Chapters 12-17
After leaving Eatonville, Janie meets this charming, younger man who invites her to play checkers and eventually becomes her third husband.
Who is Tea Cake
Jody attracts Janie at first because he promises this kind of future.
What is a life of ambition, change, and opportunity?
“Dey cut me, dat’s all. Don’t cry. Git me out dis coat quick as yuh can.” (126)
Who is Tea Cake?
This natural image inspires Janie’s earliest idea of love and harmony.
What is the pear tree?
Tea Cake proclaim himself to be skilled at this after spending Janie’s money.
What is gambling?
Janie and Tea Cake move to this region of southern Florida, where they work in agriculture and experience both community life and a devastating hurricane.
What are the Everglades
Jody becomes this in Eatonville, which gives him power over the others and over Janie.
What is mayor?
“You outa meet mah brother…Dey made him uh delegate tuh de Sunday School Convention and he read uh paper on Booker T. Washington and tore him tuh pieces!” (142)
Who is Mrs. Turner?
This type of insect helps symbolize mutual attraction and balance in nature during the pear tree scene.
What are bees?
This skill is one that Tea Cake insists that Janie should be able to do.
What is shoot a gun?
Janie makes Tea Cake repeat this to her after she catches him wrestling with Nunkie.
What is that he loves her (and only her)?
Jody forces Janie to do this to hide her beauty from other men and to show that she is his and only his.
What is cover her hair up?
“Tain’t no boogerman got me to study ‘bout. Maybe you think Ah ain’t treatin’ yuh right and you watchin’ me.” (133)
Who is Janie?
The Everglades (“the muck”) represents this idea about nature and life during Janie and Tea Cake’s relationship.
What is a return to natural freedom and harmony?
This is the first meal that Tea Cake and Janie share.
What is fresh lemonade and pound cake?
Tea Cake's abuse of Janie reflects what about him?
What is his own insecurities?
Instead of allowing Janie to speak publicly, Jody expects her to do this role.
What is remain silent and act as a decorative wife (or stay in the background)?
“Well, whut you doin’ in heah? How come you ain’t out dere wid de rest?” (137)
Who is Janie?
This phrase describes how people look to the sky during the storm, showing their helplessness before nature.
What is “their eyes were watching God”?
What is takes 200, but spends 188?
Tea Cake’s love for Janie differs from Logan Killicks’ in that his is playful and mutual, while Logan’s is based on this.
What is security and labor rather than love?
Jody’s treatment of Janie shows that he values this more than love.
What is control (or power/status)?
“Whut would Ah do wid dat lil chunk of a woman wid you around? She ain’t no good for nuthin’ exceptin’ tuh set up in uh corner by de kitchen stove and break wood over her head. You’se something tuh make uh man forgit tuh git old and forgit tuh die.” (138)
Who is Tea Cake?
Tea Cake and Janie’s life in the Everglades shows nature as both this and this.
What is both nurturing and dangerous?
This is Tea Cake's real name.
What is Vergible Woods?