STYLE
If you want to get a sense of Ellison's style, listen to some good Jazz music- preferably nothing involving John Tesh- Louis Armstrong would be a much better choice. Ellison has the poetic flow of Jazz, with repeating themes within the composition. Musicians of the class- is theme the correct word here? Help me out. He was very much inspired by the body of literature written during the Harlem Renaissance, and his style shows this influence. The musicality of his writing is also revealed in his love of sound devices, such as alliteration and anaphora (repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a sentence); he uses these as well as similes and metaphors to illustrate some of his significant points/ideas.
SOME THEMES
Alienation of African Americans in a "free" society
How race is used as a tool of power- on multiple levels?
The consequences of racism- external and internalized
Double consciousness
Hypocrisy and corruption in society
SETTING
Harlem in the 1930's. Descriptions of housing, public transportaion, and working conditions, the college the narrator attends (as well as the trip around the city and the Golden Day) accurately reflect the time period. Ellision also illustrates problems in racial relations of the time period, such as: the taboo of white-black romantic relationships, black power figures are perceived by other blacks as being in a conspiracy with whites, stereotypical dolls and images of blacks, advantages and disadvantages of the Communist part in American (Brotherhood), and conflicts between the assimilationists and separatists within the black community.
PLOT STRUCTURE
Invisible Man is a picaresque novel- characteristics include: a first person narrator who is somewhat naive, a sympathetic anti-hero. The novel is told in episodes and flashbacks, while the narrator's experiences take him to many locations and levels of society. Because the narrator is naive, the reader must infer the author's social commentary. Other examples of picaresque novels: Cervantes' Don Quixote, Henry Fielding's A History of Tom Jones, Voltaire's Candide, Defoe's Moll Flanders, Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Kerouac's On the Road, Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.*The background information is adapted from an AP guide to the novel. Hope this helps!
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Edith Wharton
John Steinbeck
Mark Twain
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Ralph Ellison
Alice Walker
2 comments:
I feel as if you called me, so here we go.
Ahh Jazz...yeah I can feel a connection. Well, except that "the poetic flow of Jazz, with repeating themes within the composition." is not at ALL limited to just jazz. That particular trait is found in popular music, classical (Oh yes-so much of that), and jazz. And every other musical art form. I feel the book is related to jazz in a couple more ways.
For one, jazz started as a black art. It came from the slave songs, the African rhythms, and the blues. Part of what makes jazz music jazz is the feel- something that is exclusive to jazz itself. It has this kind of "down-but-not-out" feel. The fact is inescapable-jazz music is tied to African Americans, and it gives that entire race something unique. So jazz fits perfectly with a book that concerns itself with race, and those troubles.
On a related note, in the development of jazz, some white men picked up on it, and started marketing their own jazz, labeled as "White Jazz". Needless to say, this allowed people to enjoy the art form without feeling guilty about listening to something that was inherently "black". Louis Armstrong was one of those guys that changed all that, becoming an international icon, movie star, and musical genius. Again, good pick for this book.
Another thing that is unique to jazz is its use of improvisation. Oftentimes, an individual instrument will go off on its own, and play something entirely made up on the spot. Not only is it an incredibly difficult task, but it also is very personal. An improv solo expresses what the musician is feeling, and how he/she is interacting with others. Its a very personal thing, and in a book called "Invisible Man" the personal aspects of being a black man are extremely important.
This all being said, everyone go listen (watch) this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kotK9FNEYU
Thats john coltrane, and he is AMAZING. Everything you see is totally made up on the spot, with the exception of the first and last 30 seconds. John Coltrane is a tenor Saxophonist, and is one of the masters of improv. Listen, and be amazed.
Wow- thanks Corey! I think we know who to consult for future musical connections...
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