Moses, Man of the Mountain

Identify and explain the significance of Hurston’s deviations from the traditional Moses narrative. How and why does Hurston subvert the biblical story of Moses? What is the effect of these changes? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Explore the role of female characters such as Jochebed, Zipporah, and Miriam in the narrative. What does Hurston’s depiction of these women suggest about the role of women in the constant struggle for freedom?

How does Moses, Man of the Mountain function as a political allegory? How does Hurston tie the story of Moses to the political history of slavery within the United States?

Analyze the use of African-American dialect, slang, and folklore in the novel. How do Hurston’s linguistic choices affect the tone and thematic resonance of the novel?

Explore the novel’s representation of leadership. What does the text suggest makes Pharaoh and Ta-Phar bad leaders and Moses a good leader? Why does Moses refuse to be King of the Hebrews?

The novel features striking depictions of plants and animals, such as the burning bush and the speaking lizard. How do these representations of nature contribute to Hurston’s depiction of Moses and highlight the novel’s interest in The Presence of God’s Power in Nature?

Compare and contrast the characters of Moses and Jethro. In what ways are they similar? What important differences can you identify? In what ways does Jethro fulfill the mentor role in a traditional literary hero’s journey? In what ways does he deviate from it?

Explore the novel’s depiction of blackness. Why are some characters, such as Zipporah, vilified for their dark skin? How does this contribute to Hurston’s political allegory? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.