Wednesday, February 18, 2009

TEWWG Non-fiction piece

Read the following article and answer the following questions as a comment. Your answers should be detailed and in complete sentences. You may want www.dictionary.com open as you read.


  1. What is Voodoo?
  2. What is Smith's thesis?
  3. Define syncretization.
  4. Why is Voodoo an appropriate religion for Hurston to draw from in Their Eyes?
  5. What are the two classes of Voodoo loa and how are they different?
  6. How does Hurston present Voodoo as a viable religion?
  7. Who is Erzulie Freda and in what ways does Janie resemble her, physically and otherwise?
  8. According to Smith, what is the significance of the pear tree?
  9. To what Voodoo figure is teacake compared and what is the significance?
  10. Why, according to Smith, does Teacake slap Janie?
  11. What, according to Metreaux, is the Voodoo concept of God and how/why does it fit with Hurston's message?
  12. According to Smith, how has Janie changed upon her return to Eatonville?
  13. Paraphrase Janie's lesson about the "importance of self-determination."
  14. According to Smith, what is the "alternate path to selfhood" embodied by Janie?


17 comments:

Brian said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nicole F. AP English said...

1.A religion someone practices or worships involving black magic or sorcery.

2.“Voodoo is an effective vehicle through which to explore the role and status of black women within modern African American culture.” Smith believes that Hurston used this method in T.E.W.W.G. in order to portray this.

3.Syncretizing is an attempt to combine or unite two different things that are usually opposing.

4.Voodoo is an appropriate religion for Hurston to use because it gives her the ability to show a different outlook on how woman can transform and transcend, it has very basic beliefs that characterize religion.

5.The two classes of Voodoo Ioa are rada and petro. Rada means “high and pure” and they only do good things for people, they sometimes use violence to punish but only to a certain extent. Petro is more violent and implacable, there is a category known as “red eyes” which is evil. The Petro only does good things if a person is made before hand, revenge will occur if the promise is not kept.

6.Hurston presents Voodoo as a viable religion by showing what a strong person Janie can be. She shows how she overcomes all of these obstacles and deals with everything using her creativity.. She uses Voodoo without having to use witchcraft and magic, but shows the journey of Janie’s life.

7.Erzulie Freda is the rada loa of love, beauty, and elegance, she is the lover of all men and the hater of all women. Janie is just like Freda because she looks like her and has the same demeanor. The two were both the result of their mother’s rape, and the two both overcome great obstacles dealing with people who don’t believe in them.

8. The significance of the pear tree according to Hurston is for Janie to find her sexuality and she becomes aware of herself as a woman. By using the pear tree, Hurston is characterizing passion and sexual desire as natural rather than peculiar. The tree shows the inner and outer aspects of life,.

9. Teacake is compared the “Son of Evening Sun” known as Erzulie Danto. Janie and Tea Cake’s relationship resemble Haitian Voodoo. He is supposed to be Janie’s perfect lover and something sweet. Tea Cakes name means that he satisfies Janie’s sweet hunger for love. Tea Cake, like Danto, really helps Janie and helps her find herself.

10. According to Smith, Tea Cake slaps Janie because it symbolizes the end of their idyllic union and starts the central life crisis Janie is about to deal with. Tea Cake has to show his want of possession of Janie for the outside world.

11. According to Metreaux, the Voodoo concept of God fits Hurston’s message because men let the littlest things bother them, they do many crazy things in act of rage. Tea Cake and all of the other men did this, they let the slightest things get to them and they all had a problem with possession to please everyone else.

12. According to Smith, Janie changes when she comes back to Eatonville because she brings the seeds back with her to remember Tea Cake, it symbolizes that she has gained knowledge. She now understands the cycle of life through her memories and imagination.

13. “You have to experience it to know it. Your Mom, your Dad or anybody else can’t tell you or show you how. Everybody has to go to God and has to find out about living, for themselves.”

14. According to Smith the alternate path of selfhood embodied by Janie is through Voodoo. It talks about the stereotypical representations of black women and she shapes the persona of a black woman and all she goes through.

Brittany said...

What is Voodoo? Voodoo is a polytheistic religion practiced chiefly by West Indians, deriving principally from African cult worship and containing elements borrowed from the Catholic religion.

What is Smith's thesis? Smith’s thesis is “Close analysis of the novel reveals that voodoo imagery and symbolism is integral to the development of the predominant themes of Hurston’s second novel.”

