Characters
This is Tea Cake's real name.
Vergible Woods?
Tea Cake takes this amount of money from Janie without permission to throw a party.
$200
The hurricane symbolizes this type of force that humans cannot control.
forces of nature/fate
Their eyes were watching ______" - the title of the novel comes from this word in the quote about the hurricane.
God
This word means "lasting only for a short time; temporary."
transient
This character owns a restaurant on the muck and represents colorism within the Black community.
Mrs. Turner
This natural disaster strikes Lake Okeechobee and changes everything for Janie and Tea Cake.
hurricane
Unlike with Logan and Jody, Janie finally finds this with Tea Cake.
her voice/the ability to speak her mind/equality/authentic self
"If you kin see de light at daybreak, you don't keer if you die at ______." This quote is about living in the moment.
dusk
This word means "giving the impression that something bad is going to happen; threatening."
ominous
Tea Cake teaches Janie to play this game, which symbolizes their equal partnership.
checkers
Tea Cake gets bitten by a rabid dog while doing this heroic act.
rescuing/saving Janie from drowning
This metaphor represents dreams, goals, and life's possibilities throughout the novel.
horizon
Love ain't somethin' lak uh ________ dat's de same thing everywhere." Janie uses this tool as a metaphor to explain that love is unique.
grindstone
This word means "the intention or desire to do evil; ill will."
malice
This is the name of the farming community in the Everglades where Janie and Tea Cake live and work.
the muck"
Tea Cake develops this deadly disease from the dog bite.
rabies
The muck community is described as more of this compared to judgmental Eatonville.
accepting/welcoming/lively/diverse/fun
This character says the quote about Black women being "de mule uh de world."
Nanny
This word means "not easily upset or excited; calm and peaceful."
placid
Mrs. Turner wants to introduce Janie to this family member because of his lighter skin.
her brother
This is the verdict in Janie's trial after she shoots Tea Cake.
not guilty
At the end, Janie tells Pheoby she has been to this place "and back," showing she achieved her dreams.
the horizon
When Janie says "Ah been tuh de horizon and back," she means she has achieved this.
experiencing life fully/achieving her dreams/finding herself/living authentically
This word means "assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering."
imperious