Poems Used in 'Invisible Man' by Ralph Ellison
Ralph Ellison's 1952 novel, "Invisible Man," is the story of a young African-American man as he searches for his place within society. The novel uses many allusions to "poems," which are actually verses from blues songs and Negro spirituals. Ellison uses about 15 of these poetic allusions throughout the novel.
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Ellison's Interest in Music and Poetry
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According to Ellison, he was inspired by T.S. Eliot's poem "The Wasteland," which he read as an undergraduate while studying at Tuskegee Institute. Ellison especially took note of the way Eliot used jazz music to form the rhythm of "The Wasteland."
Ellison was a music major at Tuskegee but later became interested in poetry and literature. Like Eliot, Ellison merged these two interest in his work. The "poems" or song verses in "Invisible Man" are examples of Ellison merging music and literature together.
Blues Songs in 'Invisible Man'
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The poems in "Invisible Man" are verses from blues songs. These songs include "Boogie Woogie Blues" by Count Basie and Jonathan Rushing,"What Did I Do to Be so Black and Blue" by Louis Armstrong, "If It Hadn't Been for the Referee" by Memphis Minnie, and "Bread and Wine" later recorded by Cowboy Junkies.
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Folk Songs in 'Invisible Man'
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Many of the songs used within the novel were never recorded and cannot be linked to any particular singer. Instead, they are folk songs that have been passed down many generations through oral traditions. They include "Did You Ever See Miss Margaret Boil Water," "Godamighty Made a Monkey," "John Brown's Body Lies a Molding," "They Picked Poor Robin Clean," "Sambo The Dancing Doll," "Buckeye the Rabbit" and "Time's Flying."
Significance of Poetic Allusions
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The allusions to "poems" or song lyrics in "Invisible Man" serve as a way to add another layer of depth to the narrative. For example, the Louis Armstrong song "What Did I Do to Be so Black and Blue" is used in the prologue. When the unnamed protagonist hears Armstrong's voice singing the lyrics, he is awakened from his sleep. This foreshadows the emotional and mental "awakening" that the protagonist will experience in the novel.
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References
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