I figured out the last folktale I am going to use. For the Personification of Death I am going to use the folktale, Jack and the Devil.
Jack was a cruel man "who treated his wife like a dog" and "his children like dirt." He also drank a lot. The Devil came to get him. When he saw the Devil, he begged the Devil to give him 1 more year on earth. He tricked the Devil into changing into a ten cent piece and locked the Devil in his purse. The Devil couldn't get out of it because the clasp was in the shape of a cross. Jack let the Devil out on the condition of him getting one more year on earth. After the Devil left, he said that he would repent. He didn't and a year later the Devil came to get him again. Again, he tricked the Devil. The Devil climbed a tree to get some apples and he couldn't get down because Jack etched a cross in the trunk. He took the cross off of the trunk on the condition that the Devil left him alone forever. When he died, he couldn't get into Heaven, and then at the gate of Hell, the Devil wouldn't let him in. The Devil told him to go back where he came from. He asked for a lantern to be able to see in teh dark. he still got lost. "Jack, he took the fire. But he got himself lost. They say he is still wanderin in the dark. Some say you can see his little light a-bobbin this-away and that-away when the night is the coldest and the chill is deepest." (The People Could Fly pg 126-132)
This story shows how death is inevitable. The Devil represents Death in this folktale. The Devil keeps coming back again and again until Jack finally dies. I am also using the quote Janie says about death. The quote shows the same thing.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
IOP Journal #4
Background on Zora Neale Hurston:
Folktales I am going to use:
Testing the Good Lord - example of the motif of spirituality
- "One day Brer Lizard and Deacon Frog were trying to get through a crack in a split-rail fence. Now, in those days, Brer Lizard sat up straight like Deacon Frog does today. Old Deacon Frog said: "I'll get through this crack here if the Good Lord spares me." He tried it and, bye and bye, he squeezed through just fine. Brer Lizard was more uppity. He said, "I'll get through this crack here whether the Lord spares me or not." He tried it, but, kerflip, down came a log and smashed him flat. That's why the lizard is flat today and crawls in the dust on his belly, while the frog sits straight and hops around" (AFRO-AMERICAN FOLKTALES: STORIES FROM BLACK TRADITIONS IN THE NEW WORLD EDITED AND SELECTED BY ROGER D. ABRAHAMS pg 74).
Symbolism of animals - He Lion, Bruh Bear, and Bruh Rabbit (THE PEOPLE COULD FLY: American Black Folktales)
Story of how he Lion would go around roaring "ME AND MYSELF, ME AND MYSELF" all the time. All the small animals were afraid to come out because they were afraid of the lion. Finally, the small animals went to see Bruh Bear and Bruh Rabbit to tell them of their problem with he Lion. Bruh Bear and Bruh Rabbit went to see he Lion. Bruh Rabbit said that the real king of the forest was Man, so he took he Lion to see Man. He Lion started roaring "ME AND MYSELF" so that Man would see him, while Bruh Bear and Bruh Rabbit hid in the bushes. Man shot he Lion. "Awhile after he Lion met Man, things were some better in teh forest. Bruh Bear knew what Man looked like so he could keep out of his way. That rabbit always did know to keep out of Man's way. The little anials could go out in the mornin because he Lion was more peaceable. He didn't walk around roarin at the top of his voice all the time. And when he Lion did lift that voice of his, it was like, "Me and Myself and Man. Me and Myself and Man." Like that. Wasn't too loud atall."
I am still trying to find a good folktale for the "Personification of Death" and good examples from Their Eyes Were Watching God.
- born between 1891-1901
- died in 1960 poor and obsolete
- part of the Harlem Renaissance
- wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God in seven weeks
- was a writer, folklorist, and a cultural anthropologist
- she went around in the South collecting African-American folktales because she did not trust "whites" to collect them and not change them
Folktales I am going to use:
Testing the Good Lord - example of the motif of spirituality
- "One day Brer Lizard and Deacon Frog were trying to get through a crack in a split-rail fence. Now, in those days, Brer Lizard sat up straight like Deacon Frog does today. Old Deacon Frog said: "I'll get through this crack here if the Good Lord spares me." He tried it and, bye and bye, he squeezed through just fine. Brer Lizard was more uppity. He said, "I'll get through this crack here whether the Lord spares me or not." He tried it, but, kerflip, down came a log and smashed him flat. That's why the lizard is flat today and crawls in the dust on his belly, while the frog sits straight and hops around" (AFRO-AMERICAN FOLKTALES: STORIES FROM BLACK TRADITIONS IN THE NEW WORLD EDITED AND SELECTED BY ROGER D. ABRAHAMS pg 74).
