Ralph Ellison "Invisible Man" Page 2298

In this story of the invisible man the character takes great pride in what he has accomplished in falling off the grid. He has managed to secure an abode without a specific address but has also successfully managed to draw utilities from what he perceives to be a white establishment. He is so pleased with his pirating of energy that he makes every attempt to increase his consumption by putting a ridiculous amount of light bulbs in an otherwise dark and dreary cave. Additionally the character has fallen from society’s grid. He seems to have no known associates and no occupation. Truly he has become an insignificant member of the social structure so far as perpetual contribution is concerned.

The invisible man identifies himself as the vehicle of his grandfathers legacy. In his dying hours his grandfather expressed deep regret for having conformed to the demands of the white society. The invisible man viewed any success or praise from the society as evidence that he too was falling victim of the system as his grandfather had done so many years before. When he graduated from high school and went through such dehumanizing events as being forced to fight those with whom he had no quarrel, and being tantalized by a white goddess he could never have under the societal norm, he farther realized the wisdom of his dying grandfather. The honor of giving the speech and receiving the offer of scholarship at a black university were the praises of the establishment. The juxtaposition of the honor of the speech coupled with his beaten and bloodied condition furthered the budding of invisibility that was growing within him. The realization of the mockery that was made of his accomplishments resonated in him like the countless “atta-boy’s” that his grandfather must have received from days of hard work in his backbreaking background as a slave. As my own father has told me a thousand times, “Morgan, It don’t matter if you collect 10,000 atta-boys, it only takes one awe shit to get you in trouble.” No matter how significant the achievements the invisible man realized, he would never be on equal standing with the establishment. He decided to cease playing the game. By falling off of the grid he did sacrifice the ability to gain approval of those in control, but he also allowed himself the freedom to exist without their scrutiny. His invisibility could have been referred to as insignificance by the power company.

"Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden page 2264

This poem about Winter Sundays seems not be about winter Sundays at all. It serves as one of many small examples of the selflessness of the speakers father that were realized through the crystal clear images provided by the lens of hindsight. In the first line Hayden chose the word “too” which carries tremendous meaning. The implication of course is that the speakers father woke early every day of the week, and Sunday which would be a day of rest, was no exception.
As the father woke early and made “banked fires blaze,” he did so with “cracked hands that ached.” Here the poet is showing us the type of man that his father is. He is implying a strong work ethic and lasting endurance in providing for his family through hard manual labor. I believe that when the poet referred to banked fires which were made to blaze that there is also the implication that the coals that were banked were the remnants of his father’s labor the night before when stoking the fire.
Hayden ends the first stanza with the line “No one ever thanked him.” I believe that this was to serve a couple of different purposes. The first and presumably more obvious reason was to illustrate the speaker's remorse for the ingratitude that he as a child had shown. Also for that of the rest of his family. Truly they took for granted the warmth that was provided without acknowledgement. The second purpose I believe the author intended in presenting the omitted thanks, was to show that it was not necessary. This was part of the explanation of his father. He didn’t work hard every day so that he could be praised for his efforts, he did so out of a sense of duty to his family. We can see by the willingness of the speakers father to endure the cold while forgoing the most restful hour of the night that he was truly a selfless man. He abstained from those small luxuries to afford them to those he loved.
When the speaker awoke it was not to the call of his father. It was to the sound of the crackling wood as the cold splinters succumbed to the persistent flames. Then as the speaker laid in the warm bed he waited to hear his father’s call. When his father called it was to give the “all clear” to the household to let them know that the cold demons of the night had been exercised. Then it was safe for his family to rise. The young Hayden would then rise slowly. This too I feel is an important piece of information. Later in the poem we are told that his father had not only prepared the warm home for him, but also that he had taken the time to polish the boys shoes. In doing this the father has also afforded the boy the luxury of rising slowly to prepare for church. The tedious chore of shoe polishing which presumably would be necessary to look his Sunday best was already taken care of.
In the final stanza the author reiterates the ingratitude toward his father as he mentions the indifferent way he spoke to him. Then twice he asks “what did I know.” I believe that the first was to address the lack of gratitude that was shown, along with the associated remorse. The second time the author asks the question I believe served the purpose of addressing the character of his father and the role he played in the family. “Love’s austere and lonely office” was held by the father. Love and compassion for his family was shown through a strict routine which seemed to be completely void of selfish pleasure. The speaker referred to the role of the father as an office to indicate the sense of duty felt by the father and entitlement by the family, a realization appreciated through the perspective of hindsight.

I have hit the mother load. I was going through an old chest that my grandfather bought several decades ago and I found a very curious piece of literature. I read through it several times and I believe that it may be a lost piece of work from Mark Twain.

It bears many of the ear marks of some of his stories. The speaking in the story is very similar to the way that Twain writes in that it seems to have a southern flavor. The story is also very full of dry whit and humor which is indicative of Mark Twain as well.

I intend on presenting the story in its entirety. Once I have presented the story I will of course be burdened with the near impossible chore of drawing the parallels between this new found literature and some of Mark Twain's previous work. I will attempt to show similar progression of ideas, similar character development, as well as similar characters in general. Any more description of my idea would ruin the surprise and would likely be just fluff.