Music in Invisible Man 3B

Quote: "My eyes fell upon a pair of crudely carved and polished, "knocking bones," used to accompany music at country dances..." (Ellison 271) Context: TIM is standing outside an apartment building witnessing the eviction of an elderly woman. He's observing all the belongings which were once in the apartment and now lay at his feet. Motif Analysis:  The motif of music is displayed by the instrument of "knocking bones," as well as the reference to country dances and the type of music played at those events. Knocking bones are a reminder of southern and black culture.

There was no depiction of music in chapter 12

Quote:  "Now a man sitting with his back to me, manipulating dials on a panel. I wanted to call yo him, but the Fifth Symphony  racked me, and he seemed too serene and too far away.   Context:  TIM is getting an X-ray within the factory hospital. He sees a doctor but cannot call to him because he is too dizzy and his mind is full of Beethoven's Fifth. Motif Analysis:  The music motif is present in Chapter 11 where it clouds TIM's mind when he wakes up during the X-Ray. It shows how Tim's mind resorts to music when his mind is not in the right state. 

Quotes Ch. 9:  "... heard him singing in a clear singing voice. It was a blues..."(Ellison 172) Ch. 6:  "I know all about that too; ole doc's been 'buked and scorned and all of that. I don't just  sing  about it in chapel. I  know  about it." Ch. 1:  "A clarinet was vibrating sensuously and the men were standing up and moving eagerly forward." (Ellison 19) Synthesis All of these quotes set the tone of the events in the chapter. In chapter one there is a suspenseful tone because the fight is about to happen, chapter nine gives TIM inspiration to do something, and chapter six has a depressed tone because TIM is getting kicked out of the school. The motif of music also helps TIM to remember his southern heritage and his past which makes him reflect on his life.

No motif present in this chapter.

There was no depiction of music within this chapter.

There was no depiction of music within this chapter.

Quote:  "... heard him singing in a clear singing voice. It was a blues..."(Ellison 172) Context:  TIM is walking down the street in New York and is taking in all the live action which gives him encouragement to accomplish something today. Part of the action was a man pushing a cart who TIM describes as the one who was singing. Motif Analysis:  The motif of music is displayed by the man TIM hears singing. The blues that he's singing remind TIM of music he had heard in the South.