Invisible Man (through chapter 11) Pre-Session Work

On Monday, July 6 we will meet to deepen our understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the first eleven chapters of Ralph Waldo Ellison's novel Invisible Man.

To be prepared for the first summer session do the following...

1. Actively read the Prologue through chapter 11 of Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. (Reading the introduction is optional.)

What does it mean to read actively?

To read actively, we must think about the significance of what we are reading. To guide this we should all reflect upon the struggle to create an identity and develop a self that will survive within precarious and often hostile environments. This struggle -- common among thoughtful high school students -- is also the struggle experienced by the protagonist of Invisible Man.

To read actively, we will not only think about the novel's central theme; we will also jot down or mark whatever seems significant. So keep track of significant characters, events, and motifs. In Invisible Man aspects of vision (eyes, sight, blindness, and, of course, invisibility) are among the motifs. Other motifs include light and dark, colors (especially white, black, and red), the underground, dreams, sex, violence, food, speech-making, music, and blood. You should jot these down or mark them as you find them so we can go back to them to puzzle out how they are significant in the novel.

2. What else should we do before July 6?
In addition to your other active reader notes and markings, choose a motif and write down five specific places where it appears. Write down each of the five quotations and page numbers. Bring these notes to class on July 6.

Also write down the page numbers of three passages that illustrate some aspect of the protagonist's struggle to figure out how to live within hostile and confusing environments. This struggle is often called identity formation. Pick one passage from the Prologue or chapter one; pick another passage from chapter two through chapter six and another passage from chapter seven through chapter eleven. Write an open-ended discussion question for each of the three passages.

Choose one image (a sensory experience created with words) from the first eleven chapters that for you most vividly conveys the protagonist's struggle between self and environment. Write down (or type out) the exact words Ellison uses to present the image.

Email me at jcook@gloucester.k12.ma.us or apenglishghs@gmail.com with any questions.

Summer Session Dates, etc.

Based on the blog poll and an informal polling of students who saw me after the polling closed, Mondays seem to work best for most of you.

I expect you to attend the four sessions, to do the reading, to complete the pre-session work and the post-session work. You're in college now, at least as far as AP English is concerned. So...

Get the time off from work. Get the books. Figure out when you will read and how much at each sitting. Check the blog and your email for updates. (I have no email addresses for Hidenori Ono, Megan Keegan, and Brianna Aloisio.)

If you plan time to get the reading done I think you'll find you will be able to do the work and do all the other summer things you look forward to.

Email me at my new AP English email address with any questions
apenglishghs@gmail.com (the beginning is the same as the blog)
[Oops I wrote the gmail address in the message I sent to you on Wednesday.]

Here is the schedule:
Monday July 6 from 8:00 am until we're done (we'll be done by noon).
Read Invisible Man through chapter 11 (page 250 in most editions)

Monday July 20 from 8:00 am until we're done
Read Invisible Man through the end.

Monday August 3 from 8:00 am until we're done.
Read Translations & Waiting for Godot.

Monday August 17 from 8:00 am until we're done.
Read Wide Sargasso Sea.

Don't forget to write a comment on the previous blog post. (If you can't do it you must let me know.)

I think that's enough for now.
Good luck with the rest of your exams.

James W. Cook
Gloucester High School

Post a comment

O.K. Here we go...
1. Click on the comments link at the bottom of this post. You'll get a comment window.
2. At the bottom of the window click on "Sign up here." Fill out all the necessary information. (Write your password somewhere where you will not lose it. Maybe create an "AP English" folder on your computer and put it there and print it out and put it in your purse or wallet. Lots of students lose passwords and have to create new accounts.) Also your name should be your first name and last initial. Mine would be "James C". I'm trying to keep your exposure on the internet to a minimum.
3. After creating an account blogger will return you to the comment window. In the window you'll type your comment: tell us all about your wonderful experience of learning how to post a comment, send a greeting to your peers, tell a (clean) joke, comment on the summer session dates, etc. When you post assignments you'll want to write in a word processing document then paste that into the comment box, so if blog doesn't except the comment for some reason you'll still have it. Don't forget the Word Verification.
4. Then click on the "publish your comment" button. (If you want to make sure its there click on the "comment" link at the bottom of the post again and you should see your comment. (Nancy F has already commented on the previous post!)
***
I very much enjoyed meeting many of you today. If you did not attend the meeting you must see me or risk losing your spot in the class. (Two of you who missed the meeting already spoke to me. I look forward to meeting with you.)
***
Overview of summer reading (with lots more information to come)
1. Read and complete session work on Invisible Man (through chapter 11, page 250) by the week of July 5-11.

2. Read and complete summer session work on Invisible Man (through epilogue, page 580) by the week of July 19-25.

3. Read and complete summer session work on Translations and Waiting for Godot by the week of August 2-8

4. Read and complete summer session work on Wide Sargasso Sea by the week of August 16-22.

Exact dates will be announced on the blog and through email next week.