Zora Neale Hurston was born on January 7, 1891 in Eatonville, Florida. She attended High School in Baltimore and graduated in 1918. She then attends Howard University and receives an associate degree. While in school at Howard she publishes her first story in 1921 and for the next 20 or so years she publishes a countless number of works. Some of the more famous works are: Jonah's Gourd Vine published in 1934, Mules and Men published in 1935, Their Eyes Were Watching God published in 1937, Tell My Horse published in 1938, and Dust Tracks on a Road published in 1942.

She marries twice and also divorces twice and after her second divorce she lived a secluded life. In 1948 she was falsely accused of molesting a ten-year-old boy. After, the case is dropped she continues to write but also works odd jobs such as being a maid, a librarian, and a substitute teacher. In 1960, she dies in St. Lucie and is buffed in an unmarked grave.

Source: Their Eyes Were Watching God chronology

Despite all of the warnings to leave they decided to stay and wait it out. However, once the storm hit they were forced to run for their lives. The water was rising rapidly and they were running from it. Janie fell in and grabbed onto a cow's tail. On the back of the cow there was mad dog. It was attacking Janie so Tea Cake jumped in the water and killed the dog but in the process he was bitten. They reached dry land and slept.

I think there are two major themes from this novel. They are Self Discovery and Rites of Passage (Corning-of-Age). I think that these two themes are interchangeable that is why I chose them both. I believe that Jane discovered herself throughout the course of the novel. In the beginning she is shy and goes along with what happens but by the end of the novel she is independent and no longer helpless. Also, I believe she was able to come of age through all of the difficulties she had to endure. She learned from her mistakes and was able to be happy at the end of the novel. These two themes are very similar and I believe Zora Neale Hurston did a wonderful job in emphasizing them throughout her story.

When they arrived there it wasn't a town at all. So Joe decided to turn it into a real city. He bought more land and pretty soon there was a post office, a store, more houses, and he became mayor. Joe stuck Janie in the store and soon forgot about her. She became tired of the store and of Joe. Joe became fatally sick and eventually died and that was the end of Joe Starks.

"'I God amighty! A woman stay round uh store till she get as old as Methusalem and still can't cut a little thing like a plug of tobacco! Don't stand dere rollin' yo' pop eyes at me wid yo' rump hangin' nearly to yo' knees!'"

That was the end of her story and Pheoby finally understands what she has gone through. Now that she knows the real story maybe Janie will get some respect.

"'Tell yo' womenfolks tuh do 'round 'bout some pies and cakes and sweet p'tater pone.'"

'You ain't got no particular place. It's wherever Ah need yuh. Git uh move on yuh, and dat quick.'"

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The first and most important part of her story is the plot. The plot in this story is constantly moving which keeps the reader interested. For example at one point she is tending to the shop in the middle of nowhere and then a few pages later she has been to Jacksonville and has ended up in the Everglades harvesting crops. Her style of having a great plot is important by keeping readers interested and to be successful.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2068
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)