3x3 Plot Exercise

Janie marries unwillingly- Call to Adventure

Janie emasculates Joe- Tests, Allies, Enemies, Ordeal
Janie becomes confident-Resurrection

AP Open Question Prompts & Thesis Statements

Prompt
2013. A bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel, recounts the psychological or moral
development of its protagonist from youth to maturity, when this character recognizes his or her
place in the world. Select a single pivotal moment in the psychological or moral development of
the protagonist of a bildungsroman. Then write a well-organized essay that analyzes how that
single moment shapes the meaning of the work as a whole.
Thesis
In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Hurston crafts the story of Janie, who is held in a
state of silent submission under the rule her husband, Joe Starks. In a moment of built up
frustration, Janie lashes out against her oppressor, breaking free of not only her silence, but
also the standard of the patriarchal society. In this moment, Janie learns and utilizes the power
of her voice by expressing her disgust toward submission thus leading her to a journey of selfdiscovery.
Quotes
Janie had robbed him of his illusion of irresistible maleness that all men cherish, which was
terrible(94)
But Ah aint goin outa here and Ah aint goin tuh hush. Naw, you gointuh listen tuh me one
time befo you die. (102)
We been tuhgether round two years. If you kin see de light at daybreak, you dont keer if you
die at dusk. Its so many people never seen de light at all. Ah wuz fumblin round and God
opened de door.(186)
Prompt
2005. In Kate Chopins The Awakening (1899), protagonist Edna Pontellier is said to possess
That outward existence which conforms, the inward life that questions. In a novel or play that
you have studied, identify a character who outwardly conforms while questioning inwardly. Then
write an essay in which you analyze how this tension between outward conformity and inward
questioning contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid mere plot summary.

Thesis
In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Hurston explores the internal conflicts of Janie, a
black women born into the lowest position of the social hierarchy. By delving into the emotions
of Janie through key relationships in her life, Hurston is able to reveal internal turmoil Janie
experiences as she restrains her voice conforming to societys expectations of female
submission. Hurston exposes the detrimental effects of Janies outward conformity to
demeaning social expectation and the rewards of proper representation through the assertion of
her voice.
Quotes
She wanted to fight about it. But Ah hates disagreement and confusion, so Ah better not talk.
It makes it hard tuh git along. (99)
A feeling of coldness and fear took hold of her. She felt far away from things and lonely.(55)
We been tuhgether round two years. If you kin see de light at daybreak, you dont keer if you
die at dusk. Its so many people never seen de light at all. Ah wuz fumblin round and God
opened de door.(186)
Prompt
1970. Choose a character from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in
which you (a) briefly describe the standards of the fictional society in which the character exists
and (b) show how the character is affected by and responds to those standards. In your essay
do not merely summarize the plot.
Thesis
In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Hurston illuminates the injustice toward women held
under a standard of submissive obedience. Through Janie, Hurston explores the consequences
of both silence and outcry against the standards of a patriarchal society. Hurston reveals Janies
journey to self-actualization as she defies and redefines societys standards for women.
Quotes
A feeling of coldness and fear took hold of her. She felt far away from things and lonely. (55)
Janie had robbed him of his illusion of irresistible maleness that all men cherish, which was
terrible(94)
We been tuhgether round two years. If you kin see de light at daybreak, you dont keer if you
die at dusk. Its so many people never seen de light at all. Ah wuz fumblin round and God
opened de door.(186)
3 Poems
Mrs. Sisyphus
Opening Shot
Diction
the absolute berk (4)

I could do something vicious to him with (5)

