Journal 8: Three Literary Techniques In Quotes

1. The first stylistic attribute I noticed was on page 106. At this time, Janie and Tea Cake have been spending increasing amounts of time together and have just woken up from a nap following dinner. Janie wakes up to Tea Cake stroking her hair, and in the following conversation Janie reveals to Tea Cake her anxiousness towards a relationship with a younger man, casuing Tea Cake to leave abruptly. Janie is upset, and the following quote is part of her thoughts as she lies in bed later in the night: "Glad Ah treated him cold. Whut do Ah want wid some trashy nigger out de streets? Bet he's livin' wid some woman or 'nother and takin' me for uh fool." The literary technique used in this passage is that of diction, specifically around the word "nigger." I believe that Hurston's choice of this word produces negative connotations within the readers mind, as opposed to man, fellow, etc. The choice of this word gives very derogatory and stereotypical feelings associated with black people, and I believe it is used to reflect the anger that Janie is feeling. 

2. The second stylistic attribute I noticed was on page(s) 108-109. At this point in the story, Janie and Tea Cake have recently come to the decision of being involved with one another. Just after this, Tea Cake leaves to off to work, not specifying as to when he will return. Janie becomes doubtful that he has made a fool out of her and does not plan to return, however, he comes back four days later in an old car that he has recently bought. He tells Janie that he wants to take her out to a picnic, and she is once again doubtful of his true feelings. The following quote is his response: "Me scramble 'round tuh git de money tuh take yuh- been workin' lak uh dawg for two whole weeks- and she come astin' me if Ah want her tuh go! Puttin' mahself tuh uh whole heap uh trouble tuh git dis car so you kin go over tuh Winter Park or Orlandah tuh buy de things you might need and dis woman set dere and ast me if Ah want her tuh go!" The literary technique used here is syntax, specifically, a complex sentence. I believe that Hurston chooses to use large, complex sentences in this instance to convey effectively the rambling nature of someone that might be angry. It gives the sentence a very realistic, appalled feeling. Had Hurston chose to use a shorter sentence, I believe that the feelings expressed here would have been much more limited and much less realistic.

3. The third stylistic attribute I noticed was on page 114. At this point in time, Janie and Tea Cake have been openly spending more time together, doing various activities such as fishing, dancing, and seeing movies. The rest of the town has taken eager notice to this, and has not been hesitant to begin gossiping. Following a conversation with her husband regarding Janie and Tea Cake, Phoeby goes to talk to Janie about her relationship with Tea Cake. During the course of their conversation, Janie tells Phoeby that her and Tea Cake plan to get married, and sell the store she has been working in since moving to the area. When Phoeby asks why Janie would want to sell the store, she responds with the following: "Cause Tea Cake ain't no Jody Starks, and if he tried tuh be, it would be uh complete flommuck." The literary technique being used here is dialect, specifically towards the word "flommuck." The choice of this slang term instead of something such as mess, issue, etc. shows that Hurston has made a deliberate choice in using this slang. I believe Hurston does this to give the reader a more authentic feeling of the setting, as well as revealing and/or implying certain attributes that may be associated with people of that region. Bottom line, it changes the sentence from a general statement to something that makes one wonder, thus differentiating itself from other forms of language.