In what ways do the main characters defy expectations?

Let’s look back on what we’ve learned together during this first unit. We talked about how to approach literature—what literary criticism is and how it can offer us many ways to look at a novel. We also read an article about why students should read literature. We learned about one of the most exciting times in American history, the Harlem Renaissance—a response to the oppression, segregation and racial violence of the time period. This era provided a showcase of the various contributions of African Americans from jazz and dance to poetry, prose and novels. Folks couldn’t wait to get to Harlem back then. We also read Passing by Nella Larsen and “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston which depicted the very different lives and experiences of African American women. Reflect on what we’ve read, discussed, your notes, PowerPoints, and videos that we’ve looked at to enrich your answer.

Directions:
Select ONE of the following to work on. This assignment is worth 20 points and counts a bit more heavily than your other assignments so please make sure you try to complete this assignment.
Questions:
a) Using the novel Passing and the short story “Sweat,” explain how these works reflect the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance. How do these works push against the traditions and beliefs of how Black women were expected to exist in society? In what ways do the main characters defy expectations?
b) How do wealth and status show up in Passing and how are the characters affected? Give at least 3 specific ways or examples and explain your choices.

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