Monday, May 23, 2011

What are some examples of humor in Their Eyes Were Watching God?These can include satire, parody, burlesque and hyperbole.

Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching
God
is not a particularly humorous novel, though there are some delightfully
humorous moments in the story.  Labeling them rather depends upon your precise
definitions of the terms you mention, however, as they share some common
elements.


In Eatonville, there are several men who are not
particularly appealing, yet they attempt to "make moves" on Janie in a suave and smooth
manner. They fail miserably, but they are humorous and even burlesque in both word and
deed.


Also in Eatonville, the boasting of the town's
self-appointed leader is so outrageous that it becomes humorous. This is ironic, for Joe
Starks is clearly not the best man in the town and this depiction of him might be
considered satire.


Down in the bayou, the scene at the
restaurant--and the family which runs it--is rather outrageous, as well. Burlesque may
apply here, based on the outrageous actions on a grand
scale.


In general terms, the especially exaggerated Negro
dialect is spoken by the most humorous characters. The men in Janie's life all have
rather absurd moments, as well. This would probably be considered
hyperbole--exaggeration used for humorous effect. 


The men
in the novel are generally more caricatured than the women, and caricatures are humorous
depictions of reality--probably closest in definition to parody.

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