song of solomon essay questions

• Ask LitCharts AI
• Discussion Question Generator
• Essay Prompt Generator
• Quiz Question Generator

• Literature Guides
• Poetry Guides
• Shakespeare Translations
• Literary Terms

Song of Solomon

Toni morrison.

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Song of Solomon: Introduction

Song of solomon: plot summary, song of solomon: detailed summary & analysis, song of solomon: themes, song of solomon: quotes, song of solomon: characters, song of solomon: symbols, song of solomon: theme wheel, brief biography of toni morrison.

Historical Context of Song of Solomon

Other books related to song of solomon.

• Full Title: Song of Solomon
• When Written: 1975-77
• Where Written: Washington, D.C.
• When Published: 1977
• Literary Period: Postmodernism, Black American Literature
• Genre: Magical realism, Bildungsroman, epic
• Setting: Unnamed town in Michigan
• Climax: Milkman’s discovery of his great-grandfather, Solomon.
• Antagonist: Guitar
• Point of View: Third person limited. The novel moves between dozens of characters’ points of view.

Extra Credit for Song of Solomon

Late Bloomer: Morrison didn’t publish her first novel, The Bluest Eye , until she was almost forty years old. Over the next two decades, she had one of the most impressive runs of any American writer, publishing Sula , Tar Baby , and Beloved , within just a few years of each other.

Awards, awards, awards: Morrison has won virtually every honor available for an American writer: the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Pulitzer Prize, the American Book Award, etc. In 1993, she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. As of 2015, she is the most recent American, the only American woman, and the only Black American to win this honor.

• Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.

Song of Solomon

91 pages • 3 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-3

Part 1, Chapters 4-6

Part 1, Chapters 7-9

Part 2, Chapters 10-12

Part 2, Chapters 13-15

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Macon Sr. was killed for his farm, so Macon Jr. does all he can to acquire property, which Milkman sees as an example of how Macon Jr. loved his father and tried to be like him but took it too far. Macon Jr.’s wealth is like the peacock’s tail—it weighs him down, burdening him until he is unable to fly. How is Milkman similarly weighed down? How does he release his burdens and learn to fly?

The novel’s plot circles back as different characters ponder the details surrounding certain events, such as Milkman’s birth, Jakes’s death, Pilate’s naming, the murder in the cave, and Solomon’s flight. What is the effect of such repetition? Choose an event and track how the story changes with each repetition , paying particular attention to how the storyteller influences the memories that are revealed.

Milkman is pleased to discover that the murdering, thieving Butlers, who did everything they could to secure their legacy, even killing Milkman’s grandfather, ended up with no legacy at all. What is Milkman’s legacy?

Related Titles

By Toni Morrison

God Help The Child

Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination

The Bluest Eye

The Origin of Others

Featured Collections

American Literature

View Collection

Existentialism

Nobel Laureates in Literature

A Summary and Analysis of the Song of Solomon

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

The book known variously as the Song of Solomon, the Song of Songs, and Solomon’s Song is something of an oddity in the Bible, in that it is an unabashed description of romantic and erotic love between a man and a woman. Despite its common title, however, Solomon didn’t write it, and many scholars now believe that parts of the Song of Songs were actually written by a female author.

Let’s take a closer look at the Song of Solomon, as it’s widely known, and explore some of the stranger and more surprising aspects of this unusual Old Testament book. Before we come to the analysis, though, here’s a brief summary of the Song of Songs.

Song of Solomon: summary

Quotations below are from the King James Version.

1:1 The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.

As we’ve already mentioned, the ‘Song of Solomon’ is ‘Solomon’s’ by convention only, and was composed long after Solomon’s death. However, given the wisdom of Solomon (the Proverbs are also attributed to him) and his prodigious harem of wives (some 700!) and concubines (at least 300), he probably knew a thing or two about lovemaking.

1:2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

Thus we get the first comparison in the Song of Songs, which is dominated by metaphors and comparisons drawn from the author’s (or authors’?) surroundings. So we get plenty of references to wine, good food, scents and ointments, and the geographical features of that part of the Middle East.

1:5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

‘Black’ here is sometimes interpreted literally, but it actually means simply that the bride is tanned by the sun, as the next verse makes clear:

1:6 Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

The fact that the bride was made ‘keeper of the vineyards’ also makes it unlikely that she is some high-profile bride, such as the Queen of Sheba or an Egyptian princess who married Solomon. Indeed, if we grant that the Song of Songs actually has nothing to do with Solomon besides bearing his name, it’s far more likely that the bride was an ordinary peasant girl, and this makes the Song of Songs even more relatable.

