Journal 1: Tabbing Method

I will tab the stranger using a color coding system to highlight techniques used in the book. Due to the nature of The Stranger, an emphasis will be placed on characterization. Setting and language will also be tabbed to a large extent. Characterization will be tabbed in green, setting in orange, and language in yellow. Quotes will be tabbed in any color, simply using a smaller tab and an indication as to where the quote lies on the page.

I will also be tabbing with a rough theme in mind which will allow me to focus on specific techniques that are most applicable to my chosen theme. My current theme is those who live below societies expectations and act only on selfish desires are actually superior beings. With this theme in mind (subject to change) I will tab with a heavy emphasis on characterization, specifically external conflict and the search for an antagonist. Anytime a character acts as a clear foil to Meursault, I will take tab it in order to develop a dynamic understanding of him. I believe the key to understanding him is to find those characters on both ends of the spectrum around him, and by understanding them, we then understand him.

Journal 10: Theme and Supporting Quotes

Theme: Modern day society is structured around survival. Although vital needs such as food and water are now in relative abundance, the competition for social dominance is still prevalent.

Questions: Clarification on the phrase competition for social dominance?
Survival and dominance synonymous?

Supporting Quotes:

"Mis' Woods, Ah have often said to mah husband, Ah don't see how uh lady like Mis' Woods can stand all them common niggers round her place all de time." (140).
Hurston uses connotation in the above quote with the phrase "common nigger." In addition to the degrading manner in which Mrs. Turner says it, Hurston's use of the phrase adds connotation.

"You'se different from me. Ah can't stand black niggers. Ah don't blame de white folks from hatin' 'em 'cause Ah can't stand 'em mahself." (141).
As previously mentioned, Hurston again uses connotation and adds to her theme of social competition.

"...Who wants to be mixed up wid uh rusty black man..." (141).

"...Ah got white folks' features in my face. Still and all Ah got tuh be lumped in wid all de rest. It ain't fair." (142).
Again, Hurston points back to the theme of social dominance. Mrs. Turner makes it very clear she believes whites are a socially dominant class, and she is upset because she believes that physical features should be enough to get herself thrown in. She uses some level of diction (lumped in wid all de rest) to further invoke connotations of the african american race being negative.

"...Her look like uh white woman! Wid dat meriny skin and hair jus' as close tuh her head as ninety-nine is tuh uh hundred!" (143).
Hurston uses diction (meriny skin) and simile (ninety-nine is...) to contrast the characters of Tea Cake and Mrs. Turner. This also points to the fact that not all characters view the social dominance chain in the same light.

"Dey don't always know. Indians don't know much uh nothin', tuh tell de truth. Else dey'd own dis country still. De white folks ain't gone nowhere. Dey oughta know if it's dangerous." (156).
Hurston uses paralell structure to contrast Tea Cake's views on whites and Indians, and also describes how their lack of knowledge led to the loss of their country.

Journal 9: Pastiche Part II

He sat on his milky bucket, pondering the night sky. Every inch was littered with luminous stars, contrasted to the darkest sky he had seen. Blood trickled down his neglected shins and arms. "You did something incredible today." The voice shocked him, but it was impossible to tell; he had no physical reaction whatsoever. His eyes remained on a cluster of stars that shone just a little bit brighter than the others, just enough to notice a difference. "You focus to much on what they want you to be. A meaningless object infinitely below its potential." Finally he broke his gaze of the starts and focused it on the other. His eyes were polished stones. None could deceit what he was thinking or feeling. "I have no choice. A life with strings attached is far better than none at all." The other contemplated this. He made a sound point, and it wasn't for a while he was able to respond. "You and you alone know who you are. You can cut the strings if you want, you simply need to choose to do so." With that, the other left leaving him to question what he had done. Why he decided to live in another's life. Why he determined it would be beneficial to be viewed in a bright light when darkness was more comfortable. He called the other and thanked him. He had been next to him through the hottest flames and guided him back out.

