Plot Synopsis
By Katie Skwarek
Setting: Their Eyes Were Watching God is set mainly in Eatonville, Florida and the Everglades. Briefly before Janie moves to Eatonville with Jody, she lives in another rural area on a farm. The novel takes place during the 1920s and 1930s.
Pattern of Arrangement: The book contains an end to flashbacks arrangement. The book begins with Janie returning to Eatonville and talking to her friend, Pheoby. Janie then launches into a flashback of her life and she ends the book talking to Pheoby on the porch again.
Exposition: This is located where Janie explains how she was raised by her grandmother. Her grandmother was never able to have the secure life she wanted, so she desires for Janie to have what she did not. This is why she forces Janie to marry Logan Killicks, who will provide for her.
Primary Conflicts: The main conflict is Janie’s struggle to find herself in the midst of the people around her trying to form her to be the person they want her to be. Her grandmother, Logan, and Jody all tried to change who she is.
Rising Action: Janie is unhappy with her loveless marriage to Logan, who tries to turn her into a worker. Her unhappiness causes her to run away with Jody Starks, a man who claims he will treat her better. However, when Jody becomes mayor of Eatonville, he begins to treat Janie like an object and only lets her do what is proper. After Joe dies, Janie falls in love with a man named Tea Cake. Janie happily travels with him to through Florida to the Everglades. Later, a hurricane hits Florida and while Janie and Tea Cake are running for their lives, a dog attacks them and bites Tea Cake. He ends up getting rabies and eventually tries to shoot Janie.
Climax: The turning point occurs when Janie shoots Tea Cake. She finally overcomes the people who try to turn her into someone else, and stands up for herself, even though it means shooting the man she loves.
Resolution: Janie is then put on trial for the murder, but is eventually freed. Afterwards, she returns to Eatonville, where she retells her story to Pheoby. In the end, Janie has stuck up for herself even though that meant killing the man she loved. She found herself, which allowed her to find peace.
Setting: Their Eyes Were Watching God is set mainly in Eatonville, Florida and the Everglades. Briefly before Janie moves to Eatonville with Jody, she lives in another rural area on a farm. The novel takes place during the 1920s and 1930s.
Pattern of Arrangement: The book contains an end to flashbacks arrangement. The book begins with Janie returning to Eatonville and talking to her friend, Pheoby. Janie then launches into a flashback of her life and she ends the book talking to Pheoby on the porch again.
Exposition: This is located where Janie explains how she was raised by her grandmother. Her grandmother was never able to have the secure life she wanted, so she desires for Janie to have what she did not. This is why she forces Janie to marry Logan Killicks, who will provide for her.
Primary Conflicts: The main conflict is Janie’s struggle to find herself in the midst of the people around her trying to form her to be the person they want her to be. Her grandmother, Logan, and Jody all tried to change who she is.
Rising Action: Janie is unhappy with her loveless marriage to Logan, who tries to turn her into a worker. Her unhappiness causes her to run away with Jody Starks, a man who claims he will treat her better. However, when Jody becomes mayor of Eatonville, he begins to treat Janie like an object and only lets her do what is proper. After Joe dies, Janie falls in love with a man named Tea Cake. Janie happily travels with him to through Florida to the Everglades. Later, a hurricane hits Florida and while Janie and Tea Cake are running for their lives, a dog attacks them and bites Tea Cake. He ends up getting rabies and eventually tries to shoot Janie.
Climax: The turning point occurs when Janie shoots Tea Cake. She finally overcomes the people who try to turn her into someone else, and stands up for herself, even though it means shooting the man she loves.
Resolution: Janie is then put on trial for the murder, but is eventually freed. Afterwards, she returns to Eatonville, where she retells her story to Pheoby. In the end, Janie has stuck up for herself even though that meant killing the man she loved. She found herself, which allowed her to find peace.