The Contender. By Robert Lipsyte

Transcription

1 The Contender By Robert Lipsyte

2 Introduction We all face conflicts in our lives every day. We show resiliency when we are able to face conflicts, use good judgment, and overcome them. We will find out if Alfred has the resiliency to deal with the number of conflicts in his life.

3 Introduction The Contender deals with a teenage boy, Alfred Brooks, who faces several conflicts: growing up as an African American during the Civil Rights Movement, dropping out of school to help pay the bills, avoiding the neighborhood gangs and escaping drug use.

4 Setting Setting has a lot to do with the difficulties Albert faces in the novel. The novel is set in Harlem, New York in the early 1960s.

5 Harlem Harlem is a large, historically black neighborhood, stretching almost river to river in northern Manhattan. The neighborhood extends to northern tip of Central Park, where the cave Alfred Brooks and his friend James hideout in.

6 Harlem Renaissance The golden age of Harlem, when thousands poured in from the South and the arts flourished.

7 Harlem The Harlem Renaissance was great while it lasted but afterwards, the area started to slide downward. Landlords rented tenement buildings (substandard apartments) in Harlem plagued by rats, roaches, bad plumbing, chipped paint and falling plaster. Other urban problems included:! high infant mortality! drug addiction! high rates of unemployment and crime! substandard schools

8 Harlem There were a few ways out of the despair felt by many residents of Harlem at this time. Get a good job and move out to nicer areas, like Queens (as represented in The Contender by Alfred s Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Wilson) Do really well in school (as represented by Alfred s cousin Jeff) and go to college Become a pro boxer (What Alfred Brooks tries to do in The Contender)

9 Many turned to religion for hope or guidance. Aunt Pearl attends a storefront church. There are black nationalists in the book, representing the Nation of Islam.

10 Street scenes of Harlem from the time period of The Contender These incredible pictures are by Gordon Parks, a famous African American photographer associated with Harlem.

11 Characters Alfred Brooks The protagonist Alfred undergoes both physical and emotional changes throughout the novel.

12 Mr. Donatelli Mr. Donatelli is the owner of the boxing facility. He tells it like it is and doesn t sugar coat the truth.

13 Aunt Pearl Aunt Pearl takes care of Alfred after his parents death. She worries about the violence in boxing and wishes Alfred would devote himself to something safer.

14 James James is Alfred s best friend. However, James represents an aspect of Alfred s life that has been left in the past. Throughout the novel, Alfred tries to regain James s trust and friendship, as attempt to steer him away from drugs and crime.

15 Major and Hollis Major and Hollis try to push Alfred in the same direction as James. They invite Alfred to parties and encourage involvement in drugs and crime. They are part of the reason Alfred starts boxing.

16 Mr. Epstein Alfred s boss at the grocery store. Alfred works to restore Mr. Epstein s trust in him after James, Major and Hollis break into the store.

17 Henry Henry gets Alfred involved in boxing. Henry is a father-figure for Alfred, helping his training inside and outside of the ring.

18 Spoon Spoon is a role model for Alfred not only as a boxer, but because he gave up boxing in order to go back to school.

19 Literary Elements Alliteration Using the same consonant sounds at the beginnings of words ropes swish-slapped again the floorboards An enormous belly rushed past, spraying sweat like a lawn sprinkler.

20 Literary Elements Flashback Interruption in a story that goes back to the past. James decided they should become professional wrestlers, as he made up their names: Mosely of the Jungle and Bad Brooks.

21 Literary Elements Foreshadowing Hints or clues about something to come The more you learn, they more you want to know. You ought to think about going to night school, said Spoon.

22 Literary Elements Metaphor Comparison of two unlike items without using like or as.

23 Literary Elements Onomatopoeia Words that imitate sounds Griffin s skinny arms knocked his punches away, and then the blur again, pitter-pat, pitter-pat, until he was sure that Griffin had three, maybe five hands at work.

24 Literary Elements Personification Giving human characteristics to an object or animal. The birds were chattering in the overhanging trees, sitting on their stoops telling all the bird gossip.

25 Literary Elements Simile Comparison of two unlike items using like or as. The alarm clock buzzed him awake like an angry rattlesnake.

26 Literary Elements Setting Time and place of a story Harlem, 1960s

27 Literary Elements Hyperbole An obvious exaggeration Then he straightened, and all the way home he wanted to raise his right arm to the ringside crowd on the stoops.

28 Literary Elements Conflict Struggle between opposing forces

29 Literary Elements Conflict Struggle between opposing forces External- Struggle between the character and an outside force. Man vs. Man Alfred vs. Major Alfred vs. James Alfred vs. opponents

30 Literary Elements Conflict Struggle between opposing forces External Man vs. Society Alfred vs. Racism Alfred vs. Poverty Alfred vs. Perception

31 Literary Elements Conflict Struggle between opposing forces Internal- A choice or decision that is made by the character Man vs. Self Alfred vs. himself