The dilemma
What role do the townsmen play in the story?
Discuss the significance of the snake in the story.
12/4/21, 12:45 PM Literary Contexts in Short Stories: Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat”: Discovery Service for East Mississippi Comm College
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Does Hurston’s use of dialect strengthen the story?
Do you agree with Clarke’s comment regarding Sykes: “Tain’t no law on earth dat kin make a
man be decent if it ain’t in ‘im” (31)?
Compare and contrast the characters Delia and Bertha.
Do you think Sykes deserves to die?
Explore the irony in the story.
Why do you think Delia tries to remain “blind and deaf” (33)?
Find examples of Delia’s expressions of anger toward Sykes. Does she become more
aggressive toward him as the story progresses?
The narrator mentions the hot weather several times. Is it important to the story that it is hot?
Essay Ideas
Discuss whether Delia acted ethically when she did not seek aid for Sykes at the end of the story. Do
her actions conflict with her Christian beliefs?
Explore Delia as a victim of domestic violence.
Discuss the role economics plays in the story.
Describe Delia from a feminist perspective.
Discuss elements of folklore Hurston weaves into the story.