Song of Solomon

1. Song of Solomon By: Toni Morrison

2. “If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it.”

3. 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

4. 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

5. Song of Solomon interview • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miGmKB8L4s0&feature=youtu.be

6. 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

7. 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

8. Secondary Characters • All play a crucial role; not primary • Macon Dead I • Dr. Foster • Reba • First Corinthians Dead • Magdalena Dead • Sing • Freddie • Solomon

9. 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

10. 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

11. Connections in Literature • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnTsBxA9Zcg • Connection to Othello • Significance and similarities • How does this relate personally?

12. 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."

13. Underlying Themes • Identity • Love • Race • Visions of America • The Home • The Supernatural • Women and Femininity • Exploration • Memory and Past

14. 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

15. Symbols in the Text • No bellybutton • The music (hymns) • Biblical references • Intense racism • Match Box earing • Pilate is the Christ Figure

16. 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

17. 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.”

18. Finally Taking the flight.