Blog Topic #2
From the novel of “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” Hurston writes, “It was spring afternoon in West Florida. Janie had spent most of the day under a blossoming pear tree in the back-yard. She had been spending every minute that she could steal from her chores under the tree for the last three days. That was to say, ever since the first tiny bloom had opened. It had called her to come and gaze on a mystery. From barren brown stems to glistening leaf-buds; from the leaf-buds to snowy virginity of bloom. It stirred her tremendously. How? Why? It was like a flute song forgotten in another existence and remembered again. What? How? Why? This singing she heard that had nothing to with her ears. The rose of the world was breathing out smell. It followed her through all her waking moments and caressed her in her sleep. It connected itself with other vaguely felt matters that had struck her outside observation and buried themselves in her flesh. Now they emerged and quested about her consciousness.
She was stretched on her back beneath the pear tree soaking in all the alto chant of the visiting bees, the gold of the sun and the panting breath of the breeze when inaudible voice of it all came to her. She saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom the thousand sisters –calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight. So this was a marriage! She had been summoned to behold a revelation. Then Janie felt a pain remorseless sweet that left her limp and languid” (Hurston, p.10).
- Students read the passage above, which is also found on page 10 of your novel. Take a closer look at what the passage is really saying.
- Annotate the passage above in your book thoroughly (I will check).
- What does the “pear tree” symbolize? Answers should be well thought out, detailed, descriptive, and written free of grammar and punctuation errors.
- Respond to the following questions by writing a detailed response. Have you ever had problems because of gossip? What would you do if someone gossips about you? If no one at your high school had ever gossiped, how would your school be different?
- Students: You must respond to one of your peers response to question #3. This should not be something such as "awesome," "wow," or” I like you response." be specific with your response of your peer you have chosen.
Due Saturday March 31, 2012 at 11:59pm
NOTE: For future readings, I want to see annotations in your book.
The pear tree symbolizes the tree of life which itself, is very beautiful. First it is a tree, which is a life form on it's own. Then this tree gives life to a beautiful flower attracting bees, and with the pollen of the flower, the bee helps to spread the seed of the tree around everywhere else it lands. The flower then blooms into a delicious fruit, a pear. In a sense, this also symbolizes Janie. At first she's just like any other tree, growing tall in an open field. And as she goes on in her life, to meet Logan, Joe and eventually Tea Cake, she passes through the same stages the pear tree did. First just a tree (just a young girl) then a tree covered in beautiful flowers, (goes on with life, becomes a beautiful women full of thoughts-such as those she had towards Joe) then a tree who's flowers have become fruit (sort of like when she blossoms and tells Joe how she feels.) And she goes through the process many times during her life. In the end, she's one amazing tree who's produced many many flowers and pears. A wise woman, who's experienced many life lessons.
ReplyDeletei really think that what your saying elestra is very true. im not gonna say i thought about it first but it very much over shot what i thought about it first.very well done, if i might say.
DeleteI love this idea of people being trees, I adore trees, they are amazing life forms. Janie's life and the life of a tree parallel well, I agree. It evens helps a bit to udnerstand Janie's life as it is developing and even to predict when and what the next big stage in her life is. Very good analogy which helps understand the book. Also, trees are just amazing.
DeleteI haven't really had problems with gossip, I know many people who have though. I think those people are just overly bored and looking for something to fight about, they're the ones who love confrontion, even when it's them being confronted.
ReplyDeleteIf I found out someone was gossiping about me, which has happened a couple times, I don't really do anything. I gossip all the time, and it's not in a negative way, I just see it as a normal part of society. People talk. I'm pretty sure I've never had anyone get upset with me for gossiping about them, and if they did, I'd explain, and if I felt necessary, apologize. I don't see it as a reason to be dramatic. The only time I'd react if someone was gossiping about me is if they were saying something derogative, or untrue to someone who mattered, such as a teacher, a family member, a close friend or my boss. Even then I wouldn't go crazy and try to fight, that's really not my thing. I'd just talk to the gossiper to make them aware of the truth, and explain to whoever they said the stuff to, that it was untrue and explain the truth as well as why the person may have said what they said.
