Invisible Man Exam Reassessment—Prologue-Chapter 9—English IV AP—Keene
Directions: Following are 4 sections of questions each worth a specific possible point value. For each section, you must answer all questions in order to receive any points (i.e. if all questions aren’t addressed, none of them will receive any credit). Answering questions does not guarantee full credit. Some questions require quotes for support; some questions require inference of thematic issues— answer accordingly.
Due by Friday, 9/23 at 3:00 pm
Section I—20 points possible
Chapter 1: Overarching question—How does Invisible Man (from here on IM) attempt to discover/develop his identity?
1) The battle royal is an almost hyperbolic illustration of IM’s desire to display humility in order to reveal to the white man his progress. Find at least three quotes to support this claim.
2) Who are the white men in attendance at the battle royal? What jobs do they maintain? How is this ironic? What is Ellison’s point? (no quote necessary)
3) What are IM’s feelings of/toward the naked blond? Provide specific quotes. (Hint: the feelings range on all ends of the emotional spectrum).
4) Irony—What is ironic about IM’s earnest desire to read his speech? (no quotes needed)
5) The blindfolds in the battle royal are metaphorical. Explain. (no quotes needed)
6) Discuss social responsibility vs. social equality.
7) What is ironic about the briefcase that IM receives after reading his speech? (Hint: reread the dream IM has at the end of the chapter) Provide quotes to support your answer.
Section II—25 points possible
Chapter 2:
1) Juxtaposition—College campus vs. slave quarters. Provide three quotes describing each.
2) Describe the statue at the college (quotes). “Why is a bird-soiled statue more commanding than one that is clean?”
3) Mr. Norton—What is his ambition/goal/desire for black men? (quotes)
4) Why is Mr. Norton so concerned with knowing his fate? (Hint: consider what happened to his daughter.)
5) What are IM’s views of the black people in the old slave quarters? (quotes)
6) Summarize Trueblood’s story making sure to discuss the dream he had as well as what happened after he woke up. Why is Mr. Norton so in awe of Trueblood’s experience? Quotes.
7) While discussing his incident he had with Matty Lou, Trueblood says, “[The ole lady] right beside us snorin’ and I can’t move ‘cause I figgers if I moved it would be a sin. And I figgers too, that if I don’t move it maybe ain’t no sin, ‘cause it happened when I was asleep… I had to move without movin’.” This is about more than Trueblood for Ellison. What, then, is it about?
8) Ironically, it is white men, not black, who help Trueblood after his incident. Why do you suppose this is? (No quotes necessary)
9) What is IM’s view of Trueblood? Quotes.
10) What is Mr. Norton’s ultimate reaction to Trueblood’s story? Why? Why did he give Trueblood $100?
Section III—20 points possible
Chapter 3:
1) What is the Golden Day? Provide at least three quotes of the place or its characters that describe it.
2) How does IM feel about the vets who go to the Golden Day? Quotes.
3) Who is Supercargo? What happens to him? This is about more than Supercargo. What, then, is it about? No quotes.
4) For saving someone’s life, the vet (doctor) is “[driven] from the city at midnight and beat[en] with whips” by “ten men in masks.” How does this parallel Trueblood’s situation with Matty Lou in chapter 2? No quotes.
5) Ironically, the vet who is supposedly insane sees the world through clearer eyes than both IM and Mr. Norton. How so exactly? Quotes.
Section IV—20 points possible
Chapter 4:
1) Describe Bledsoe physically. Quotes. How might this represent his character?
2) What is ironic about Mr. Norton telling IM that self-reliance is “a most worth virtue?” No quotes.
Chapter 5:
3) Barbee, the minister, is blind—figuratively as well as literally. Explain. No quotes.
Chapter 6:
4) Ostensibly, Bledsoe is about the progress of the black man. Provide at least three quotes to support this claim and three that contradict it.
Chapter 7:
5) The vet’s final advice to IM is to, “Be your own father, young man,” and, “…leave the Mr. Nortons alone.” What does he mean? No quotes.
Chapter 8:
6) IM’s thoughts after he has recently arrived in New York: “I caught myself wishing for someone to show the letters to, someone who could give me a proper reflection of my importance.” What does this, again, reveal about IM’s search for identity? No quotes.
7) How are Bledsoe’s letters related to the letters in IM’s dream at the end of chapter 1?