Define syncretization. Syncretization is a combination

Why is Voodoo an appropriate religion for Hurston to draw from in Their Eyes? Voodoo is an appropriate religion for Hurston to draw from in Their Eyes because it has ”no association of priesthood, no written dogma, no code, no miss ionization” it is there for perfect for the character of Janie Crawford because it has the ability to be adapted. Voodoo is also used to “provide an alternate path by which woman can transform and transcend the socio-cultural pathologies and existential constraints that distinguish the African American female experience.”

What are the two classes of Voodoo loa and how are they different? The two classes of Voodoo loa are rada and petro. Rada loa are considered “high and pure” while petro loa are more implacable and violent.

How does Hurston present Voodoo as a viable religion? Hurston presents voodoo as a viable religion by making the characters embody different voodoo gods.

Who is Erzulie Freda and in what ways does Janie resemble her, physically and otherwise? Erzulie Freda is the voodoo loa that governs the feminine spheres of life. Janie physically resembles Erzulie in that she is African American with long unbound hair, her swagger and swinging hips. She also entered the religion during a time when slave owners sexually exploited their slaves. However, she is also like Janie because of what she embodies. Janie, like Erzulie, is the embodiment of idealistic love, the sanctity of motherhood, women’s inate strength and creativity, their ability to endure and survive adverse circumstances and their determination to fight for what is most dear to them.

According to Smith, what is the significance of the pear tree? According to Smith, the significance of the pear tree is to symbolize Janie’s sexual awakening and to help unify her quest.

To what Voodoo figure is Tea Cake compared and what is the significance? Tea Cake is compared to the voodoo figure Legba. He is Erzulie Freda’s ideal of the perfect lover. Smith states that Tea Cake’s last name Woods, connects his with Janie’s pear tree.

Why, according to Smith, does Teacake slap Janie? According to Smith, Tea Cake slaps Janie to show his power over her, or his owner ship of her.

What, according to Metreaux, is the Voodoo concept of God and how/why does it fit with Hurston's message? According to Metreaux, the voodoo concept of God is “the idea of a vague and impersonal power, superior to that of the loa.”

According to Smith, how has Janie changed upon her return to Eatonville? Upon her return to Eatonville, Smith states that Janie has changed into a complete woman who personifies the melding of black gentry and black folk cultures.

Paraphrase Janie's lesson about the "importance of self-determination." Janie’s lesson about the “importance of self-determination” is that you must find yourself for yourself and by yourself, nobody else can help you do that for yourself.

According to Smith, what is the "alternate path to selfhood" embodied by Janie? According to Smith the alternate path to selfhood embodied by Janie is love.

Kelley said...

1. Voodoo is trying to combine African and European religious beliefs and practices.
2. Smiths thesis is "Close analysis of the novel reveals that voodoo imagery and symbolism is integral to the development of the predominant themes of Hurston’s second novel."
3. Syncretizing: to combine two things that are very different from eachother. Smith uses this word to show that African and European religions are very different and that someone is trying to unite them hence, voodoo.
4. Voodoo is an appropriate religion to put in Their Eyes Were Watching God because Hurston puts black people, and especially the female protagonist, in obscure experiences.
5. There are two classes of voodoo loa. Loa is a spirit or god that helps the "devotees" (summoners) by increasing health giving them what they need and the thought that they will survive. The first class of loa is the rada: gentle gods only only help people. A petro loa is an evil god that can hurt people and only sometimes does good. If you side with the petro loa you have to basically sign a contract and pick up what ever debt is left.
6. Hurston presents that voodoo is a visible religion by making Janie defy her stereotype. By leaving her first husband, talking on the porch and learning new hobbies, Janie is not like the other black women.
7. Erzulie is a loa that determines a woman’s way of life. Janie controls her way of life. She was created when the slave masters would abuse their slaves and sometimes get them pregnant. This is ironic because both Janie’s mother and grandmother were raped and Janie was not so she was made to forbid it like Erzulie. Erzulie is also the loa of love, beauty and elegance. Janie is loved for her looking so young when she’s fourty, her lovely long hair and her grace. Erzulie also had 3 husbands.
8. According to Smith, the pear tree symbolizes Janie’s quest. Using “organic imagery” shows Janie’s purity. Some how she thinks it shows her sexuality.
9. Janie’s Voodoo character likes sweets and the name “Tea Cake” is a desert. His last name, Woods, represents the loa Legba who symbolizes the forest and the outdoors. Since he has a lot to do with nature, its odd that he does not sense that there is for sure a hurricane.
10. Smith says that when Tea Cake hurts Janie, he is really defending her. To Metrauz, God is a vague character who people look to, to who is at a higher level than loas. Janie and Tea Cake look to their God in the worst times and their loas aren’t looked at during the hurricane.
11. Smith says that Janie has changed when she has revisited Eatonville. She returns knowing that there is an endless circle of life, like the seeds that she brings back with her. After her quest is done she goes back to her boring life in Eatonville. She is at the top of her life, besides just losing Tea Cake.
12. Janie’s lesson on self determination basically says that love is different for everyone and each person leads and lives a different life. No one can tell you how great something is, you have to try it out yourself.
13. Hurston says that an alternate path to selfhood is found through Janie because she is characterized as Erzulie and that she can defy her stereotype.