1:7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? 1:8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.

Part of the difficulty of reading the Song of Solomon is knowing who is speaking at a given point. It’s clear there are at least two speakers (see the analysis below for the various theories concerning this), but when the male voice leaves off and the female voice speaks is difficult to say for sure.

Here, 1:7 seems to be spoken by the bride (asking the bridegroom where he makes his ‘flock’, suggesting he is a shepherd), while 1:8 is the bridegroom responding to her (‘O thou fairest among women’).

We have moved from the introductory verses and to a dialogue between the two lovers. The woman wants to meet with the man while he tends his flocks at night, but he responds in a coy, treat-them-mean-to-keep-them-keen sort of way.

1:14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.

1:15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.

There follow numerous such comparisons, as the bride and bridegroom try to describe their beloved using suitable similes (‘My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire’) and metaphors (‘thou hast doves’ eyes’).

2:11 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; 2:13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

This is one of the more puzzling sections of the Song of Songs, because ‘voice of the turtle’ sounds odd, until we realise that ‘turtle’ refers not to the shell-covered reptiles but to the turtledove, a bird known for its (romantic) cooing sound. The turtledove has longstanding associations with romantic love, as Shakespeare’s poem ‘The Phoenix and the Turtle’ (where ‘turtle’ means ‘turtledove’) demonstrates.

3:1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

3:2 I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

There’s an injection of some drama and incident into the poem at this point, as the bride wakes one night to find the bed empty next to her, so she goes into the streets of the city to search for her beloved:

3:3 The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? 3:4 It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.

She finds him, takes him to her mother’s house, and (presumably) makes love to him in the very bed in which she herself was conceived.

3:5 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

This sentence acts as a sort of refrain in the Song of Songs, recurring several times. It’s a paean to the power of erotic love and desire and also to wifely devotion, wishing the whole city of Jerusalem to let her beloved husband sleep until he wakes naturally. In this respect, the poem is not too different from John Donne’s ‘ The Sun Rising ’, in which the poet chides the sun for waking him and his lover as they lie together in bed in a state of romantic bliss.

3:6 Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant? 3:7 Behold his bed, which is Solomon’s; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.

The king, Solomon, appears, and the poet describes the royal procession. The interpretation of the Song of Songs which sees the poem as a dramatisation of an eternal love triangle between a shepherd, his peasant wife, and the king who wishes to take the wife into his harem, stems from this section. Certainly the women of the city are encouraged to come out and see the royal wedding procession:

3:11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

The fourth chapter, however, then reverts to descriptions of the woman’s beauty. It is hard to exaggerate the originality and vividness of some of the imagery:

4:2 Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.

4:4 Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.

The language is full of passionate intensity, too, with the male speaker talking of his bride as ravishing (i.e., taking by force) his heart. Note how the bride had earlier taken her beloved from the streets and into her mother’s bedchamber. One of the striking details of the Song of Songs is that the woman’s sexual love is as intensely felt and as powerful as the man’s, and that her actions are powerful to match:

4:9 Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.

There follows a section in which the woman is likened to a garden with everything ‘sealed’ and ‘shut up’, suggesting that she is chaste:

4:12 A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

But the man is encouraged to enter this garden and taste its fruits:

4:16 Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

5:1 I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

The woman dreams (sleeping, but her ‘heart waketh’, she tells us), and – as before when she awoke to find her man had gone from beside her – in the dream she loses her beloved:

5:6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

This time, however, when she asks the watchmen whether they have seen her beloved, they beat her, and she doesn’t find him. Is this dream the earliest description in literature of the unconscious terror of losing somebody we love?

She finds him, in the end, safe and well in his garden. There follow more descriptions of the physical features and powerful qualities of the beloved:

6:4 Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.

Once again, the idea of enjoying the sensual pleasures of the beloved’s body is likened to enjoying the fruits of a garden:

7:8 I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples; 7:9 And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.

The woman invites her beloved into the field so they may make love there:

7:11 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.

7:12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.

7:13 The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.

Mandrake plants are associated with fertility, and this is obviously appropriate, as is the talk of various fruits, suggesting fruitfulness and bringing forth children.

