Thursday, August 9, 2007
Heads Up!
Just a friendly reminder to all of you out there in blogworld: we have a little less than two weeks left to complete your five ingenious blog comments for Invisible Man. (No, they may not be written in invisible typeface, Harry Potter fans.) Again, your five comments for this novel are due by the end of the day on August 2oth, so be sure to plan accordingly. That will give you two weeks to write your masterpiece synthesis of Beloved and Invisible Man. If you have any questions whatsoever when witing your essay, please email me as they occur. The essay (as outlined in your yellow packet) and quote log (blue packet) are due for everyone on the first day of school, September 4th. (Even if you do not have English until trimester B, your essay and quote log are due on September 4rth.) If you're in trimester B, then drop off your essay and quote log in my room, E34, on the first day of school- before or after school or in between classes. Make sure you hand these items to me personally, as I'd like to meet you again and we don't want any lost masterpieces.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Epilogue: Making The Consequences of Socially-Permitted Injustice "Visible"
*What does the narrator mean when he says he became "ill of affirmation" on page 573?
*How is polysyndenton (overuse of conjuctions) used to show the inner rage the narrator would feel while affirming others in their errors?
*By allowing others to get away with injustice (or pretending not to "see" it), how do we make others (or ourselves) invisible?
*What definition of invisibility motivates the narrator to return to social action?
*What is the effect of the rhetorical question that ends the novel?
*How does this novel relate to Morrison's Beloved, thematically or otherwise?
*What social statement is Ellison making with Invisible Man?
*How is polysyndenton (overuse of conjuctions) used to show the inner rage the narrator would feel while affirming others in their errors?
*By allowing others to get away with injustice (or pretending not to "see" it), how do we make others (or ourselves) invisible?
*What definition of invisibility motivates the narrator to return to social action?
*What is the effect of the rhetorical question that ends the novel?
*How does this novel relate to Morrison's Beloved, thematically or otherwise?
*What social statement is Ellison making with Invisible Man?
Chapters 24-25: Ras & Chaos
In the genre of the post-apocaplytic novel, the existing social structure must be obliterated in order for something (hopefully) better to take its place. Some have placed Beloved in this category as we've discussed (in that the community comes together to exorcise the demons of slavery's past- getting rid of Beloved- and begins to heal). After reading these chapters, do you think that Invisible Man is part of this genre? Does it transform this genre in any way?
Other questions to consider:
*How has the narrator come to adopt one of Bledsoe's strategies?
*How does the narrator use grammar to ridicule Sybil?
*How does the burning tenement show progress?
*How is humor used to show Ras's ridiculousness?
*What is the rhetorical effect of Ras getting hit by a spear?
Other questions to consider:
*How has the narrator come to adopt one of Bledsoe's strategies?
*How does the narrator use grammar to ridicule Sybil?
*How does the burning tenement show progress?
*How is humor used to show Ras's ridiculousness?
*What is the rhetorical effect of Ras getting hit by a spear?
Chapters 22-23: "I Wear My Sunglasses At Night..."
These chapters have a lot to say about the concepts of invisibility, double-consciousness, identity, and how the three are inextricably interwoven in the novel. Again, close reading here will pay off and you'll be able to "see" the "invisible"! Obviously, anytime a glass eye, sunglasses, or vision in general is mentioned, Ellison is typically making a not-so-subtle thematic statement, but he doesn't always spell it out.
*What is the reason behind the narrator's conflict with the Brotherhood?
*What is the metaphorical value of Brother Jack's glass eye?
*How is humor used when the narrator puts on a pair of sunglasses to escape Ras's men?
*Why does Hambro disappoint the narrator?
*Explain the significance of the following quote: "If they tolerate Rinehart, then they will forget it and even with them you are invisible."
*How do you interpret the name Rinehart?
*How has the narrator become invisible?
*What is the reason behind the narrator's conflict with the Brotherhood?
*What is the metaphorical value of Brother Jack's glass eye?
