TEWWG Socratic seminar questions

Brian Callan & Alexis Myers

1. How is TEWWG a story about a black woman searching for her identity in a southern, man's world?

2. On page 10, Janie kisses Johnny Taylor. How is this event the introduction into the rest of the story and how does it shape her relationships with other men?

3. Does Jody feel insecure about Janie? Consider how he makes her wear a head rag in the store.

4. Why does Janie remarry several times? Could this be because of her age or her experience?

5. On page 91, the novel addresses’ that Janie does not mourn the death of Jody. Why is Janie easily able to move on?

6. How are Jody and Tea Cake different? and how is Janie’s relationship with each one of them different?

7. How do the things that happened to Janie’s mother and grandmother shape her future?

8. How does Janie’s grandmother pushing her into early marriage affect her view on love, relationships and men?

9. How are each of the places that Janie lives throughout her life important to her as and individual and to her marriages?

10.Why is important that Janie returns to Eatonville?

11. How is the difference in Janie's community from other black communities that shapes the way she sees the world?

12. How does the title tie into the concepts in the book and the way Hurston explores Janie's take on religion?

13. Does Janie compare the bee and the pear blossom to the way she wants to live her life?

14. What are the major events that help Janie come out of her long silence?

15. On page __, what does the dog represent to Janie?

16. On page 8: "Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches." How does this quote represent the things that happen in Janie's past, present and future?

17. Jody says on page 41 about Janie "She's a woman and her place is in the home" how does this represent the views men have about gender roles?

18. "Ships at a distance have every mans wish on board..." How does this quote contribute to the theme of gender?

19. Does Tea Cake complete Janie's wishes about life and love?

20. "Listen, Sam, if it was nature, nobody wouldn't have tuh look out for babies touchin' stoves, would they?" What does this quote address about the role of religion and God in the lives of the characters in the book?