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Synthesis Post #2

Quote:  "The knocking had gone beyond mere protest over heatlessness now, they had fallen into a ragged rumba rhythm." (Ellison 321). Quote:  "Over the park the silence spread from the slow muffled rolling of the drums, the crunching of footsteps on the walks. Then somewhere in the procession an old, plaintive, masculine voice arose in song, wavering , stumbling in the silence at first alone, until in the band a euphonium horn fumbled for the key and too up the air, one catching and rising above the other and the other pursuing, two black pigeons rising above a skull-white barn to tumble and rise through still, blue air." (Ellison 452). Quote:  "The juke box was dinning and it was like looking into the depths of a murky cave." (Ellison 486) Synthesis -Ellison uses music to set the mood for events in TIM's life. For example, it relaxes him and reminds him of his past life and culture. Also, during the funeral, the music playing created a somber a...
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Chapter 15

Quote:  "The knocking had gone beyond mere protest over heatlessness now, they had fallen into a ragged rumba rhythm." (Ellison 321). Context:  After TIM breaks the racist coin bank, the tenants are still beating on the pipe to get the heat turned on. Motif Analysis:  The motif of music is seen in this chapter through the rhythmic rumba of the banging. 
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Chapter 21

Quote: "Over the park the silence spread from the slow muffled rolling of the drums, the crunching of footsteps on the walks. Then somewhere in the procession an old, plaintive, masculine voice arose in song, wavering , stumbling in the silence at first alone, until in the band a euphonium horn fumbled for the key and too up the air, one catching and rising above the other and the other pursuing, two black pigeons rising above a skull-white barn to tumble and rise through still, blue air." (Ellison 452). Context: During TIM's speech at Clifton's funeral, a song starts playing and everyone stops to listen to it. Motif Analysis: The motif of music is seen in this chapter through the song that is played during Clifton's funeral. The song reminds TIM of his old life, the south, and the campus.
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Chapter 17

Quote: "The usual rows of bottles with exotic names were lined on the shelves, and in the rear, where four men argued in Spanish over glasses of beer, a juke box, lit up green and red, played 'Media Luz.'" (Ellison 357). Context: Brother Jack invited TIM to take a ride with him. They ended up in the El Toro Bar in Harlem and a jukebox is playing. Motif Analysis: The motif of music is seen in this chapter through the jukebox playing "Media Luz." "A Media Luz" is a tango-genre song meaning "at half light."
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Chapter 23

Quote:  "The juke box was dinning and it was like looking into the depths of a murky cave." (Ellison 486) Context:  Tim walks in to the Jolly Dollar as Rinehart and is observing the bar in a different point of view than he's previously know when recognized for his usual self. Motif Analysis:  The motif of music is seen in this chapter through tunes coming from the juke box.
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Chapter 18

Quote:  "They're crazy about it. And same way with the Hot-Footers and all that. You don't have to worry, son." (Ellison 386) Context:  TIM is in his office discussing with Brother Tarp how other members of the Brotherhood view TIM. TIM is having his doubts and Tarp is trying to reassure him that he has support and is doing the right thing. Motif Analysis:  The Hot-Footers is in reference to a popular musical group from the South, this reference is used to help TIM believe that people love the work he is doing in the Brotherhood the same way they love the music of the Hot-Footers.
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Chapter 20

Quote:  "A cluster of men and women hovered near the juke box at the rear."(Ellison 423) Context:  TIM has just walked into Barrelhouse's bar at the beginning of chapter twenty and notices the presence of music. TIM has just returned to Harlem after being downtown for the Brotherhood for a short while. Motif Analysis:  Music is shown through the jukebox playing. The jukebox represents TIM's culture because the first thing he hears back in Harlem is music.
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