Zora Neale Hurston

Definition

Zora Neale Hurston was an acclaimed African American novelist, short story writer, folklorist, and anthropologist during the Harlem Renaissance. She is best known for her novels and short stories that celebrated the rich culture and traditions of the African American community.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Hurston's most famous novel is 'Their Eyes Were Watching God', which explores themes of race, gender, and the human experience.
2. As an anthropologist, Hurston conducted extensive fieldwork in the American South and the Caribbean, documenting the folklore and oral traditions of African American and Afro-Caribbean communities.
3. Hurston's writing style was heavily influenced by the rhythms and language of African American vernacular, which she used to capture the authentic voices and experiences of her characters.
4. During her lifetime, Hurston faced significant criticism and marginalization from the literary establishment, in part due to her unconventional political views and refusal to conform to racial stereotypes.
5. In the decades following her death, Hurston's work experienced a resurgence of interest and critical acclaim, with her novels and short stories becoming recognized as seminal works of African American literature.

Review Questions

• Describe Zora Neale Hurston's contributions to the Harlem Renaissance and African American literature.
  • Zora Neale Hurston was a key figure of the Harlem Renaissance, a flourishing of African American art, literature, and culture in the 1920s. As a novelist, short story writer, and folklorist, Hurston's work celebrated the rich traditions and lived experiences of African American communities, particularly in the American South. Her novels, such as 'Their Eyes Were Watching God', are now considered seminal works of African American literature that challenged racial stereotypes and provided a platform for the authentic voices and perspectives of black Americans.
• Explain how Hurston's background as an anthropologist influenced her literary work.
  • Zora Neale Hurston's training and experience as an anthropologist had a significant impact on her literary output. Through her extensive fieldwork in the American South and the Caribbean, Hurston developed a deep understanding and appreciation for the folklore, oral traditions, and cultural practices of African American and Afro-Caribbean communities. She incorporated these elements into her writing, using the rhythms and language of vernacular speech to capture the authentic voices and experiences of her characters. Hurston's anthropological approach to storytelling allowed her to shed light on the rich cultural heritage and lived realities of the communities she studied, making her work an important contribution to the documentation and preservation of African American cultural traditions.
• Analyze the significance of Zora Neale Hurston's work in the context of the broader African American literary tradition and the challenges she faced as a writer.
  • Zora Neale Hurston's work stands as a seminal contribution to the African American literary tradition, yet she faced significant challenges and marginalization during her lifetime. As an unconventional writer who refused to conform to racial stereotypes, Hurston's work was often met with criticism and misunderstanding from the literary establishment. However, in the decades following her death, her novels and short stories have been recognized as groundbreaking works that celebrated the richness and diversity of African American culture and provided a platform for the authentic voices and perspectives of black Americans. Hurston's anthropological approach to storytelling, her use of vernacular language, and her exploration of themes such as race, gender, and the human experience have cemented her legacy as a trailblazing figure in the African American literary canon. Her work continues to inspire and influence contemporary writers, scholars, and readers, highlighting the enduring significance of her contributions to the literary and cultural landscape.

Related terms

Harlem Renaissance:

The Harlem Renaissance was a flourishing of African American culture, especially in the creative arts, that took place in Harlem, New York, in the 1920s.

Anthropology: The study of humans and human behavior and societies in the past and present.

Folklore: The traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, transmitted through oral or written tradition.