Invisible Man A Novel by Ralph Ellison About

Invisible Man A Novel by Ralph Ellison

About the Author- Ralph Ellison was an African-American novelist, literary critic, scholar, and writer. He was born on March 1, 1914 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and died on April 16, 1994 in New York City at the age of 80 due to pancreatic cancer. Why do the good die young? He is best known for writing this novel, Invisible Man.

Setting- The American South and Harlem, NYC The majority of the events in the novel take place in Harlem, New York City, during the Harlem Renaissance, and a Black College in the American South. It is never specified where in the south this college is.

What is the Harlem Renaissance? It was an EXPLOSION of art and culture that centered black writers, artists, musicians, poets, scholars, etc.

HOW LONG IT LAST? ! IT LAST A LONG TIME!!! LIKE AT LEAST 1 YEAR. But seriously, it started around the end of the first World War (previously known as the Great War, unless people were crazy psychics that knew about the next World War) and went on until the mid 1930 s. Although it ended in the mid 1930 s, its effects continued to influence culture and art for years to come. TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMMEEEE Get it? NOTE: Shannon doesn’t like this font, so that’s why I chose it for this little pun. If you don’t like it, nobody cares, stop whining.

MAIN CHARACTERS The Protagonist- AKA, the Narrator. He remains nameless throughout the story. He considers himself “invisible. ” You’ll find out why later. Brother Jack- White dude; he leads the Brotherhood, an organization that apparently defends the rights of the socially oppressed. He starts out as a nice guy that upholds the rights of the socially oppressed, but turns out to be a racist who views people as tools and only tools. Man, he’s such a tool. He’s even got a glass eye and red hair, so it’s a wonder how people think he’s a nice guy. That’s classic super-villain attire. Tod Clifton- A black member of the brotherhood; he’s smart, handsome, passionate, etc. He eventually parts ways with the brotherhood, but it’s unclear why.

SO WHAT DIS BOOK ABOUT? YO YO, I’M ABOUT TO LAY THE TRUTH OUT, SO YA’LL BETTER PAY ATTENTION TO THIS BIDNESS!!! THIS IS WHAT THE NOVEL INVISIBLE MAN IS ABOUT!

HAI LH T. H IG RE R E K H O T O H B IG DS. E L R O RY I K H E W TO M E S HO H T E R GO S I I T. IS. EN E H T N E O R !D E HAPPY CHRISTMAS, MERRY H OM HANUKKAH, OR WHATEVER BO YDR A YOU CELEBRATE; I DON’T JUDGE.

But seriously though, The novel is a bildungsroman, which is essentially a story in which the main character develops/matures/changes throughout the course of the story.

Plot! Spoiler free, I assure you. It’s really a minimalist plot summary. The story is about a man who comes from the south; this man is a gifted public speaker and is known for it in his hometown. He goes to a prestigious black college in the south and is quite successful in his studies, BUT, due to his race, he is expelled for something completely out of his control. THEN this man moves to HARLEM and looks for employment. PLOT CONTINUES ON THE NEXT SLIDE CHILDREN….

HAHA, TOLD YOU!! MORE PLOT!! He fails at finding employment. Miserably. Even his letters of recommendation do jack squat. This man eventually realizes that he is “invisible” (hence the title of the novel) but, he tells you this in the very beginning of the book, before all the main events (which is called a prologue, for those of you who didn’t know. Although, if you didn’t know this, I suggest you not take AP Literature. I’d suggest other things, but I’d probably get in trouble with “She-who-mustnot-be-named. ”). EVEN MORE PLOT ON THE NEXT SLIDE!!!

EVEN MORE PLOT He says he’s invisible, but not literally; he is “invisible” because people refuse to acknowledge him. He’s literally been stealing electricity from the Monopolated light and power company and he hasn’t gotten in any sort of trouble for it yet. They know somebody is taking electricity, but they don’t know who is doing it or where it’s being taken to. That’s because he’s living underground and hiding from the rest of the world. Keep in mind that this is all in the beginning of the novel. I won’t tell you any more than this; you’ll have to read it to find out.

Don’t be this guy; read the book. FRIEND

CREDITS!!! SLIDE 1: ME, JULIUS HENRY SLIDE 2: ME, JULIUS HENRY SLIDE 3: ME, JULIUS HENRY SLIDE 4: ME, JULIUS HENRY SLIDE 5: ME, JULIUS HENRY SLIDE 6: ME, JULIUS HENRY

MORE CREDITS!! SLIDE 7: YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK YOU ALL GET THE IDEA. PICTURES: ALL THANKS TO THE ALMIGHTY POWER OF LORD GOOGLE!!! PRAISE THINE DIVINE POWER OF SEARCHING FOR USELESS THINGS!!! Oh, and thanks to the guy who wrote the novel, Ralph Ellison.