Drenched in Light

Throughout the story, Hurston employs references relating to popular Greek and Egyptian myths along with popular fairy tale images. How do these allusions help tell Isis’s story? What effect does it add?

Discuss the symbolism of the horizon. Why is the horizon important for Isis? How does it work in conjunction with other symbols or motifs in the text?

Explain the story’s ending. Why does Helen claim that Isis “adopted” her, and not the other way around?

Describe the relationship between Isis and Grandma Potts. Consider each character’s perspective. How does their relationship compare to the relationship Isis has with other characters like Helen?

The narrator does not explicitly detail the harsh realities of racial prejudices or class distinctions, but Hurston hints at these themes. How do race and class function in the text?

Due to the third-person point of view, the narrator limits the perspective to Isis. Choose a passage from the text and rewrite it to include descriptions of the internal thoughts and emotions of another character, such as Grandma Potts or Helen. How does this add or change the meaning of the story?

Discuss the use of dialect. Why does Hurston include dialect in her characters’ speech? How does this affect your interpretation of the story?

What role does community play in the story? How does the community at the carnival compare to the family unit of Isis, Grandma Potts, Joel, and their father?