The Ten Commandments of Charm- Zora Neale Hurston (84-85)

When was “The Ten Commandments of Charm” made?

1925

Before beginning the 10 commandments in “The Ten Commandments of Charm” what does Hurston write?

“For when a woman is perfectly frank with men, they do not rise up and bless her. Nay, they rise up and run!” “And what woman can be happy and likewise neglected?”

In “The Ten Commandments of Charm” what is the first commandment?

“Be cheerful. Let not they smile come off. For a joyous damsel is a bright light in a dismal world; and a man will pass up long eyelashes and a short temper for a damsel that is long on laughter and short on complaints”

What is the first commandment in “The Ten Commandments of Charm” basically saying?

To be cheerful because men prefer a woman who laughs a lot and doesn’t complain over one who has “long eyelashes and a short temper”Wh

What does the second commandment in “The Ten Commandments of Charm” say>?

“Show not thine hand to any man;neither tell him the truth. For a little mystery is better than much with. And into a man every woman is a brand new puzzle wherein he loseth interest when he has found the “answer.”

What is the second commandment in “The Ten Commandments of Charm” basically saying?

To be mysterious with men because once men completely understand a woman they lose interest

What does the 3rd commandment in “The Ten Commandments of Charm” say?

“Forget not the first law of conversation, which is Thou shalt not talk about thyself; nor the last law, which is, Help every man to express himself brilliantly!”

What is the 3rd commandment in “The Ten Commandments of Charm” basically saying?

To not talk about yourself too much and to help men express themselves so that you would be known as a “fascinating conversationalist” even though you don’t speak at all

What does the 4th commandment oin “The Ten Commandments of Charm” say?

“I charge thee, avoid the telephone as thou wouldst the plague. For a woman that pursueth a man with telephone calls affecteth him like into five meals a day. She causes sentimental indigestion. She is as lobster after the dessert.”

What does the 4th commandment in “The Ten Commandments of Charm” basically say?

To avoid the telephone because a man who pursues a man can be overwhelming and exhausting leading to a man rejecting the affection entirely

What is the 5th commandment in “The Ten Commandments of Charm”?

“Beware the temptation of the inkwell. For a woman that deugeth a man with letters and perfumed notes shall be called “pest”; and she that singest the song of her soul in fourteen pages shall be named “Anathenia.” Verily it requireth six men all very much in love to write as many letters as one damsel who is only a little in love.”

What is the 5th commandment in “The Ten Commandments of Charm” basically saying?

To avoid writing too much because such behavior is “pest" like and by writing their soul out will be called “Anathenia” and it take 6 men completely in love to show as much emotion as one barely in love woman.

What is the 6th commandment in “The Ten Commandments of Charm”?

“Thou shalt not ask questions. For curiosity concerning a man’s comings and his goings and his staying away is a hobble on the feet of Love. And when suspicion en[t]ereth at the door, love flyeth out thru the transom.”

What does the 6th commandment in “The Ten Commandments of Charm”basically say?

To not question men’s actions because suspicion can leave a man to fall out of love

What is the 7th commandment in “The Ten Commandments of Charm?”

“Remember a man’s vanity to keep it nourished. For every criticism from the lips of a woman is an arrow aimed at love; but in the matter of swallowing raw compliments and lumps of flattery, every man (and likewise every woman) is an ostrich! And he that department full of self-admiration will come back for more.”

What does the 8th commandment in "Ten Commandments of Charm" say?

“Hold thyself not cheap. For difficulty is the spice of love; and preadventure the colder the wind thou blowest upon a man’s heart, the higher thou fannest the flame of his ardor. A little indifference is a wonderful thing. “

What does the 8th commandment in "Ten Commandments of Charm" basically say?

To play hard to get because difficulty is the spice of love and the colder you are the higher the flame of a man’s “ardor” will be.

What is the 9th commandment in "Ten Commandments of Charm?”

“Charm a man if thou canst, comfort him if thou wilt but above all amuse him! For a man who is bored will turn away from Venus herself, to play with a little brown elf who can make him laugh! And she who playeth all his game with skill shall be an easy winner in the Game of Hearts.”

What doe the 9th commandment in "Ten Commandments of Charm"basically say?

To charm a man if you can, comfort him if you want, but above all to amuse him because a borede man will turn away from beautiful women for more uglier women who can make him laugh. Those who take part in this game will win in love.

What does the 10th commandment in "Ten Commandments of Charm"say?

“Whatsoever thou doest, forget not thy femininity . For what profiteth it a damsel though she learneth to box, and driveth own car and carryth her own gold clubs, if she hath forgotten how to blush, to cling and to coquette a little? Yea, be not too independent!”

What does the 10th commandment in "Ten Commandments of Charm" basically say?

To not forget to be feminine because a woman who learns to box, drive her own clubs, and carry her own clubs if she cant flirt or blush has no advantage. Don’t be too independent.

Which commandments use “!” to express irony?

3,9,10

How is irony expressed in the prequel to the commandments in "Ten Commandments of Charm"?

an exclamation mark

In the second commandment in "Ten Commandments of Charm" what does Hurston compare women to?

A new puzzle, which loses its value when a man finds its “answer”

What irony is present in the 3rd commandment in "Ten Commandments of Charm?”

Men need help to express themselves, and women can become known as “fascinating conversationalists” without speaking, just by helping men exp[rests themselves.

in the 4th amendment in "Ten Commandments of Charm"Hurston compares telephones to what?

Plague

in the 4th commandment Hurston claims women who pursues men with phone calls affect men like what?

5 meals a day (overwhelming)

A woman who calls men a lot is compared to what in the 4th commandment in "Ten Commandments of Charm?”

lobster after dessert

In the 5th commandment of Charm Hurston says that a woman who writes her soul out would be named what?

“Anathenia”

The name Anathenia in the 5th commandment in “The 10 commandments of Charm” can be understood as allusions to what?

The bible or the Greek goddess of wisdom

In the 5th commandment of CHarm how many men who are completely in love does Hurston claim need to write to make up for the amount of emotion of one damsel a little in love?

6 men

In the 6th commandment of charm, Hurston says that curiosity regarding a man’s actions are a "____________ “

Hobble on the feet of love

what word is capatlized in the 6th commandment of charm?

“Love”

In the 6th commandment of charm Hurston claims that when suspicion enters the ______ love fleth out the ________

Door, transom

In the 7th commandment of charm, Hurston claims that criticism from the lips of a woman is an _________________

arrow aimed at love

Hurston compares the swallowing of raw compliments and lumps of flattery to what animal?

An ostrich

In the 8th ammendment Hurston claims peradventure what?

Peradventure the colder the wind thou blowest upon a man’s heart, the higher thou fannest the flame of his ardor.

what word is italicized in the 8th commandment of charm?

“little”

In the 9th commandment of charm Hurston says that bored men will turn away from ______ herself to play with a ___________ who can make him laugh!

"Venus; little brown elf

“Venus” alludes to what in the 9th commandment of charm?

Greek Mythology; Goddess of love, fertility and beauty

In the 9th commandment of charm, Hurston claims that she who playeth all his game with skill shall be a easy winner in what game?

“Game of Hearts”

In the 10th commandment Hurston says that a woman that learns what won’t have any advantages?

Drive own car, learn to box, and carry own golf clubs Wh

In the 10th commandment of charm what does Hurston say is needed so that learning to be more independent is advantageous?

Remembering how to blush and coquette a little