Journal #6

Journal #6: Read closely Janie's description of Death in chapter 8. Make a list of the stylistic choices Hurston makes in the passage that begins "Death, that strange bird with the huge square toes..." and ends with "Rumor, that wingless bird..." Along with listing the decisions Hurston makes in this passage, identify the effect of each of each of these decisions. You can do this in list form: technique/stylistic choice, effect, technique, effect, etc

Technique #1: Hurston re-uses the pattern of "high elevation" while describing Death.
   Effect - She illustrates Death's superiority over Jody because although Jody's high house overlooked the town, Death's high house overlooked the world.

Technique #2: Hurston references the motif of nature and how nature does not have an effect on Death.
   Effect - Nature, which is a parallel to/symbolizes Janie, is powerless to prevent Jody's death.

Technique #3: Hurston refers to Death as a "him".
   Effect - Janie still maintains her views that women are inferior to males. Larger figures like the sun and Death are considered masculine and show Janie's powerlessness.

Technique #4: Hurston alludes to page 62 where the buzzards wait in the tree for the mule ceremony to be over.
   Effect - Establishes another connection between humans and animals/insects. The buzzards, just like the citizens of the town, wait for a larger, more important figure to act before they themselves take action.

Technique #5: Hurston foreshadows Jody's death through the citizens' actions.
   Effect - As they gain the nerve to approach the Starks' house, a feat that they never would have done, Hurston shows that Jody's control over the citizens, as well as Janie, is weakening.

Technique #6: Hurston contradicts herself when she says a feather from his wings would lay in Janie's yard and then she says that "Rumor, that wingless bird, had shadowed over the town.
   Effect - It is a possibility that Hurston is making a distinction between the two "birds" she is talking about. Maybe it's only one bird. However, it raises the question of what Hurston really meant.

Technique #7: Hurston gives Death human characteristics and personifies him.
   Effect - Death becomes a tangible idea which the reader can picture. Hurston invokes different reactions from the reader by giving Death human characteristics as well as considering him a godlike figure.

Technique #8: Hurston is very ambiguous with her language in the passage.
   Effect - Her ambiguity leaves the reader wanting more clarification, more specificity.

Technique #9: Hurston chooses to write in a righteous tone in the first half of the passage.
   Effect - Provides insight from the narrator/Janie's point of view that Jody is receiving judgment for his past actions toward Janie.

Technique #10: Hurston decides to have Janie send Sam in to visit Jody and not have Janie visit Jody herself.
   Effects - Shows the internal conflict Janie is struggling with regarding her anger and pity towards Jody.

Commented on Anthony Nguyen, Sean Sakaguchi and Megan Davis's blog.