Abstract Ralph Ellison is a famous Afro-American novelist in the 20th century, who is good at using symbols in his writing. His first and the only novel Invisible Man contains abundant symbols. The book is mainly about a black youth, who wishes to assimilate into the white world. He is dislocated and eventually realizes that only to be neglected he can really survive. His life experience include his college life in the south, his experience in Paint Factory and his struggle in Harlem.51838

This thesis chooses the symbols as the research objects, which are pided into three aspects: the colors, the actions and the characters. Based on the analysis, the thesis attempts to explore the theme, that is blacks are neglected and have no social position in the white-dominated society.

Ellison does not directly describe the racial protest in the United States, but he discloses racial discrimination and reveals the situation of Afro-American in the white society. The blacks are oppressed, neglected, and unseen.

Key Words:     Ralph Ellison     Invisible Man     symbol     theme

摘要拉尔夫·埃利森是20世纪美国著名黑人作家，擅长使用象征主义手法进行小说创作。他的第一部也是唯一的一部长篇小说《看不见的人》就使用了大量的象征。小说主要讲述一个无名无姓的黑人青年希望融入白人世界，最终理想破灭的故事。他最终意识到只有做一个看不见的人才能真正地活下去。他的生活经历主要包括在南方的大学生活、在纽约自由油漆工厂的遭遇和在哈莱姆区的经历。

本论文以《看不见的人》中的象征为研究对象具体分析小说中颜色、行动和人物的象征意义，并进而揭示小说主题---在白人主宰的社会里，黑人是被忽视的，他们没有任何地位。

埃利森没有直接描写美国社会的种族抗议，却处处表现了对种族歧视现象的控诉。小说深刻揭示了美国黑人被压迫、被忽视的生活现状，以及被忽视的悲惨命运。

毕业论文关键词:     拉尔夫·埃利森     《看不见的人》     象征     主题

Contents

Abstract i

摘 要 ii

Symbolism in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man 1

Chapter One  Introduction 1

Chapter Two  Symbolic Meanings of Black and White 4

Chapter Three  Symbolic Meanings of the Events 7

3. 1 Symbolic Meanings of Adding Ten Black Drops into White Paint 7

3.2 Symbolic Meanings of Eating Baking Yams 8

Chapter Four  Symbolic Meanings of the Characters 11

4.1 Symbolic Meanings of the Vet 11

4.2 Symbolic Meanings of the Grandfather 12

4.3 Symbolic Meanings of Dr. Bledsoe 13

Conclusion 15

Works Cited 16 

Symbolism in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man

Chapter One  Introduction

Ralph Ellison(1914-1994) was one of the most distinguished black writers in the history of American literature. In 1936, he moved to New York for the study of carving, which was the place where he met with Langston Hughes and Richard Wright, who led him to his literary field. With the encouragement of Wright, he began to write a commentary, which was the beginning of his literary career. From 1937 to 1952, he published nine short stories and more than ten commentaries. After 1945, he devoted himself to writing Invisible Man. In 1952, Invisible Man was first published and it won much fame since then. After it was published, it has occupied a pivotal position in both the American literature and the world literature. It also had access to National Book Award in 1953, which put Ellison in a high position in the history of American literature. The novel’s great success was not only related to Ralph Ellison’s American life, but was closely linked with his writing techniques and skills.源`自·751.文/论:文'网,www.751com.cn 拉尔夫·埃利森《看不见的人》象征主题:http://www.751com.cn/yingyu/lunwen_55612.html