In the first stanza the poem begins with a tone of indignation from Mrs. Sisyphus as she
observes her husband rolling the boulder up the hill. She uses the derogatory term berk to
describe her husband. This foul diction reflects the deep rooted anger she has for her husband
as she also says that she could do something vicious to him.
Tone Shift- Line 6
Long Syntax Structure
What use is a perk, I shriek, when you havent time to pop open a cork or go for so much as a
walk in the park? (7-9)
At line 6, a tone of frustration is created through how monologue. Throughout the second stanza
Duffy uses long syntax structure to reflect the long, built up frustration of Mrs. Sisyphus as she
rants about the workaholic nature of her husband.
Tone Shift- Line 20
Short Syntax and Exclamatory Remark
lean as a shark
Mustnt shirk!(23-24)
The short sentence created from the four word phrases ends emphatically with an exclamatory
remark. This indicates a tone of exasperation as Mrs. Sisyphus mocks her husband who is too
busy working and continues to ignore the concerns of his wife.
Tone Shift- Line 25
Simile and Diction
But I lie alone in the dark, feeling like Noahs wife did(25-26)
After the frustration of Mrs. Sisyphus monologue, the poem ends with a final tone of depression.
This is accomplished through the use of comparing herself to Noahs wife. The simile
exemplifies the emotions and predicament of Mrs. Sisyphus. Like Noahs wife she is forgotten
and her voice, thoughts, and opinions are ignored. The bleak imagery created by line But I lie
alone in the dark again marks the somber ending to the poem.
Fable of the Mermaids and the Drunks
Opening Shot
when she came in totally naked.
They had been drinking: they began to spit. (2-3)
Immediately the opening shot creates a vivid scene that juxtaposes the innocence of the
mermaid with the vile nature of the men. The mermaid appears completely vulnerable while the
men proceed in the filth of their mannerisms.
Tone Shift Line 6
Diction
Change in focus
The insults flowed down her gleaming flesh (6)

At line 6 the poem begins to focus upon the actions of the men. Again the author juxtaposes the
obscene behavior of men and with the purity and the physically beautiful characteristics of the
mermaid. Through these actions a tone of hopeless is created as the mermaid must bare the
shame created by the men.
Tone Shift Line 12
Diction
Change in Focus
Her eyes were the colour of distant love, her twin arms were made of white topaz. (13-14)
The focus of the poem shifts to specifically comment on the physical characteristics of the
mermaid. A tone of melancholy and despair is created. The one pure and seemingly perfect
nature of the mermaid has been tainted. Usage of the phrase white topaz utilizes diction that
juxtaposes the once white, pure, and immaculate nature of the mermaid with her loss of
innocence.
Tone Shift Line 17
Symbolism
Entering the river she was cleaned (17)
swam towards death (20)
The poem ends with a somber tone. Due to the obscenities that the mermaid faced, she can no
longer bare the sickening actions of the men. She has no choice but to leave the world she once
longed to be apart of. The crushing weight of the actions of the men in return causes her to seek
refuge in the cleansing nature of the water as she swims toward her death.
Siren Songs
Opening Shot
Repetition
the song that is irresistible: the song that forces men to leap overboard in squadrons (3-4)
A grave tone is established in the opening shot. The repetition of the phrase the song
emphasizes its devastating nature. The song is both irresistible and deadly. By establishing the
fact that no man can escape its fatal nature in the opening shot sets the ominous and grave
tone of the piece.
Tone Shift Line 13
I dont enjoy it here (13)
At this line the tone shifts to one of boredom and apathy. The siren reveals that she does not
enjoy the power that she wields. She does not enjoys looking picturesque and mythical. The
deadly nature of her song and the predictable actions of the men leave the siren in a state of
boredom.
Tone Shift -Line 19
Syntax
Help me! Only you, only you can,

you are unique at last(23-24)

A tone of desperation in created at line 19. The short syntax length and exclamatory remark of
the phrase Help me! indicated the panicked state of the siren. The siren is desperate for some
men who is not shallow and full of lust and will ignore the song and escape death.
Tone Shift Line 25
you are unique at last(24)
Alas it is a boring song but it works everytime (25-27)
The final tone created in the the poem is a tone of disappointment. The final line ends with the
repetition of similar sounds at last and alas. This repetition emphasized the hopelessness
that the siren feels. She realizes that no man is strong enough to overcome his ego and sail
away from the deadly song of the siren. The poem ends with the bitter disappointment that
every man that passes succumbs to his pride and lust and swims to his destruction.
One Piece of Literary Criticism

Critical Reading Component

Essay Title: From Mules to Muliebrity:Speech and

Silence in Their Eyes Were Watching God

Argument or thesis can often be stated as a

question or a statement, introduced and
elaborated on. Ask yourself the following
questions: Why does the author write the piece?
What does s/he seek to convey? Does the writer
address some kind of complexity? Look for
idea/example pairs, moments when the author
introduces an idea and then offers an example
that solidifies that idea. With regard to the authors
subject position, look for identifiable word choices
or verb form choices. What assumptions does the
author make?

