English IV AP

Summer Reading 2016 Assignment

Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man

(Do Not Confuse this with The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells!)

Read Ralph Ellison’s novel Invisible Man and, after reading each section of the novel, respond in one

detailed paragraph (with textual evidence) to each prompt.

5 prompts = 5 paragraphs total (Each paragraph should be 8-10 sentences with at least two chunks,

quotes should be cited in MLA) Do not merely summarize the plot.

1. (Read Prologue – Chapter 5) Once, E.E. cummings claimed that “to be nobody but yourself – in a

world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else – means to fight the hardest

battle which any human can fight, and never stop fighting.” In Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, the main

character experiences this battle firsthand, both physically and mentally. Explain at least two of the

obstacles that the main character must overcome in order to pursue his dreams. End by predicting

whether or not you believe that Ellison’s main character will be able to achieve his American Dream by

the end of the novel. Why or why not?

2. (Read Ch. 6-10) Where in Invisible Man does Ellison—who was trained as a musician—use language

for musical effect? (For example, compare the description of the college campus on pages 34-37 to

Trueblood’s confession on 51-68, to the chapel scene on 110-135.) What different sorts of language

does Ellison employ in these and other passages? How does the “music” of these sections—their

rhythm, assonance, and alliteration—heighten their meaning or play against it?

3. (Read Ch. 11-15) Palestinian American literary theorist and cultural critic Edward Said has written that

“Exile is strangely compelling to think about but terrible to experience. It is the unhealable rift forced

between a human being and a native place, between the self and its true home: its essential sadness can

never be surmounted.” Yet Said has also stated that exile can become “a potent, even enriching”

experience. How does the main character experience such a rift and become cut off from his “home”? Is

the main character’s experience with exile alienating, enriching, or both? Explain.

4. (Read Ch. 16-20) Throughout the book the narrator encounters a number of benefactors, mentors,

and role models. Describe two of these relationships that the main character has with such men. What

does the outcome of these relationships suggest about the possibility of friendship or cooperation

between the races? What characters in Invisible Man, if any, represent sources of moral authority and

stability?

5. (Read Ch. 21- Epilogue) One definition of madness is “mental delusion or the eccentric behavior

arising from it.” But Emily Dickinson explains, “Much madness is divinest Sense-/To a discerning Eye.”

Ralph Ellison sees madness with a “discerning Eye.” Invisible Man’s seemingly irrational behavior plays

an important role. What does his delusion or eccentric behavior consists of? How might it be judged

reasonable based on what he has gone through in his life?

The Paragraphs: Introduction statement with topic sentence--compelling thesis which makes an

assertion to be proved. Two chunks per paragraph. Make certain you use direct quotations for concrete

details and that you introduce the quotations with *transitions and *lead-ins that help the reader see

the significance of the quote.

*Cite the pages of text evidence parenthetically according to MLA Handbook guidelines. End with a

conclusion statement that enlightens the reader about the universal truth revealed through the work.

20 points each x 5 = 100 points

*Transitions are words that lead the reader to the idea – words such as first, for example, therefore, as a

result, finally, clearly, specifically, in fact, consequently, however, etc.

*Lead-ins establish the situation, the speaker and/or person spoken to, and the place/time setting of the

quotation

*Citations – Use MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (most recent edition)

All summer reading assignments DUE on the first day of school.

You should have one typed, double-spaced paper copy of your responses to turn in on the first day of

school. Use Times New Roman 12 pt. font with true double spacing (Set your Word to no spacing before

and after sentences). Prior to that, you will need to save your work digitally and will be given

instructions on how to submit your summer reading essays to your teacher’s turnitin.com account on

your first day of school.

Questions? Email me over the summer at ellen.peeples@annaisd.org.