Transcript
Page 1: Invisible Man Ralph Ellison FOLK 195 March 4, 2003 Jean Ferguson

Invisible ManRalph Ellison

FOLK 195March 4, 2003Jean Ferguson

Page 2: Invisible Man Ralph Ellison FOLK 195 March 4, 2003 Jean Ferguson

Invisible Man

O What does it mean to be unseen?O “I am an invisible

man…”

Page 3: Invisible Man Ralph Ellison FOLK 195 March 4, 2003 Jean Ferguson

Invisible Man: Overview

Page 4: Invisible Man Ralph Ellison FOLK 195 March 4, 2003 Jean Ferguson

Invisible Man: Ralph Ellison

O Born March 1, 1914 in Oklahoma City, OK (named after Ralph Waldo Emerson)

O Father died in 1917 resulted in economic struggleO Mother active in socialist politicsO Attended college at the Tuskegee Institute to

study MusicO Moved to Harlem in New York City to study

sculpture and photographyO Took seven years to write

Invisible Man (1952)O Taught at Bard College,

Rutgers and NYUO Published other novelsO Died April 16, 1994

Page 5: Invisible Man Ralph Ellison FOLK 195 March 4, 2003 Jean Ferguson

Invisible Man: Characters

O NarratorO GrandfatherO Dr. BledsoeO Mr. NortonO MaryO Brother JackO Tod CliftonO Ras, the Destroyer

Page 6: Invisible Man Ralph Ellison FOLK 195 March 4, 2003 Jean Ferguson

Invisible Man: Structure

O Framed NarrativeO RetreatO Battle RoyalO CollegeO New YorkO HarlemO The BrotherhoodO Retreat

Page 7: Invisible Man Ralph Ellison FOLK 195 March 4, 2003 Jean Ferguson

Invisible Man: Major ThemesO Invisibility/Blindness

O We choose not to see the ugly truths around usO Society ignores the oppressedO How we change perceptions of the self in society

O Identity/Black IdentityO Defining who you are through your relationships with othersO Who is my authentic self? (Self versus who we WANT to be)O Is this a universal search or is it specific to an African-American man in a

predominately Caucasian society?O Does failure lead us to truth?

O DualismO Being two seemingly contradictory things at once. O Being black in a white societyO Are we what is projected onto us?

O Existential Search for SelfO Realizing that you are responsible for your actions/reactions in a chaotic world

O OppressionO Society’s role in oppressing us allO The oppression of African-Americans

Page 8: Invisible Man Ralph Ellison FOLK 195 March 4, 2003 Jean Ferguson

Invisible Man: MotifsO DreamsO SexO ViolenceO PaperO Vision (Physical seeing, Delusions, Illusions,

Reveries)O Oratory (The Power of Speaking)O MusicO FamilyO Power

Page 9: Invisible Man Ralph Ellison FOLK 195 March 4, 2003 Jean Ferguson

Invisible ManO “What Did I Do to Be So Black and Blue”

Louis ArmstrongO Cold empty bed...springs hurt my head

Feels like ole ned...wished i was deadWhat did i do...to be so black and blue

Even the mouse...ran from my houseThey laugh at you...and all that you doWhat did i do...to be so black and blue

I'm white...inside...but, that don't help my caseThat's life...can't hide...what is in my face

How would it end...ain't got a friendMy only sin...is in my skinWhat did i do...to be so black and blue

(instrumental break)

How would it end...i ain't got a friendMy only sin...is in my skinWhat did i do...to be so black and blue


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