Unit 7 Invisible Man Chapter I Battle Royal

Unit 7 Invisible Man Chapter I (Battle Royal) By Ralph Ellison

What is novel? 1. Fictional prose narrative n 2. Considerable length and some complexity n 3. Deals imaginatively with human experience through a connected sequence of events n 4. Involving a group of persons in a specific setting n

What is novel? n The genre encompasses a wide range of types and styles: 1. picaresque (adventure), 2. epistolary (correspondence), 3. gothic (mystery and ghost-like), 4. romantic, 5. realistic, 6. historical novels

What is novel? n n The novel was established as a literary form in England in the 18 th century through the work of Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding

Elements of Short Stories n n n Setting (time/place/mood) Plot (introduction/rising/climax/falling/resolution) Character Conflict (internal/external) Point of view Theme

Setting-time & location n n Place Time Weather Social conditions Mood

Plot-sequence of connected events introduction, rising action, crisis, climax, falling action and resolution (untying of the knot, conclusion). climax crisis falling action rising action introduction resolution

Modern novels n less stereotyped n usually with no formal introduction.

character n Person — protagonist & antagonist n Characteristics of a person Physical appearance Words and deeds Other people’s reaction 1. 2. 3. Basic principle to create a character: consistent, motivated, and life-like n

Conflict -any form of opposition that faces the main character n External & internal conflict n Man vs. man (physical) Man vs. circumstances (classical) Man vs. society (social) Man vs. himself (psychological) n n n

Point of view: the angle from which the story is told 1. Innocent Eye 2. Stream of Consciousness 3. First Person 4. Omniscient a) Omniscient Limited b) Omniscient Objective

Theme – controlling idea Some simple examples of common themes from literature, TV, and film are: - things are not always as they appear to be - Love is blind - Believe in yourself - People are afraid of change - Don't judge a book by its cover

Selected Well-known Story Writers Washington Irving (1783 -1859) Ø“Father of American Literature” Ø the first prose stylist of American romanticism Ø making wide use of legends and folktales Ødominant theme of change Øworks including: History of New York (1809) The Sketch Book (1820) Bracebridge Hall (1822) Best known stories: “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”.

O’ Henry (1862 -1910) (popular writer) Øone of the most prolific modern American short story writers (writing 300 titles) ØStereotypical stories: self-sacrificing family member who is undergoing hardship to help a close relative Øplot full of coincidence surprise ending Øbest known stories: Cabbages and Kings (1904) The Gift of the Magi (1905 ) The Four Million(1906) The Trimmed Lam (1907) Heart of the West (1907) The Gentle Grafter (1908) … etc.

Preview Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. n n What is the multiple meanings of the title? What can we learn from the opening paragraph? Where is the setting (Place/Time/Weather/Social conditions/Mood) of the Battle Royal? Why do you think the author sets the story like that particularly? What is the point-of-view of the novel? Why do you think the author adopt such writing style? Please collect the ideas of the group and make a 2 minute coherent and complete speech. You may take a note but no book!

Ralph Ellison n n One of the most influential African. American writers of the 20 th century. Best known for his novel Invisible Man (1952), which won the National Book Award in 1953.

The Title n n The Invisible Man is the narrator and protagonist Novel chronicles his path to realizing his invisibility Invisibility is figurative, metaphorical, societal; not recognized by society People see him as a stereotype

“You ache with the need to convince yourself that you do exist in the real world, that you’re part of all the sound anguish, and you strike out with your fists, you curse and you swear to make them recognize you. ” -- Prologue of Invisible Man

Battle royal n (plural battles royal) traditionally refers to a fight involving three or more combatants that is fought until only one fighter remains standing. In recent times the term has been used in a more general sense to refer to any fight involving large numbers of people that are not organized into factions. Within combat sports, the term has a specific meaning, depending on the sports being discussed.

Comments on Battle Royal This episode is the high point of the excellent novel. n “Take the ‘Battle Royal’ passage in my novel, where the boys are blindfolded and forced to fight each other for the amusement of the white observers. This is a vital part of behavior pattern in the South, which both Negroes and whites thoughtlessly accept…” (Ralph Ellison) n

The opening paragraph: The very first sentence-- a flashback. “the end is in the beginning” -- Prologue n “I” – the narrator/ the main character/ the protagonist Ø closely as if just before your eyes Ø get into the mind of the narrator n Expressions like “I was naive” “I am nobody but myself” – central theme of the novel – searching for self-identity. n

Setting of the Battle Royal n n In a leading hotel in the town. A gathering of the leading white men of the town Battle Royal – a kind of entertainment Personal feeling of the author?

Point of View n First person narrator n The invisible man The story is his perception Narrator’s treatment of other characters mirrors the way he himself has been treatedeveryone except the narrator is onedimensional character type n n

Plot-sequence n n n Introduction (1 -3): introducing historical background, his grandfather and his grandfather’s last words. Rising action (4 -9): the main body of the battle royal incident. Crisis (10 -28): the second subsection of the battle royal incident. Climax (29 -46): how the white men further humiliated the black boys even after the battle royal was over. Falling action (47 -90): the narrator finally got his chance to deliver his well-prepared speech. Resolution (91 -94): the narrator was overjoyed with his triumph, and that night he dreamed of his grandfather.

