Song of Solomon

## Discussion Questions: *Song of Solomon* by Toni Morrison Consider these questions as you think about and discuss the novel: 1. **Identity and Naming** — The story begins by highlighting the importance of names. How does Toni Morrison use names (like "Macon Dead," "Pilate," "Milkman") to explore themes of identity, history, and cultural loss? What does it mean to truly "own" your name in this narrative? 2. **Flight as Symbol** — Flight is a recurring motif, from Robert Smith's jump off the hospital roof to the legend of the flying Africans. What does flight symbolize for different characters? Is it about freedom, escape, abandonment, or something entirely different? 3. **Family and Legacy** — Macon Dead Sr. and Pilate embody contrasting responses to their shared traumatic history. How do their decisions influence Milkman's perception of family, heritage, and belonging? 4. **Gender and Power** — How does Morrison depict women's experiences in the novel, especially Hagar, Ruth, and Pilate? In what ways are their lives shaped or limited by the men in their lives, and how do they either resist or accept these limitations? 5. **The Quest Narrative** — Milkman's journey south can be viewed as a traditional quest. What is he really searching for, and does he achieve it? How does Morrison modify or challenge the typical quest narrative? 6. **Community and Isolation** — Pilate exists on the fringes of her community. What does her status as an outsider reveal about the values and contradictions of the community nearby? What message does Morrison convey about belonging? 7. **Race, History, and America** — How does the novel address the history of African Americans, including slavery, the Great Migration, and systemic racism? In what ways does Milkman's personal journey reflect a broader historical experience?

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## Discussion Questions: *Song of Solomon* by Toni Morrison 1. **Identity and Naming** — The novel opens by emphasizing the importance of names. How does Macon Dead III's nickname "Milkman" influence his self-perception? What does the process of naming — or being named — reveal about power dynamics and identity in the story? 2. **Flight as Symbol** — Flight is a recurring theme, from Robert Smith's leap off the hospital roof to Solomon's legendary escape from slavery. What does flight signify for the characters in this book? Is it a symbol of freedom, abandonment, or perhaps a mix of both? 3. **Community and Belonging** — How does Morrison depict the Black community in the novel, particularly through characters like Pilate and the people of Southside? In what ways does Milkman's journey impact his connection to — or distance from — a sense of belonging within the community? 4. **Gender and Sacrifice** — Reflect on the women in Milkman's life: Ruth, Hagar, and Pilate. How do their relationships with Milkman illustrate broader themes of sacrifice, love, and exploitation? Which woman's story do you think is most underrepresented, and why? 5. **The Past and the Present** — Milkman's journey south also serves as a way to explore his family's history. How does Morrison convey the idea that understanding one's ancestral past is vital for personal freedom? Do you find this perspective convincing? 6. **Guitar's Radicalism** — Guitar becomes involved with the Seven Days, a group that seeks revenge against white individuals. How does Morrison portray Guitar's beliefs — with empathy, criticism, or a mix of both? What does his character arc reveal about the limitations and consequences of political anger? 7. **Myth and Reality** — Morrison integrates African American folklore and myth into a realistic setting. How does the combination of myth and everyday life influence your understanding of the narrative? What does this approach imply about the importance of storytelling in preserving culture?

ap_lit · common_core · ib_lang_lit

## Discussion Questions: *Song of Solomon* by Toni Morrison Consider these questions as you reflect on and discuss the novel: 1. **Identity & Naming** — The novel begins by highlighting the importance of names. How does Milkman's quest to uncover his family's history also lead to a deeper understanding of his own identity? What insights about power and selfhood does naming (or the lack thereof) reveal in the story? 2. **Flight as Symbol** — Flight is a recurring theme, from Robert Smith's jump off the hospital roof to the tale of the flying Africans. What does flight signify for various characters? Is it seen as liberation, escape, abandonment, or something entirely different? 3. **Community & Belonging** — How does Morrison depict the Black community in both the North and the South? In what ways does Milkman experience feelings of alienation, and what steps must he take to find a true sense of belonging? 4. **Gender & Power** — Characters such as Pilate, Hagar, and Ruth have distinct roles within a patriarchal framework. How does the novel challenge or complicate conventional gender roles in the African American context? 5. **Myth, Folklore & History** — Morrison blends African American folklore and myth with a realistic narrative. How does this combination of the mythical and the real influence your perception of the characters' challenges and victories? 6. **Love & Obsession** — How does Morrison differentiate between nurturing love and destructive obsession in the relationships presented in the novel? Which characters exemplify each type of love, and what are the outcomes? 7. **The Legacy of Slavery** — In what ways does the legacy of slavery continue to affect the Dead family through the generations? How does uncovering this history become both a painful and necessary journey for Milkman?

ap_lit · common_core_ela · ib_lang_lit