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Ellison's Use Of Paradox In Invisible Man

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In his novel, Invisible Man, Ellison uses paradox to enlighten the reader of what kinds of themes and concepts are portrayed throughout the novel. In this specific quote the narrator explains how he is falling asleep and closes his eyes, yet, he is awakened. At first the reader is confused as to what this could possibly mean, when someone closes their eyes how can they be awakened? The paradox forces the reader to be curious and to think outside of the box and to be innovative as to what the meaning of the quote is. The words “closed” and “awakened” are opposites and provide a stark difference but highlights the concept as well. Furthermore, it highlights how an individual can have his eyes closed but in a mental state be “awakened.” The

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