Janie undergoes an evolution as she journeys through different places and marriages, learning important lessons about life along the way. Use the activity for Character Evolution with your students to help them keep track of how Janie evolves throughout the course of the novel.
Janie’s Traits: 16 years old; long beautiful hair; young and a dreamer
Explanation: After sitting under a pear tree, Janie decides that she wants to find a love that is effortless and beautiful; her soul is searching for it. She allows a young boy named Johnny Taylor to kiss her. Nanny sees.
Janie’s Traits: Early 20s; works in Eatonville General Store; keeps her hair tied up in a head-rag; dresses in fancy clothes; miserable
Explanation: After Janie is married off to Logan and learns that marriage does not equal love, she runs off with Joe Starks. Joe intends to keep Janie as a trophy wife and is very jealous of other men looking at her. He isolates her and forces her to hide her hair.
Janie’s Traits: Late 30s; wears overalls; hangs on Tea Cake's every word; works beside him in the bean fields
Janie’s Traits: After Joe's death, Janie finds true love with Tea Cake. He makes her happy, and she feels like she is finally in a true, effortless partnership.
Janie’s Traits: Late 30s; depressed and devastated
Explanation: Janie had to kill Tea Cake because rabies took over his mind. He flew into a jealous rage and tried to shoot Janie. Luckily, she had rigged his gun in case he tried to shoot her; she kills him with a rifle and is put on trial. She is acquitted.
Janie’s Traits: Early 40s; still beautiful; wears overalls; quiet; proud
Explanation: Janie returns to Eatonville to the stares and envious gossip of the town women. She realizes that she finally found the love she had always wanted, and her soul feels at peace. She doesn't acknowledge the other women's gossip because she is now beyond all of that.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows the evolution of Janie throughout the course of Their Eyes Were Watching God.