Zora Neale Hurston
Lesson plans for Their Eyes Were Watching God

Folklore in Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes were Watching God
This lesson plan focuses on the way Hurston incorporates, adapts, transforms, and comments on black folklife in Their Eyes Were Watching God. The idea is to understand, both as formal analysts of voice and style and as historians of literature, the crucial role of oral folklore in Hurston's written canon.

A Guide to Harlem Renaissance Materials
The Library of Congress presents a variety of materials on Hurston and other Harlem Renaissance artists.

The History of Jim Crow
The resources at this site explore segregation in America from 1870s to 1950s. Check out both the American Literature and Teacher Resources at the bottom of the opening page.

Lake Okeechobee Hurricane Pictures
Photos of the Lake Okeechobee area before and after the hurricane of 1928.

Reading and Writing the Autobiography with a Study of Zora Neale Hurston
Students explore the lives of others in order to see the universality of human experience. Scroll down to find chapter-by-chapter study questions.

Style: Defining and Exploring an Author's Stylistic Choices
In this activity, students will find examples of specific stylistic devices in sample literary passages then search for additional examples and explore the reasons for the stylistic choices that the author has made. Examples for this lesson plan include passages from Their Eyes were Watching God; however, passages from any literary work can be used for the activities.

Their Eyes were Watching God
Scroll down to find chapter-by-chapter study guide questions, test questions, and key quotations.

Their Eyes Were Watching God
Historical background, author biography, related works, discussion questions, related resources, and a thorough teacher's guide. These materials were prepared as part of the NEA Big Read.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
This SCORE guide presents five activities to help the reader more deeply understand Janie and her journey to self-discovery.

Their Eyes were Watching God Reading Group Guide
Ten discussion questions. Follow the links to biography and an online excerpt.

Their Eyes Were Watching God
Summary and 10 discussion questions.

Their Eyes Were Watching God
Discussion questions.

Vocabulary words from Their Eyes Were Watching God
A list of 117 words, presented by chapter.

Zora Neale Hurston
Biography, timeline, and links to other resources. Linger a while on the home page and listen to Ruby Dee read the opening of Their Eyes were watching God.

Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun
Biographical information, including portraits and a letter to Countee Cullen.

The Zora Neale Hurston Plays at the Library of Congress
Ten plays and a timeline of Hurston's life.

Zora Neale Hurston: Teacher Resource File
Links to biography, lesson plans, criticism, and ERIC resources.