Michelle said...

1) Voodoo is a syncretization of African and European religious beliefs and practices, through which its devotees strive for personal and communal power by achieving harmony with their respective individual natures and with the world in which they live.
2) Smith's thesis is that voodoo imagery and symbolism is integral to the development of the predominant themes in TEWWG.
3) Syncretization means a combination of two things that are different.
4) Voodoo is an appropriate religion for Hurston to draw from because voodoo is about getting personal and communal power and this is the main focus in TEWWG, especially for women.
5) The two classes of Voodoo loa are rada and petro. Rada only do good things for people and petro do things more out of spite and are violent.
6) Hurston presents Voodoo as a viable religion by making her protagonist, Janie a strong woman. By allowing Janie to find her independence she is able to use Voodoo.
7) Erzulie Freda is a loa that governs the feminine spheres of life. Janie and her both represent the ideality of love, women’s innate strength and creativity, their ability to endure and survive adverse circumstances and their determination to fight for what is most dear to them. Both Janie and Erzulie are half white, and have long dark hair.
8) According to Smith, the significance of the pear tree is the loa of ideal dreams, hopes and aspirations.
9) The Voodoo figure Tea Cake's compared to is Erzulie Danto, "Son of Evening Sun". This is significant because it shows that Tea Cake is meant to be Janie's perfect man just like Danto was Freda's.
10) According to Smith, Teacake slaps Janie because it signals the beginning of the end of Janie and Tea Cake’s idyllic union and sets in motion the events that will culminate in the supreme ordeal of Janie’s quest.
11) According to Metreaux, the Voodoo concept of God is that men let the smallest things get to them and cause it to go into a big act of rage. It fits with Hurston's message because all of Janie's husbands allowed the little things to bug them and show their weaknesses.
12) According to Smith, Janie changed upon her return to Eatonville because she brings with her a sense of knowledge for love, self, and community.
13) Janie's lesson about the "importance of self-determination" is: you have to find it to understand it, no one else can show you what it means you have to find it yourself.
14) According to Smith, the "alternate path to selfhood" embodied by Janie is voodoo. Voodoo is about finding yourself, especially when it comes to women.

Nikkie said...

7. Erzulie Freda is the loa in her petro manifestation. She represents principles and idealities of love, motherhood, innate strength and creativity, determination, and endurance. Erzulie Freda is manifested in Janie Crawford, as she is the heroic African American woman, instead of the abused slave that was stereotypical for black literature. Also, Janie embodies Erzulie in the fact that men appreciate her and women judge her. She stirs lust in men and hate in women.

8. The significance of the pear tree is that Janie can directly relate to it as she experiences her sexual and passionate desires, and her awareness of herself as a woman. The tree comes to signify Janies quest to self-discovery.

9. Teacake is compared to the voodoo figure Legba. His last name, Woods, connects him with the tree symbolism and Legba. Legba is the spirit of the outdoors. When Janie calls Tea Cake “the son of the evening sun”, it is also an allusion to Legba who is known as “the Orient, the East, the sun and the horizon”.

10. According to Smith, Tea Cake slaps Janie because he gave in to his male insecurities and slapped her in order to show her that he was boss.

11. According to Metreaux, the voodoo concept of God is that he’s just some superior, general, mystical power to the loa. They connect God with fate and nature. This fits into Hurston’s message because she uses this concept when she narrates how the people in the storm sat with their eyes watching God. They were questioning him and if he meant to cause such havoc in the muck with the hurricane.

12. According to Smith, Janie returned to Eatonville as a “complete woman”. She is independent and embodies grace, love and beauty.

13. Janies lesson about the importance of self determination basically says that no one can show or tell you exactly how to live your life except for you. You have to life your life for yourself.

14. According to Smith, the alternate path to self hood is one that goes beyond the stereotypes of black women.

JaclynDAPEnglish said...

