Their Eyes Were Watching God: Key Themes

Questions and Answers

How are the whites buried?

The whites are buried in the white cemetery in a wooden coffin.

How are blacks buried?

The blacks are thrown into a large pit in the black cemetery.

How do they decide to distinguish between the dead?

They look at the person's hair.

How does Tea Cake's personality change once he begins feeling sick?

It goes from easy-going to suspicious, non-trusting, forgetful, and uneasy. Signup and view all the answers

What do we learn about Tea Cake's bite?

The dog that bit him had rabies and now Tea Cake has it too. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize the events that lead up to Tea Cake's death.

He got bit, snapped, then died. Signup and view all the answers

How does Tea Cake die?

Rabies. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Janie's perspective of the people in the courtroom.

The white people in the jury don't know what happened, the judge is a stern white man, and the black people are in the back all trying to kill with their words for killing Tea Cake. Signup and view all the answers

What is the jury's verdict?

Not guilty. Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take the jury to make their decision?

5 minutes. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the amount of time important?

It is clear that they don't believe that she is a cold-blooded killer. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Burial Practices

Whites are buried in wooden coffins in a designated white cemetery.
Blacks are disposed of in a large pit within the black cemetery, highlighting racial disparities in funerary practices.
Distinction among the dead is made partly by examining the person's hair.

Change in Tea Cake's Personality

Tea Cake's demeanor shifts from easy-going to increasingly suspicious and non-trusting due to illness.
Symptoms include forgetfulness and a general sense of unease as his condition worsens.

Rabies and Its Transmission

The dog that bites Tea Cake is rabid, resulting in Tea Cake contracting rabies subsequently.

Sequence of Events Leading to Tea Cake's Death

The progression of Tea Cake's illness is marked by the initial bite, a subsequent mental snap, and his eventual death.

Cause of Tea Cake's Death

Tea Cake succumbs to rabies, a fatal consequence of the dog bite.

Janie's Perspective in Court

Observations of the courtroom depict white jurors as uninformed regarding the incident.
The judge's presence is characterized as stern, reinforcing the power dynamics at play.
Black individuals in the courtroom express their sentiments toward Janie, with their critiques reflecting societal tensions surrounding race and gender.

Jury's Verdict and Implications

The jury finds Janie not guilty after deliberating for only five minutes, indicating a lack of belief in her being a cold-blooded killer.
The swift decision underscores potential biases and the perception of Janie's character in the eyes of the jurors.

Description

Explore the significant themes and events in Zora Neale Hurston's novel 'Their Eyes Were Watching God'. This quiz delves into burial practices, the effects of rabies on Tea Cake, and Janie's perspective in the courtroom. Test your understanding of this influential work and its commentary on race and identity.