Journal #6: 3 Literary Terms

1. Personification. "Janie dozed off to sleep but she woke up in time to see the sun sending up spies ahead of him to mark out the road through the dark." This is the cutest personification I have ever read. Hurston makes it sound like the sun is afraid of the dark, and it sent small rays of light go first to lighten up the sky. Then she goes on saying that the sun was red first, showing off, then went back to its typical white. I've never heard of anyone making the sunrise seem silly and whimsical. Hurston created this thought for Janie to show that she feels everyone else is having a lovely time except her. She's so upset with Tea Cake, and she feels like the only one who is unhappy. The sun is mocking her.

2. Hyperbole. "When the fellow began to pick to pick the box the people began to come from east, west, north and Australia." Another adorable literary technique. Tea Cake is explaining his absence to Janie, and as usual is vibrant, silly and exaggerated. Janie has been thinking stormy thoughts but Tea Cake bursts in and tells this fun story about his day. His hyperbole shows characterization of Tea Cake's whimsical nature. I can imagine Tea Cake smiling widely and jumping up and down, even while conscious that Janie is furious with him. He seems vivacious by nature.

3. Characterization. "Baby, Ah run mah other arm in mah coat-sleeve and grabbed dat nigger by his necktie befo' he could bat his eye and then Ah wuz all over 'im jus' lak gravy over rice." Tea Cake is talking about something very serious, a fight between himself and another man over money, but the way he says it makes it sound fun and comical. He has a characterization of radiance, I want to get to know this man myself. I like him more than Janie. His speeches are captivating and entertaining, and it's no wonder that everyone goes to his and Janie's house to have fun.