Sweat
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Themes
All Themes Domestic Abuse Christianity Hard Work vs. Entitlement Race and Class
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Delia Jones Sykes
Symbols
All Symbols Snakes
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allegory Allusions Dialect Foreshadowing Genre Irony Metaphors Mood Motifs Paradox Parody Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
Quiz
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Sweat

by Zora Neale Hurston
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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Domestic Abuse Theme Icon
    Domestic Abuse
  • Christianity Theme Icon
    Christianity
  • Hard Work vs. Entitlement Theme Icon
    Hard Work vs. Entitlement
  • Race and Class Theme Icon
    Race and Class
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Delia Jones
  • Sykes
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Snakes Symbol Icon
    Snakes
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Allegory
  • Allusions
  • Dialect
  • Foreshadowing
  • Genre
  • Irony
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Motifs
  • Paradox
  • Parody
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
Quiz
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Download the Teacher Edition
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Previous
Sykes

Sweat Symbols

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Snakes

Snakes

Since Delia is afraid of snakes, Sykes uses snakes and snake-like objects repeatedly to frighten her. From a symbolic perspective, then, the snake could be a representation of Sykes’ cruelty. In a broader context, however…

read analysis of Snakes

Snakes Symbol Icon
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Sykes
Previous
Sykes
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Snakes
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Snakes

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