Writers Craft Project

Tool 5 (Showing after Telling)-Sammy Nandwani:

A.Through pollinated air she saw a glorious being coming up the road. In her former blindness
she had known him as shiftless Johnny Taylor, tall and lean. That was before the golden dust of
pollen had beglamored his rags and her eyes (Hurston 12).
B.Hurston begins the sentence with the unknown subject on the glorious being. This subject
masked behind the pollen is unknown and later revealed as Johnny Taylor. Johnny represented
the blindness Janie had at the time, as she viewed love as this magnificent creation eventually
these two ideals possessing Janie led to her kiss with Johnny. As Hurston uses the term former
she is conveying a message of growth, and using adjectives such as rags to describe the change
from what Janie believed to be good to current day. Hurston uses the sentences dealing with the
pollinated air to surround the past beliefs and actions of Janie. If Hurston had not used such
terms as glorious being coming up the road and then contradicting it with golden dust of
pollen had beglamored his rags and her eyes the progression of change would not be evident.
This connotation of rags and glorious can only be seen as opposites of each other to show the
contradiction Hurston is trying to express.
C. The test was hard, and had to be meticulously answered. This test was composed of an essay
and multiple choice.

Tool 6( Sentences, long and short)- Sammy Nandwani:

A. Janie and Logan got married in Nanny's parlor of a Saturday evening with three cakes and
big platters of fried rabbit and chicken. Everything to eat in abundance. Nanny and Mrs.
Washburn had seen to that. But nobody put anything on the seat of Logan's wagon to make it ride
glorious on the way to his house. It was a lonesome place like a stump in the middle of the
woods where nobody had ever been. The house was absent of flavor, too. But anyhow Janie went
on inside to wait for love to begin. The new moon had been up and down three times before she
got worried in mind. Then she went to see Nanny in Mrs. Washburn's kitchen on the day for
beaten biscuits(Hurston 22).
B. Within these sentences the reader is shown ideas behind the initial start of Janies marriage.
Each sentence that expresses a fact is long, compared to those expressing opinion. Each sentence
expressing an opinion is on a weakness, mainly love, within Janie. As seen by But anyhow
Janie went on inside to wait for love to begin, Janies weakness love is placed after two
sentences on the location of the house. Hurston uses these long sentences to mask the weakness
she states on Janie. This is crucial as Janie in the beginning of the novel continued to mask her
emotion, until her self-confidence began to build after each man she was with. Each sentence on
Janies weakness has to deal with love, and is correlating with sex. For example, the phrase the
moon had been up and down three times refers to days, however, Hurstons choice of nights

alludes to the idea of sex as the use of the terms went on inside to wait for love to begin . This
sex based reference shows the love that Janie feels anxious for, stated by she got worried in
mind. This is an important order as the reader can indirectly see that Janies emotion is hidden.
When looked at further, the reader can see that the sentence following the shorter sentences are
longer and are choppy containing no metaphor or relation to anything besides plot. The longer
sentences tend to have their subjects first, and have their verbs placed in very predictable places.
Whereas the shorter sentences begin with a contradiction and expresses the emotion towards the
end of the sentence with verbs placed randomly. Seen by the phrase But anyhow Janie went on
inside to wait for love to begin the reader can see that this contradiction is relating back to the
longer sentence, yet expressing an weakness within Janie in the end. The verb went in the
middle as compared to the next sentence when the verb had is placed directly after the subject.
However, this sentence is still expressing the weakness of love.
C. I was swimming faster and faster each lap. Continuously, trying to defeat my opponent
swimmers. Each lap felt empowering as I felt closer and closer to the end. However, I lost. This
race was a memorable 50 yard sprint, and I was out of breath by the end.

