Invisible Man Chapter 1 Discussion Questions

Chapter 1

1. What is his grandfather’s dying words (page 16)  and what does he mean?
   
   1. The narrator goes on to say that he was considered an “example of desirable conduct” but his grandfather says that is “treacher” (17) - what does that mean? What might it foreshadow about the rest of the novel?
      
2. What is significant about the fighting and feats for money?
   
3. Discuss the juxtaposition (two different things put side by side for contrast/comparison) of the white people watching the blacks fight (physical feat), but also praising the narrator for graduating (mark of intelligence) and making him give his speech?
   
4. The narrator gives a speech (pages 29-30) - what might be the significance of this speech? What might it foreshadow about the rest of the novel?
   
   1. They white folks make him repeat the phrase “social responsibility” and at one point he says “social equality” instead, but goes back to “responsibility” - what is the significance of their demanding he repeat himself, what is the significance of his switching words, and what is the significance of the white audience’s response?