Ralph Ellison’s Life

Part I of Essay
Ralph Ellison, with only one book published in 1952, made himself among the top American novelists of his time. Is an individual a great writer if only one great novel is written? This is a question asked by many people concerning Ellison. Although this is a very controv ....

Part II of Essay
.... was just three, his father died. This loss forced his mother to go through hard times without a provider. In Ellison’s early years, he and his family lived among middle class whites. Ellison was endowed with learning and intellectual curiosity. Ellison was introduced to a new world, one that he would make his own. His history, folktales, and music were already important to him. He often wrote about his Afro-American heritage: “There is no point in complaining over the past or apologizing for one’s fate. But for blacks, there are no hidi ....