Song of Solomon: analysis

What is a work of erotic poetry – for that is perhaps the best way to categorise and analyse the Song of Songs – doing in the canonical Bible? Even those books of the Old Testament which have only passing references to God and worship, such as Ecclesiastes, at least contain some mention of God and religious faith.

It appears that the Song of Solomon was included in the canon of the Old Testament partly because there’s a long-standing tendency to analyse the book allegorically, where Yahweh or God is the bridegroom and Israel is the bride. In Christianity, Yahweh becomes Jesus Christ and the bride becomes either the Church as a collective whole or the individual Christian believer.

Although this interpretation of the book’s meaning was important in getting it included into the biblical canon, it is not one that finds a huge amount of favour with modern scholars and critics.

No: we should take the Song of Solomon at face value as what it purports to be: a love song between a bridegroom and his bride, with both parties addressing each other and paying erotic homage to each other’s body.

And yet even the ‘romantic’ interpretation of the Song of Solomon invites diverse readings. For example, it’s been suggested that the song is really a dramatic composition detailing a love triangle between a woman, her shepherd lover, and Solomon, who takes the woman to be one of his concubines and tries to make her fall in love with him, while the woman remains loyal to her shepherd.

But we have to ask whether the early Christian theologians would have made canonical a book which portrayed Solomon as a wife-stealing thug who then fails to win the heart of the woman he takes.

A more compelling interpretation is that the Song of Songs was composed as an occasional poem for a wedding, or perhaps for use at all weddings, where the peasant bridegroom and his bride are made ‘king’ and ‘queen’ for a day (or, in more extended celebrations, up to a week).

Although there is scant evidence that such a custom existed at the time in that part of the world, it’s possible to see the references to jewels and gold chains as allusions to such borrowed trinkets and ornaments which the happy couple might have the privilege to wear for a few days, in honour of their marriage.

An alternative theory, which is similarly lacking in historical evidence but nevertheless highly suggestive on the strength of the internal textual corroboration, sees the Song of Solomon as a love poem which has its roots in fertility cults (as is so often the case with religious literature and ritual), where the Sun God (the bridegroom) is ‘married’ with the Mother Goddess (the bride). We will probably never know whether any, some, or none of these theories are correct.

But we have the beautiful and original erotic poetry of the Song of Songs, so perhaps that’s all we need.

Discover more from Interesting Literature

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Type your email…

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

77 Song Of Solomon Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best song of solomon topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 good essay topics on song of solomon, 🔎 simple & easy song of solomon essay titles, ❓ song of solomon essay questions.