If noone at my highschool had ever gossiped, it probably wouldn't be so loud all of the time. Wagner is full of gossip amongst each crowd, everyone has their own "drama" and I think it causes quite alot of negative things, such as fights, rude mouths, and loss of friendship. IF noone gossiped, I mean truthfully it may be sort of bland, but people might have more friends or have less problems making friends.
I feel the same way because i agree that people do talk and yes, everyone does it at some point. Its not always meant to be something to degrade them or anything but rather having the need to say something but if the person sees it negatively then an apology or something of that sort should be put in place.
DeleteBottom line, "You Cannot Control What People Say!" So what do you do? Nothing! Don't lose any sleep over it - Yes words do hurt, but only if you are receptive of them.
DeleteElestra and Sam, Thanks for sharing your thoughts and contributing to the discussion.
The tree symbolizes Janies views of life and nature by basically showing at some points that she has a passionate moment or interaction with nature. Also relates to her as a women because she is like the tree as are most woen because they both grow older and older and as the tree grows it gets bigger, with more branches and what not and as of Janie she progresses as a women and experiences more things in life and like the branches on the tree Janie gets more experience at life and know more and has more as a women.
ReplyDeleteI have never been faced with a gossiping problem before. If anyone were to ever gossip about me i would walk to them strat up and tell them if they have any problem feel free to let me know instead of makig up lies behing my back because its making you look like you have my best intrests if you have time to take out of your day to go around and have me on your mind to constantly think of something else to say.If no one at my High School was to never gossip again then their would be way less confrontation amongs many folks because gissip is what leads to most of the "bad thing" that happen at my High School.
ReplyDeleteword
Deleteto me the tree symbolizes what Janie perceives as a perfect marriage. how i see it is that the tree could be the man and the women in a marriage, and the wind that surrounds the tree is obstacles in the world that hit the tree. and each leaf that falls of is a relic of what was left of that obstacle, but no matter how much wind blows, the tree is still there. planted down, hundreds of feet into the ground. it will not leave unless something big like a tornado (man cheating on the wife), knocks the tree away and demolishes the tree completely.
ReplyDeleteive never had any problems with gossip. but i do know that every once in a while, people do gossip about me and things about me. but i dont care, to me gossip is just things that want to say to the person but your to scared. and if you talk something, you better watch out.
ReplyDeleteJohn,
DeleteALWAYS proof-read, before you hit publish...
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
The pear tree symbolizes freedom as the tree grows and freely changes through the stages it goes through in a year without restrictions of any sort. Janie as a child, like the majority of children(especially today) seems to have been feeling trapped in a certain aspect, that certain aspect being marriaged. She enjoyed watching the pear tree while it vasted in the freedom as it lived. Freedom was so easy for the Pear tree. Also, I believe the pear tree symbolizes an idea of whpt perfect, natural, pure loving marriage is when the bee comes along to pollinate the flower on the pear tree. Janie sees a naturally occuring relationship in nature that must happens being done without complications. Janie interprets this as a marriage, a very strong relationship between the Pear tree and the bee, a strong, natural, pure marriage. The pear tree symbolizes freedom and a pure, natural marriage filled with love, two things Janie wants, and the pear tree serves as an escape or outlet that feeds those desires of Janie while in Nanny's house.
ReplyDeleteI have never had real problems with gossip, it just has never been a problem for me, I never intruded into other people's business or angered anyone to where I was targeted. The closest thing to having problems with gossip is when I was struggling to accept and udnerstand my sexuality. It didn't help that when I told my friend as a form of an outlet, he went and told three good friends. One of those people(no longer my friend) went and spread it around like wild fire. Even though the whole situation ended up hasving a positive outcome, I was not ready to come out during the time the gossip was happening, I was not mentally prepared/ready and the gossip was beginning to affect me. I became worried about what others would think, what people would say and other things that would not be a problem if gossiping wasn't a thing. If the highschool environment was free of gossip, confusing stages in one's life like the one I was in would be a lot easier to deal with seeing as one would not have to worry about beign judged. People would also be more willing to get along seeing as they are not going around talking behind each other's backs(this is specifically a big problem at Wagner). High school life would just be a lot simpler and easier without gossip, because I am annoyed, even affected sometimes when gossiping occurs about my friends, and this is incredibly annoying to deal with. Gossiping is just incredibly unecessary childish behavior, Wagner would have a way better, friendlier environment without it.
