Archetype. An archetype is an inherited, often unconscious, ancestral memory or motif that recurs throughout history or literature. One archetypal theme found throughout literature is the fall from a state of innocence to a state of experience. An early work in which this theme occurs is the story of Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis in the Bible. As you read, note how this archetype relates to Hurston’s life.
Symbol and Theme. A symbol is a thing that stands for or represents something else. A theme is a central idea in a literary work.
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Published in 1928 in World Tomorrow, the essay “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” provides a remarkably contemporary view of what it feels like for one woman to be African American. The author uses personal anecdotes to discuss the issues of prejudice, discrimination, and equality in American society.
As you read, pay careful attention to a symbol Hurston uses at the end—a bag filled with different objects. Make a cluster chart listing the contents of the bag. One example has been done for you. What do the contents of the bag symbolize?
When have you maintained a positive attitude to get through a difficult experience?
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