Tool 7(Ordering Words)-Sammy Nandwani :

A. 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 that 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 do 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(Hurston 10).
B. Each sentence within this paragraph alternates the subject between Janie and the tree. The
first sentence has a subject on the pear tree, and is followed by a sentence on Janie. This
alternating pattern is what allows for Hurston to synthesize ideas within both subjects. As seen
with she could steal from her chores under that tree and followed with the sentence That was
to say, ever since the first tiny bloom opened. This synthesis of material is what allows for
Hurston to symbolize ideas later seen in Janie through the tree. The way each sentence is

composed also adds a sense of importance of subject. As sentences based on the tree tend to have
and enriched grammatical composition with statements being connected with commas, and
semicolons as well as detailed descriptions. The sentences that are supposedly on Janie tend to
have a simple composition and use adjectives that are generic to modern society. The tree due to
its detailed and complex use of wording as seen in from the leaf-buds to snowy virginity of
bloom can be also used to correlate with Janies present and future state. The repetition of
Janies questions being placed one sentence apart also shows the correlation between the linking
of the two distinct subjects through the use of their unknown contents.
C. I was working as fast as I could unaware of the time or any other variables. I was watching
my work vigilantly. Ensuring that each question would be done to my greatest perfection, a
perfection to which I would be recognized.
*When describing my work vigilantly I placed it in the middle to show that overall it was
ineffective to the rest of the story. Another method of the use of Ordering Words compared to the
one seen in TEWWG.

Tool 11 (Repetition)-Sammy Nandwani :

A. Did marriage end the cosmic loneliness of the unmated? Did marriage compel love like the
sun the day?(Hurston 21).
B. Hurstons opening to Ch.3 exposed and foreshadowed Janies future, specifically on her
marriage with Logan. With the use of repetition, seen by the phrase Did marriage, Hurston is
able to show readers the future, by questioning the reader. As Hurston places this repetitive
comment, the reader is only intrigued to think or focus on the concept of marriage with respect to
Janies thoughts. As stated by her comparison of loneliness and compelling love, the reader can
see the two possible outcomes. This contradiction used within the two sentences is a way for
Hurston to use the repetitive language without seeming redundant and still appeal to the readers
curiosity. Each outcome listed by Hurston leads to a different view of Janie. As some may say
that if Janie is compelled then she was proven wrong by her grandmother.
C. The risks made in life are the risks that may hurt or benefit you.

Flirt Line- Sammy Nandwani:

A. There are years that ask questions and years that answer. Janie had no chance to know things,
so she had to ask (Hurston 21).
B. Hurston takes one sentence to describe Janies year without the reader understanding the idea
behind it. When looking closely the reader can see that the questions asked and the answers
are not considered to be exclusive of each other. To clarify, Hurston does not specify that certain
years are only question based, whereas others are answer based. This can lead to a statement that
they can be overlapped. This idea supported by the next statement on Janie, represents this
overlapping. The next sentence shows that in order to gain an answer she had asked. Supporting
the idea behind the overlapping years. Foreshadowing the future of unknown to Janie providing
for curiosity and confusion to arise within the reader. If Hurston were to specify that only certain
years ask or answer, then Hurstons next sentence on Janie would shift to a known direction.
With the use of a vague statement the reader can grasp the idea behind the authors statement and
still be directionless as to what the statement is pointing toward.
C. Sleeping at one in the morning should never be done, but we all have to make sacrifices
sometimes.

Tool 14(Air of Mystery Line)-Ben :

a.
The people all saw her come because it was sundown. The sun was gone, but he had left
his footprints in the sky. It was the time for sitting on porches beside the road. It was the time to
hear things and talk. These sitters had been tongueless, earless, eyeless conveniences all day
long. Mules and other brutes had occupied their skins. But now, the sun and the bossman were
gone, so the skins felt powerful and human. They became lords of sounds and lesser things. They
passed nations through their mouths. They sat in judgement (Hurston 1).
b.
This passage occurs at the beginning of the novel and generates many questions as the
reader is not familiar with the settings or characters of the novel. This introduction to the context
is very intense and exaggerated despite the reality of the simple and not in any way unusual
community. Hurston creates a dark tone by repeating the phrase the sun was gone. She
magnifies this creepiness by suggesting that the sitters or inhabitants of the community only

truly regain their senses during the night when the bossman is not present. While this scene
presents a very common night-time activity it is important because of how much Hurston
intensifies it. Obviously anyone would feel more confident speaking their mind when their boss
isnt around. But, instead of boss it is bossman and instead of people it is lords of sounds.
This makes this passage a much bigger deal and makes readers wonder about these mysterious
sitters who pass nations through their mouths. As a reader you have to read very closely to
understand the meaning behind the amplified text. The meaning can really only be understood
when reading further on and figuring out the situation. This makes this passage a mystery to the
reader because it doesnt give him/her the basics.
c.
The cookie monster was gone, but he had left his cookie crumbs on the floor. It was time
for the plan to begin.