ReplyDeleteI completely remember that time in middle school and I have to say that the person you are referring to (I think I know who you are referring to, guy has long hair) had no right at all to make your private thoughts public. I agree with you that gossip would make school a better environment, and if you-know-who hadn't had even said anything, then I know for a fact that your life would have been a lot easier and less stressful.
DeleteMy apologies, I meant to say that I agree that a school without gossip is a better environment.
DeleteEsteban,
DeleteI agree. Not just Wagner, but the World itself would be a better place if there were NO Gossip! But what would happen to all the Tabloids that make their money speading idle gossip?
Thank you for contributing to the discussion and sharing your thoughts.
1. To me, the pear tree symbolizes Janie's transformation from a young innocent child, into becoming a beautiful woman. Before the tree blooms, its bare branches represent Janie's child like appeals; having the potential to grow and mature into a elegent creature, however being restricted by the one thing that no one can avoid, time. Then as time goes on, these branches become filled with buds, much like Janie shows the signs of becoming grown. Finally, the buds bloom, and Janie's beauty blossoms into that of a woman with grace and magnificence; becoming unaffected from the restrictions of time and becoming a free and amazing human being. In addition, the tree also represents Janie's idea of a perfect marriage. As Janie sees the bee and the pear tree symbiotically being the perfect match for one another, she begins to see that marriage is when two individuals truely love each other. Seeing this act of pure harmony, gave her the chance to experience what love is and how pure the connection is between to partners.
ReplyDelete2. In reality, I have never really had problems with gossip. It's childish and usually triggered by the ignorant; which means that majority of the time, gossip is a huge disgusting lie that others are tricked into believing. I could care less about what others think of me (unless somebody talks mess about how I play the tuba, then something's going to go down, just kidding), because they are just targeting others to make them feel better about themselves. And majority of the time, these individuals are usually to immature to grasp the severity of someone's situation, and instead of thinking about the consequences of their actions, just talk with no "filter." Since I know that gossip is a result of someone's stupidity, I don't bother to pay attention to any of it knowing that it's idiodic. However, if someone was able to start a rumor about me that I actually even bothered to pay attention to, I would probably just let the "disease" run its course. Gossip is usually sparked up for entertainment; eventually everybody grows tired of the same story over and over,and thus in a short period of time the rumor disappears as if nothing happens. Now knowing most kids, if someone else was in my postition, they would probably try to get back at somebody else with revenge. However, I am sixteen, I am not going to bother lowering myself to someone's level in a childish game; it's silly and uncalled for. In addition, if gossip was completely erradicated from high school their would be less bullying and drama. As teens in high school, we take alot into account on our reputation; if we feel that our reputation is ruined, then we feel that we have lost all the respect of our peers. Which causes some students to completely over-react and then causes them to stress out. If gossip wasn't in high school, all of this stress, bullying, drama would be gone as well. More kids would be probably willing to come to school, knowing that it is an evironment where kids can be safe and free from prosecution. In addition, school would be more relaxed and carefree; a much better environment than when gossip is plagued on others.
ReplyDelete2) to me the pear tree symbolizes janie growing into a woman. the way i see it is that the pear tree starts off as a little seed, then over time it starts to grow roots, then later it starts to come out of the ground. With a couple more years the seed will become a full grown tree. It's the same with janie she started off as a little kid then years passed and she became a teenager, then when she kissed johnny she felt like she became a woman.
ReplyDelete3) I have never had problems about gossip. if some one gossiped about me i wouldnt care because when people gossip about someone the gossips are usually lies. if my school didnt gossip then our whole school would become closer together and there wouldnt be many fights or arguments.