How It Feels To Be Colored Me
25 pages • 50-minute read
Zora Neale HurstonHow It Feels To Be Colored Me
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Hurston offers multiple definitions of her sense of what it means to be African-American or “colored’ (the commonly used term of the day). Identify the different ways she experiences racial identity and contrast the major ones.
For Hurston, what is the relationship between place and identity? Use examples from the essay to support your discussion.
Discuss Hurston’s perspective on whites. How is her perspective different from the usual perspectives of whites as dominant?
Identify at least one important symbol in the essay. How does Hurston use this symbol to support her arguments with regards to racial identity?
Hurston frequently uses contrast to define terms and support her arguments. Highlight three examples of her use of contrast and discuss how these examples contribute to the discussion.
Some of Hurston’s statements are laced with humor or are tongue-in-cheek. Identify examples of her use of humor. What impact does the use of humor have on the tone of the essay, and what purpose does the use of humor serve in terms of her arguments?
Hurston uses metaphors throughout the essay. Highlight three examples of her use of metaphor and analyze how she uses these metaphors to support the major purpose of the essay.
Unlock all 25 pages of this Study Guide
Get in-depth, chapter-by-chapter summaries and analysis from our literary experts.
- Grasp challenging concepts with clear, comprehensive explanations
- Revisit key plot points and ideas without rereading the book
- Share impressive insights in classes and book clubs