*Not Late! I accidentally saved this journal to my drafts instead of publishing it the night it was due. That is why it was published the next day. I talked to you about it after class the day after it was due.
Anthropomorphism: "Lewis's pleading eyes changed to a look of solemn understanding, and he left the shack in search of a rare fulfilling meal" (Josephson 2).
"He was soon panting and heaving from the effort of spinning his old carcass around" (Hurston 56).
These two passages both use anthropomorphism to describe an animal character. These animal characters, however, both represent bigger issues in the stories, making them motifs. The mule is protrayed by Hurston as a harder working, oppressed, and underappreciated being, much like women were viewed in that time period. The mule eventually gains its freedom, prompting Janie to yearn for the same. The dog Lewis in Josephson's story represents a being who is dependent on his owners, until he runs away to find his own luck. This represents Josephson's character Christopher, who is unhappy with his condition but unable to do anything about it until the foreign man comes.
Imagery: "His bare calloused feet instinctively clutched at the course sand which they had been deprived of for so long, and which they were once so intimately connected with" (Josephson 1).
"His prosperous-looking belly that used to thrust out so pugnaciously and intimidate folks, sagged like a load suspended from his loins" (Hurston 77).
Both Hurston and Josephson use long stretches of imagery throughout their story. Their imagery serves the purpose of revealing something important about a character. In Josephson's case, the imagery reveals that Christopher used to have some connection with something represented by the sand that was broken off a long time ago. Hurston, likewise, uses imagery to characterize Jody, showing that he is weakening with age, and is less able to project his leadership.
Motif: "Lewis gave Christopher another long look of deep understanding, and they continued to watch the sun setting over the western horizon, over America, beckoning Christopher to follow" (Josephson 4).
"He could be a bee to a blossom-a pear tree blossom in the spring" (Hurston 106).
Hurston and Josephson use multiple symbols throughout their stories. These symbols serve the purpose of representing something that the protagonist is trying to gain. In Hurston's case, Janie is always on the quest to find love. The tree motif always appears when love is the subject, helping the reader understand Janie's feelings towards love by comparing them to "blossoms" and such. Josephson uses the sun motif in his story to represent Christopher's desire to escape the island. It sets over America in the west, with Christopher watching it every night.
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