Beginning 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 ve ....

Middle of Essay
.... identity. In 1917, when Ellison 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 hiding places down here, neither in country or city. They are an American ....