Tool 13(Names Matter)-Ben:

a.
Why must Joe be so mad with her for making him look small when he did it to her all
the time? Had been doing it for years. Well, if she must eat out of a long-handled spoon, she
must. Jody might get over his mad spell any time at all and begin to act like somebody to her
(81).
b.
In this passage Janie questions why Joe has mistreated her and then sort of assures herself
that he will come to his senses. The important part of this passage is the quick switch from Joe to
Jody. It is important to note that Joe is his original name and Jody is a nickname. Throughout her
marriage to him and especially in this passage, Joe represents a stranger and Jody represents
someone who is familiar to Janie. When Janie refers to her husband as Joe in the first sentence it
is significant in that she doesnt really understand him here and therefore feels more emotionally
distant. Then she uses Jody when talking about him overcoming his mad spell and becoming
normal again. Hurstons use of mad spell helps to show Joes distance from Janie at this point.
It makes sense that Jody is used here because she talks about him returning to his original state
which she is familiar with and used to. Hurstons clever naming helps readers pick out Janies
thoughts about Joe at the particular moment.
c.
Why was Anakin so mad with Obi-Wan Kenobi when Kenobi was trying to help him.
Skywalker might get over his angry rampage at any time and begin to actually act like a jedi

Tool 8(Dialogue)-Ben:
a.
Some folks never was meant to be loved and hes one of em. How come? Cause
Ah hates de way his head is so long one way and so flat on de sides and dat pone uh fat bach uh
his neck. He never made his own head. You talk so silly (24).
b.
In this passage Janie has a heated conversation with Nanny. The dialogue here is unique
in that it is not clear who is speaking because the speaker is not specified after their line of
speech. This forces the readers to figure it out by themselves. By making readers decipher

whether Nanny or Janie is speaking Hurston magnifies the contrasts between the two characters.
The reader can tell who the speaker is by the difference in their stances on love. Janies obvious
youthful approach is set against Nannys old fashioned and wise responses. The absence of
names also makes the dialogue flow in a very natural way that complements the colloquial
language used by the author. This natural flow helps make the conversation seem more like a
debate or an argument where the speakers quickly respond to each other, almost cutting the other
one off.
c.
Some books were never meant to be read and Twilight is one of em. How come? Cause
ah hates de way that it ruins a chance to have an awesome war between werewolves and
vampires.
Tool 1(Subjects and Verbs)-Ben :
a.
It was a cityfied, stylish dressed man with his hat set at an angle that didnt belong in
these parts. His coat was over his arm, but he didnt need it to represent his clothes. The shirt
with the silk sleeveholders was dazzling enough for the world. He whistled, mopped his face and
walked like he knew where he was going. He was a seal-brown color but he acted like Mr.
Washburn or somebody like that to Janie Joe Starks was the name, yeah Joe Starks from in and
through Georgy (27).
b.
Here, Hurston cleverly avoids using proper nouns and instead sticks with his when
referring to Janies first encounter with Joe. This adds a lot of suspense to this characters reveal
and gives him a sort of a prestige that Janie idealizes. Also, at this point in the novel Janie is
unsatisfied with her husband, so the reveal of this dazzling new character gives the readers
hope for Janies future in love and romance. However, Joes beauty on the outside did not end up
corresponding to his actual personality. In this way Hurston gives her readers a false hope that
gets the readers excited only to be met with disappointment. This passage could also be used to
demonstrate Joes emotional distance as a person from Janie in the future. Janie never had any
real feelings for Joe, but was impressed by his ambition. In a way, Janies interest in Joe can be
compared to a shoppers interest in a new and flashy material good. Hence the use of a pronoun
instead of Joes name. The use of pronouns takes all the attention away from Joe himself and
focuses on his image.
c.
He was a suburban, normally dressed teenager with a shirt that didnt belong with his
pants. Ben Stefadu was the name, yeah Ben Stefadu.