• “Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison Book Analysis Also, Morrison predicts the importance of Milkman’s journey to his southern ancestral home when he states that Milkman’s walk in the Not Doctor Street was dreamlike and strange following his quarrel with his father.
• The Concept of “The Song of Solomon” in Religious Fields E, expressed his appreciation of the Song of Solomon in the Jewish Mishna with the following words: “The whole world was not worthy of the day in which this sublime Song was given to Israel”.
• “Song of Solomon“ by Toni Morrison Book Review Ruth did not abandon her affection for her father even as an adolescent, their goodnight kiss ritual, motivated by her seeing her mother as a rival due to the latter’s lack of maternal care, was […]
• National Identity in “Song of Solomon” by Morrison In this novel, Morrison, from her feminist viewpoint, depicts the successful quest for the personal and national identity of the main character Milkman, who finds the solution in African national values and the act of […]
• How Magical Realism of Animals in the Bible is Echoed in ”As I Lay Dying” by William Faulkner and ”Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison Another use of magical realism of animals is illustrated by the use of the mules to transport the casket after the wagon is destroyed in the floods.
• What Role do Ghosts, Magic and Voodoo Play in the “Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison To the untrained reader, the first layer of the narrative would appear downright illogical due to its extensive interweaving with the world of magic and ghosts.
• Relationships, Marriage, and Sex According to Christian View in the “Song of Solomon”
• The Significance of the Ginger Smell in the “Song of Solomon”
• The Relevance of Pilate Having No Navel in “Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison
• Language and Composition in “Song of Solomon”
• Comparing the Feminine Quest in “Surfacing” and “Song of Solomon”
• Toni Morrison’s Sula and “Song of Solomon”: Submissive Gender Roles
• The Significance of the Supernatural in “Song of Solomon”
• Various Types of Language in the “Song of Solomon”
• The Effects of Racism Through Characters in “Song of Solomon”
• The Flows of African-American Dream in “Song of Solomon”
• Symbolism Through Color Usage in “Song of Solomon”
• Black Experience and Black Identity Construction in “Song of Solomon”
• Memory and the Quest for Family History in “Song of Solomon”
• How Milkman Dead Found His Identity in “Song of Solomon”
• The African American Dream in “Song of Solomon”
• The Search for Identity in the “Song of Solomon”
• How Do Characters Love Differently in “Song of Solomon”
• The American Dream Revised in “Song of Solomon”
• The Message Morrison Is Trying to Tell the Reader in “Song of Solomon”
• The Symbol of an Attempt to Fly in “Song of Solomon”
• The Cedar Tree Is a Critical Symbol in “Song of Solomon”
• Translations and “Song of Solomon”: Representation of Racial Domination Theme
• Milkman’s Development Resulting in Maturity in “Song of Solomon”
• Compare and Contrast Characters in “Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison
• How the Role of the Woman Manifest Throughout the “Song of Solomon”
• Why is the Primary Protagonist Milkman Dead in “Song of Solomon”
• The Establishment of Magical Realism in “Song of Solomon”
• The Significance of the Hunt in “Song of Solomon” and Its Effect on Milkman
• How Does “Song of Solomon” Follow the Hero’s Journey Archetype
• The Connection Between Macon and the White Man in “Song of Solomon”
• The Relationship Between Love for an Individual and Passion for an Ideology in “Song of Solomon”
• Comparing Racism Versus Classism in “Song of Solomon”
• The Father and Son Relationship in “Song of Solomon”
• The Moral of the Novel “Song of Solomon”
• The Importance and Role of Names in “Song of Solomon”
• Exploring the Muddled Path of History in “Song of Solomon”
• Cherry Symbolism in Morrison’s “Song of Solomon”
• The Struggle for Wealth Race in Toni Morrison’s “Song of Solomon”
• The Theme of Faith, Belief, and Human Experience in “Song of Solomon”
• The Meaning and Metaphors Behind Naming and Imposition in “Song of Solomon”
• What Is the Symbolism of “Song of Solomon”?
• Is “Song of Solomon” a Love Story?
• What Literary Devices Are Used in “Song of Solomon”?
• How Does “Song of Solomon” Describe Beauty?
• What Kind of Poetry Is “Song of Solomon”?
• Is Solomon the Lover in “Song of Solomon”?
• What Does Gold Symbolize in “Song of Solomon”?
• Who Is the Protagonist in “Song of Solomon”?
• Is “Song of Solomon” an Allegory of God’s Love for Israel and Christ’s Love for the Church?
• What Is the Main Conflict in “Song of Solomon”?
• Who Are the Daughters of Jerusalem in “Song of Solomon”?
• Is “Song of Solomon” About Christ and the Church?
• What Animals Are Used in “Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison?
• How Does Hagar Die in “Song of Solomon”?
• Why Does Solomon Refer to His Wife as His Sister in “Song of Solomon”?
• How Does Milkman Feel About His Name in “Song of Solomon”?
• What Is the Historical Context of “Song of Solomon”?
• Why Is God Not Mentioned in “Song of Solomon”?
• How Old Is Milkman at the End of “Song of Solomon”?
• What Are Family Issues in “Song of Solomon”?
• Was Solomon Married to the Woman in “Song of Solomon”?
• How Did the Original Macon Dead Milkman’s Grandfather Get His Unusual Name in “Song of Solomon”?
• What Kind of Religious Interpretation Is Symbolized in the Book of “Song of Solomon”?
• Why Is the Book “Songs of Solomon” Less Preached in the Church?
• At What Stage in “Song of Solomon” Are the Lovers Married?
• What Impact Does the Structure of “Song of Solomon” Have on the Reader?
• Why Is the Concept of Names So Important in “Song of Solomon”?
• Is There Some Gender Fluidity Apparent in “Song of Solomon”?
• What Is the Most Poetic Verse in “Song of Solomon”?
• How Can “Song of Solomon” Be Applied to Our Lives Today?
• American Dream Research Topics
• The Trail of Tears Questions
• Theology Topics
• African Americans Paper Topics
• Belief Questions
• Women’s Role Essay Topics
• Family Relationships Research Ideas
• Surrealism Research Topics
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, December 11). 77 Song Of Solomon Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/song-of-solomon-essay-topics/

"77 Song Of Solomon Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 11 Dec. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/song-of-solomon-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '77 Song Of Solomon Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 11 December.

