Invisible Man
IB English Language A: Literature HL 1
Ms. Ziemer
Characterization
Chapters 1-5:
Fifth Period:
The Invisible Man is cautious, insecure, and meek. He cares a lot about what other people think
about him, particularly white people, and is angered when black people act in a certain way
because he does not want stereotypes to be confirmed through animalistic behavior. He is very
subservient to others. We understand his behaviors because they are really consistent with the
time. His views of certain situations is sometimes distorted by his anxiety and personal conflicts.
Supercargo is the main other character that we saw his name relate to him in genera;, he is a
large and intimidating man.
Seventh Period:
1. Invisible Man does what white people tell him and is afraid to go against white
people's wishes.
2. What we like: The fact that he has goals and aspirations. What we dislike: He is too
dependent on others. He isn't his own person.
3. Trueblood: Invisible Man hates Trueblood because he makes black people look bad.
Mr. Norton: He almost sees Mr. Norton as a god.
Dr. Bledsoe: He fears Bledsoe in a respectful way.
Invisible Man's Antagonists: Trueblood and the fat doctor in the Golden Day:
His foil: Dr. Bledsoe
He changed his mind about how he felt about Mr. Norton.
4. Trueblood: His name makes him seem like a good person, but he's not.
Homer Barbee: Alludes to the historical writer and orator, Homer.
5. Invisible Man wants to be as "white" as he can. The fat doctor has better views
because he wants to bring attention the racial inequality.
6. Most of the people represent personas rather than actual people. Bledsoe represents a
successful black person. Mr. Norton represents the rich white man that wants to help
black people, but doesn't actually understand their situation. Trueblood represents the
stereotypical dumb and barbaric, black person. Homer Barbee represents blindly
praising white people for helping black people even though the white people didn't
really do much.
7. Yes, because he is sometimes blinded by his views and goals.
Plot
Chapters 1-5:
Seventh Period:
1: Racial Discrimination/Treatment
Battle Royal
Grandfather’s last words
Conflict
Alcohol
2: Description of College/Community
Dream of Grandfather
Norton and Trueblood are introduced
The story of Trueblood
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Invisible Man
IB English Language A: Literature HL 1
Ms. Ziemer
Scholarship
Money for whiskey
3: Golden Day
Whiskey for “medicine”
Conversation with Vet
Invisibility
“White-Folk”
Machine
4: The Dream
Appointment with Bledsoe
Mentor
Prays before seeing Norton
5: African-Americans in the Past
Founder’s Vision
Words lead to Violence
Slavery
Religion
Overall: Taking his real-life experiences and proving that his grandfather was true about
committing treason. Takes matters into his own hands by going to college and getting a degree.
The prologue perceived notions about slavery that are mentioned throughout the chapters.
Narrative Technique
Chapters 1-5:
Fifth Period:
Overall, there were some recurring themes for narrative technique throughout the first
five chapters of The Invisible Man. One major narrative technique occurred in the
beginning of chapter 5, in which he used the verb "remember" in present tense, but as
he explained his memory, it shifted to present tense, giving the reader a feeling that they
are currently living the memory, rather than just hearing about it. Also, when the
invisible man is describing a situation, rather than just summarizing the situation, he
tends to explain exactly what is going on, and leave it up to the reader to analyze the
situation, as seen throughout Barbee's speech throughout chapter 5. Whenever the
invisible man expresses emotions, he tends to describe the emotions in present tense,
giving the feeling that the emotions still resonate within him.
Seventh Period:
The Invisible Man is a reliable narrator based on his evident high intellect and descriptive
writing. He also does not skim over events so far in the book, as Chapters 1-5 have been
a continual order of events concerning his possible expulsion from college. The first detail
that might affect his reliability, though, is that almost the entire book is a series of
flashbacks, which for many people can be fuzzily remembered at best. The other idea is
that his emotional attachment to staying in college and following his education dream is
so strong that he might be telling the story to make it seem as though Mr. Norton’s injuries
were entirely not his fault. Even this may not make him unreliable for as he is the narrator,
this is his story so it is more accurate on the behalf of his description that belie his emotion.
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Invisible Man
IB English Language A: Literature HL 1
Ms. Ziemer
The Invisible Man only lets us know that he is telling the story in small parenthetical
statements and during the prologue. There will most likely be more flashes “back to the
future,” but in chapters 1 through 5 the only possible occurrence of him letting us know
he is narrating is at the end of chapter one. He states that “but first I had to go to college…”
As the Invisible Man is Ellison’s character, Ellison has as much possible room as he
wants to comment on anything else he is writing in the story as we are seeing it through
the eyes of the Invisible Man, who Ellison is creating as he is writing this book.
