Lesson 1 | Their Eyes Were Watching God | 11th Grade English

Lesson Map

Gain background knowledge Their Eyes Were Watching God by exploring a text set on the Reconstruction and Jim Crow laws, The Great Migration, Zora Neale Hurston, and African American Vernacular English.

Materials

Their Eyes Were Watching God Background Knowledge Text Set Handout (G11, U3, L1)
“The Story of Reconstruction” — from 00:00–6:06
“Jim Crow Laws”
“Jim Crow Laws”
“The Great Migration”
“Claiming a Space” — 00:00–5:55
“Accent Expert Gives a Tour of U.S. Accents” — from 4:40–7:04
“AAVE Explained: A dialect that Transcends Internet Culture” — from 2:56–5:44
“African-American Dialect the Heart of Penumbra's 'Speak”

Standards

RI.11-12.7SL.11-12.2

Lesson

Analyze how Hurston uses anecdotes, tone, and imagery to convey her perspective on race and identity.

Materials

“How it Feels to be Colored Me”

Standards

L.11-12.5RI.11-12.2RI.11-12.4RI.11-12.6

Lesson

Analyze how Hurston uses dialect and narrative voice to characterize Janie and the community.

Materials

Their Eyes Were Watching God — Chapter 1, pp. 1–7

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.5RL.11-12.6

Lesson

Analyze how Hurston uses imagery and symbolism to introduce themes of love, relationships, and personal growth.

Materials

Their Eyes Were Watching God — Chapters 2–4, pp. 8–33

Standards

L.11-12.5RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4

Lesson

Analyze how Hurston characterizes Joe's relationship with Janie and the town of Eatonville.

Materials

Their Eyes Were Watching God — Chapter 5, pp. 34–50

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4

Lesson

Analyze motifs introduced in the first five chapters of Their Eyes Were Watching God and how Hurston uses them to develop Janie's character.

Materials

Their Eyes Were Watching God — Chapters 1–5
Motif Handout (G11, U3, L6)
Motif Tracker (G11, U3, L6)

Standards

L.11-12.5RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.5SL.11-12.1SL.11-12.4

Lesson

Analyze how Hurston uses motifs and symbols to illustrate themes of power and control in Joe and Janie's relationship.

Materials

Their Eyes Were Watching God — Chapter 6, pp. 51–62 and 69–75

Standards

L.11-12.5RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.5

Lesson

Analyze how poets use imagery, tone and structure to convey a theme about womanhood.

Materials

“Women”
“WOMAN”

Standards

L.11-12.5RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.5

Lesson

Analyze Janie's evolving sense of self through her actions and reflections after Joe's death.

Materials

Their Eyes Were Watching God — Chapters 7–9, pp. 76–93
Janie's Evolution in Chapters 7–9 Graphic Organizer (G11, U3, L9)

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4

Lesson

Create a found poem that reflects Janie's transformation using language from Their Eyes Were Watching God and explain creative choices in a short poet's statement.

Materials

Their Eyes Were Watching God — Chapters 7–9

Standards

L.11-12.5RL.11-12.1RL.11-12.3W.11-12.3W.11-12.9

Lesson

Analyze how Hurston portrays the relationship between Tea Cake and Janie.

Materials

Their Eyes Were Watching God — Chapters 10–13, pp. 94–115

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.5RL.11-12.6

Lesson

Analyze how Hurston uses setting to convey Janie's growth and to develop ideas about love.

Materials

Their Eyes Were Watching God — Chapters 13–15, pp. 116–138

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.5

Lesson

Analyze how Hurston addresses themes of internalized racism and colorism through the interactions between Janie, Tea Cake, and Mrs. Turner.

Materials

Their Eyes Were Watching God — Chapters 16–17, pp. 139–153

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4

Lesson

Analyze the structure of Chapter 18 and how Hurston uses the hurricane as a symbol to convey themes.

Materials

Their Eyes Were Watching God — Chapter 18, pp. 154–167

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.5

Lesson

Analyze how Hurston uses key events at the end of the novel to highlight Janie's personal growth as well as examine race, gender, and power dynamics in society.

Materials

Their Eyes Were Watching God — Chapters 19–20, pp. 168–193
Language Sensitivity Analysis Handout (G11, U3, L15)

Standards

L.11-12.5RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4

Lesson

Assessment

Socratic Seminar

Engage in a Socratic seminar about Their Eyes Were Watching God by supporting arguments with strong textual evidence.

Materials

Their Eyes Were Watching God — full text
Sentence Stems for Academic Discourse

Standards

SL.11-12.1.aSL.11-12.1.bSL.11-12.1.cSL.11-12.1.d

Lesson

Assessment

Performance Task

Write a strong thesis statement about how a motif evolves to convey Janie's journey and the novel's themes; outline body paragraphs needed to support the thesis statement.

Materials