Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

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Description:

Ralph Ellison uses satirical methods to show a young black man’s search for identity in a society that fails to recognize him as a person. The winner of the National Book Award in 1952, Invisible Man relates the experiences of a young man ripped from his sheltered environment in the South and transported to the North; he sees himself as a potential leader, but his color means that he is continually exploited by others. A blend of fantasy and reality, this initiation story addresses the plight of black people in a white-dominated world, human invisibility, existentialism as it impacts modern thinking, the blues motif as it defines the African-American experience, and death and resurrection.

Activities:

Lessons lead students from the surface story to its underlying meaning. Students participate in reading and re-reading, responding to questions, writing evaluative themes, large- and small-group discussions, research, student presentations, analysis of satire, creative writing, and role-playing.

Supplementary materials include a reading check, essay questions, and answer keys.

Ethical Values:

Adaptability
Courage
Freedom
Integrity
Responsibility