1. Voodoo is the combination of African and European religious beliefs and practices.

2. Smith's thesis is that Voodoo imagery is important to the themes in TEWWG.

3. Syncretization is combining things that normally don't go together.

4. Voodoo is appropriate because it is so adaptable and can therefore be integrated into the story easily.

5. The two classes are rada which are the nice loa and the petro which are the mean loa.

6. Hurston presents Voodoo as a viable religion by challenging the stereotypes of Voodoo being "witchcraft" and showing what she believed it to be.

7. Erzulie Freda is the loa that governs the feminine side of life. Janie resembles her because they look alike, they are described the same way and have the same characteristics.

8. The significance of the pear tree is that under it Janie is one with nature and it symbolizes her idea of a perfect union and her sexual awakening.

9. Tea Cake is compared to Legba, and is Erzulie's idea of the perfect lover, like Tea Cake is to Janie.

10. According to Smith, Tea Cake slaps Janie because he feels he need to show everyone who is in charge in their relationship.

11. The Voodoo concept of God, according to Metreaux, is “the idea of a vague and impersonal power, superior to that of the loa" it fits Hurston's message by saying that things happen for a reason.

12. According to Smith, Janie has found herself upon her return to Eatonville.

13. Janie's lesson of the importance of self-determination is that you have to learn to make your own mistakes, other people can't make them for you and teach you the lessons.

14. The alternate path to self hood embodied by Janie is, according to Smith, one of "self-expression, autonomy, imagination and creativity as fundamental and accepted aspects of existence".

Brian said...

1. According to Smith; Hurston describes voodoo as: “the old, old mysticism of the world in African terms . . . a religion of creation and life”.

2. Smith's thesis is that voodoo imagery and symbolism are important to the themes and development of the story in TEWWG.

3. To "syncretize" is to combine two things that are drastically different from each other

4. Voodoo is an appropriate religion for TEWWG because it appeals easily to the uneducated and poor black community because it "has no written scripture". Voodoo is also appropriate because of the significance and strength represented by women in the religion.

5. The two classes of Voodoo Loa are Rada and Peto. Rada are traditionally good and do good things for the people that summon them. Peto are many times evil and even violent.

6. Hurston is able to present Voodoo as a viable religion by diverting from the "witchcraft" stereotype and instead showing strength and independence in Janie.

7. Erzulie Freda is the Voodoo loa of love and femenine things. She and Janie are described as very much alike physically and also in their mannerisms and attitudes.

8. According to Smith; the pear tree represents Janie's awakening to sexuality and the beginning of her desire for the perfect union.

9. Tea Cake is compared to Legba. Legba is described as the perfect match to Erzulie Freda and that makes Tea Cake the perfect match for Janie.

10. According to Smith, Tea Cake slaps Janie because of his male insecurities and because he needs to show the world who is in charge of his and Janie's relationship.

11. According to Metreaux, the Voodoo concept of God fits Hurstons message because men let small things arouse their tempers and often overreact.

12. According to Smith, Janie brings with her back to Eatonville the expierence that she has had while she was away. Her life has come full circle.

13. According to Smith, the alternate path of selfhood embodied by Janie is the ability to break away from stereotypes and find your own path.

JacquiPApEnglish said...

1. Voodoo is a religion the someone practice or worships involving sacrifices and the use of black magic.

2. Smith's thesis is that voodoo imagery and symbolism are important themes of TEWWG.

3. Syncretization is combining two things together.

4. Voodoo is the appropriate religion of Hurston because voodoo is personal and voodoo shows that women have the power in TEWWG.

5. The two classes of voodoo are rada loa and petro loa. Rada loa is the good and pure and Petro loa is the evil and more violent then Rada loa.

6. Hurston presents voodoo a viable religion by she makes Janie a strong women by how Janie overcomes her problems with her husbands.

7. Erzulie Freda is feminine side of voodoo by she loves all men but hate all women. She resemble Janie by she has the same attitude towards men and women.

8. The significance of the pear tree is that Janie is under the tree and she symbolizes the woman inside is awakening.

9. Tea Cake is compare to Legba which is Erzulie Freda lover. So Tea Cake and Janie were meant for each other.

10. Tea Cake slaps Janie because Tea Cake had the need to show everyone that he was charge the relationship.

11. The voodoo concept of God is that women have the power. The men of very little power that's why very little thing bugs them.

12. Janie changed by how she looks and how she carries around seeds. That symbolizes that she gain Knowledge.

13. Janie's lesson is that you have to learn from your mistakes and you must gain something from them.

14. The alternate path to self hood is one that goes beyond the stereotypes of women by how women don't have power to change themselfs.

