- 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.
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