Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon

Helena Maragou (Deree-The American College of Greece)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 3.2.5: African American Writing and Culture of the United States.
Vol. editors: Philathia Bolton (University of Akron), Patrick Chura (University of Akron), Emory Elliott (University of California, Riverside), A Yemisi Jimoh (University of Massachusetts Amherst), Stephen E. Meats (Pittsburg State University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1977

Places

United States (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

Resources

Song of Solomon (1977), Toni Morrison’s third novel, established the author’s reputation as a literary voice whose extraordinary depth and originality of expression opened up new possibilities for fictional renderings of the African American past and present, while simultaneously addressing universal themes. Unlike most of Morrison’s fictional works, which focus on the subjectivity of female protagonists, Song of Solomon features a male protagonist, Milkman Dead, who passes through various physical, mental and spiritual vicissitudes to arrive at a better understanding of himself and of his African American heritage. The narrative renders the protagonist’s gradual awakening in the form of a …

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5109 words

Citation: Maragou, Helena. "Song of Solomon". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 15 February 2019 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=1996, accessed 25 November 2024.]

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