Chapter 2 - Their Eyes Were Watching God

Chapter 2 - Per. 5
In this chapter we learn about Janie’s early life when she was raised by her grandmother. As a very young girl she had so many nick names that they called her, “Alphabet.” It was not until she saw a photo of herself when she was six that she realized that she was Colored. When Janie was sixteen she kissed Johnny Taylor and her life changed. Her grandmother wanted Janie to marry Logan Killicks so that Janie would be financially secure life with stability. Janie did not want this. Janie saw herself as the metaphorical pear tree is bloom, waiting for and inviting love. Logan did not fit in this picture. We also learn that Janie’s mother, Leafy, had been rapped by her teacher. That was how Janie came to be conceived. Leafy had become a bitter shell of a young woman who escaped life by drinking and running away. Nanny is sure that Leafy is alive, even though she does not know where she is. Nanny explains that she believes she will die soon and that she can rest easy if she knows that Janie will be taken care of. Grandmother tells Janie that she was never able to have a full voice since she had been a slave, but that she dreams that Janie will have the chance to speak for herself.
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1. How is Janie’s life impacted by the fact that she does not know her mother or her father? (Interpretive)

2. How would your life be different if you were raised without knowing either or your parents? (Universal)

3. Why was Janie so surprised when she saw the photo of her and her friends? (Literal)

4. Explain the metaphor of the pear tree. (Interpretive)

5. Why does Nanny dislike Johnny Taylor? (Literal)

6. What is meant when she states that, “That was the end of her childhood.” (p. 12)? (Interpretive)

7. What does Nanny mean when she says to Janie,
Dat’s what makes me skeered. You don’t mean no harm. You don’t even know where harm is at. Ah’m ole now. Ah can’t always be guidin’ yo’ feet from harm and danger. Ah wants to see you married right away. (p. 13) (Interpretive)

De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see. Ah been prayin’ fur it tuh be different wid you. Lawd, Lawd, Lawd. (p. 14) (Interpretive)

8. Why does Nanny want Janie to marry Logan Killicks? (Literal)

9. Do you agree with Nanny when she says, “But nothing can’t stop you from wishin’. You can’t beat nobody down so low til you can rob ‘em of they will.” (p. 16) (Interpretive)

10. Recount the troubles Nanny had when her daughter, Leafy, was born. (Literal)

11. Why didn’t Nanny want to marry anyone? (Literal)

12. What does Nanny mean when she tells Janie,
Ah don’t want yo’ feathers always crumpled by folks throwin’ up things in yo’ face. And Ah can’t die easy thinkin’ maybe de menfolk white or black is makin’ a spit cup outta you. ( p. 20) (Interpretive)

13. Explain the meaning of the metaphor when Nanny says to Janie, “Put me down easy, Janie, Ah’m a cracked plate.” (p. 20) (Interpretation)

14. Do you think it is best to marry for safety and protection, or for unpredictable love? (Universal)


Chapter 2 - Jennifer & Dan Per. 6

Summary: Janie is still telling stories to Pheoby but they change from bad life experiences to go ones. The first story was about how she realized that she wasn’t white like the other kids but colored and talked about how the kids made fun of her. Her second story she talked about how on a beautiful day she wanted to become a blooming tree and that same day she became women. She also tells the story of her conversation between her and her grandma on that same day. That conversation was showing how much her grand ma loved her and was making sure was taken care of before her grandma dies. During that same conversation she tells Janie about her mother and some incidents that happened to her.

1. What is the author talking about in the first paragraph? Interpretation

2. Why did everybody call Janie Alphabet’? Factual

3. Why did Mayrella get mad at Janie all the time? Factual

4. Why did Janie want to be any tree that was blooming? Factual

5. If you were in Janie’s position what would you do about it? Universal

6. Why does Janie say “That was the end of her childhood” in the middle of page 12? Interpretation

7. How would you react if you were as young as Janie and was told that you had to get married right away? Universal

8. Why would Janie’s grandma say she has a second chance the time Janie was born? Interpretation

9. Why does her grandma want to be completely different from her mother? Interpretation

10. What happened to Janie’s mother to make her the way she was? Factual