Symbolism of animals - He Lion, Bruh Bear, and Bruh Rabbit (THE PEOPLE COULD FLY: American Black Folktales)
Story of how he Lion would go around roaring "ME AND MYSELF, ME AND MYSELF" all the time. All the small animals were afraid to come out because they were afraid of the lion. Finally, the small animals went to see Bruh Bear and Bruh Rabbit to tell them of their problem with he Lion. Bruh Bear and Bruh Rabbit went to see he Lion. Bruh Rabbit said that the real king of the forest was Man, so he took he Lion to see Man. He Lion started roaring "ME AND MYSELF" so that Man would see him, while Bruh Bear and Bruh Rabbit hid in the bushes. Man shot he Lion. "Awhile after he Lion met Man, things were some better in teh forest. Bruh Bear knew what Man looked like so he could keep out of his way. That rabbit always did know to keep out of Man's way. The little anials could go out in the mornin because he Lion was more peaceable. He didn't walk around roarin at the top of his voice all the time. And when he Lion did lift that voice of his, it was like, "Me and Myself and Man. Me and Myself and Man." Like that. Wasn't too loud atall."
I am still trying to find a good folktale for the "Personification of Death" and good examples from Their Eyes Were Watching God.
Friday, May 21, 2010
IOP Journal #3
Yesterday, I figured out my three points on my IOP. I also figured out what my thesis statement would be and how I would do my presentation. I am going to be doing a powerpoint presentation.
My thesis statement is going to be "In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston is influenced by African-American folktales through images of animals, spirituality, and death, which reflect the importance of culture in life.
I will probably revise it a little bit, to make it sound better. My three points wil be the symbolism of animals, the motif of spirituality, and the personification of death. For all of my points I will be giving examples from both Their Eyes Were Watching God and the African American folktales. Then I will be explaining what the quotes are saying and then I will analyze them.
For the symbolism of animals, I will be giving the examples of mules for sure; maybe the vultures, dog, and cow in Their Eyes Were Watching God. Then I will be sharing some animal folktale(s), depending on how long they are. The talking animal folktales usually represent a slave and a slavemaster, the slave sometimes being smarter but "oppressed" (I need to think of the correct word). The mule in Their Eyes Were Watching God represents someone being oppressed.
For the motif of spirituality, I will be showing how the endless horizon and nature show spirituality. There are also folktales of the supernatural, like where there is a higher being controlling life. (What is the analysis for this?)
For the personification of death, I will be showing how "Death with the square-toes" is like the death in the folktales. The death in folktales, is usually represented by the devil. (Again I need to find out the analysis for this)
My thesis statement is going to be "In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston is influenced by African-American folktales through images of animals, spirituality, and death, which reflect the importance of culture in life.
I will probably revise it a little bit, to make it sound better. My three points wil be the symbolism of animals, the motif of spirituality, and the personification of death. For all of my points I will be giving examples from both Their Eyes Were Watching God and the African American folktales. Then I will be explaining what the quotes are saying and then I will analyze them.
For the symbolism of animals, I will be giving the examples of mules for sure; maybe the vultures, dog, and cow in Their Eyes Were Watching God. Then I will be sharing some animal folktale(s), depending on how long they are. The talking animal folktales usually represent a slave and a slavemaster, the slave sometimes being smarter but "oppressed" (I need to think of the correct word). The mule in Their Eyes Were Watching God represents someone being oppressed.
For the motif of spirituality, I will be showing how the endless horizon and nature show spirituality. There are also folktales of the supernatural, like where there is a higher being controlling life. (What is the analysis for this?)
For the personification of death, I will be showing how "Death with the square-toes" is like the death in the folktales. The death in folktales, is usually represented by the devil. (Again I need to find out the analysis for this)
Thursday, May 20, 2010
IOP Journal #2
Organization
Today I decided how I would organize my IOP. I am first going introduce my topic, which is how the African-American folktales influenced Zora Neale Hurston's writing of the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God. I am then going to go into a little bit of background on Zora Neale Hurston and explain why the folktales influenced her writing (ex. She was a cultural anthropologist, so she really liked the folktales. She spent some time in the South, going around and collecting folktales). Next I might or might not do an overview of Their Eyes Were Watching God.
