Invisible Man

Lesson 7
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ELA

Unit 1

12th Grade

Lesson 7 of 36

Objective


Analyze how the author uses the incident at the Golden Day and the character of the veteran to develop the motifs of invisibility and blindness.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison  pp. 71 – 97

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Target Task


Multiple Choice

Over the course of chapters 2 and 3, Mr. Norton’s attitude toward the narrator shifts from

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Sample Response

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The statement made by the vet on p. 95 (“Poor stumblers…a God, a force.”) most nearly implies that

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Sample Response

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Writing Prompt

Describe how the author uses irony to develop the motifs of blindness and invisibility on pp. 90–97. Use evidence from these pages to support your answer.

Key Questions


  • Revisit quote from p. 33 about college – what did he mean based on what you have read?
  • P. 91 “Perhaps had I overheard some of what I’m about to tell you when I was a student up there on the hill, I wouldn’t be the casualty that I am.” Revisit this quote after reading the next page or two. What does the vet mean? What is he telling the narrator?
  • How does the narrator’s attitude toward the vet change over these pages? Why?
  • Who “sees” the truth here? Who is “blind” to the truth? Why is this ironic?
  • Who does the vet label “invisible” on p. 94? What does he mean?
  • P. 95 “To you he is a mark…a black amorphous thing.” What is the vet saying to Mr. Norton? Has anyone else had the courage to say this?
  • How does Mr. Norton’s attitude toward the vet change over the course of these pages? How does his attitude toward the narrator change in these same pages?
  • Where is he on Hero’s Journey now? How do you know?

Notes


Pp. 71-85 should be read as homework prior to this class. Be sure to give a quiz and summarize the events of the first half of the chapter at the beginning of class.

Next

Analyze the motif of masks and how the author develops it in Chapter 4.

Lesson 8
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