*How is humor used when the narrator puts on a pair of sunglasses to escape Ras's men?
*Why does Hambro disappoint the narrator?
*Explain the significance of the following quote: "If they tolerate Rinehart, then they will forget it and even with them you are invisible."
*How do you interpret the name Rinehart?
*How has the narrator become invisible?
Chapters 20-21: "Plung[ing] Outside History"?
*Why is there so much resentment towad the narrator in the Jolly Dollar?
*How did Clifton choose to make his escape from history?
*How does Ellison use irony on page 438 to show how far Clifton had fallen?
*Explain the significance of the following quote: "They were outside the groove of history, and it was my job to get them in, all of them."
*What happens right before the end of chapter 20 to make the narrator realize the significance of his leadership?
*In the description of the funeral procession, how do the images show the angry pride of the crowd?
*How is personification used to show the power of the music in the procession?
*Why is the narrator envious of the old man?
*How could an old slave song have such power?
*How does the narrator use anaphora (repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive verses, clauses, or paragraphs) to make his eulogy more personal?
*What does the narrator mean when he says that everyone at the funeral is in the box with Ted Clifton?
*Has the narrator changed/grown?
*How did Clifton choose to make his escape from history?
*How does Ellison use irony on page 438 to show how far Clifton had fallen?
*Explain the significance of the following quote: "They were outside the groove of history, and it was my job to get them in, all of them."
*What happens right before the end of chapter 20 to make the narrator realize the significance of his leadership?
*In the description of the funeral procession, how do the images show the angry pride of the crowd?
*How is personification used to show the power of the music in the procession?
*Why is the narrator envious of the old man?
*How could an old slave song have such power?
*How does the narrator use anaphora (repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive verses, clauses, or paragraphs) to make his eulogy more personal?
*What does the narrator mean when he says that everyone at the funeral is in the box with Ted Clifton?
*Has the narrator changed/grown?
Chapters 18-19: Discord Enters the Composition
To pick up our Jazz music metaphor again, the narrator continues to feel some cognitive dissonance in regard to his place in the Brotherhood. To paraphrase a definition of "dissonance," it's as if he's hearing several "unharmonious" chords simultaneously, and must, somehow resolve the tension. He gets the letter and is unsure about whom to trust. Is he being backstabbed by the Brotherhood (a repeat of the Bledsoe situation) or is someone just trying to bring him down? In literature, of course, we call it internal conflict.
*What do you make of this letter?
*Who are "they"? Who will cut the narrator down, according to the letter?
*How is Brother Tarp's chain link different than Bledsoe's?
*What does the narrator mean when he says that Brother Westrum "snatched [him] back to the South"?
*How does the setting of the beginning of the chapter contradict the woman's tone?
*How are sound devices used to express the ambivalence the narrator feels about the woman?
*How is asyndeton (omitting conjunctions where they would normally be used) used to show the building panic in the narrator's mind as he leaves the building? In other words, how does Ellision merge style and content?
*Explain the significance of the following quote: "My nerves were in a state of constant tension, my face took on a stiff, noncommittal expression, beginning to look like Brother Jack's and the other leaders."
*What do you make of this letter?
*Who are "they"? Who will cut the narrator down, according to the letter?
*How is Brother Tarp's chain link different than Bledsoe's?
*What does the narrator mean when he says that Brother Westrum "snatched [him] back to the South"?
*How does the setting of the beginning of the chapter contradict the woman's tone?
*How are sound devices used to express the ambivalence the narrator feels about the woman?
*How is asyndeton (omitting conjunctions where they would normally be used) used to show the building panic in the narrator's mind as he leaves the building? In other words, how does Ellision merge style and content?
*Explain the significance of the following quote: "My nerves were in a state of constant tension, my face took on a stiff, noncommittal expression, beginning to look like Brother Jack's and the other leaders."
Chapters 16-17: Showtime!
