Lesson Plan:
Using a Cultural Studies Approach to study Their Eyes Were Watching God
Using a Cultural Studies Approach to study Their Eyes Were Watching God
This lesson plan teaches the concept of cultural studies, and guides students to analyze Their Eyes Were Watching God using Cultural Studies
Lesson Plan: Cultural Studies (Their Eyes Were Watching God)
Timeframe: 45 minutes
Enduring Understandings and/or Essential Question(s):
What is cultural studies?
What time period was Their Eyes Were Watching God set in and why is this relevant in Cultural Studies?
Who are the Tricksters?
How could the societies influence the perception of reality?
Knowledge and Specific Skills (Goals and Objectives):
Students will be able to:
Learning Experiences and Activities:
Timeframe: 45 minutes
Enduring Understandings and/or Essential Question(s):
What is cultural studies?
What time period was Their Eyes Were Watching God set in and why is this relevant in Cultural Studies?
Who are the Tricksters?
How could the societies influence the perception of reality?
Knowledge and Specific Skills (Goals and Objectives):
Students will be able to:
- Define what Cultural Studies is
- Identify the key factors that differentiate societies
- Identify the different expectations in societies
- Know who Tricksters are and why they play a dominant role in African American literature
- The three different societies Janie lives through in the book
- How to compare and contrast different cultures
- Who the tricksters are in the book
Learning Experiences and Activities:
- Assign the class into groups of 3-5
- In your groups, answer these questions on Cultural Studies (15 min) (you are allowed to research on internet):
- What is Cultural Studies?
- How can each culture have different views on race and gender?
- What is the perception of reality in society?
- What factors shape the “norm” in a society?
- why do the cultural expectations change as time passes
- What are Tricksters, what are their roles, and why do they play a dominant role in African American Culture?
- Who are the “the other” regarding Cultural Studies?
- After completing the worksheet, you must discuss how this Cultural Studies relates to the novel, and apply this theory in Their Eyes Were Watching God (30 min)
- Take notes on:
- Tricksters in the book:Janie and Tea Cake. From what you have answered, how do Janie and Tea Cake act as Tricksters in the book?
- What were the factors in the society of the Muck that allowed Janie to finally achieve her horizon and become one with nature?
- What were some of the expectations that Janie struggled against?
- Create a chart that compares the Nanny and Logan’s society, Eatonville, and the Muck. What does each culture expect her to do?
- Gender role
- Perception of racial status
- The restrictions/limitations set by each society
- INDIVIDUALLY write two paragraphs (should be adequate to answer the question completely) comparing and contrasting: the societies seen in the book to the current day societies-- include in your answer the different values and perceptions of reality--, and the Northern and Southern (the book) cultures-- include in your answer how Janie’s experience would be different if she lived in the North.