Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

Author biography, outline of

events, and symbolism
 Ralph Ellison
Born in Oklahoma City in 1914
Father named him after Ralph Waldo
Emerson, to raise him up to be a poet
Went to Tuskegee Institute but soon
dropped out
Wanted to study jazz-played the trumpet
Moved to NYC to study sculpture
 Ellison biography
In NYC, met Langston Hughes and
Richard Wrightjoined the Federal
Writers Project
Encouraged by Richard Wright, he started
to write
1943-1945-served in the Merchant
Marines as a cook
Wrote Invisible Man after the war
Book earned him much recognition
1969- Medal of Freedom
1955-fellowship to the National Institute of
Arts and Letters
1964-Vice president of National Institute of
Arts and Letters
1985-National Medal for Arts
 Died in 1994 of pancreatic cancer

Many proclaim that Invisible Man is the

best novel ever written
Most asked about book on the AP exam
since 1976
 Outline of Events of Invisible Man
Prologue: In hole (underground), proclaims
invisibility
We learn of his grandfathers deathbed advice
(Booker T. Washington)
Graduation/Battle Royal

boxing
woman
coins
Dream of grandfather
 Outline of Events of Invisible Man
Goes to college (Tuskegee?)New identity
Mr. Norton
Jim Trueblood
The Golden Day
Bledsloe
Goes to NYC new identity
delivers the letters (Emerson)
Works at Liberty Paints
whitest paint ever made
Brockway
lobotomy (new identity)
 Outline of Events of Invisible Man
Banned from Mens house
Moves into Marys
Eviction scene
Joins the Brotherhood (new identity)
BrotherJack
Leaves Mary (breaks her bank)
Speech
Outline of Events of Invisible Man
Speech training with Brother Hambro
Tod Clifton (become friends)
Encounter with Ras
Warning letter
Brother Tarp gives him the link (symbol)
Westrum accuses him of being an opportunist
 Outline of Events of Invisible Man
LeavesHarlem to work on The Woman
Question (new identity)
Sleeps with woman activist
Brother Clifton missing
Called back to Harlem
 Outline of Events of Invisible Man
Back in Harlem (new identity)
Witnesses Cliftons death
Speaks at his funeral
Brotherhood outrage
Brother Jack is blind
Ras disguise (new identity)
 Outline of Events of Invisible Man
Decides he will follow his grandfathers advice,
but in regards to the brotherhood (new identity)
Sybil
Riot
Defeats Ras
Burns down complex
Realizes Brotherhoods master plan
Epiphany
Baptism
Falls into a manhole
Burns documents of identity
 Outline of Events of Invisible Man
Epilogue (new identity)
Discusses lessons learned
Decides to emerge
 Symbolism
Invisibility
Light (being seen) (6, 7, 13, 341)
Darkness (21, 566)
Music (Louis Armstrong)
Battle Royal (334)
Masks (19, 111)
Colors (Black, blue, white) (22, 57, 200, 218,
230, 262, 297, 299, 319, 323, 337, 441, 534,
538, 556, 554, 565, 231, 238)
 Symbolism
Blindness (133, 136, 232, 233, 475)
Jim Trueblood
Money (Battle Royal, Mr. Norton)
The Golden Day
Briefcase (157, 168, 327, 527, 532, 536, 540,
548, 551, 553, 557)
Caged birds
Veil/curtain (262, 273, 306)
Food (264, 273, 460)
Marys bank (329, 332, 539)
 Symbolism
Bullfight(358)
Cash checking (376)
Sambo doll (431)
Water (561)
Tarps broken link
Dancing
Running
Namelessness
 Themes

IDENTITY
Who am I?
being who you are despite other peoples agendas

Naivet,
learning the reality of things
Humanity--acceptance