The first literary element, with some examples highlighted in orange, was diction. Diction is used to create vivid imagery throughout the passage and exaggerate to some extent what actually happened (i.e. hottest flames). In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston frequently used diction for the same reason (i.e. replacing quick with slick). In addition, Hurston also used diction to add to a dynamic setting.

The second literary technique was confidant, an example highlighted in green. The unnamed character expresses his gratitude to the other, and indicated the confidant had helped him through his difficult times. In this case, the confidant is also a mentor, however in Hurston's novel the primary confidant (Pheoby) is used to verbally display Janie's thoughts.

The final literary technique used was syntax, an example highlighted in blue. Hurston used syntax, specifically simple sentences, in dialog to add to her setting and create a culture within the book and strengthen relationships between characters. In the above passage, complex sentences are used within dialog to add a level of sophistication to the characters. 

The theme used in Their Eyes Were Watching God is that those who oppress the thoughts and feelings of others also prohibit them from exploring themselves, leading to confusion and a lack of self-identity. In the pastiche above, the character is oppressed by an unnamed group, leading him to question who he is and ultimately accept the mold society has placed him in.

Journal 8: Stylistic Choices In Quotes

1. Confidant
"Ah don't want tuh go. Ah always did want tuh git round uh whole heap, but Jody wouldn't 'low me tuh. When Ah wasn't in de store he wanted me tuh jes sit wid folded hands and sit dere." (112).


In this quote, Janie is explaining her situation to Pheoby. With the exception of Pheoby, Janie rarely expressed her thoughts and emotions through dialog. Hurston expressed Janie's thoughts through the use of third person narrative, which reduced her relationships between characters since she really only exposed her true thoughts to Pheoby. In this particular quote, Pheoby has just addressed the local concern that Tea Cake was changing her nature, but Janie explains this was always her nature, Jody just suppressed it.

2. Diction
"Ah'd git dat ship out from under him so slick till he'd be walkin' de water lak ole Peter befo' he knowed it." (101).

In the quote above, Hurston uses diction to create a vivid image through the use of a simile. Hurston chose to use the word "slick" rather than the synonymous quick, fast, suddenly, etc. The use of the word slick characterizes Tea Cake to a certain extent and also creates a setting through language. The quote above is stated by Tea Cake to Janie. He previously asked Janie if she would prefer a train or a ship, and she asked how he would acquire  either. He said all ship captains were old, and it would be easy to take the ship from them if it made her happy.

3. Syntax
"Fishin'? Dis time uh night?" (102).

In the above quote, Hurston uses a simple sentence in dialog between Janie and Tea Cake. Hurston chose simple sentences in almost all the dialog in the novel, primarily to highlight the simplicity of the characters. It is important to note that when she writes in narrative, her sentences become complex; unlike authors such as Hemingway, Hurston herself does not write in simple sentences, only her characters. The simplicity of the dialog may lead a reader to think the character is unintelligent, however the simple sentence structure may be a part of the dialect. The quote above is taken out of the context of Tea Cake asking Janie to go fishing in the middle of the night after dinner. Janie accepts and this further concerns her surrounding characters, namely Hezekiah and Pheoby.

Journal 7: Pastiche

It was in that moment Votolom pondered Anger. Anger, the passionate wraith which spawned from deeply rooted trees. The rejected shade who resided in seemingly dormant mountains with only the smallest openings for it to escape. What did Anger care for protection, what force could dilute him? He perches atop the summit of his dark mountain. Perches calmly and patiently, hoarding his power until given the signal to release his raw energy. Been standing on that summit before it existed, before time ticked, before the very subjects he corrupted were born. She was liable to feel the intense heat of his incarnation at the least predictable time. She was jealous and nervous too. She sent in a friend to recommend a cure to his ailment, but she knew it was folly. There was no retardant or suit capable of withstanding his heat, and know living soul knew how to treat a victim of his wrath. He should be alright, the cure was simply control of oneself. He would not be subjected to the wraith's heat. He sincerely believed he could escape the flames. But she knew, and if she hadn't, the scorched spirits tarnished by his wrath would make it all too clear. Those who had nothing to do with the wraith's business would be affected through his most recent target. All he had to do was patiently sit and wait for an innocent bystander with blood to boil. Anger, that intense fire immune to water, was beginning to torch the town.

