SONG OF SOLOMON DISCUSSION BOARD 1 - PERIOD 7

Chapter 4/5


TAKE NOTE AND SELECT APPROPRIATELY

Hagar: Jan-April Birthdays

Pilate: May-August birthdays

Ruth: Sept. - Dec. Birthdays

For your assigned character (Hagar, Pilate, Ruth), please answer the following question. Take note of AT LEAST one significant quotation (more is better).  You may refer to evidence in ch. 4 that relates to this question, if you wish.

What issues and themes does Morrison want to explore through the women of Song of Solomon?  What recurring motifs and images (concerning women) do you see?  How are they significant?  Do the stories/significant events of chapter 5 make you sympathize with your assigned character? Why or why not?Be complete and thorough in your response

SONG OF SOLOMON DISCUSSION BOARD 1 - PERIOD 6

Chapter 5 (and before)

Before this chapter and even after, Milkman is often a passive character who is hard to pin down, in terms of personality and values.  We get some insight during this chapter here.  As you RE-READ, think about Milkman as a character, especially considering his relationship with Hagar and his conversation with Guitar (102-106) in this chapter:

To what extent is Milkman himself responsible for feeling that his life is “boring” and “pointless” (107)?  To what extent is his family, his circumstances, and his community to blame?

BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC IN YOUR RESPONSE. OFFER EMBEDDED TEXT EVIDENCE AS SUPPORT WITH COMMENTARY. 

SONG OF SOLOMON DISCUSSION BOARD 1 - 5TH PERIOD

Chapter 2+

A. Please re-read chapter 2 (pages 31-55), and respond to any of the following:

At the end of the chapter, Macon Dead tells his son, “Pilate can’t teach you a thing you can use in this world.  Maybe the next, but not this one.  Let me tell you right now the one important thing you’ll ever need to know: Own things.  And let the things you own own other things.  Then you’ll own yourself and other people too” (55).

1) What do you make of Macon’s advice for Milkman?  Is it good advice?  Why?  Do you trust what Macon has to say about Pilate?  How is this idea of “owning things” potentially problematic?

2) To answer these questions, I’d like you to consider the contrast between Macon Dead’s personality, values, and relationship with the community (and family) and Pilate’s personality, values, and relationship with community.  What “lessons” do they each teach Milkman?  Has Milkman already learned something important from his first mature interaction with Pilate? What might he have learned then, had he been more self aware?

3) How does this resonate with you after a 2^nd reading?