Ralph Ellison’s

Ellison wrote Invisible Man over the course of
five years—from the late 1940s to the early
’50s. The Harlem Renaissance heavily
influenced Ellison.

It’s considered one of the most significant
novels of the 20th century

The novel deals with the ever-present
monster of race in America

Ellison was a black man who tried to make a
significant point in this book: no matter what
a black man achieves in America, he will not
be seen as an individual; rather, he will be
seen as a member of a monolith.

Essentially, though society claims to be free,
it remains a prison for many.

According to Ellison, race is a mechanism of
power. This is not limited to whites.

Central question: How can one person make
a difference when all avenues to power are
occupied by the duplicitous?

Ellison’s writing teems with sound devices
(the musicality of the Harlem Renaissance is
one reason):
 Alliteration and anaphora highlight some of his
most poignant points.

Impressive diction, but not formal.

Uses frenzied tone (driven by syntax) to
highlight alienation.
By the end of this novel, you should be able to:
 discuss the significance of the title as it relates to the main theme of the
novel
 analyze the use of rhetorical devices—especially sound devices—on the
tone and meaning of the novel
 examine the author’s use of metaphor
 trace the growth of the narrator in the following areas: release of
emotion, acceptance of heritage, awareness of self
 explore the author’s use of blindness and light as symbols
 analyze the author’s attempts at satire
 identify social, economic, and racial character types represented by
some of the characters
 offer a close reading of Invisible Man and support all assertions and
interpretations with ASR and authoritative critical knowledge of the
novel’s context