Invisible Man

Lesson 4
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ELA

Unit 1

12th Grade

Lesson 4 of 36

Objective


Explain the impact of the Battle Royal on the narrator.

Explain how the author uses the motif of blindness/invisibility to develop theme.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison  pp. 24 – 33

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Target Task


Multiple Choice

Which choice best expresses the narrator’s view of his experience at The Smoker?

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Which piece of evidence from pp. 32–33 best supports the answer to number 1?

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Writing Prompt

How is the author using the motif of blindness/invisibility to make a statement about racism in this chapter? What is his statement?

Key Questions


  • Continue to trace the motif of blindness. How does the author develop this motif (more figuratively) in the scene with the money?
  • How do the men react when the narrator says "social equality" instead of "social responsibility"? Why? What does this imply about how the men really feel about the narrator/the black community in general? (p. 31)
  • What is the impact of Ellison's choice to juxtapose the narrator's lofty speech with the events of the "smoker"? What is he saying to the reader with this decision?
  • What is the significance of the narrator's dream on p. 33?
  • What is the author saying so far about the impact of racism on the individual? How do you know?
  • How does the narration shift in the parenthetical comment at the end of the chapter? What is the significance of this shift?
  • Has the narrator begun to "see" yet? (refer back to p. 13)
  • Where on the journey is the narrator now? What evidence shows you this? (still stage one...hints at end that stage two is coming)

Notes


  • This chapter must be read in class.
  • Assign the article "Booker T. Washington" for homework tonight. It will be necessary for students to have read it prior to Lesson 5.
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Lesson 3

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Lesson 5

Lesson Map

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