Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon

• Genre: Fiction; historical
• Originally Published: 1977
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 870L; college/adult
• Structure/Length: 2 parts; 15 chapters; approx. 352 pages; approx. 15 hours, 28 minutes on audio
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: Utilizing aspects of magical realism, this novel reveals the story of protagonist “Milkman” Dead’s quest for missing gold, connection to his past, and self-realization.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Violence; murder; racism and race issues; sexual content; implied/fantasized incest; suicide; profanity

Toni Morrison, Author

• Bio: 1931-2019; born in Ohio; attended Howard University and Cornell University; taught at Texas Southern University; became the first female Black fiction editor at Random House (1965); published first novel (The Bluest Eye) in 1970; earned Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (for Beloved; 1970) and Nobel Prize in Literature (1993); tapped to give the Jefferson Lecture, the highest honor awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (1996); awarded the National Book Foundation’s Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters (1996); received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2012); inducted to the National Women’s Hall of Fame (2020); known for honest and moving portrayals of Black history and experiences in her work
• Other Works: The Bluest Eye (1970); Beloved (1987); Paradise (1997); Love (2003)
• Award: National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, Song of Solomon (1977)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• Reclaiming the Hero’s Quest for Family and Community
• The Consequences of Masculine Flight: Defying Patterns of Abandonment Through Love
• Hunting for the Signs and Songs of the Past
• Beyond the Doll and the Doormat: The Power of Black Women

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the social and cultural contexts that influence the novel’s character development.
• Study paired texts and other brief resources to make connections to the text’s themes of the Hero’s Quest and Masculine Flight.
• Plan, design, and construct visual media that conveys meaningful information regarding naming.
• Analyze and evaluate the plot, setting, character, and theme to draw conclusions and make inferences regarding flight, family history, and other topics.