Novel Presentation- Song of Solomon
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Transcript Novel Presentation- Song of Solomon
By: Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison
Born February 18, 1931 in Lorain Ohio
Writes African American Literature
Nobel Prize in Literature (1993)
Presidential Medal of Freedom (2012)
Song of Solomon= 3rd novel (1977)
National Attention
Bench by the Road
Toni Morrison
On the list of top 100 banned books
3 of hers on the list
Song of Solomon on list
Correlates with invisible man and others
Most banned books are those that provoke emotions
in the reader
Why? What is the significance
Song of Solomon
interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miGmKB8L4s0
&feature=youtu.be
Foundation
Setting: Mostly in the 1960s in Michigan, flashbacks
are very much a part and take the reader back into
the early 1900s.
Point of View: Third Person Omniscient
Important Characters
There are many:
Milkman Dead- Protagonist, Most important and
crucial to plot structure, influences all of the other
characters
Pilate Dead- Also drives the plot and can be
considered a symbol in the novel
Macon Jr.
Guitar Bains
Hagar
Ruth Foster Dead
Secondary Characters
All play a crucial role; not primary
Macon Dead I
Dr. Foster
Reba
First Corinthians Dead
Magdalena Dead
Sing
Freddie
Solomon
Summary Overview
Insurance Agent commits suicide
Milkman is born as Macon Dead III
As milkman ages he becomes cold hearted
Milkman is nurtured by Ruth, Pilate and, his sisters.
Milkman grows to resemble his father, lacking
compassion
Milkman flashes back to his childhood and that of
his grandfather
He begins to uncover elements from his childhood
and that of his family
Summary Overview
Milkman is on a search for his roots
On Milkman’s search for self he discovers that those
closest to him are a complete mystery
Milkman’s findings give him extreme joy and a sense of
purpose
He experiences a change in character
When Milkman finally returns home he discovers turmoil
Guitar seeks to destroy Milkman and destroys Pilate
instead
Essentially Milkman’s discovery changes him
Connections in
Literature
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnTsBxA9Zcg
Connection to Othello
Significance and similarities
How does this relate personally?
Quotes
"No. White people are unnatural. As a race they are
unnatural.“
“As the stars made themselves visible, Milkman tried to
figure what was true and what part of what was true had
anything to do with him”
"It’s not about living longer. It’s about how you live and
why.“
"…because the fact is that I am a small woman. I don’t
mean little; I mean small, and I’m small because I was
pressed small. I lived in a great big house that pressed me
into a small package."
Underlying Themes
Identity
Love
Race
Visions of America
The Home
The Supernatural
Women and Femininity
Exploration
Memory and Past
Religious Connection
Title- derived from Old Testament, Song of Songs
Names with religious meaning
Music (hymns)
Reba
Pilate- authorized the crucifixion of Jesus.
Hagar
First Corinthians
Magdalene called Lena
Ruth
Solomon- Builder of the first temple in Jerusalem, wisdom,
power, kingdom torn in two.
Jacob
Symbols in the Text
No bellybutton
The music (hymns)
Biblical references
Intense racism
Match Box earing
Pilate is the Christ Figure
Historical References
Abraham Lincoln
Slavery
Malcolm X
General Robert E. Lee
Mary Todd
Ulysses S. Grant
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
John F. Kennedy
Winnie Ruth Jud
Quotes
“It's a bad word, 'belong.' Especially when you put it
with somebody you love ... You can't own a human
being.”
“When the two had managed to get the basket into
the room, the girl stretched her back and turned
around, facing them. But Milkman had no need to
see her face; he had already fallen in love with her
behind.”
“Mrs. Bains let her hand fall to her side. "A nigger in
business is a terrible thing to see. A terrible, terrible
thing to see.”
Finally Taking the flight.