The entire first five chapters are narrated by the Invisible Man, but only some scenes
like Trueblood’s story and the Golden Day were dramatized. Some of the dramatized
scenes would lose their effect if all the scenes were dramatized, so Ellison’s choice to
dramatize only specific scenes is significant.
We have inside views of nearly every character in the book that occurs on more than
one page as the Invisible Man is a very descriptive and observant narrator. Characters
like Mr. Norton and Dr. Bledsoe, though, are fairly thoroughly looked into as they have a
significant effect on Invisible Man’s life.
We don’t necessarily identify with Invisible Man on a level of events, as none of us
has experienced the type of racial discrimination to the same degree Invisible Man did,
and none of us have attended college. On the other hand, we very well identify with his
attachment to school. None of us would be at Signature if we didn’t identify with the
Invisible Man. This helps us to understand the emotional attachment he has to his school
and the actions he executes based on this attachment, as many of us would do the same
things.
Theme, Thesis, Values of Culture
Chapters 1-5:
Fifith Period:
Although it is too early in the book to get a clear idea of a definite thesis, the themes of
internalized racism, white-supremacy, and keeping the best appearance possible are already
highly prevalent. The idea of absolute, unyielding racism is, as expected, the most consistent
undertone of the novel. So strong, in fact, that many of the novel's black characters believe them
to be lesser to white people in some way. This manifests itself into African American culture
where the educated blacks - such as Invisible Man - all but ostracize members - those of the sort
of Trueblood - of the black community that hinder their chances as being recognized as
competent and able. This start divide, in a way, almost worsens already chasmic disparities
between the races of America at that time, hinting at Invisible Man's future plights where he is
hurled into a complete set of situations he has never experienced and will not know how to
entirely approach them, nor be able to seek aid as he is, indeed, Invisible. Furthermore, it seems
that none of Invisible Man's voiced requests are carried out on the account of either being seen as
insignificant or not there entirely. Although this has not yet adversely affected his journey, we
suspect that this will have incalculable ramifications for him in the years to come.
Seventh Period:
Themes:
 Idea of Striving to Achieve Great Things/High Hopes for the Future/Self-Improvement
o IM wants to be have the power, prestige, and respect of Dr. Bledsoe (p. 101)
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Invisible Man
IB English Language A: Literature HL 1
Ms. Ziemer

o IM was overjoyed when he discovered that he was to be sent to college. He was
delighted by the thought of being able to improve. (p. 32)
Overcoming Prejudices against African Americans
o IM is disgraced by things such as Trueblood’s “primitive spirituals” which, to IM,
lower the view of African Americans as a whole to the white population (p. 47)
Thesis:
 IM, to find and truly understand the answers in his life, must realize that he is “invisible”
o “…first I had to discover that I am an invisible man!” (p. 15)
Ideas of Culture:
 White Supremacy/White Benevolence (“White Man’s Burden”)
o Norton (and other whites of the community) giving Trueblood money (p. 53 & p.
69)
o When at the wrestling match, IM want to deliver his speech to the white officials
because he “…felt that only these men could judge truly my ability…” (p. 25)
 Shows how IM sees the whites as figures of intelligence and superiority
Diction, Language, Style, Mode
Chapters 1-5:
Fifth Period:
• When in a bad mood, syntax becomes long-winded and foreboding (ex. beginning of
chapter 5)
• Sentence structure reflects mood
• Vet speaks in metaphors; lots of similes and allusions
• The more educated a character, the more dramatic style of speaking- Reverend Barbee
(for uneducated characters, author uses very realistic style of speakingTrueblood and Prostitutes)
• Reoccurring imagery: black and white, blindness, dreams, slave and master, statue,
the letter
• More educated characters seem less conformist
Criticism and cynicism in vet's ridicules about society and grandfather's death
Seventh Period:
I.
Characters
a. Invisible Man- Uncommon language, at his time, given his person. High Diction.
Informal style, but still uses “smart talk”
b. Barbee- Allusions of the bible. Compares then and now. Allusions to slavery.
c. Eleison- Brings quotes from bible. Categorizes all whites as a certain character.
Alludes to historical figures
i. Booker T. Washington
ii. Thomas Jefferson
iii. Louis Armstrong- music gives impression of society at that time without
really using imagery.
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Invisible Man
IB English Language A: Literature HL 1
Ms. Ziemer
II.
III.
IV.
d. True blood- Changes society. Makes the black community look worse to the
people who already dislike them.
Grandfather’s Curse
a. Opinions and goals start to change when he thinks about grandfather’s curse.
b. Makes him doubt all of his choices (second-guessing)
c. It affects everything he does.
Description
a. Only describes places throughout the book, no characters in depth.
Speech
a. Short conversations (sometimes). Then long, drawn out conversations. Doesn’t
express a lot of opinions other than his own.
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