Ralph Ellison - Invisible Man

Presentation (Handout) from the year 2001 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: none, University of Heidelberg (Anglistik Seminar), course: Upper Seminar Text in Context, 1 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: The Quest· can be defined as a voyage with a goal, a “Suchwanderung”.· the goal is usually a ...

Presentation (Handout) from the year 2001 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: none, University of Heidelberg (Anglistik Seminar), course: Upper Seminar Text in Context, 1 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: The Quest· can be defined as a voyage with a goal, a “Suchwanderung”.· the goal is usually a treasured item or one’s own soul.· 3 major parts: the departure, the voyage with adventures, and the return or theheightening of the hero.· Invisible Man: the search for identity or for his self.I. The departure of the heroThe hero parts from his social groupreason: a disharmony within the society he lives in.Invisible Man: his departure from the hole he lives inorhis expulsion from college after which he tries to find himself.II. The voyage with adventuresThe hero undertakes a voyage and has to get through several adventures: fighting monstersand/ or giants, being seduced by beautiful women, being led on the wrong track.Helpful figures: good spirits who aid him and show him the right track.The height of adventures: reached in the death struggle or supreme ordeal, where the herodies a symbolic death. This means that his former self dies, and this death is followed by aspiritual rebirth. à initiation1. bus trip to New Yorkfatherly advice by the vet: learn to look beneath the surface (127); play the game, but play ityour own way. Learn how it operates, learn how you operate (128); be your own fatheryoung man. And remember, the world is possibility if only you’ll discover it (130).2. disillusionments: The letters of recommendation from Bledsoe [...]