Their Eyes Were Watching God Chapters 11-15

Questions and Answers

How does Tea Cake fulfill Janie's original youthful yearnings under the pear tree?

With him, she goes back to her naive ways, and she feels like a child again.

What conflict does the following passage reveal: 'It reveals her doubt about Tea Cake that he won't return and he is just using her.'?

It reveals her doubt about Tea Cake that he won't return and he is just using her.

How does Pheoby play the role of devil's advocate in this chapter?

She confronts Janie about what the town is talking about behind her back, advising her to pretend she is mourning Jody and cut ties with Tea Cake.

Compare and contrast Janie's feelings toward the community while married to Jody and now that she is with Tea Cake.

She cared what the community thought when married to Jody, but now Tea Cake doesn't care how they view her, and she does what makes her happy. Signup and view all the answers

After Tea Cake and Janie marry, why does she keep silent about the $200 she has hidden in her clothes?

She keeps quiet about the money because of Tea Cake stealing from her; it's a safety net and she wants to be self-reliant. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the significance of Mrs. Tyler to the plotline.

Mrs. Tyler infects the relationship with doubt. Signup and view all the answers

What is significant about the fact that Tea Cake refuses to touch Janie's money and insists that he will provide for her?

It settles her fear that he only married her for her money, reversing the dependency roles. Signup and view all the answers

What is ironic about Tea Cake's determination to provide for them?

He has to do it through gambling, which is not a steady job, making her dependent on him like Logan and Jody. Signup and view all the answers

What contrasting ideas dominate this chapter?

Work hard, play hard. Signup and view all the answers

What do these ideas represent to Janie?

It represents what Janie has dreamed of, being in love and creating a strong bond through work. Signup and view all the answers

How and why is this change in setting significant to the plot?

It emphasizes Janie's poverty and the integrity of the lower classes, giving a sense of naturalness to her innocence. Signup and view all the answers

How is this move to the Everglades significant to the structure of the narrative?

It introduces Janie to a new, free, and joyful life, serving as her emancipation from prior oppression. Signup and view all the answers

What symbolic significance do the Everglades take on?

The vibrant, untamed Everglades symbolize Janie's newfound independence and relationship with Tea Cake. Signup and view all the answers

What might Tea Cake's teaching Janie to shoot symbolize?

It symbolizes Janie's growing independence by participating in a masculine activity. Signup and view all the answers

What might Janie's learning to shoot even better than Tea Cake foreshadow?

It can foreshadow that Janie might have to use her skill of shooting against Tea Cake. Signup and view all the answers

What is Hurston establishing by having Janie go out to work with Tea Cake?

Through their shared labor, she establishes Janie as more than a trophy wife, depicting her as an integrated part of the community. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Janie's Transformation and Relationships

Tea Cake allows Janie to experience her youthful yearnings again, making her feel like a child, which symbolizes her return to innocence.
Doubt creeps into Janie's mind regarding Tea Cake's intentions, highlighted by the mysterious tone created through the imagery of "abyss" and "descended."
Pheoby acts as the devil's advocate, warning Janie about the town’s gossip and the perceived hastiness of her relationship with Tea Cake.
Janie's attitude towards the community shifts from concern during her marriage to Jody to prioritizing her happiness with Tea Cake, who encourages her autonomy.

Financial Independence

Janie keeps secret her hidden $200 due to distrust of Tea Cake, indicating her desire for self-reliance, which contrasts with her previous impulsive relationships.
Mrs. Tyler's role introduces doubt into Janie's relationship, symbolizing the outside influences that can affect personal bonds.
Tea Cake's refusal to accept Janie's money reassures her of his genuine intentions, reversing her previous experiences of dependency in past marriages.

Irony and Livelihood

Ironically, Tea Cake’s determination to provide through gambling and labor in the muck creates a dependence similar to Janie’s past relationships.
The contrasting ideas of hard work contrasted with vibrant nightlife in the Everglades depict the struggle and joy of the lower-class experience.
For Janie, the life in the Everglades signifies her dreams coming true, as working alongside Tea Cake strengthens their bond.

Setting and Symbolism

The move to the Everglades highlights Janie's financial struggles while showcasing the integrity of the working class, emphasizing her innocence.
This setting shift leads to Janie's newfound freedom and joy, serving as an escape from her oppressive past in Eatonville.
The Everglades become a symbol of Janie's independence and flourishing relationship with Tea Cake.

Empowerment and Foreshadowing

Tea Cake teaching Janie to shoot represents her growing independence, breaking traditional gender roles.
Janie surpassing Tea Cake in marksmanship signifies her power and foreshadows possible future conflicts, suggesting a foreshadowing of complexity in their relationship.
Janie's participation in shared labor with Tea Cake marks her transformation from a passive trophy wife to an integrated member of the Everglades community, showcasing mutual respect and equality.

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Description

This quiz focuses on the themes and character dynamics from Chapters 11 to 15 of 'Their Eyes Were Watching God'. Explore how Tea Cake influences Janie's feelings and the conflicts that arise between them. Gain a deeper understanding of the tone and emotional depth presented in these pivotal chapters.