Brittanie said...

Brittanie Williams
1. What is Voodoo? Voodoo is a syncretization of African and European religious beliefs and practices, through which its devotees strive for personal and communal power by achieving harmony with their respective individual natures and with the world in which they live.
2. What is Smith's thesis? Smith’s thesis is voodoo is an effective part of a religion that expresses the beliefs and values of black women through the novel T.E.W.W.G.
3. Define syncretization. To attempt to combine or unite, as different or opposing principles.
4. Why is Voodoo an appropriate religion for Hurston to draw from in Their Eyes? Voodoo is an appropriate religion for Hurston to draw from the novel because voodoo is a religion which reflects the desires and aspirations of its followers. The religion provides an alternate path for the women to take to convert and have better outlook on themselves.
5. What are the two classes of Voodoo loa and how are they different? The two classes of voodoo loa are: rada and petro. The rada loa are considered high and pure and has a “good” god to protect them. Petro is the opposing side of the rada. Petro is known as the evil side of the redeye.
6. How does Hurston present Voodoo as a viable religion? Hurston presents voodoo as a possible religion because the religion shows how women are challenged and differ from the men throughout the novel. In the novel Janie was forced to take on things she thought she couldn’t handle and overcame them.
7. Who is Erzulie Freda and in what ways does Janie resemble her, physically and otherwise? Erzulie Freda is the loa that governs the feminine spheres of life. Janie and Miss Freda resemble each other through their characteristics such as coming from the same background and being able to deal with the times that each of them grew of up in. Each of the women was exploited to sex through slavery and is graceful women. Janie is the essence of Erzulie in a physical appearance, carriage and demeanor.
8. According to Smith, what is the significance of the pear tree? According to smith the pear tree signifies the sexual desire and awakening through the character of Janie.
9. To what Voodoo figure is teacake compared and what is the significance? The voodoo figure that Teacake is compared to is Son of Evening Sun. The significance is that it is an allusion to Legba. His skin represents Erzulie Danto. The relationship the two of them share represents a perfect love.
10. Why, according to Smith, does Teacake slap Janie? According to Smith Janie is slapped by Teacake because he has male insecurities and wants to show the turners who the boss of the relationship is.
11. What, according to Metreaux, is the Voodoo concept of God and how/why does it fit with Hurston's message? According to Metreaux the Voodoo concept of God fits Hurston’s message because men and women think differently. Men allow small things to bother them when women just look past the idea and try to think of other things that are more important to get into.
12. According to Smith, how has Janie changed upon her return to Eatonville? According to Smith Janie has changed upon her return to Eatonville because of her gain of personality confidence and knowledge. Janie brings seeds back to plant to remember the times her and Teacake shared while living a wonderful life together on the muck.
13. Paraphrase Janie's lesson about the "importance of self-determination." In order for you to grow you have to experience life on your own without the help of your parents. A parent can tell you about life and show you the right path to take but without experience you will never know.
I have learned and grew from listening to your words of wisdom
14. According to Smith, what is the "alternate path to selfhood" embodied by Janie? The alternate path to selfhood by Janie is through the shapely images of sekf-expression autonomy imagination and creativity.

Charleen Stempek said...

1. What is Voodoo?
• A religion that is polytheistic and has some aspects derived from the Catholic religion. Voodoo uses fetishes to carry out magic.

2. What is Smith's thesis?
• “Close analysis of the novel reveals that voodoo imagery and symbolism is integral to the development of the predominant themes of Hurston’s second novel.”

3. Define syncretization.
• to unite two opposing things

4. Why is Voodoo an appropriate religion for Hurston to draw from in Their Eyes?
• It is appropriate because it “provides an alternate path by which women can transform and transcend the socio-cultural pathologies and existential constraints that distinguish the African American female experience.”

5. What are the two classes
of Voodoo loa and how are they different?
• One class is the rada loa which are gentle gods that are high and pure and do only good things fro people. The other class petro loa is more violent and evil but can also do good things.

6. How does Hurston present Voodoo as a viable religion?
• Hurston uses Janie’s character to present voodoo as a viable religion by challenging voodoo myths in the book through imagery and symbolism “to create a modern American myth.” She is compared to Erzulie, a voodoo goddess, because of her outlooks on life, search for identity, personal strength and creativity, and her fight to achieve what she strives for.