Tool 3(Suddenly, few Adverbs)-Ben:

a.
They had already seen him and they were too close to miss him if they shot. Hello,
there, Jim, the tallest one called out... We been lookin for you Jim.Mah name aint no Jim,
Tea Cake said watchfully(169).
b.
The phrase Tea Cake said watchfully is very interesting because it does not really make
sense. The definition of watchful is vigilant, alert, or closely observant. This adverb is not
usually associated with speech, but rather with actions involving movement or sight. How does

someone say something in an alert manner. At this moment it is clear that Tea Cake is frightened
and nervous because two men have approached with guns. Hurston could be trying to convey
Tea Cakes fear by instead of straight up revealing his feelings, giving his speech (the only thing
revealed to the men and the readers) a characteristic that is used to describe someone. In other
words his speech is being personified to show the extent to which he is watchful without simply
stating it. This is a very interesting phrase used by Hurston that adds a lot of meaning and spice
behind a sentence that at first glance looks simple.
c.
We have been looking for you Ben Stefaaadu. My name is not pronounced like that, Ben
Stefadu said angrily.

Joshua Gale : Tool 10, Tool 4, Tool 12, Face to Face, Location Line

Tool 10 :Paragraph Length- Josh

A.Janie achieved the tail of the cow and lifted her head up along the cows rump, as far
as she could above water. The cow sunk a little with the added load and thrashed a moment in
terror. Thought she was being pulled down by a gator. Then she continued on. The dog stood up
and growled like a lion, stiff-standing hackles, stiff muscles, teeth uncovered as he lashed up his
fury for the charge. Tea Cake split the water like an otter, opening his knife as he dived. The dog
raced down the backbone of the cow to attack and Janie screamed and slipped far back on the tail
of the cow, just out of reach of the dogs angry jaws. He wanted to plunge in after her but
dreaded the water, somehow. Tea Cake rose out of the water at the cows rump and seized the
dog by the neck. But he was a powerful dog and Tea Cake was over-tired. So he didnt kill the
dog with one stroke as he had intended. But the dog couldnt free himself either. They fought and
somehow he managed to bite Tea Cake high up on his cheek-bone once. Then Tea Cake finished
him and sent him to the bottom to stay there. The cow relieved of a great weight was landing on
the fill with Janie before Tea Cake stroked in and crawled weakly upon the fill again(Hurston
166).

B. Hurston uses the long length of this paragraph to tell readers that this is the most
important section of the novel, or possibly the climax. The author addresses the cow as a she
and the dog as a he, which means the cow could represent Janie, while the dog represents the
men in her life. Most of the men in Janies life (with the exception of Tea Cake) were a negative
force, just like the dog, which was trying to attack her. The cow was relieved of a great weight
when the dog was killed, as Janie was relieved of a great weight when she separated from men
such as Logan or Jody. The sentence then she continued on. is the shortest in the paragraph as
it is very important and symbolic. It symbolizes how Janie continues on even when she is pulled
down, and also compares her to how the cow continued swimming even after she was pulled
down. Words such as weakly and overtired are used to describe Tea Cake. This is important
because it may foreshadow how weak and sick Tea Cake will soon become. This lengthy
paragraph acts as a mini-narrative which sums up Janies relations with men and sets her up for
disaster with its foreshadowing of Tea Cakes condition.

C.
I grabbed hold of the end of my brothers canoe. It shook and began to fill with
water, yet it stayed afloat. My brother turned around, began to yell, and attempted to shove me
back into the water. At that moment, my friend leaped in the water to help me. My brother began
to shove, and I almost slipped off. My brother could have thrown me off, but he did not want to
risk falling into the water. My friend, who was tired of swimming, finally arrived to save me. My
friend had a hard time shoving my brother off the canoe as he was exhausted. Eventually, my
friend defeated my brother and I rode off in the canoe. Soon after, me and my friend reached the
shore and collapsed on the beach, weakly.

Tool 12: comparison- Josh

A.The dog stood up and growled like a lion, stiff-standing hackles, stiff muscles, teeth
uncovered as he lashed up his fury for the charge. Tea Cake split the water like an otter, opening
his knife as he dived(Hurston 166).
B. Hurston describes the dog by comparing it to a lion, using words like hackles and
fury. These are important because it evokes an image of pure hatred. On the contrary, Tea Cake
is called an otter (a much more peaceful animal). These descriptions set up a yin and yang type
battle in the readers mind. The use of four commas in only two sentences causes the reader to
pause multiple times, which is used to build up the suspension of the passage. The author begins
each sentence with a simile, which implies that each simile is important and Hurston wants the
reader to understand them before anything else. Furthermore, each simile is very similar in
length, proving that the author wants them to be equally powerful, similar to yin and yang.