IvyPanda . 2023. "77 Song Of Solomon Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." December 11, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/song-of-solomon-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "77 Song Of Solomon Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." December 11, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/song-of-solomon-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "77 Song Of Solomon Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." December 11, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/song-of-solomon-essay-topics/.

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — Song of Solomon

Essays on Song of Solomon

What makes a good song of solomon essay topics.

When it comes to writing an essay on Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, selecting the right topic is crucial. A good essay topic should be thought-provoking, engaging, and relevant to the themes and motifs presented in the novel. It should also allow for in-depth analysis and critical thinking. But how do you go about choosing a suitable essay topic? Here are some recommendations to help you brainstorm and select the best topic for your Song of Solomon essay.

First, consider the themes and motifs present in the novel. Song of Solomon addresses issues such as identity, family, love, and the quest for freedom. When brainstorming essay topics, think about how these themes are portrayed in the novel and how they can be explored in your essay.

Next, consider the characters and their development throughout the story. Characters such as Milkman, Pilate, and Guitar undergo significant changes and growth, providing ample material for analysis and discussion in your essay.

Finally, think about the historical and cultural context of the novel. Song of Solomon is set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement and explores the experiences of African Americans in the 20th century. Consider how these historical and cultural elements can be integrated into your essay topic.

A good essay topic should be specific, focused, and open to interpretation. It should also be relevant to the themes and motifs of the novel and allow for in-depth analysis and critical thinking. Ultimately, the best essay topic will be one that allows you to engage with the text in a meaningful and insightful way.

Best Song of Solomon Essay Topics

• The Symbolism of Flight in Song of Solomon
• The Role of Myth and Folklore in the Novel
• The Portrayal of Gender and Identity in Song of Solomon
• The Theme of Family and Community in the Novel
• The Influence of History and Culture on the Characters' Lives
• The Significance of Names and Naming in the Novel
• The Use of Magical Realism in Song of Solomon
• The Theme of Racial Injustice and Oppression
• The Quest for Self-Discovery and Identity
• The Symbolism of Gold and Wealth in the Novel
• The Power Dynamics in Relationships in Song of Solomon
• The Theme of Love and Romance in the Novel
• The Role of Music and Song in the Story
• The Significance of the Southern Setting in Song of Solomon
• The Theme of Freedom and Liberation in the Novel
• The Role of Religion and Spirituality in the Characters' Lives
• The Portrayal of Motherhood and Maternal Influence
• The Theme of Ancestry and Heritage in Song of Solomon
• The Symbolism of Nature and the Natural World in the Novel
• The Significance of Dreams and Visions in the Story

Song of Solomon essay topics Prompts

• Imagine you are a character in Song of Solomon. How do the themes of identity and self-discovery resonate with you personally?
• Explore the significance of the novel's title, Song of Solomon, and how it relates to the themes and motifs presented in the story.
• Analyze the role of women in Song of Solomon and how they challenge traditional gender roles and expectations.
• Consider the use of magical realism in the novel. How does it enhance the storytelling and themes of the narrative?
• Discuss the theme of flight as a metaphor for freedom and self-discovery in Song of Solomon. How does it shape the characters' journeys throughout the story?

Selecting a good essay topic for Song of Solomon requires thoughtful consideration of the novel's themes, characters, and cultural context. By choosing a specific, focused, and thought-provoking topic, you can engage with the text in a meaningful and insightful way, leading to a compelling and well-crafted essay. So, take the time to brainstorm and explore the possibilities, and choose a topic that resonates with you and allows for in-depth analysis and critical thinking.

Black Humanity in Toni Morrison's The Site of Memory

An attempt to fly in song of solomon, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Analysis of Milkman's Journey to Maturity in Song of Solomon

The establishment of magical realism in song of solomon, imposition of names in song of solomon, milkman's quest for identity in "song of solomon", let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Black Experience and Black Identity Construction in Song of Solomon

Escaping the burden of materialism in song of solomon, cherry symbolism in morrison's novel song of solomon, the theme of racial domination in "song of solomon" and "translations", get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

Gold as a Symbol of Desire in Song of Solomon

White power structures in sula and song of solomon.