7. Who is Erzulie Freda and in what ways does Janie resemble her, physically and otherwise?
• Erzulie is a voodoo loa that rules and controls feminist substances. Janie resembles her because they both have inner strength, determination, and a heroic era. Janie “possesses the folk wisdom and knowledge of the black experience for which Janie is questing and can… represent the minds and speck of all of tha characters form a timeless perspective that Janie’s direct discourse alone cannot.” They are both beautiful and elegant causing the men to want to be with her. Metraux describes Erzulie which resembles Janie. “at last, in the sull glory of her seductiveness, with hair unbound to make her look like a long haired half-casts, Ezili makes her entrance. … she walks slowly, swinging her hips.” The overalls that Janie wears resembles the petro loa. They are both hard-working and at times can resemble overbearing and aggressive traits.

8. According to Smith, what is the significance of the pear tree?
• The significance of the pear tree is the realization of Jaine’s sexuality. It a metaphor of the things that love should be and the things that Janie aspires to experience. because of the organic context that the pear tree is portrayed in, the reader is able to understand the natural elements that takes place in spheres regarding love, emotion, and sexuality.

9. To what Voodoo figure is Tea Cake compared and what is the
significance?
• Tea Cake is compared to the voodoo characters erzulie danto because he is the perfect lover, Legba because he is the symbolic bee to Janies blossom, and Vodoun because he is described as “the orient, the east, the sun and the place the sun rises.”

10. Why, according to Smith, does Teacake slap Janie?
• Smith thinks that Tea Cake slaps Janie to show his possession of her which shows Janie that she needed to regain control of her life and not let others control it for her.

11. What, according to Metreaux, is the Voodoo concept of God and how/why does it fit with Hurston's message?
• The voodoo concept of God according to Metreaux is that God is “ the idea of vague and impersonal power, superior to that of the loa.” It fits with Hurston’s message because Hurston makes references to God as one who controls things and has the ruling iron fist, especially in times of triviality.

12. According to Smith, how has Janie changed upon her return to Eatonville?
• Janie is now more complete then she was when she left because she can now look from 2 different perspectives; black gentry and black folk cultures. She now has self respect and those whom she had stereotyped and judged in the past. She is “the embodiment of the sensuality, grace, beauty, and capacity for unconditional love which characterizes Erzulie Freda and the industriousness, perseverance, fierce loyalty, capacity for self expression and autonomy which characterizes Erzulia Danto.”

13. Paraphrase Janie's lesson about the "importance of self-determination."
• Janie’s lesson is that in order for you to find yourself and be truly happy with your life, you must take the journey and have the ambition to get yourself there. No one can do it for you.

14. According to Smith, what is the "alternate path to selfhood" embodied by Janie?
• It is a path the Janie took that led her to self discovery and realization of herself and the everyday stereotypical ideas of others and the things that others thought. Different aspects of her personality and experiences that she encountered created this path and caused her to follow it.

elaine nelson said...

1. Voodoo is a "religion of creation and life" where African and European beliefs and practices syncretize together.

2. Smith's thesis say that "the novel reveals that voodoo imagery and symbolism are intergral to the development of the predominant themes of Hurston's second novel" meaning that Hurston used voodoo imagery and symbolism to portray the themes throughout the story.

3. Syncretization is the combination of different or opposing principles or groups.

4. Voodoo is an appropriate religion for Hurston to use because it deals with the integration of beliefs which occurs especially in Janie's life and also in the lives of the other characters in the story. Voodoo also allows for a different perspective in the characters of TEWWG.

5. The two classes of Voodoo Ioa are Rada and Petro. Rada deals with the positive and good things and counter acts violence with punishment. On the other hand, Petro deals with darkness and being evil and is known as "red eyes".

6. Hurston presents Voodoo as a viable religion by making Janie's character more independent and different. Hurston makes Janie out to be a character that will not fit into stereotypes which adds the presence of Voodoo.

7. Erzulie Freda represents the beauty, love, elegance in which all women deam to have. Janie physically resembles Erzulie because she is African American and has "unbound hair". They share other same characteristics and are also described in similar ways.

8. According to Smith, the pear tree resembles a deep, passionate love. She views the pear tree as a way Janie was able to find her sexual awakening and also a way to grow more mature.

9. Tea Cake is compared to "The Son of Evening Son" also known as Erzulie Danto who is the lover of Erzulie Freda. This is significant because while Janie is compared to Erzulie Freda, Tea Cake is compared to Erzulie Danto and in TEWWG Janie and Tea Cake are lovers.

10. According to Smith, Tea Cake slaps Janie because he wants her to know that he has complete control over her.

11. The Voodoo concept of God is "the idea of a vague and impersonal power, superior to that of the loa" which means in the context of TEWWG that God is an ideal power to the characters in the story and they truly value him.