proper application of verbal surprises can achieve

great results (49)
Hurston uses the image of the mule to comment on
the disparity between speech and silence in the life of
Janie Crawford Killicks Starks Woods(45).
Nannys commentary on the status of black-white and
male-female relationships is intended to prepare
Janie's for what Nanny sees as the unavoidable
realities of life. (52)
The death of the mule signifies on the death of
woman-as-mule as it prefigures the discovery of
Janies public voice(57).
The essay pairs the mule imagery with the realities
that Janie faces throughout the book. The complexity
that the author is the progression of how the
symbolism of the mule is used throughout the book,
from working slave to freedom, and how that reflects
Janies progression from submission to liberation. She
also argues that the way to break free from this
submission is through verbal surprises/ assertion of
voice.

Does the essay offer clues as to the authors

subject position, i.e., with regard to gender, race,
class, intellectual orientation? Does it demonstrate
how the author intended the essay to be used?

Through the use of mule imagery, Hurston challenges

all of us to examine African-American culture and the
values on which it is built (59).
Ultimately this piece reflects how neither gender nor
race should define the roles that someone has in life.

This essay demonstrates the authors intention of

challenging social structures that construct society.
Look for examples which support the primary
argument; try to determine if they are effective or
ineffective. Does the writer use ETHOS, PATHOS,
or LOGOS to develop the argument? Type in FIVE
MAIN POINTS (DIRECT QUOTES) RIGHT HERE.
INCLUDE THE PAGE NUMBERS. 9. What do you
think are the key passages in the text? How do
they work with the rest of the text to convey the
author's meaning? *By their nature, academic
papers utilize ETHOS, as they build their
arguments using other credible sources. There are
a lot of other quotations that would fit within these
categories, and some quotations may fit into more
than one category.

Ethos
Because Mules and Men teaches us that the mule is
not only a beast of burden but also a subversive
figure, we can see that mule imagery in Their Eyes
Were Watching God is used not only to silence Janie
and keep her in her place...:(47-48)
Joes actions are diminished under the harsh mockery
of Janies words. Her allusion to Abraham Lincoln
draws a connection between the mule and enslaved
blacks, clearly satirizing the so-called freeing of the
slaves and the pretense that they are treat as equals
by society (Morris and Dunn 7).(57)
Pathos
they [Janie and Nanny] are dehumanized and made
into mules who must carry the double weight of both
the white mans and the black mans burdens(52-53)
Logos
We are left to assume that the mule finally obtains his
desired(and presumably, deserved) rest. The lesson of
this tale in regard to speech seems to be that the
proper application of verbal surprises can achieve
great results. (49)
This power further transforms the men and women
into lords, a role reversal possible only now that the
bossman [is] gone. Hurston links this change in status
to breaking free from silence. (51)

Is the essay persuasive? Does the argument and

points of support as a whole make sense? Does it
support, challenge, unseat what you know about
the topic? Write a paragraph answering these
questions.

Overall I do believe that the essay is persuasive. It

provides concrete evidence establishing the
significance of the mules dynamic, intelligent, and
outspoken character and its reflection onto Janies
character in order to advance the idea that demeaning
social standards should be and can be challenged and
broken. This aligns closely to my knowledge of the
topic because I agree that change can only be
achieved through not just voice, but efficient and
effective use of it.

Synthesis Chart
Topic
Sentence

Mrs.

Fable of the

Siren Songs

Their Eyes

Literary

Societal
privileges
creates
arrogance in
the socially
superior and
oppression
for the
socially
inferior.

Sisyphus

Mermaids
and the
Drunks

Societal
privileges
creates
arrogance in
the socially
superior and
oppression
for the
socially
inferior.

My voice
reduced to a
squawk(29)

Were
Watching
God

She did not

speak
because she
had no
speech(12)

I dont really
enjoy it here
squatting on
this island
This poem
looking
was written to
picturesque
reflect the
The
and
perspective
intimidation of mythical(13of modern
the drunken
15)
women who
men silences
are married
the little
Unlike the
to workaholic mermaid.
other pieces
husbands.
The men,
of literature,
The husband, who are seen the women/
Sisyphus,
as superior,
sirens are
neglects his
can freely
depicted with
wife Mrs.
abuse this
the ones
Sisyphus.
power to rain holding the
This action
insults onto
power over
disables her
the
the men.
from voicing
vulnerable
While the
her thoughts
mermaid.
Sirens have
and opinions.
the ability to
She is left in
manipulate
silence at
men with
home,
their songs,
wallowing in
they are
her
unhappy with
loneliness.
their power.