Toni Morrison

Novel, Domestic Fiction

Milkman Dead, Pilate Dead, Guitar Bains, Macon Dead, Sr., Hagar Dead

Relevant topics

• Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
• American Born Chinese
• All Summer in a Day
• The Alchemist
• The Yellow Wallpaper
• Fish Cheeks
• The Gift of the Magi
• A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings
• Lamb to The Slaughter

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Song of Solomon

By toni morrison, song of solomon summary and analysis of chapter 1.

On a snowy February afternoon, a North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance agent by the name of Robert Smith jumps to his death from the rooftop of No Mercy Hospital to the pavement of Not Doctor Street. Although Mr. Smith posts a note two days in advance informing everyone of his plans to "fly away," only those who happened to be there witness the suicide. Not Doctor Street, previously called Doctor Street and originally known as Mains Avenue, was a tribute to the only colored doctor the city ever had. In the doctor's living days, the street was known as Doctor Street, and upon his death it became called Not Doctor Street. No Mercy Hospital, so termed because of its' refusal to admit blacks, actually admitted a Negro expectant mother on the day of Mr. Smith's fateful flight.

Ruth Dead, the dead doctor's daughter and the first colored woman to be admitted into No Mercy Hospital, happens to be walking by the hospital with her two teenage daughters on her way to deliver red velvet roses to Gerhardt's Department Store. Upon seeing Robert Smith jump, with blue silk wings flailing about him, Ruth experiences labor pains while her daughters, Magdalena Dead and First Corinthians Dead , drop their basket of red velvet roses. To add to the commotion, a poorly dressed woman named Pilate begins to sing, "O Sugarman done fly away, Sugarman done gone..." The day after Mr. Smith's jump, Ruth Dead gives birth to a son who is named Macon Dead III , after his father.

Ruth, along with her husband and three children, lives in an old, twelve-room house. She is hated and abused by her husband, Macon Dead II , a tyrannical man who inspires fear in all of the house's inhabitants. As the result of sexual deprivation in her marriage, Ruth engages in daily little pleasures, one being the act of rubbing down a water mark on her mahogany table, the other of nursing her son until he was four and too old for it. One day, as she sits in the dead Doctor's study, nursing her son, a flunky and tenant named Freddie glimpses them through a window. His look of surprise confirms that the act of nursing her son at that age may be wrong and strange. And, although she tries to quickly regain her composure, Freddie runs to town and informs everyone of what he saw. Thus, Macon Dead III comes to be given the nickname "Milkman," and it sticks for life.

At the age of four, Milkman discovers that only planes and birds are able to physically fly. This particular discovery depresses him so much so that he even loses his imagination. He soon becomes dull and peculiar. His father does not bestow any attention on him, except when to offer a negative reprimand. Milkman's father, Macon, never approves of his son's nickname and associates it with something dirty and hot. However no one dares tell him the circumstances behind the nickname. Macon Dead II's only concern being money, he is quick to reject anyone's excuses for not being able to pay rent, including Guitar Bain's grandmother, who as a result will end up in the street with a band of grandchildren. Macon also shows no remorse for a tenant by the name of Porter, who one day gets drunk, and while hanging out his attic window with a shotgun in his hand, screams obscenities out to the crowds. Instead of helping the man, Macon's one concern is to get the drunk man's money before he spends it all on alcohol.

During the day, Macon reflects on his family history, particularly thinking of names. Macon was given his name by his father, who in turn received his name from a drunken Yankee in the Union Army. The women in his family, however, followed an old tradition of blindly selecting a name at random out of the bible. And so, Macon's sister, came to be named "Pilate" while his two daughters were called Magdalena and First Corinthians, respectively Lena and Corinthians. Pilate, whom Macon was disgusted by and ashamed of, lived in a slum with her daughter, Rebecca , and granddaughter. Neither Pilate nor Rebecca, called Reba, had husbands and all women were content to live in a slum as bootleggers, and sing in the street for change.

One day, tired after his experience with the drunken Mr. Porter, Macon decides to take a shortcut home that will take him past Pilate's dark single-story house on Darling Street. As he studies Pilate's home, Macon recalls how his own mother died after giving birth to her. In his mind, Macon recounts the story of her birth, which people claimed was abnormal, since she never had a belly button. Inching closer to the electricity-deprived home, Macon hears singing, and looks through the window to find Pilate stirring what was possibly wine, Hagar braiding her hair, and Reba cutting her toenails. Even as their singing voices come to a slow halt, Macon Dead finds himself emotionally mesmerized by the candlelit sight of the three women.

