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Questions and Answers
Where does Joe sleep after the fight from the preceding chapter?
Where does Joe sleep after the fight from the preceding chapter?
Joe moves his things to a room downstairs and sleeps there.
Explain the following sentence: 'Well, if she must eat out of a long-handled spoon, she must.'
Explain the following sentence: 'Well, if she must eat out of a long-handled spoon, she must.'
It means that Janie cannot do anything to change her situation, so she must live with it.
Since Joe is refusing to see Janie, who is cooking and cleaning for him?
Since Joe is refusing to see Janie, who is cooking and cleaning for him?
Old lady Davis is doing the house chores, even though Janie is a better cook.
What does Pheoby advise Janie to do about the rumor that she is poisoning her husband?
What does Pheoby advise Janie to do about the rumor that she is poisoning her husband?
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What does Pheoby know about the medicine man who started the rumor about Janie?
What does Pheoby know about the medicine man who started the rumor about Janie?
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What medical problem does Joe have?
What medical problem does Joe have?
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Describe the character of Death.
Describe the character of Death.
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Joe claims that Janie never had sympathy for him. Does Janie agree?
Joe claims that Janie never had sympathy for him. Does Janie agree?
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What does Janie want Joe to do before he dies?
What does Janie want Joe to do before he dies?
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What has been waiting for Janie in the looking glass?
What has been waiting for Janie in the looking glass?
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Study Notes
Joe's Downstairs Room
- After the fight, Joe moves his belongings to a room downstairs to sleep apart from Janie.
Janie's Acceptance of Circumstances
- The phrase "eat out of a long-handled spoon" reflects Janie's recognition that she must accept her difficult circumstances, as she feels powerless to change them.
Housekeeping Dynamics
- While Joe is not seeing Janie, Old Lady Davis takes over the cooking and cleaning duties, even though Janie's culinary skills surpass hers.
Handling Rumors
- Pheoby advises Janie to remain silent about the rumor of her poisoning Joe, suggesting that ignoring it is the best approach since it lacks credibility.
Background on the Rumor Source
- The rumor about Janie stems from a medicine man in Eatonville who has a dubious history, having previously attempted to sell gophers.
Joe's Health Issues
- Joe is facing serious medical problems, specifically kidney failure, indicating a significant decline in his health.
Personification of Death
- Death is portrayed as an ominous figure characterized by "huge square toes," living in a detached "straight house," waiting for a messenger to summon him.
Janie and Joe's Sympathy Conflict
- While Joe accuses Janie of lacking sympathy for him, she argues that she had plenty of sympathy but never had the opportunity to express it.
Janie's Desire for Communication
- In his final moments, Janie wishes for Joe to truly listen to her, highlighting her desire for connection and understanding.
Janie's Self-Discovery
- Janie's "girl self," representing her youthful identity and aspirations, has been waiting for her to reclaim herself, as shown in her reflections in the looking glass.
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Description
Explore key themes and character dynamics from Zora Neale Hurston's 'Their Eyes Were Watching God'. This quiz covers Joe and Janie's relationship, rumors in Eatonville, and the challenges they face. Test your understanding of the text's deeper meanings and character motivations.
