25 pages 50 minutes read

Ralph Ellison

Flying Home

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1953

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Essay Topics

1.

“Flying Home” was written in 1944. How much has the African American experience changed since then? In what ways has it changed?

2.

What is the role of symbolism in the story? Choose one symbol from the piece and analyze its meanings. Use textual evidence to support your answer.

3.

How would “Flying Home” be different if it were written from one of the other characters’ point of view? Be sure to indicate which character you choose and whether the point of view is omniscient or limited, in past or present tense, etc.