Song of Solomon Chapters 11-15

Flight  Milkman’s flight away from Michigan brings him to his ancestral home  With Sweet Milkman dreams of flying over a dark sea  Milkman’s flight away from Michigan brings him to his ancestral home  With Sweet Milkman dreams of flying over a dark sea

Flight  Solomon was a “Flying African,” but his flight abandoned his child Jake  Milkman is reunited with his tribe but flies into an ambiguous end  abandon (adj.)- enthusiasm, exuberance  abandon (v.)- desert, forsake  Solomon was a “Flying African,” but his flight abandoned his child Jake  Milkman is reunited with his tribe but flies into an ambiguous end  abandon (adj.)- enthusiasm, exuberance  abandon (v.)- desert, forsake

Identity  As a northern black Milkman is out of place in Shalimar  Commanding demeanor  Well-heeled appearance  Blatant wealth  Shalimar is source of his identity  As a northern black Milkman is out of place in Shalimar  Commanding demeanor  Well-heeled appearance  Blatant wealth  Shalimar is source of his identity

Identity  In Shalimar Milkman “hadn’t bothered to say his name” (266).  At the Byrd house Milkman introduces himself as “Macon” (287)  Milkman learns “[w]hen you know your name, you should hang onto it” (329).  In Shalimar Milkman “hadn’t bothered to say his name” (266).  At the Byrd house Milkman introduces himself as “Macon” (287)  Milkman learns “[w]hen you know your name, you should hang onto it” (329).

Identity  Milkman is soon dressed in WWII fatigues, divested of all that held him back: “not his money, his car, his father’s reputation, his suit, or his shoes” (277).  Milkman feels deeply connected to Shalimar  Milkman is soon dressed in WWII fatigues, divested of all that held him back: “not his money, his car, his father’s reputation, his suit, or his shoes” (277).  Milkman feels deeply connected to Shalimar

Identity  The brotherhood connection between Milkman and Guitar intensifies as Guitar “shadows” him

Identity  In the mirror Hagar sees only the identity which she believes Milkman wants  Her grotesque transformation is an exercise in the bathos  In the mirror Hagar sees only the identity which she believes Milkman wants  Her grotesque transformation is an exercise in the bathos

Identity  The Byrd family now tries to “pass” as white  Byrds always stress that they “were never slaves” (324).  Native Americans and African Americans experienced similar treatment at the hands of whites  The Byrd family now tries to “pass” as white  Byrds always stress that they “were never slaves” (324).  Native Americans and African Americans experienced similar treatment at the hands of whites

Identity  Milkman, Macon, and Pilate belong to the “tribe” of Flying Africans  A tribe denotes a bloodline and an identity  Pilate buries her name with her father’s bones  Milkman, Macon, and Pilate belong to the “tribe” of Flying Africans  A tribe denotes a bloodline and an identity  Pilate buries her name with her father’s bones

Identity -- Family Heddy ByrdSolomon Crowell Byrd Susan Bird Jake (Macon Dead) Pilate Dead Hagar Reba Macon Dead, Jr. Corinthians Ryna Sing Byrd Ruth Foster MilkmanLena

Coming of Age  Milkman’s courage is tested by the belligerent young men in the knife fight  His skill is tested by the patient men during the coon hunt  Milkman’s courage is tested by the belligerent young men in the knife fight  His skill is tested by the patient men during the coon hunt

Coming of Age  Milkman becomes aware of the wrong he has done Ruth, Pilate, and Hagar  Milkman first seeks out Pilate to share his discoveries  Milkman becomes aware of the wrong he has done Ruth, Pilate, and Hagar  Milkman first seeks out Pilate to share his discoveries

Fathers and Sons  In his privilege Macon never owned a car that broke down  The broken fan belt lands Milkman in Shalimar, VA  In his privilege Macon never owned a car that broke down  The broken fan belt lands Milkman in Shalimar, VA

Fathers and Sons  Abandoned by Solomon, Jake expresses his sorrow when he says, “You just can’t fly on off and leave a body” (147).

Singing and Songs  Milkman learns his family story in the children’s song  Milkman learns to tell his own story as he shouts the song to the dying Pilate  Milkman learns his family story in the children’s song  Milkman learns to tell his own story as he shouts the song to the dying Pilate

Singing and Songs  “Jake the only son of Solomon”  Jake (Macon Dead) was the only son Solomon tried to take with him  “Left that baby in a white man’s house”  Dropped Jake on the steps of the plantation house  “Jake the only son of Solomon”  Jake (Macon Dead) was the only son Solomon tried to take with him  “Left that baby in a white man’s house”  Dropped Jake on the steps of the plantation house

Singing and Songs  “Heddy took him to a red man’s house”  Heddy was Native American  “Black Lady fell down on the ground/Threw her body all around”  Ryna was inconsolable  “Heddy took him to a red man’s house”  Heddy was Native American  “Black Lady fell down on the ground/Threw her body all around”  Ryna was inconsolable

Singing and Songs  “Solomon done fly, Solomon done gone/Solomon cut across the sky, Solomon gone home”  Solomon transcended his situation and flew back to Africa  “Solomon done fly, Solomon done gone/Solomon cut across the sky, Solomon gone home”  Solomon transcended his situation and flew back to Africa

Female Roles  Just as Guitar kills for love of the black race, Hagar tried to kill Milkman for love  Guitar defends the weak, small women: Hagar and Ruth  Just as Guitar kills for love of the black race, Hagar tried to kill Milkman for love  Guitar defends the weak, small women: Hagar and Ruth

Female Roles  Pilate and Reba become weak and lose their magic under the spell of Hagar’s obsession  Ruth and Hagar share a sisterhood in their weakness  Pilate commands “Mercy” from the strong as well as the weak  Pilate and Reba become weak and lose their magic under the spell of Hagar’s obsession  Ruth and Hagar share a sisterhood in their weakness  Pilate commands “Mercy” from the strong as well as the weak