CHARACTERS
Question: Who is the main character of the novel?
Who is Janie Crawford?
Question: What does Janie experience under the pear tree that changes how she thinks about love?
Answer: She begins to understand love and romantic attraction.
Question: What is one major theme introduced in Chapters 1–5?
Answer: Love and relationships.
Question: Where does Janie spend much of her childhood?
Answer: On her grandmother's property.
Question: What is a symbol?
Answer: Something that represents a deeper meaning or idea.
Who is Janie's grandmother?
Who is Nanny?
Question: Why does Nanny want Janie to marry Logan?
Answer: Nanny wants Janie to have security, safety, and a better life.
Question: Janie wants to find her own happiness. What theme does this represent?
Answer: Finding your identity / independence.
Question: What natural setting becomes important to Janie's understanding of love?
Answer: The pear tree.
Question: What does the pear tree symbolize?
Answer: Love, beauty, growth, and harmony.
Who is Janie's first husband?
Answer: Who is Logan Killicks?
Question: Why does Janie leave Logan?
Answer: Janie feels unhappy and does not feel loved in the marriage.
Question: Nanny makes decisions for Janie because she wants to protect her. What conflict does this create?
Answer: Janie's desires vs. Nanny's expectations
Question: What does the pear tree symbolize for Janie?
Answer: It symbolizes love, beauty, growth, and harmony.
Question: What is imagery?
Answer: Language that helps the reader picture, hear, smell, taste, or feel something.
Question: Who does Janie meet under the pear tree?
Answer: Who is Johnny Taylor?
Question: Where does Janie go after leaving Logan?
Answer: She goes with Joe Starks.
Question: Janie struggles to have her own voice in her relationships. What theme does this develop?
Answer: Freedom and finding one's voice.
Question: What kind of community does Joe help create?
Answer: A Black community/town where he becomes an important leader.
Question: The pear tree is described using beautiful natural images. What literary device is being used?
Answer: Imagery.
Question: Who is the man Janie meets who wears fancy clothes and dreams of building a town?
Answer: Who is Joe Starks?
Question: What does Joe plan to build when he arrives in the new town?
Answer: He wants to build a successful Black community and become an important leader.
Question: How are Janie's ideas about love different from Nanny's?
Answer: Janie wants love, connection, and happiness, while Nanny focuses more on security and protection.
Question: How does the setting of Eatonville connect to Joe's personality?
Answer: Joe wants to control and shape the town, showing his desire for power and status.
Question: Janie's hair becomes an important part of how others see her. What can her hair symbolize?
Answer: Her beauty, identity, freedom, and individuality.