Point of View

Song of Solomon is told in limited-omniscient point of view. In it, the narrator uses a third-person voice, but at times concentrates on individual characters' points of view through the first-person point of view of that character, as well as third-person point of view of that character. The narrator does not comment on the characters' feelings and actions, and it is up to the reader to decide whether or not the narrator and characters are reliable in their storytelling.

Setting

The story takes place between 1931 and 1963, with occasional flashbacks to earlier years. The geographical settings of the novel are an unnamed town in Michigan, Montour County in Pennsylvania, and Shalimar in Virginia. Milkman's emotional journey is reflected in the changing physical setting of the story. As he travels to a new town, he changes and matures.

Language and Meaning

The language of Song of Solomon...