Criticism
From Mules
to Muliebrity:
Speech and
Silence in
Their Eyes
Were
Watching
God
Thus,
according to
Nanny, they
are in the
lowest
position in the
social
hierarchythey are
dehumanized
and made
into mules
who must
carry the
double weight
of both the
white mans
and the black
mans
burdens(53).
Haurykiewicz
reveals the
bitter reality
of Janie and
women by
providing
context int eh
word in which
Janie lives in.
In this
patriarchal
nature, black
women need
not only work

for the white

man but also
the black
man.
Socially
Superior
relish and
abuse their
powers.

Mustnt shirkkeen as a
hawk,
lean as a
shark
Mustnt
shirk! (24)

The insults
flowed down
her gleaming
flesh.
Obscenities
drowned her
golden
breasts.

I will tell the

secret to you,
to you, only
to you. (1921)

Naw, Jody, it
jus looks lak
it keeps us in
some way we
aint natural
wid one
The Siren are nother.
wary of their
Youse
For two
power. They
always off
stanzas, Mrs. With the
use their
talkin and
Sisyphus
power of
power only
fixin things,
laments of
freedom of
for
and Ah feels
the work that speech
emotionally
lak Ahm jus
her husband
without
survive. They markin time.
puts up with. consequence use their
Hope it soon
She ends the s seems to
song as a call gits over.
two stanzas
erase the
for help,
(55)
with an
mens moral
hoping that
exclamation
conscious.
there are
Even though
mark which
The men
men who are Janie is
shows the
relish in their not filled with lavished with
buildup of
ability to
their ego.
materialistic
frustration
freely voice
riches and
that Mrs.
their thoughts
respect she is
Sisyphus
and opinions.
unhappy
feels for
because she
being
is
neglected
Her lips
inaccurately
and under
moved, silent,
represented.
appreciated.
in a coral
The repetition light, and
shows the
suddenly she
experated
went out by
and sarcastic that door.
attitude that
Mrs.
Sisyphus has
toward
her husband.

The ox
feigns
sickness to
avoid work
(48).
The ox,
grows
arrogant in its
superiority.
He believes
that his
trickery will
not result in
any
consequence
and therefore
decides to act
deceitfully.

Discontent
with cultural
expectation
leads to
retaliation
and or
escape.

What use is a
perk, I shriek,
when you
havent time
to pop open a
cork or go for
so much as a
walk in the
park?

The little
mermaid
does not
reach
overcome
temptation
and does not
pass the
ultimate
ordeal of the
Mrs. Syphus
heros
questions the journey. This
workaholic
is return
tendency of
causes the
her
little mermaid
husband.How to stagnant in
ever, in this
the standard
poem this
heros
retaliation
journey.
goes by
unnoticed
and ignored.

This song is
a cry for
help(22)
The sirens
are
discontent
with the
egotistically
nature of
men. They
use the
power of their
voice to test
the men.

You aint tried

tuh pacify
nobody but
yoself. Too
busy listening
tuh yo own
big voice.
After facing
Joes
extreme
control her
whole life,
Janie finally
decides to
speak out
against her
oppressor.
She reaches
a breaking
point and
finally
releases her
voice.

The mule
that is then
forced to
make up for
the oxs
absence tells
Ole Massa
that the oxis
playin off
sick, and
Mass decides
to have the
ox
butchered(4
8)
...ox comes
back to haunt
the mule
many times
through the
use of
rawhide
whips(48)
In this
folktale, the
mule does
bring his
oppressor to
justice;
however, he
still feels the
pain from a
higher
authority. In
this scenario,
the mules
retaliation
leads to
further pain
and suffering
due to the
inappropriate

method of
retaliation.
proper
application of
verbal
surprises can
achieve great
results.(49)
In another
tale, Mules
and Men
proper
retaliation
can achieve
much more
promising
results. The
mule in this
scenario
represents
Janie when
he
emasculates
Jody.
Female (the
oppressed)
either rises
above
societal
expectations
or collapses
and conforms
to them.

