1. Zora Neale Hurston was deliberate in choosing the title of her novel. Their Eyes Were Watching God is important for two major reasons. Firstly, the word 'watching' is significant. Over the course of the novel, she has used motifs of watching, eyes and porches. These all convey a theme that the African-Americans were achieving power when they were not working by judging others. Secondly, the word God is important. The relationship between people and God has been repeated many times over the course of the novel. By putting that in the title, it shows that it was intentional and important. She comes out and says it, not alluding to it in any way, which further shows the obvious importance.
2. An optional title for Zora Neale Hurston's novel could be Noah's Cruise. This would alter the reading and focus of the story, but it would keep some similarities. There would still be a biblical reference with Noah's ark. Animals and anthropomorphism are used in the book extensively. This would amplify the significane of those techniques more than the other title. Also, it could take a cynical approach to God, that has been included in the text.
3. The title of my pastiche is "Under Foot." I used this because it has multiple connotations. In my pastiche, I use a motif of running, and also tell of how the rug was pulled out from under Tea Cake. There is an American idiom of being under someone's feet. This means that you are annoying to that person. I manipulate this a little by seeing it as an adversity. Adversities, connect to the theme of my story which is that the way people react to events define them.
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