Invisible Man

Lesson 13
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ELA

Unit 1

12th Grade

Lesson 13 of 36

Objective


Analyze the metaphor of the Liberty Paints plant, tracking how the author introduces and develops the metaphor over the first ten pages of Chapter 10.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison  pp. 184 – 206

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Target Task


Multiple Choice

The sentence on p. 200 (“But when I looked…dead black.”) mainly serves to

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The Liberty Paints plant serves as a metaphor for

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Writing Prompt

“That’s paint that’ll cover just about anything!” How does the author use this statement on p. 202 to develop his message about race in this first portion of Chapter 10?

What to look for in student response:

Black and white people both exist in the United States, but they are not equal. Whites are the visible “pure” group with power. Blacks exist underneath that—a group of people whose effort and energy is necessary [and exploited] in order for the success of whites [as noted by the black drops necessary to achieve the purity of the white paint].

Key Questions


  • The narrator arrives at his new job at Liberty Paints. What is their motto? What does this imply?
  • Track the imagery of black and white throughout this chapter. What is white associated with? Black?
  • p. 200: "Never mind how it looks. That's my worry. You just do what you're told and don't try to think about it." What is Kimbro telling him to do? Why? How does this relate to the narrator's realizations in chapter 9 that, "Everyone seems to have some plan for me, and beneath that some more secret plan." (p. 194)
  • What is surprising for the narrator about Optic White paint?
  • What is the author's message here? What is he saying about race and racism with his metaphor of the Liberty Paints plant? Explain using evidence.
  • Kimbro is white and the narrator is black. How does the author use their interactions to further develop the metaphor?
  • In what ways does the paint function as a mask?

Notes


  • pp. 184-195 should be read as homework prior to this class.
  • Begin class by having students re-read the letter on pp. 190-191 as well as the final two paragraphs of the chapter. Discuss or write in answer to: How does Dr. Bledsoe's betrayal impact the narrator? (he becomes hardened, vengeful, distrustful of Dr. Bledsoe, felt like "everyone has a plan for me")
  • Assign pp. 207-218 for homework.
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Lesson 12

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Lesson 14

Lesson Map

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