Journal Prompt #6: Read closely Janie's description of Death in chapter 8. Make a list of the stylistic choices Hurston makes in the passage that begins "Death, that strange bird with the huge square toes..." and ends with "Rumor, that wingless bird..." Along with listing the decisions Hurston makes in this passage, identify the effect of each of each of these decisions. You can do this in list form: technique/stylistic choice, effect, technique, effect, etc.
"So Janie began to think of Death. Death, that strange being with the huge square toes who lived way in the West. The great one who lived in the straight house like a platform without sides to it, and without a roof. What need has Death for a cover, and what winds can blow against him? He stands in his high house that overlooks the world. Stands watchful and motionless all day with his sword drawn back, waiting for the messenger to bid him come. Been standing there before there was a where or a when or a then. She was liable to find a feather from his wings lying in her yard any day now. She was sad and afraid too. Poor Jody! He out not to have to wrassle in there by himself. She sent Sam in to suggest a visit, but Jody said No. These medical doctors wuz all right with the Godly sick, but they didn't know a thing about a case like his. He'd be all right just as soon as the two-headed man found what had been buried against him. He wasn't going to die at all. That was what he thought. But Sam told her different, so she knew. And then if he hadn't, the next morning she was bound to know, for people began to gather in the big yard under the palm and china-berry trees. People who would not have dared to foot the place before crept in and did not come to the house. Just squatted under the trees and waited. Rumor, that wingless bird, had shadowed over the town." (Hurston, pg. 84)
Technique #1: Death is personified.
Effect: Death becomes an entity with power and authority, capable of judging other humans.
Technique #2: The motif of judgment occurs as Death "overlooks the world".
Effect: It becomes apparent that people are not the only ones who can be judgmental, but nonhuman entities as well.
Technique #3: A simile is used to describe Death's house.
Effect: The image of Death watching over day and night because there are no walls gives greater power to Death.
Technique #4: The word choice of "watchful" and "motionless" shifts the mood of the passage.
Effect: The passage becomes solemn and focused on the idea of death, rather than its personification.
Technique #5: The metaphor of death looking over the "world".
Effect: The "world" is not Earth itself, but instead an individual life. Janie's life can be seen as a world of its own, and have greater importance than before.
Technique # 6: Describing the setting previous to the world ambiguously.
Effect: Death is present in any time, whether it be the past, present, or future, and is inevitable. Janie understands this, knowing she will have to let Joe go.
Technique #7: The motif of the tree is used and this time there are more people underneath the trees than Janie.
Effect: Another link to nature illustrates how everyone is tied to nature, as a gathering spot. The tree also marks an important change in someone's life.
Technique#8: Foreshadowing the death of Joe as the "wingless birds shadow over the town".
Effect: Death has been mentioned as in his "high house", which could be in the sky, such as birds do. Since death is not a bird itself, it can still cast a wingless shadow of despair over the people who know are awaiting Joe's death.
Technique #9: Janie's dialect is used in the narration of the passage.
Effect: Janie's character stands out, emphasizing her feelings momentarily. Her fear and sadness can be seen through her worries of the doctors.
Technique #10: Repetition of "knowing" (understanding the situation).
Effect: Janie's insecurities stand out as she is not sure what to make of Joe's illness. On one hand, she believes the doctors do not know what they are doing, and on the other hand she is quick to believe Joe is okay based on her observations.
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