12. Janie has changed upon her return to Eatonville because she finally understands the essentials in life and brings back the seeds to remember her happiness. She feels accomplished and realizes she found herself along the journey.

13. The importance of self-determination is to be yourself at all times. The life values learned deal with finding your true self and the only way to acheive that is by searching yourself.

14. The "alternate path to selfhood" embodied by Janie relates to Voodoo and love because to find love means you found Voodoo and yourself along the way. This shows in Janie especially because she portray the self-determination that one might have when searching for happiness.

Jazz G AP English said...

1. Voodoo is a religion practiced by Caribbean countries, where the believers think that they can communicate with ancestors and saints.
2. Smith’s thesis is that voodoo imagery and symbolism are themes in Zora Neale Hurston’s book Their Eyes Were Watching God.
3. Syncretization is the act of attempting to combine or unite.
4. Voodoo can be drawn from Their Eyes Were Watching God because it speaks of a black women struggle to find her self and not follow the crowd.
5. Rada loa are considered high and pure gods and only use violence to punish but never like a petro. Petro loa are more violent, evil and sometimes cannibal.
7. Erzulie Freda is the loa that governs the feminine spheres of life especially with exploited female slaves. Janie and Erzulie wares blue jeans
8. To Smith the pear tree symbolizes unpossessive, mutually affirming, passionate love.
9. According to Smith, Tea Cake slaps Janie to show everyone who is boss and to prove his possession.
10. Tea Cake is compared to Legba, because of his last name “Woods” for nature.
12. Janie returns to Eatonville as a complete woman with respect for the working class.
13. Janie says that you have to find self determination for yourself no one can tell you about it.
14. The alternate path to self hood is by reshaping the image of black wemen from sexual objects to respected equals.

alexis said...

1. Voodoo is a religion which Hurston describes as “the old, old mysticism of the world in African terms . . . a religion of creation and life” (Tell My Horse 376). It is also a combination of African and European religious beliefs and practices, through which its struggles for personal and communal power by achieving harmony with their respective individual natures and with the world in which they live.

2. Smith’s thesis is “Close analysis of the novel reveals that voodoo imagery and symbolism is integral to the development of the predominant themes of Hurston’s second novel”.


3. Syncretization is an attempt to combine or unite, as different or opposing principles, parties.

4. Voodoo is an appropriate religion for Hurston to draw from Their Eyes because while Hurston was writing Their Eyes see was living in Haiti and that is a very common and important religion there.


5. The two different classes are rada and petro. Rada are high and pure; and petro are implacable and violent. They are alter egos of each other.

6. Hurston presents Voodoo as a viable religion in the form of her protagonist Janie Crawford, who Hurston represents like the Voodoo god Erzulie (Freda and Danto). Also by challenging the basic stereotypes of as voodoo as magic and witchcraft and challenging how women, specifically black women were treated in American culture. It also reflects the desires and aspirations of its followers, which functions as an alternate form of power for those that might otherwise feel powerless, and which privileges women’s lives in ways other religious traditions do not, Voodoo is a way to explore the role and status of black women within modern African American culture.


7. Erzulie Freda entered the religion during a time when slave owners sexually exploited their female slaves and separated families on purpose; she represents the ideality of love, the sacredness of motherhood, women’s strength and creativity, their ability to endure and survive hard circumstances and their determination to fight for what is important to them. Her and Janie are both mulatta, they both are irresistible to men and envied by women, and they both have very long hair and are beautiful and elegant. They also both have three husbands.

8. According to Smith the significance of the pear tree “symbolizes unpossessive, mutually affirming, passionate love—the idyllic union of equals”; it represents what Janie is looking for in life, “a bee to her bloom”. It represents her womanhood and her call of adventure.


9. Tea Cake is compared to Erzulie’s ideal of the perfect lover and Legba, also his skin is like Erzulie Danto, and his is compared to the horizon. The significance is that his last name connects with trees and outdoors (Janie’s pear tree). Also Tea Cake is called by Janie, the “Son of Evening Sun” which compares to Legba which is “the sun and the place the sun rises.” Janie and Tea Cake’s relationship represents the meshing of African American folklore and Haitian Voodoo. And since Janie is most similar to Erzulie Freda and Tea Cake is more similar to Erzulie Danto they are alter egos of each other.

10. According to Smith, Tea Cake slaps Janie because he needed to show Mrs. Turner and the people on the muck “who is boss” because Mrs. Turner was trying to fix Janie up with her brother and Tea Cake was upset and wanted to show Mrs. Turner that Janie was not available and she was not interested.