It would depend on the amount of time I have left. After all the background information, I will introduce my thesis. Then I will ask the class if they know of any African-American folktales. I will then say how there are many versions of the same folktale in different countries. I will also ask if they have ever heard of "Brer Rabbit" or any other "Brer____" story because they are examples of African-American folktales with morals to them. Some of these stories were designed to teach children a lesson (definition here?). Next I will show the class an example of a short or long African-American folktale (depending on the amount of time I have left). I read a lot of the folktales of that time, and have found that many of them involve talking animals. The animals are all symbols of the slave or slaveowner. A lot of the stories also involve the Devil. I am still trying to find connections in the stories to Their Eyes Were Watching God.
I will next share my three points and go into analysis for each one. All three are going to be connections in the folktales to Their Eyes Were Watching God. The analysis will include why, she made these connections. I am still trying to figure out my points in the novel.
Today I decided how I would organize my IOP. I am first going introduce my topic, which is how the African-American folktales influenced Zora Neale Hurston's writing of the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God. I am then going to go into a little bit of background on Zora Neale Hurston and explain why the folktales influenced her writing (ex. She was a cultural anthropologist, so she really liked the folktales. She spent some time in the South, going around and collecting folktales). Next I might or might not do an overview of Their Eyes Were Watching God.
It would depend on the amount of time I have left. After all the background information, I will introduce my thesis. Then I will ask the class if they know of any African-American folktales. I will then say how there are many versions of the same folktale in different countries. I will also ask if they have ever heard of "Brer Rabbit" or any other "Brer____" story because they are examples of African-American folktales with morals to them. Some of these stories were designed to teach children a lesson (definition here?). Next I will show the class an example of a short or long African-American folktale (depending on the amount of time I have left). I read a lot of the folktales of that time, and have found that many of them involve talking animals. The animals are all symbols of the slave or slaveowner. A lot of the stories also involve the Devil. I am still trying to find connections in the stories to Their Eyes Were Watching God.
I will next share my three points and go into analysis for each one. All three are going to be connections in the folktales to Their Eyes Were Watching God. The analysis will include why, she made these connections. I am still trying to figure out my points in the novel.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
IOP Journal #1
Brainstorming and "Hardships"
For my IOP I will be discussing how African-American folktales influenced Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. I had a bit of trouble coming up with this topic. I originally wanted to compare Hurston's real life with elements in her novel. I decided to talk about folktales because it is an interesting and unique topic.
I have been looking online for African-American folktales. I have also been looking in the library. I had not had much luck procuring any good folktales. I then started searching for African-American folktales connected with Zora Neale Hurston. I found a book called Every Tongue Got to Confess by Zora Neale Hurston. It is the third book in a series by Zora Neale Hurston. These books are collections of African-American folktales.
Now I am trying to find connections in the novel and in the folktales that would show how the folktales influenced Hurston's writing. For example, I am looking for any themes of death in the folktales and I am looking at how they show the death. I am then going to compare that to how Hurston shows death in her novels. Then I will try and analyze this connection by showing what the folktales do and to what extent they influence Their Eyes Were Watching God.
For my IOP I will be discussing how African-American folktales influenced Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. I had a bit of trouble coming up with this topic. I originally wanted to compare Hurston's real life with elements in her novel. I decided to talk about folktales because it is an interesting and unique topic.
I have been looking online for African-American folktales. I have also been looking in the library. I had not had much luck procuring any good folktales. I then started searching for African-American folktales connected with Zora Neale Hurston. I found a book called Every Tongue Got to Confess by Zora Neale Hurston. It is the third book in a series by Zora Neale Hurston. These books are collections of African-American folktales.
Now I am trying to find connections in the novel and in the folktales that would show how the folktales influenced Hurston's writing. For example, I am looking for any themes of death in the folktales and I am looking at how they show the death. I am then going to compare that to how Hurston shows death in her novels. Then I will try and analyze this connection by showing what the folktales do and to what extent they influence Their Eyes Were Watching God.
Blood Wedding Journal #3
"Not rounding off, but opening out." Comment upon the way the writers deal with the ending in relation to the whole. In your answer you should refer to two or three of the works you have studied.
