member) ___________________________
(detail about the story or person) _____________________________ (description of family momentos, pictures
or treasures.) _________________________ (location of momentos – under my bed, on the wall, in my heart)
______________________________________________ (more description if needed)
_______________________________________________
 By (student name)__________________________ Date_____________
Culminating Question/Activity:
Now you try…
 For Homework: You will create your own “I am From” Poem using the
template provided. You will also use your discussion notes.

 Exit Slip:
 What is significant about traditions and folklore in relation to
literature? How do traditions affect the meaning of a story?
 Answer in 2-3 sentences and turn in before you leave!