11. According to Metreaux , the Voodoo concept of God is “the idea of a vague and impersonal power, superior to that of the loa. It would seem to be something like what we understand . . . by the word ‘fate’ or ‘nature’” (83). This fits into Hurston’s message by creating the hurricane, which was supposed to be caused by Erzulie Danto because Tea Cake offends the loa and Erzulie Danto is connected with water and that symbolizes her outrage.

12. According to Smith, Janie has changed upon her return to Eatonville by returning to Eatonville as a complete woman who has brought “black gentry and black folk cultures” together. She has nine hundred dollars in the bank, property and social status; she also possesses a respect for and a loyalty to the lives and experiences of the black working-class folk. She also returns to Eatonville with “sensuality, grace, beauty and capacity for unconditional love which characterize Erzulie Freda and the industriousness, perseverance, fierce loyalty, capacity for self-expression and autonomy which characterize Erzulie Danto”.


13. Janie’s “importance of self-determination” is what she has wanted to do since she was a little girl and she realized she was the only black child out of the many her grandmother took care of. She was always looking for someone to compare to or look up to, she didn’t know her parents and she didn’t really like her grandmother and she definitely didn’t want to end up like her. She really realized what she wanted when she sat under the pear tree and it took her almost a life time to finally get what she was looking for. Even though that was her main goal in life, failed marriages and other important things that kept her from the thing in life she wanted the most.

14. According to Smith, the “alternate path of selfhood” embodied by Janie is an image of” black womanhood which reflects self-expression, autonomy, imagination and creativity” as fundamental and accepted aspects of existence, instead of being seen as sexual objects, mules and breeders who are destined for tragic ends.

alexis said...
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alexis said...
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Nikkie said...

1. Voodoo is a syncretization of African and European religious beliefs and practices, through which it's devotees strive for personal and communal power by achieving harmony with their respective individual natures and with the world in which they live.

2. Smith's thesis is that voodoo imagery and symbolism is intricate in the foundation of the major themes in "Their Eyes Were Watching God".

3. Syncretization is combining or uniting different or opposing principles or parties.

4. Voodoo is an important religion for Hurston to draw from in "Their Eyes". The story is about a black woman's search for self-identity and to find her role within the American and African American cultures. Hurston uses voodoo in the novel to create a contemporary American allegory that goes beyond what is historically and stereotypically expected of black women.

5. The two classes of voodoo loa are the rada and the petro. The rada loa are supposedly the highest and most pure. They are gentle gods who only do good. The only time they may exercise violence is when they are using it to punish. The petro exercise violence out of spite, and are much more aggressive and violent.

6. Hurston presents voodoo as a viable religion by challenging the stereotypes that bring out the treatment of women, and legitimizes that voodoo is an authentic spiritual path that is a way for those who do not have power to be empowered.

7. Erzulie Freda is the loa in her petro manifestation. She represents principles and idealities of love, motherhood, innate strength and creativity, determination, and endurance. Erzulie Freda is manifested in Janie Crawford, as she is the heroic African American woman, instead of the abused slave that was stereotypical for black literature. Also, Janie embodies Erzulie in the fact that men appreciate her and women judge her. She stirs lust in men and hate in women.

8. The significance of the pear tree is that Janie can directly relate to it as she experiences her sexual and passionate desires, and her awareness of herself as a woman. The tree comes to signify Janies quest to self-discovery.

9. Teacake is compared to the voodoo figure Legba. His last name, Woods, connects him with the tree symbolism and Legba. Legba is the spirit of the outdoors. When Janie calls Tea Cake “the son of the evening sun”, it is also an allusion to Legba who is known as “the Orient, the East, the sun and the horizon”.

10. According to Smith, Tea Cake slaps Janie because he gave in to his male insecurities and slapped her in order to show her that he was boss.

11. According to Metreaux, the voodoo concept of God is that he’s just some superior, general, mystical power to the loa. They connect God with fate and nature. This fits into Hurston’s message because she uses this concept when she narrates how the people in the storm sat with their eyes watching God. They were questioning him and if he meant to cause such havoc in the muck with the hurricane.

12. According to Smith, Janie returned to Eatonville as a “complete woman”. She is independent and embodies grace, love and beauty.

13. Janies lesson about the importance of self determination basically says that no one can show or tell you exactly how to live your life except for you. You have to life your life for yourself.

14. According to Smith, the alternate path to self hood is one that goes beyond the stereotypes of black women.

February 18, 2009 6:28 PM