Chapter One begins with Mr. Smith's flight, or in other words, death. The themes of both death and flight represent the possibility of escape. Unfortunately, as Mr. Smith plummets to his death, his blue wings failing to carry him, he is only able to escape his life through death. His flight, therefore, was unsuccessful. As a young child, Macon also discovers that he cannot fly. His realization of being suffocated by his mother's needs and wants, and by feeling the oppression his father forces onto his family, Milkman feels trapped with no possibility of escape. The ongoing idea of flight also relates to the overall theme of freedom in African American tradition and literature. The concept of being free, a legally free man or woman, or searching for a way to acquire that freedom is oftentimes expressed through flight.

The fact that Mr. Smith's flight had a negative outcome reflects on the current situation of the novel's characters. Ruth is practically confined to her dark and lonely home, and as she is submissively stuck in a loveless marriage. Macon Dead III, although he is the most powerful black man in his town, is actually trapped by his wealth. His pursuit of money controls his thoughts and feelings, leaving him emotionally unresponsive to nearly everyone. He only becomes positively emotionally aroused when he spies on his sister and her family. Ironically, he has to observe them in hiding. Many of the other characters, such as Porter or Mrs. Bains, are trapped by poverty and unfortunately show no motivation to try to escape their confines.

The emphasis on names represents Macon's lack of identity. He himself feels disconnected with his past, as he cannot himself trace his ancestry. Macon himself remarks upon the fact that there has to be at least one person in his family with a real name, a name "given to him at birth with love and seriousness." Then, he realizes that even if such a person existed, he would never be able to find him or her. Also, just as names are meaningful as part of the story plot, they also carry with them a hidden meaning many times in reference to the bible. For example, Ruth's biblical counterpart, Ruth the Moabite, seeks acceptance from the Hebrews after being estranged by her native peoples. Ruth Foster Dead has also been rejected by the black community for her finer mannerisms but is not accepted in the white community because of her skin color. Interestingly, Ruth has a light yellow skin tone in contrast to her son, Milkman, who is very dark.

The act of the black townspeople renaming the streets signifies an attempt to create their own identity within a community. As the first black woman to give birth in Mercy Hospital, specifically called No Mercy by the black population, Ruth crosses an important racial barrier. Race and racism plays an important theme in the entire novel. Already on the second page we find a white woman carelessly addressing a black woman, ignoring a young boy's correction of her own spelling mistake. Guitar Bains ' future hatred and mistrust for whites and Milkman himself may be rooted in his experience with the ignorant white nurse and with the painstakingly cold manner in which Macon evicted him and his grandmother.

Over the centuries, themes of flight and escape have been prevalent in many societies. We have the Greek myth of Icarus whose fax wings failed to carry him, causing his death. We have the children's tale of Peter Pan whose storyline revolves around a young boy escaping to Neverland. Similarly, Song of Solomon is based on an African American folktale about slaves being able to fly back to Africa whenever they want to.

Song of Solomon Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Song of Solomon is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What role does the gold-toothed man play?

In Chapter One, the gold-toothed man snapped the boys out of their daydreams and back into reality.

But the laughter of a gold-toothed man brought them back to their senses.

How does the author foreshadow Mr. Smith's death?

Two days before his death, Mr. Smith posts a note informing everyone of his plans to "fly away," foreshadowing his intent to jump to his death.

Who is Circe?

Circe is the midwife who delivers both Macon Dead II and Pilate. Employed by the affluent Butler family, Circe ascertains that their estate is ruined once they have passed away. As her namesake in the Odyssey, she is responsible for leading...

Study Guide for Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon study guide contains a biography of Toni Morrison, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Song of Solomon
• Song of Solomon Summary
• Character List

Essays for Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Song of Solomon.

• Appreciation, Escape, and Resurrection
• A Separate Identity: Song of Solomon as Black Literature
• Subverting White Power Structures: Pilate and Shadrack’s Way Out
• Presentation of Racial Domination: A Comparison between Translations and Song of Soloman
• Milkman's Journey to Maturity

Lesson Plan for Song of Solomon

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Song of Solomon
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Song of Solomon Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Song of Solomon

• Introduction