The Harlem Renaissance The Literary Tradition

Characteristics Reaction to the oppressive caste system of the American South in the 1930s Promoted racial pride among black community Group expression Self-Determination/Self-Revelation/Coming-of-Age “The publishing industry, fueled by whites’ fascination with the exotic world of Harlem, sought out and published black writers. With much of the literature focusing on a realistic portrayal of black life, conservative black critics feared that the depiction of ghetto realism would impede the cause of racial equality. The intent of the movement, however, was not political but aesthetic. Any benefit a burgeoning black contribution to literature might have in defraying racial prejudice was secondary to, as Langston Hughes put it, the ‘expression of our individual dark-skinned selves’” (“Harlem Renaissance). Largely ignored until the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s

Chapter 10 How would you characterize the man who enters the store while everyone else in the town is at the baseball game? Find specific examples in the text of 1) how he is described, 2) what he says, 3) or what he does that proves this. What game does he offer to teach her how to play? How does this man encourage Janie along the road to self- revelation from the get-go? Name Symbolism: Real name = Vergible Woods Nickname = Tea Cake

Chapter 11 “Janie wanted to ask Hezekiah about Tea Cake, but she was afraid he might misunderstand her and think she was interested. In the first place he looked too young for her. Must be around twenty-five and here she was around forty. Then again he didn’t look like he had too much. Maybe he was just hanging around to get in with her and strip her of all that she had. Just as well if she never saw him again. He was probably the kind of man who lived with various women but never married. Fact is, she decided to treat him so cold if he ever did foot the place that he’d be sure not to come hanging around there again” (Hurston 100). How is Janie’s approach towards this man different than her previous approaches? How does this show a sign of maturity?

Chapter 11 What instrument does Tea Cake play? How does this appeal to the Janie’s connection with nature? How does it highlight the American Southern literary tradition? “It was so crazy digging worms by lamp light and setting out for Lake Sabelia after midnight that she felt like a child breaking rules. That’s what made Janie like it. They caught two or three and got home just before day. Then she had to smuggle Tea Cake out by the back gate and that made it seem like some great secret she was keeping from the town” (Hurston 102). Why does Janie enjoy night fishing so much? How does Joe appeal to her interests, rather than her looks or her abilities?

How is Tea Cake’s treatment of Janie’s hair different than that of Joe or the townspeople? “…she woke up with Tea Cake combing her hair and scratching the dandruff from her scalp. It made her more comfortable and drowsy. ‘Tea Cake, where you git uh comb from tuh be combin’ mah hair wid?’ ‘Ah brought it wid me. Come prepared tuh lay mah hands on it tuhnight.’ ‘Why, Tea Cake? Whut good do combin’ mah hair do you? It’s mah comfortable, not yourn.’ ‘It’s mine too. Ah ain’t been sleepin’ so good for more’n uh week cause Ah been wishin’ so bad tuh git mah hands in yo’ hair. It’s so pretty. It feels jus’ lak underneath uh dove’s wing next to mah face’” (Hurston 103).

Chapter 11 Why doesn’t Janie trust Tea Cake’s flirtation? What does she tell him to do to prove his love? Does he pull through? When Tea Cake says, “You needs tellin’ and showin’, and dat’s what Ah’m doin’” (Hurston 107), how is he proving that he is different than other men? How is the act of showing and telling perpetuated during the Harlem Renaissance? How is Tea Cake’s treatment of Janie fundamentally different from Logan or Joe’s?