Song of Solomon Illuminated Texts

This is the handout for The Song of Solomon illuminated text excercise and it differs from other such assignments as the students are given a wider range of choices: they may create a traditional illuminated text (as seen throughout this website) or they may illustrate one of the historical backdrops (such as the sitins at lunch counters) that are brought up thoughtout this novel. It's funny but after students see what others have been doing with the text of the book -- very few if any opt for the historial presentations.  It must also be said that Song of Solomon is so well written with so many textual layers that it truly lends itself to the creation of Illuminated Texts.

A presentation on the power and enduring quality of names in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon.  The students make an incredible choice of music here and their words play off of that music and do a great job of explicating what is in the text.  As with all Power Point videos - to hear sound you will need to use Internet Explorer and a PC.  If you still have trouble hearing the sound, let us know.

This project looks at the importance of places and names and the rise of the Civil Rights Movement.  The use of names in the text is so important and so many of the characters, Milkman, Guitar, have names that were given to them and for which they have no use.  On the other hand, Pilate is given a name - the most undesirable name imaginable - and she embraces it - in fact wears it in a brass earring - as a kind of badge of honor.

Another masterful illuminated text with the hand of Jennifer Lee and Maura Rodriguez in it.  In this presentation, the history of trying to fly in the book, starting with Mr. Smith, is beautifully and vividly detailed.  The text continues with Milkman's struggle to lose what is weighing him down, so that he too, can fly.  That question is actually how we begin our discussion of the text - and I think that it is a central one to the book - especially given the ending.   This is a Power Point Illumianted Text and you should  use Internet Explorer to hear the sound.

This presentation gets everything right - and it frequently does it in a new and innovative way.  It begins with a prologue -- complete with different music, that serves as an introduction to the rest of the Illuminated Text.  The presentation then brings all of its elements together - centering on Milkman's treatment of Hagar and his realization of what he has done.  Izza was one of my most prolific and talented Illuminated Text writers - and she started using her skills in her other classes as well as for (at least one) family gatherings.

A great example of how an Illuminated Text can take different parts of a books and bring them together under a common theme.  This presentation does a terrific job of examining the use of fairy tale lore and imagery in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon.  The creators use text from the entire novel to show how these linked ideas bring forth a greater understanding of the book.