C. The boss stood up and yelled like an army general, face red with anger, stiff muscles,
mouth opening, ready to let out all of his emotions. The employee bolted across the room like a
cheetah, opening the door as he was getting fired.

Location Line-Josh
A.To Janies strange eyes, everything in the everglades was big and new. Big
Lake Okechobee, big beans, big cane, big weeds, big everything. Weeds that did well to
grow waist high up the state were eight and often ten feet tall down there. Ground so rich
that everything went wild. Volunteer cane just taking the place. Dirt roads so rich and
black that a half mile of it would have fertilized a Kansas wheat field. Wild cane on either
side of the road hiding the rest of the world. People wild too(Hurston 129).
B. The phrase Janies strange eyes represents that the everglades is a place that
contradicts every other place Janie has been, as she does not understand it. The word
big is repeated several times to prove just how monstrous and overwhelming the
everglades are to a woman like Janie. The phrase everything went wild may
foreshadow that events such as hurricanes and flooding will occur there. Since the word
rich was repeated twice, it might imply that it has a dual meaning. Rich may mean that
the everglades had plentiful soil, as well as the ability to become wealthy by laboring
there. Hurston explains that the wild cane can hide the rest of the world. The phrase is
meaningful because it is symbolic of the isolation Janie now feels from her old friends
and town by living in the everglades.
C. In my eyes, Niagara Falls was spectacular and enormous. huge quantities of
water pouring over the edge to meet the river hundreds of feet below, the water crashing
into huge boulders, huge rainbows forming in the mist of the falls. The ground coated in
water, yet it was packed full of tourist attractions. Roads packed with traffic. Cliffs on
either side of the falls block out the bustling outside world. Tourists as excited as ever.
Tool 4: Verbs- Josh
A.The wind came back with triple fury, and put out the light for the last time. They sat in
company with the other shanties, their eyes straining against crude walls and their souls asking if
He meant to measure their puny might against His. They seemed to be staring at the dark, but
their eyes were watching God(Hurston 160).
B. Hurston immediately describes the winds action as if it was done on purpose. By
putting out the light (the only remaining source of comfort and safety) in the first sentence, it
implies that a dark or terrifying scene may ensue. The second sentence is long and drawn out,
similar to the way the characters eyes are strained against the walls. Also in the second
sentence, the capitalization of the word He is alluding to God and that His actions are the

most impactful. The personification of their souls implies that something intangible (like God)
are the providers of all of these actions. The last sentence shows that the characters are
powerless. Eyes are powerless staring at the dark, just as the characters are powerless against a
force like God.
C. The police came back with triple fury, and announced their last warning. The criminals
sat in company, their eyes straining at the door and their souls asking if the police would ever
find them. They seemed to be emotionless, but they were as scared as they had ever been.
Face to Face line- Josh
A. What she doin coming back here in dem overhalls? Cant she find no dress to put
on?-Wheres dat blue satin dress she left here in?-Where all dat money her husband took and
died and left her?-What dat ole forty year ole oman doin wid her hair swingin down her back
lak some young gal?-Where she left dat young lad of a boy she went off here wid?-Thought she
was going to marry?-Where he left her?- What he done wid all her money?-Betcha he off wid
some gal so young she aint even got no hairs- why she dont stay in her class(Hurston 2)?

B. The paragraph consists of many questions, implying that the characters do not
understand many aspects of Janies life. Due to this passage being at the beginning of the novel,
the author placed the questions here to help the readers paint a full picture of Janie in their minds
when they answer these questions as they progress through the novel. Janies blue dress allows
the reader to infer that Janie may have had a life full of hardships and sadness. Hurston repeats
the word money twice, helping the reader understand the importance of money in Janies life.
In the last sentence, Hurston uses an inversion. The inversion amplifies the topic of Janie
exceeding her class boundaries. Overall, this passage not only allows readers to understand Janie,
but also the opportunity build on their understanding by using all of these questions as a guide.

C.

Lord of the Flies

What are you doing without any clothes? Cant you find any clothes to put on?
Wheres your clothes you came here with? Where all your money or parents? What are
you kids doin wid your long hair swingin down your backs lak some young gal? Where
you left dat young lad of a boy with the scar? Thought you were civilized british boys?
where you leave piggy? what you done with all his things? Betcha you boys killed him,
hes too young to die-why you dont act like British boys?