“invisible man” by ralph ellison

“Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison

Music

Prologue

• Louis Armstrong’s “What Did I Do to be so Black and Blue?”

- Symbolizes the struggles African Americans were going through during the time of the novel

“ My only sin is my skin. What did I do to be so black and blue?”

Chapter 1

• In the Battle Royale, a white woman danced to the rhythm of a clarinet.

• This example is of the very famous song “Sing, Sing, Sing” performed by Benny Goodman ( A famous clarinet player)

Chapter 2

• Trueblood sings the blues to comfort himself

• This is “Today I Sing the Blues” by Aretha Franklin

Chapter 3

• Composer at Golden day plays a self-composed piece, out of tune.

- Could symbolize the patients at Golden Day

Chapter 4

• Dr. Bledsoe mentions that his favorite spiritual is “Live-a-humble”

Chapter 5

• Dvorak’s “New World Symphony”

- Barbee and Bledsoe’s speeches

Chapter11

• While IM is in the cubicle for his electro-shock therapy, he plays Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony in his head.

Chapter 14

• Mary sings “Back Water Blues”

-Soothed IM

Chapter 16

• “John Brown’s Body”• John Brown, a white man, fought for the

slaves’ freedom.• …and he looks like • Charlie Sheen

• The rest of “Invisible Man” mentions other rhymes and short verses from songs

“Don't come early in the morningNeither in the heat of the dayBut come in the sweet cool of theEvening and wash my sins away...” (Ch 18)"Bread and Wine,Bread and Wine,Your cross ain't nearly soHeavy as mine...“ (Ch. 20)