About eighty-five years ago they were told…, separate like the finger of the hand. (Para. 2) n These words echo Booker T. Washington’s speech at Atlanta.

The grandfather’s last words. Reconstruction n In 1867, Congress enacted the Reconstruction Act However, white extremists and organizations like the Ku Klux Klan arose. Finally, the radical Republican governments were overthrown. Reconstruction collapsed, and white rule was restored.

The character: Grandfather n n n n “He was an odd old guy, my grandfather, and I am told I take after him. ” “He had been the meekest of men. ” “a quiet old man who never made any trouble” “he had called himself a traitor and a spy” “he had spoken of his meekness as dangerous activity” A puzzle His experience is A mirror His last words is A motif

The function of Grandfather’s last words: “Rootedness: the Ancestor as Foundation. ” n “There is always an elder there. And these ancestors are not just parents, they are sort of timeless people whose relationships to the characters are benevolent, instructive, and protective, and they provide a certain kind of wisdom. ” --Toni Morrison n

Para. 7 -9 n n n Why did the narrator feel so frightened when he saw the naked white dancing girl? What is the purpose of the descriptions of the naked white girl’s dancing? How is this episode related with the battle royal?

Para. 7 -9 Function of the dancing scene For the blacks – terrified; confused; dilemma n For the whites – entertained; challenging; threatening n For the dancer -- invisible, acceptable, no more than a job terrified; disgusting n

Para. 10 -28 “I”– “Yet even then I had been going over my speech. In my mind each word was as bright as flame. ” (P. 10) “Blindfolded, I could no longer control my motions. I had no dignity. I stumbled about like a baby or a drunken man. ” (P. 20) “I had begun to worry about my speech again. How would it go? Would they recognize my ability? What could they give me? ” (24) “I wanted to deliver my speech more than anything else in the world, because I felt that only these men could judge truly my ability, …” (26) “… Would not this go against my speech, and was not this a moment for humility, for nonresistance? ” (27) “… I wondered if now I would be allowed to speak. ” (28) “Perhaps, I thought, I will stand on the rug to deliver my speech. ” (28) n

Para. 10 -28 White viewers: “Let me at those black sonsabitches!” (P. 14) “I want to get at that ginger colored nigger. ” (P. 15) “Oh, no you don’t, black bastard! Leave that alone!” (P. 17) n

P. 10 -28 fighting scene n n n n n Scuffle: confused struggle (18) Smack: slap loudly (19) Pound: hit several times (19) Blow (n. ): hard stroke (19) Slug (slog): hit hard (22) Knock his guts out: 打他个七窍生烟 （22） Uppercut: 上勾拳（23） Smash: break violently into pieces (25) Bombard: to attack with or as with bombs (26) Punch (n. ): a thrusting blow with the fist (26)

Para. 21 Anarchy n n n The complete absence of government Political disorder and violence, lawlessness Disorder in any sphere of activity

Para. 29 -46/ Para. 47 -90 n How did the white men humiliate the black boys when the fight was over? n What views did the narrator explain in his speech? What do you think of those views?

The speech n n n “…in which I showed that humility was the secret, indeed, the very essence of progress. ” (3) “Would not this go against my speech, and was not this a moment for humility, for nonresistance? ” (27) “I would say: ‘Cast down your bucket where you are’ – cast it down in making friends in every manly way of the people of all races by whom we are surrounded…” (54) “Social responsibility” (57) “Social equality” – “a mistake”/ “I was swallowing blood. ”

Writing Style Jazzy sad playful fast-paced refrains n

Tone n n n Frank Thought-provoking Reflective rather than a sob story of racial injustice

Symbols, Imagery, Allegory n Vision and Sight n Irony because title is invisible man Fighting is going on blindfolded Narrator believes he’s invisible because no one sees him for who he really is and decides to become literally invisible n n

1. 去年我本想去一趟欧洲，但现在看来那个想法是不现 实（be in the cards）的. I'd hoped to go to Europe last year, but I guess it just wasn't in the cards. 2. 我们拥有这所房子和附属(pertain to)的土地. We own the house and the land pertaining to it. 3. 他获胜後喜(exult)形於色. He obviously exulted in (at) winning. 4. 他不断赞美(extol)他新车的优点。 He keeps extolling the merits of his new car. 5. 我不由自主地(in spite of oneself)对玛格丽特的命运 产生了怜悯的心情。 in spite of myself, I lamented the fate of Marguerite Gautier. (sympathy for/with sympathize with)

1. 我得快点吃完(wolf down)早餐，时间不够了。 I have to wolf down my breakfast; I'm rushed for time. (run out of time) 2. 我们若不加强控制就会出现动乱和无政府状态 (anarchy)。 If we do not have strong government, there will be rioting and anarchy. 3. 他用手把硬币捧了起来(scoop up). He scooped the coins up in his hands. 4. 他们如饥似渴地吸收(gulp down)知识。 They gulp down knowledge with unmatched enthusiasm. 5. 风声象一首有节奏的催眠(hypnotic)曲。 The noise of the wind took on some kind of rhythm, becoming hypnotic.