Throughout the book, Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison, the image of flight is a major symbol. ... Before his death, he was one of the Seven Days, the small group of men devoted to keeping the balance of blacks and whites equal, which is one of the causes of his desire for an escape from life. As he says in his note, he had become one of the Seven Days for love of black people, not for any hate of whites. While the first image does not seem consistent with the images following it, this first use of flight opens the rest of the story to the symbol. ... Instead, the boy had been dropped at a hou...

• Word Count: 1472
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Symbols have more than one meaning than what appears to be the what is going on.. Symbols in this story are contradictory. ... This represented how everyone can look at him and tell that he is a black person and that is all they will see. The message read, "Keep This Nigger Boy Running" (324). This means that his whole life people would look at him as a black person. ...

• Word Count: 1010
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

The coffin is seen passing, the great cloud darkening the land, the cities draped in black, the sea of faces silent and solemn, and the mournful voices of dirges strongly rising. ... "O the black murk that hides the star!" ... Once a long time ago a little boy was wandering on a bright "Fifth-moth" day on the seashore when, all of a sudden, he heard two mocking-birds, a male and a female, happily singing together. ... The boy was moved, The outsetting bard was thrown into raptures and, in a moment of inspiration, became aware of the mission for which he was born: "Now in a moment I know what I...

• Word Count: 1210
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School