*How is repetition used at the bottom of page 335 to express the change the narrator feels in his identity?
*What is the metaphorical value of the policemen that the narrator sees when he ducks out into the street before his speech?
*What is the significance of the narrator's daydream about the bullfrog?
*How does the description of the stage contribute to the narrator's sense of isolation?
*Why do some members of the Brotherhood object to the narrator's speech? Do you agree/disagree?
*How is paradox used to express the contradictory constraints placed on the narrator?
*How might Tod Clifton serve as a more effective spokesman than the narrator, at least according to Emma?
*How is humor used in the intoduction to Ras the Exhorter?
*Why do you think the author chooses to have Ras speak the dialect of a native African learning English?
*What does Tod Clifton mean when he says that "sometimes a man has to plunge outside history?"
*How is alliteration used to reflect the instantaneous paradox that memories of the narrator's grandfather bring to mind?
*What is the metaphorical value of the policemen that the narrator sees when he ducks out into the street before his speech?
*What is the significance of the narrator's daydream about the bullfrog?
*How does the description of the stage contribute to the narrator's sense of isolation?
*Why do some members of the Brotherhood object to the narrator's speech? Do you agree/disagree?
*How is paradox used to express the contradictory constraints placed on the narrator?
*How might Tod Clifton serve as a more effective spokesman than the narrator, at least according to Emma?
*How is humor used in the intoduction to Ras the Exhorter?
*Why do you think the author chooses to have Ras speak the dialect of a native African learning English?
*What does Tod Clifton mean when he says that "sometimes a man has to plunge outside history?"
*How is alliteration used to reflect the instantaneous paradox that memories of the narrator's grandfather bring to mind?
Chapters 14-15: Irony & Stereotypes
If you cringe at stereotypes, get ready or some uncomfortable situations in these chapters. As you read, think about stereotypes that exist in our culture and your own life, specifically. As you know, race, culture, gender, age, sexual orientation and social/economic status are a few of the areas that tend to be targeted. Compare and contrast the stereotypes that Ellison illustrates with those that you see today. Have we made progess? What are some viable solutions for dealing with stereotypes and their consequences?
More to think about:
*What is the narrator's principle motivation for accepting the job?
*What is the effect of the trip through Central Park?
*How is color used to affect imagery in the salon?
*Why does Emma wish that the narrator were blacker?
*What is ironic about Brother Jack's suggestion that the narrator become the new Booker T. Washington?
*What is the idea behind the narrator's confrontation with the drunken man who wants him to sing, because "all colored people sing"?
*What is the difference between the definition of "we" that Mary embraces and the definition that Brother Jack embraces?
*Why does the narrator get so angry when he notices the cast-iron bank in the shape of a caricature of a black man?
*What is the metaphorical value of the fact that the clock in Mary's kitchen is slower than the narrator's?
*Explain the following quote: "Some folks just live in filth," she said disgustedly. "Just let a little knocking start and here it comes crawling out. All you have to do is shake things up a bit."
*What is ironic about the narrator's attempt to get rid of the coin bank?
More to think about:
*What is the narrator's principle motivation for accepting the job?
*What is the effect of the trip through Central Park?
*How is color used to affect imagery in the salon?
*Why does Emma wish that the narrator were blacker?
*What is ironic about Brother Jack's suggestion that the narrator become the new Booker T. Washington?
*What is the idea behind the narrator's confrontation with the drunken man who wants him to sing, because "all colored people sing"?
*What is the difference between the definition of "we" that Mary embraces and the definition that Brother Jack embraces?
*Why does the narrator get so angry when he notices the cast-iron bank in the shape of a caricature of a black man?
*What is the metaphorical value of the fact that the clock in Mary's kitchen is slower than the narrator's?
*Explain the following quote: "Some folks just live in filth," she said disgustedly. "Just let a little knocking start and here it comes crawling out. All you have to do is shake things up a bit."
*What is ironic about the narrator's attempt to get rid of the coin bank?
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