55 pages • 1-hour read
Their Eyes Were Watching God
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Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of gender discrimination, racism, and death.
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. How does Hurston’s use of both standard English narration and dialect-heavy dialogue affect your reading experience? Have you encountered similar stylistic choices in other notable works of African American literature, such as Alice Walker’s The Color Purple?
2. The novel opens with men and women having distinctly different reactions to Janie’s return. How do these initial perspectives shape your understanding of the story that follows?
3. Which of Janie’s three marriages resonated most strongly with you, and why? What does each relationship reveal about different forms of power and control in relationships?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. Janie’s journey to self-discovery involves breaking free from others’ expectations. When have you faced a choice between meeting societal expectations and following your own path?
2. The pear tree serves as a symbol of awakening and desire. What experiences in your own life have marked similar moments of revelation or transformation?
3. How do you relate to Janie’s evolution from someone who waits by the road for life to happen to someone who actively shapes her destiny?
4. Consider how the novel explores the tension between security and passion. Have you ever had to choose between these competing desires?
5. The porch serves as a central gathering place for storytelling and community life. What spaces in your life serve similar functions?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.
1. How does Hurston’s portrayal of colorism through characters like Mrs. Turner reflect ongoing discussions about internalized racism in contemporary society? How does Hurston’s depiction of colorism compare to that of other works—e.g., Toni Morrison’s Sula?
2. Given that the novel was published in 1937, does its examination of women’s autonomy remain relevant? What parallels do you see between Janie’s struggles and current debates about women’s roles and rights?
3. How does the novel’s depiction of the all-Black town of Eatonville challenge or confirm your understanding of racial dynamics in the American South during this period?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.
1. How does the frame narrative structure, with Janie telling her story to Pheoby, enhance your understanding of Janie’s transformation?
2. Analyze how natural imagery (the pear tree, the horizon, the hurricane, etc.) functions throughout the novel to develop themes of love and independence.
3. How does Nanny’s traumatic past influence her vision for Janie’s future? What does this generational conflict reveal about the broader themes of the novel?
4. Consider the role of voice in the novel. How does Janie’s ability to speak (or inability to speak) mirror her journey toward self-actualization?
5. What role does Tea Cake’s death play in completing Janie’s journey toward independence? How might the story’s impact differ if he had survived?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.
1. If you were to create a modern adaptation of this novel, which elements would you keep, and which would you update to reflect contemporary society?
2. Imagine you could write an additional chapter about Pheoby’s life after she has heard Janie’s story. How might her character evolve based on what she learned?
3. If you could interview Zora Neale Hurston about one aspect of the novel, what would you ask her, and why?
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