But I lie
alone in the
dark feeling
like Noahs
wife did. (2526).
Mrs.
Sisyphus, at
the end of the
poem
remains
without power
or voice. The
allusion/
simile to
Noahs ark

...without
looking back
she swam
again swam
towards
emptiness,
swam
towards
death (20)
The mermaid
is unable to
deal with the
abuse of
power that
the men
posses. She

Alas it is a
boring song
but it works
every time
The sirens
have grown
complacent
with the work
that they do.
They
continue to
use their
power to
manipulate
and thus
revealing the

Let em
consolate
theyselves
wid talk.
(226)
Janie no
longer holds
regard to any
of the
opinions of
the peers
who judge
her. She rises
above
societal
pressures of

Her life
experiences
have
convinced
Nanny that
de nigger
woman is de
mule uh de
world(46)
Under this
patriarchal
system,
unlike her
granddaughte
r, Nanny
crumbles

reinforces her
state of living.
Like Noahs
wife who is
hardly
mentioned in
the Bible is
ignored and
largely
forgotten,
Mrs.
Sisyphus falls
back
underneath
the cover of
the dark, to
be forgotten.
Her lack of
power leads
women, who
live in the
shadow of
their socially
more
significant
husbands, to
be forgotten.

is crushed by
both by the
ridicule that
the men lash
out on her
and her
inability to
speak her
mind, to
express her
disappointme
nt.

deceptive
nature of
beauty.
However, the
power of their
song reveals
the
representatio
n of men.
Men who lack
power are
represented a
egotistical
and shallow.
They only
swim toward
pride and
greed which
ultimately
leads to
destruction.

being the
quiet,obedien
t mule of
society. Her
power allows
her the ability
to pursue
happiness
with not what
society
dictates what
will make
people happy
but what she
personally
believes will.

under
society's
expectations.
She
succumbs to
the
expectations
that women
are the
mules of the
world and
their only
choice is to
be a slave
to men.

3 Questions
1)Does the acquisition or possession of power inevitably lead to abuse of that power? If so
why? If not what factors prevent abuse?
In Fable of the Mermaids and the Drunks the men openly abuse their power, raining insults on
the mermaid. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, each of Janies husbands abuse her. Logan
Killicks forces Janie to work for him, refusing to let her even journey out of the house with him to
obtain another mule. Jody forces Janie to distance herself with the common folk of the town.
Even Tea Cakes, just slapped her around a bit to show he was boss.(172). This abuse of
power is not strictly reserved for men. In Siren Songs, the women/sirens hold the power to
ensnare and essentially murder men in which they freely use their power despite their apathy
toward their actions.

2) Many open prompts either directly address the idea of a bildungsroman and or the use of a
single pivotal moment that advances the character to the next stage of his or her life. What are
the key features and characteristics of this single pivotal moment?
The pivotal moment in Their Eyes Were Watching God was when Janie lashed out against Joe
and opening disgraced him in public. The main characteristic that Janie displayed in this
situation was voice and in return the power of voice. The key features of the single pivotal
moment of a bildungsroman story is when the main character feels the tension between what
society dictates him or her to be and what he or she actually feels he or she is. What makes the
moment pivotal is when the character speaks out against society and decides to no longer abide
by their rules. This contrasts the poem Fable of the Mermaids and the Drunks were the
mermaid does not voice her opinion. Instead she remains silent and runs from society into her
death.
3) When does internal conflict catalyze change for an individual to rise above societal
expectations?
In Their Eyes Were Watching God Janie does not lash out against Jody until the socially
superior is in a weakened state. It is only then that Janie can break free from Jodys oppressive
rule. Janie had to outlive Jody and wait till he was old and frail to shame him. This contrasts
the poem Mrs. Sisyphus where Mrs. Sisyphus in criticizes Mr. Sisyphus in the prime of his
career. Mr. Sisyphus refuses to acknowledge Mrs. Sisyphus requests to be wanted .

Work Cited

Atwood, Margaret. "Poetry Magazine." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web.
24 Jan. 2016.

Duffy, Carol Ann. "Mrs Sisyphus." 205poetry /. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2016.

Haurykiewicz, Julie A. "Literary Criticism From Mules to Muliebrity: Speech and Silence in Their

Eyes Were Watching God."SOURCESouthern Literary Journal;Spring97 29.2 (1997): n.

pag. Web

Hunter, Pablo Neruda - Poem. "Fable Of The Mermaid And The Drunks Poem."
Poemhunter.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2016.

Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Novel. New York: Perennial Library,
1990. Print.