In order to parallel Hurston, I chose to focus on an abstract emotion which was generally immune to any logic or justice. Anger corrupts the least expecting, and there is no way to overcome it once you are overtaken. In addition to the sentence structure, anger was also personified as a wraith (vs. Hurston's bird) in order to display its magnitude.

Journal 6: Death

1. Hurston personifies death to demonstrate his immortality "What need has death for a cover, and what winds can blow against him?" (84). Since death is immaterial and immortal, no naturally occurring force can destroy it. 

2. Hurston uses a bird as a symbol of death. "She was liable to find a feather from his wings in her yard any day now." (84). Because birds were chosen as the symbol of death, a feather would be the equivalent of an omen preceding death. Janie was "liable" because everyone has a ticking clock which cannot be slowed or altered at the end of which you die.

3. Hurston uses wingless birds to symbolize rumors. "Rumor, that wingless bird, had shadowed over the town." (84). Wingless birds simply mean that, like rumors, they cannot support their own weight and are false. However, the town did not recognize this and believed the husband of Janie to be either near death or dead. 

4. Hurston uses the personification of death living in a high tower. "He stands in his high tower that overlooks the world." (84). By stating that death "overlooks the world" Hurston simply means no one is outside the range of his jurisdiction; his power affects anyone and everyone. Janie recognizes that her husband is no exception.

5. Hurston creates a situation of dramatic irony. "He wasn't going to die at all. Thats what he thought." (84).  Janie's husbands denial of death is viewed in a satiric manner; every line in the passage preceding this had been hammering the point that death is an inevitable occurrence. Hurston included this dramatic irony to demonstrate his ignorance.

The general thesis of the passage is that through the personification and symbolism of death, Hurston displays his immortality and inevitably. 

Journal 5: Thesis

Zora Neale Hurston uses Janie's internal conflict to demonstrate the struggle between societies placeholder for groups of people and their actual aspirations. Hurston chose internal conflict to represent this struggle because it most accurately reflects the intentions of both standpoints.

Journal 4: Patterns

1. Hurston frequently contrasts the genders by demonstrating their respective roles in society.
Ex: "She's a woman and her place is in de home." (43).
       "The women got together the sweets and the men looked after the meats." (45).
Hurston probably focused on these gender differences because they spawned the internal conflict within Janie; she frequently was at war with where she wanted to be and where others wanted her to be.

2. Hurston repeatedly references God, the devil, heaven, and hell in dialog.
Ex: "Specks tuh keep on waitin' till hell freeze over." (39).
       "De Sun-maker brings it up in de mornin', and de Sun-maker sends it tuh bed at night." (45).
Hurston included divine figures and references in dialog and narrative to describe and amplify the setting and mood of the story.

3. Hurston switches between tenses with certain characters.
Ex: ""Git reconciled", Matt, Lithe Soothed."" (52).
       "Matt realizes that they have tricked him again..." (52).

Journal 3: Dialect Journal

Dialect Guide

1. Pronunciations 

• If a word ends in "er" change to "ah". Ex: He's ah deceivah. 
• Remove all a's if they are the first letter in the word, with the exception of words with 4 letters or under. I'll tell you 'bout myself.
• "Th" as a preposition is replaced with the letter d. Dose people all up in my face.
• The suffix -ing is replaced with the letter "n". How you doin?
• A, when used as an indefinite article, becomes an "ah". My my thats ah cool shirt.
• Don't, cant, want, etc. have the "t" eliminated. I wan to do it. 

     2.  Grammar

• Incorrect use of indefinite articles. He's a envious man. 
• Incorrect use of plural vs. singular verbs. One of the most famous country singers there are.
• Words placed out of order. Dat was de biggest thing seen Ah evah.

     3.  Vocabulary/Phrases (word/phrase - definition)

• Solid - Respectable.
• Mass - A series of concerns.
• Bring it home - Finish what you started.

