Their Eyes Were Watching God
Chapter 7
1. A dynamic character is a character that changes throughout the course of a novel as they
respond and adjust to things that happen. Describe how Janie has changed at this point in the
novel.
2. Why do you think Hurston chose the metaphor, "She was a rut in the road." to describe Janie
at age 348
3. What physical signs suggest that Joe is getting old and may be sick?
4. What role do the men of the town play in the deterioration of Joe and Janie's relationship?
5. How does Joe insult Janie? What does she say about him to retaliate?
6. Why is Janie's insult particularly offensive to Joe?
7. Why does Joe resort to violence after the insult?
Chapter 8
1. Consider the language in the statement from page 92. "But the stillness was the sleep of
swords." What are the connotations of this description? How does the use of alliteration increase
the effectiveness of the language?
2. What is Joe implying when he refuses to eat the soup that Janie makes for him?
3. What rumor are people spreading about Janie (page 94)?
4. Examine the descriptions of Death and Rumor on page 95. What forms of figurative language.
does Hurston use? How do her choices impact the tone of the chapter?
5. Janie uses the term "multiplied cockroach" to describe the sham doctor that Joe hires. What
are the connotations of calling someone a "multiplied cockroach"? How is it different from
simply being called a "cockroach"?
6. When Janie confronts Joe on his deathbed, she tells him. "And now you got tuh die to find out
dat you got tuh pacify somebody besides yo'self if you wants any love and sympathy in dis
world. You ain't tried tuh pacify nobody but yo'self" (Pages 98-99). Why do you think Janie uses
the word "pacify" here?
7. How do you feel about Janie's final confrontation with Joe and her reaction to his death? Was
she was right to confront him? Do you feel sympathetic towards Janie? Do you feel sympathetic
towards Joe?