That phrase relates how the authors end the play, yet there is still a story to be told. In "Oedipus the King," Sophocles has the last scene being that Oedipus is cast out of Thebes by Creon. There are still many unanswered questions left. The authors end one story in a sense, but set up a new one in the process. Since Oedipus has just been exiled, the readers are left to wonder what happens to Oedipus. Does he just go and live in the mountains alone? Does he ever see his daughters again? The last time in the play that Oedipus sees his daughters is when they are "wrenched loose from his grasp" (Sophocles 1674). By ending the play with Oedipus being banished, Sophocoles lets readers guess on what happens to Oedipus or continue the story in their own way.
In "The Wild Duck," Ibsen also doesn't round "off, but opens out." In the end, readers are left to guess as to what happens between Hjalmar and Gina after their daughter dies. By the end of the play, it is implied that they "made up," but no one is sure. Ibsen opens up the story for readers to continue by leaving unanswered questions. What is Gregers going to do? What is going to become of Hjalmar and Gina? What is going to happen to the wild duck now that Hedvig is dead? Ibsen ends the play, but at the same times leaves it open.
In "Blood Wedding," Lorca does the same thing. He ends the play with Leonardo's and the Bridegroom's deaths. Although the play is over, the question is still left as to what is to become of the bride. The readers can again keep on guessing as to what is going to happen.
Just because the plays are over, does not mean that the stories are over. By ending the play, the authors leave many unanswered questions of things that happened earlier in the plays.
That phrase relates how the authors end the play, yet there is still a story to be told. In "Oedipus the King," Sophocles has the last scene being that Oedipus is cast out of Thebes by Creon. There are still many unanswered questions left. The authors end one story in a sense, but set up a new one in the process. Since Oedipus has just been exiled, the readers are left to wonder what happens to Oedipus. Does he just go and live in the mountains alone? Does he ever see his daughters again? The last time in the play that Oedipus sees his daughters is when they are "wrenched loose from his grasp" (Sophocles 1674). By ending the play with Oedipus being banished, Sophocoles lets readers guess on what happens to Oedipus or continue the story in their own way.
In "The Wild Duck," Ibsen also doesn't round "off, but opens out." In the end, readers are left to guess as to what happens between Hjalmar and Gina after their daughter dies. By the end of the play, it is implied that they "made up," but no one is sure. Ibsen opens up the story for readers to continue by leaving unanswered questions. What is Gregers going to do? What is going to become of Hjalmar and Gina? What is going to happen to the wild duck now that Hedvig is dead? Ibsen ends the play, but at the same times leaves it open.
In "Blood Wedding," Lorca does the same thing. He ends the play with Leonardo's and the Bridegroom's deaths. Although the play is over, the question is still left as to what is to become of the bride. The readers can again keep on guessing as to what is going to happen.
Just because the plays are over, does not mean that the stories are over. By ending the play, the authors leave many unanswered questions of things that happened earlier in the plays.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Blood Wedding Journal #2
Diary entry from Bride.
Next Thursday, I marry the Bridegroom. He came to visit me today to finalize the day of the wedding. It took him and his mother four hours to come here. I heard a rider in the distance, and saw that it was Leonardo. Why does he still come here? We are not engaged anymore. I am now going to marry one of the family of the same family Leonardo's spilled blood of.
I like it when Leonardo comes to visit. I do not know why I agreed to marry the Bridegroom. I do not love him. I like Leonardo. If he keeps coming to see me, I do not know what I will do. If he keeps trying to see me before my wedding, I will try to stop talking to him. I will probably run away with him if this continues. If I get married to the Bridegroom and then I run away with Leonardo, it will continue a blood feud, but it does not matter. We will be long gone by then.
- Bride
Next Thursday, I marry the Bridegroom. He came to visit me today to finalize the day of the wedding. It took him and his mother four hours to come here. I heard a rider in the distance, and saw that it was Leonardo. Why does he still come here? We are not engaged anymore. I am now going to marry one of the family of the same family Leonardo's spilled blood of.
I like it when Leonardo comes to visit. I do not know why I agreed to marry the Bridegroom. I do not love him. I like Leonardo. If he keeps coming to see me, I do not know what I will do. If he keeps trying to see me before my wedding, I will try to stop talking to him. I will probably run away with him if this continues. If I get married to the Bridegroom and then I run away with Leonardo, it will continue a blood feud, but it does not matter. We will be long gone by then.
- Bride
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