Conversation

"We don't think you can do it." he said with a grin, exposing his pearly white teeth. "What makes you think you are capable of what is to come?" Alfonso smiled in return, his mustache cascading down his jaw like a waterfall. "Ah can do it. Ah know dat. If dey don think so, Ah'll make dem believahs." Willie Smith had heard it all before. He inhaled the thick smoke protruding from his cigar and pondered what Alfonso was saying. Maybe he could after all. "I want you to draw me a cube with seven sides, with all individual squares having four 90 degree angles." Willie smiled, convinced this challenge would be far to great for Alfonso to solve. "Mass dat have," replied a puzzled Alfonso. "But ah got Ah enormous brain, Ah got dis." Alfonso spent a minute rigorously scribbling on a golden slate, then reveled his work to Willie. Willie was shocked. "Solid. You've impressed me Alfonso. You're in." Alfonso paused before speaking. "Ah don wan to be in." Willie spit in his face. "So you're giving up? After all this time? Bring it home now Alfonso." Alfonso was boiling. "Ah didn do dis for you. Ah did dis for ah good." Willie was genuinely puzzled for the first time in years. "Then why are you here?" questioned Willie. The patience of Alfonso was now at its breaking point. "Don you get it? Ah am not here for you. Ah here for me." Willie finally understood. "If that is what you feel Alfonso, I will let you go." Alfonso smiled. "You ah solid man Will. Ah gon miss you." Willie extinguished his cigar and showed Alfonso the door. "Bye Alfonso," he said with a mixed expression on his face." Alfonso walked out the door. "Bye Willie." 

Journal 3: Harlem Renaissance Individual

Willie "The Lion" Smith was a pianist during the Harlem Renaissance. He is largely accredited for being one of the best jazz musicians with respect to the stride style of play. He was part of a large jazz music movement and played along with notorious individuals such as Papa Jo Jones and Mamie Smith. At the pinnacle of his career, he got the opportunity to tour North America and Europe. He became an influence for the prolific Duke Ellington and has his own holiday (September 18th).

Journal 2: Analytical Journal

Passage:

"Seeing the woman as she was made them remember the envy they had stored up from other times. So they chewed up the back parts of their minds and swallowed with relish. They made burning statements with questions, and killing tools out of laughs. It was mass cruelty. A mood come alive. Words walking without masters; walking altogether like harmony in a song." (2).

1. "Words walking without masters" is personification foreshadowing the oppression Janie would experience throughout the novel.
2. Continues to be vague (made them remember, they chewed, etc.)
3. Lack of any individual characterization.
4. Light parallel structure with previous page; Hurston addresses "the sun and the bossman being gone" and "words talking without masters."
5. Hurston conceals point of view; it is difficult at this point to identify perspective.
6. The unidentified group can now be known as oppressors; they are the masters mentioned in the last line.
7. "...killing tools out of laughs" may be foreshadowing a terrible event spawning from an initially positive one.
8. Hurston uses imagery to demonstrate how the oppressors dealt with their envy. (swallowed with relish).
9. Hurston does not mention the setting of the novel up to this point.
10. Theme: Oppression spawns from jealousy; those who need to justify their emotions ultimately suppress those around them.
11. Repeating structure: "It was mass cruelty. A mood come alive."  

Journal 1: Reflective Journal

If I were to describe my life to one person, it would be Edward Michael Grylls, more commonly known as Bear Grylls. He has been an inspiration to me for longer than I care to remember. For me, he is the absolute epitome determination and spirit. His abilities to bounce back from normally horrific situations (i.e. breaking your back in three places) and maintain his composure in the most hostile environments are tools that can be applied to any situation, and ones that I strive for everyday.
Because I do not believe I am at the apex of my life, I would probably describe my life chronologically. In this way, I would give the listener the best idea of how I developed over time, rather than random events which I feel are important. I would focus on events which had the most dramatic impact on my life today, in addition to events which I feel have put me in situations Grylls can relate to. I believe that your true personality and character expose themselves only in difficult and uncomfortable situations, so I would make a point to emphasize those fragments of my life.