Classic Literature Series: Their Eyes Were Watching God

Lara Hincapie

13-17 years old

6 lessons

June 2 – August 18

$90

Save 10% on a full year with code NLH10 at checkout!

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If your child has taken classes with us before, use the Canvas email they log in with. Each student must have a unique email (the parent email may be reused, but not shared between students).

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This class is part of the Classic Literature Series

This series is intended for students at a high school reading level.

These classes are offered sporadically and are not intended to be taken in any order.

Other classes in this series include:
Animal Farm
Frankenstein
Lord of the Flies
Fahrenheit 451

CLASS DESCRIPTION

*DISCLAIMER: This novel deals with some mature topics and may not be appropriate for readers younger than 13 years old.

In this classic literature series, each course will focus on one novel considered to be classic literature—a novel accepted as being exemplary or noteworthy. This particular course will focus on the 1937 novel written by American author Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God. It is considered a classic of the Harlem Renaissance. The book follows the story of main character Janie Crawford’s who grows “from a vibrant, but voiceless, teenage girl into a woman with her finger on the trigger of her own destiny.” The novel is set in Florida in the early 20^th century and explores themes of race, gender roles, femininity, and freedom. Finally, the course will end with the comparison of the book to a film rendition of the story.

This 6-week course will focus heavily on reading, and a full copy of the novel will be provided in both pdf and audiobook format. Although, students may also purchase their own copies or borrow one from their local library. Student may either read the full text before the class begins, or their will be weekly reading assignments during the course.

CLASS FORMAT

No live classes—view lessons on YOUR schedule. In general, expect 1.5-2.5 hours to work through the lesson plan each week, and an additional 2-5 hours working on assignments (it really depends what assignment your child chooses to do and how they manage their time). For classes with two levels, the material is the same for both—the depth of the assignments differs. Younger students should usually be placed in Level 1. Older students, or younger students who want more of a challenge, should be placed in Level 2.

Each lesson consists of a fully narrated PowerPoint presentation with images and videos to enhance the topics. Students will have access to our learning management system, Canvas, for viewing their lesson, printing worksheets, taking quizzes, viewing/submitting assignments, participating in discussions, and viewing grades/feedback.

Week 1

Week 1 will begin with a focus on biographical information on the writer’s life and career and will discuss why this person has remained such a significant voice in classic literature. This week will also cover introductory information to the novel, discussing themes and characters, as well as the first 3 chapters of the novel.

Week 2

Week 2 will cover chapters 4-7. We will further explore how themes are present in the story, discuss symbols, and explore other literary devices present so far in the first half of the story.

Week 3

Week 3 will cover chapters 8-12. We will further explore how themes are present in the story, discuss character progression and dynamics, and explore other literary devices present so far in the first half of the story.

Week 4

Week 4 will cover chapters 13-17, further explore literary devices, and discuss how this story comments on culture and the real world.

Week 5

Week 5 will cover chapters 18-20; the end of the novel.

Week 6

Week 6 of this course will end with an exploration into the dynamic breakdown of the plot, and then we will compare the novel to a film rendition of the story and an exploration of the novel’s legacy.

In the lessons, I often reference specific page numbers from the novel. It does not matter which edition you use, but if you would like to be able to follow along with my page references, I recommend using the same edition.