Both Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, and Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle, are multi-faceted stories with central themes that repeat themselves throughout. The strongest and most repeated theme is that of control, especially when shown through the eyes of each book's main character. ... In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie, the main character, is shown in her middle age returning to her hometown. ... Nanny also speaks directly about the lack of control that black people; especially black women have over their world. ... Merricat dearly lo...

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• Grade Level: High School

I told Kyle and Tim that I couldn't go and watch the game with them. ... The cop looked me straight in the eyes and said, "I"m sorry, Matt, they died in that horrible crash." ... Everyone walked past the Cristmans and me, showing their regards. ... When I step in a car now, I hope they keep me safe and watch out for me. ... I pray every day and night that God will keep my family and friends safe and healthy. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

The man's ice cold eyes stared into the distance, probably locked on his last view of life. ... Laura had the most beautiful brown curly hair and her eyes were so dark yet full of so much life. ... I remember watching helplessly as a nun got chased down the street by a group of people just because she had light skin. ... I thanked god that my cell door was locked otherwise I was going to be next. ... When I was twenty, my god brother was driving down the street when a kid standing on an overpass shot his windshield. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

Heading into the town, the sun was setting and I noticed everybody was indoors, with all their windows locked and shut. ... Her long black hair that shone in the light of the bar with her big hazel brown eyes and luscious red lips caught my attention. ... She was a perfect wife in my eyes I thought. ... Then out of the blue, a man, dress in raggedy old clothes with hair that looked like it hasn't been washed for years pulled out a gun in the crowd that was watching Alexandra from the sides. ... She tripped over her wedding dress and fell right into my arms and when she did, she looked a...

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She watched me struggle through pain, and all she wanted was to help. ... My whole agreement with God was, if I got better, I would be a better person, a person just like my mom. ... Now I have come to see that people have to listen to one another and their opinions because they might have a better outlook than I. ... I am also less judgmental because I do not assume things about people by their background, name, or race. ... She is a superstar in my eyes and a great mother. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

Seeing everybody that last time just bought tears to my eyes. ... I remembered sitting in front of the television watching college basketball games together; Ryan loved Carolina basketball. ... They were on their way to the project and already in the car. ... He stated that we can't explain why Ryan was taken from us, but he figured that God must want someone to make him laugh, so he took the best. ... He spoke about a tradition that they had when they greeted and departed from each other they gave each other a hug, a kiss and expressed their love for one another. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

Phoebe is like "god's angel." ... He is watching her and introduces himself to her. ... "With the lids drooping over her eyes-now lifted for an instant, and drawn down again as with leaden weights." (162) Holgrave's story about the Pyncheon family, mesmerized Phoebe. ...

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• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School