FLYING HOME: A JOURNEY TOWARDS FREEDOM.

"Flying Home" is one of the most successful short stories by Ralph Ellison. It is the story that calls attention of all concerned with the essence of human freedom. "Flying Home" is a story about the effects of racism with Todd as a lead character. Todd, a young pilot, is found injured on the white man's land while flying a plane. The narrative soon unfolds through the flashbacks about Todd's ultimate desire to prove himself by his exultation in flight before the whites. He is rescued by an old black farmer, Jefferson who finally helps him win his inner combat by way of self-elevation instead of seeing through whites' eyes. Ellison has based the story on several of his themes, images, and techniques: themes of racial strife, initiation, and search for identity; bird, wing, and flying imagery, judgmental men and framing, myth, folklore, and distorted, surreal-or magical realism passages. In this story Ellison successfully maneuvers the delicate subject of racism and offers solution to resolve the inner conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]