Song of Solomon

# Essay Prompt: *Song of Solomon* by Toni Morrison **Prompt:** In *Song of Solomon*, Toni Morrison centers the myth of flight as a key metaphor to delve into the tension between personal freedom and community responsibility. Write a well-organized essay that argues how Morrison utilizes the motif of flight—both in a literal sense and as a figurative concept—to illustrate Milkman Dead's path toward self-discovery and cultural identity. In your argument, think about how flight represents both liberation and abandonment, and analyze how Morrison employs this duality to reflect on the African American experience concerning heritage, memory, and belonging. **Requirements:** - Craft a clear, defensible thesis that presents a specific argument about Morrison's metaphorical use of flight. - Back up your argument with textual evidence from at least **three** distinct points in the novel. - Address the **complexity** of flight as a force that can be both positive and negative within the story. - Explore how at least **one other literary device** (such as naming, folklore, or symbolism) interacts with the flight motif to strengthen Morrison's thematic messages. - Conclude by linking Morrison's themes to a wider cultural or historical context.

ap_lit · ib_lang_lit · common_core_ela

## Essay Prompt: *Song of Solomon* by Toni Morrison **Prompt:** In *Song of Solomon*, Toni Morrison weaves the motif of flight into the story as a powerful symbol that embodies both freedom and a sense of loss. In a well-structured essay, discuss how Morrison uses this symbol to examine the conflict between personal liberation and the responsibilities one has to family and community. Include specific examples from at least three significant moments in the novel—such as Solomon's flight, Pilate's figurative groundedness, and Milkman's journey—to back up your argument. Additionally, explore how this conflict connects to larger themes of African American identity, heritage, and the journey of self-discovery.

ap_lit · ib_lang_lit · common_core_ela

# Essay Prompt: *Song of Solomon* by Toni Morrison **Prompt:** In *Song of Solomon*, Toni Morrison uses the myth of flight as a key symbol to delve into the conflict between individual freedom and communal responsibility. Write a well-organized essay arguing how Morrison employs the motif of flight — in both its literal and figurative forms — to illustrate Milkman Dead's journey towards self-discovery and cultural identity. In your argument, consider how flight serves as both liberation and abandonment, and analyze how Morrison leverages this duality to reflect on the African American experience of seeking personal freedom while remaining connected to family and heritage. **Requirements:** - Develop a clear, defensible thesis that makes a specific claim about Morrison's use of the flight motif. - Support your argument with textual evidence from at least **three distinct moments** in the novel. - Address the **counterargument**: consider how flight might be viewed as an act of selfishness or escape rather than true liberation. - Conclude by linking Morrison's thematic concerns to a broader literary or cultural context.

ap_lit · ib_lang_lit · common_core_ela