Song of Solomon

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Why is naming a significant event in a child’s life?

Teaching Suggestion: It may be helpful to take a class survey based on the following questions: How many are named after a parent? How many are named after a family member? How many have biblical or religious names? How many use nicknames? How many are aware of the source of their name? How many know the meaning of their name? How many have names that reflect gender or culture in some way? It may be beneficial to lead students to discuss the class survey results before responding to the short answer question.

You might also lead students to consider the burden of negative naming. Provide students with the following list of baby names: Adolf, Benito, Cain, Delilah, Jezebel, Judas, Khan, Lenin, Manson, Mao, and Pilate. Lead them to discuss what they know about famous people with these names. Then, ask them to consider the possible effects of naming a baby after one of these figures.

• This article from NBC News explains the complicated history of African American naming.
• This article from The New Yorker explains the power of names. (Subscription may be needed for viewing.)

2. How does one claim personal or cultural power, especially when trying to break free from oppression or subjugation?

Teaching Suggestion: Provide students with the following list: consumerism, materialism, wealth, career, education, marriage, family, religion, protest, or violence. Lead them to discuss how these entries bestow or undermine one’s sense of personal power.

• This National Museum of African American History and Culture article, “Social Identities and Systems of Oppression,” will help students think about the connections between identity and oppression.

Short Activity

Trace the theme Hunting for the Signs and Songs of the Past by reading the biblical “Song of Solomon.”

Circle or highlight all references to birds or flying. Then, prepare a three-column chart, noting the reference in the first column and an explanation of its use in “Song of Solomon” in the second column. As you read the novel, make connections to the text in the third column. For example, Milkman’s great-grandmother’s name, Sing[ing] Bird, appears in Canto 2, line 12.

Teaching Suggestion: Some students may not know that the biblical “Song of Solomon” is an alternating series of love poems spoken by a man and a woman. Although often credited to King Solomon, the author is unknown. “Song of Solomon” has been interpreted as an allegory of God’s love for the Israelites or Christ’s love for the church. There are also secular interpretations of the text as a series of love poems without religious meaning. It might be helpful to choose a series of male and female voices to read aloud from the “Song of Solomon.”

• This article by J. Paul Tanner traces the history of interpretations.

Differentiation Suggestion: For classes that might benefit from practicing communication on a work that is open to different interpretations, allow students to create their three-column charts in pairs or groups.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

What does your name mean? Is there a story about how you got your name? Where did it come from, or what is its meaning within your family or culture? In what ways is your name tied to gender? Has your name ever changed form, from James to Jim or Elizabeth to Beth? Has your name ever disappeared in favor of a nickname? What is the origin of the nickname? How did this shift leave you feeling?

Teaching Suggestion: Students might take the time to research the histories and meanings of their names using reputable internet sites. These questions will stimulate students’ interest in the novel by prompting them to consider the confluence of culture, gender, and naming. The novel’s protagonist Milkman Dead is granted the nickname “Milkman” based on an event over which he has no control. Milkman’s aunt is named Pilate after Pontius Pilate, who is reputed to have ordered the crucifixion of Christ.

• This Medela article discusses weaning options including natural-term breastfeeding.
• This article from Britannica explains Pilate’s background.