Jul 23, 2014 conflict is when a character faces either internal decisions they have to make or are problems between the character with another character or thing. Robert lipsytes book, the contender, explores the story of a young teen who rises against all odds. Alfred understands that he can be a contender in life as well as in the ring, but he must first finish what he has started and prove to himself that he is a contender chapter 19 alfred prepares for his last fight, at parkway gardens in brooklyn, as he did the others, but he is noticeably more nervous. Alfred brooks alfred, the protagonist, is the most dynamic character in the book. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Alfred is influenced a lot by the characters henry, major, and mr.
This is the kind of position alfred brooks is in at the beginning. The contender the contender a black teenager became a. Alfred, the protagonist, is the most dynamic character in the book. Robert lipsytes list of publications for young people isnt especially lengthy. Conflict is when a character faces either internal decisions they have to make or are problems between the character with another character or thing. Alfreds story parallels the major theme of the novel, which is stated most poignantly by the fight manager, mr. Apr 28, 2005 alfred brooks, in the contender by robert lipsyte is greatly shaped and defined by his environment. The contender, as the title suggests, is known as the possibility of someone becoming a champion and hence, this novel is a story of how the motivation to be a contender aroused in alfred and what happens from the point of him accepting his passion to the point where he actually becomes one. The breakthrough modern sports novel the contender shows readers the true meaning of being a hero this acclaimed novel by celebrated sportswriter robert lipsyte, the recipient of the margaret a. Sometimes, it feels like we are at a crossroads, where everything is changing, and we dont know what we are doing. Free study guidethe contender by robert lipsytefree book. He works for the epsteins during the day and trains at. The contender the contender a black teenager became a good.
Character analysis alfred brooks his father deserted the family when alfred was ten years old. Honest names for all the books on your english syllabus. The contender by robert lipsyte in epub, rtf, txt download ebook. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Lipsyte explores a number of issues especially those that confront teenagersthrough alfred. The main character of this book is a seventeen year old boy whos an orphan living with. Main character, high school dropout, works at a grocery store. Although alfred does not go with them, he forgets about the new alarm system that the epsteins just installed. From the neighborhood he lives in to the friendships he has and breaks, it all effects how he is. A detailed description of the contender characters and their importance. The contender, by robert lipsyte, is the story of a young man named alfred, a highschool dropout trying to avoid the pitfalls of growing up on the streets of harlem.
His best friend has drifted away from him, away from life, and into a haze of drug addiction and violence. His best friend joe is going deeper and deeper into a drug addiction. Biography plot summary characters themes style historical context critical overview. Alfred brooks is a black 17yearold high school dropout who lives with his aunt pearl in harlem in the mid1960s. The book was definitely first person narrator because it was always alfred this and alfred that. A high school dropout, he works at a grocery store and feels like his life is going nowhere fast. The contender by robert lipsyte essay, literature, the. Living in harlem during the 1960s, when the civil rights movement is beginning to open doors for africanamericans, alfred has dropped out. I think there is some situational irony when alfred first fought those two boxers. Alfred is faced with a struggle inside himself to become a better person.
During the book, alfred brooks, a seventeenyearold adolescent and the protagonist of the novel, develops from an indecisive youth into a confident. Alfred finds james in the cave, their childhood secret. The contender the contender by robert lipsyte is an exciting novel with each chapter having something new to learn about the book. Living in harlem during the 1960s, when the civil rights movement is beginning to open doors for africanamericans, alfred has dropped out of high school. The three of them want to break into the epsteins grocery store where alfred works. In the book alfred the main character is a troubled young man that is a high. Most recently, some street punks have started to harass alfred for something he didn. Alfred brooks, in the contender by robert lipsyte is greatly shaped and defined by his environment. The story is about a teenager named alfred brooks who lives in a bad section of. Lipsyte does a good job describing the characters and showing their emotional and physical feelings. And at some point, he even questions why he is still here. The contender by robert lipsyte free online book summarysynopsis.
He then wants to learn how to fight and get stronger so he starts boxing, this turns his life around. During the book, alfred brooks, a seventeenyearold adolescent and the protagonist of the novel, develops from an indecisive youth into. The books plot centers on a black seventeenyearold man named alfred brooks, a high school dropout living with aunt pearl and her three daughters in harlem, new york city. He is also a person who tries to cope with stress of being an outcast, being weak, and cant hold down anything. Describe what alfred sees on his second visit to the gym. How does entering donatellis gym differ from the first time. He undergoes many changes, both physical and emotional, and grows. This study guide consists of approximately 57 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the contender. Students will complete a reading assignment, discussion questions, and create a contender. The contender, written by robert lipsyte, is a novel about the protagonist, alfred brooks. The contender free study guide summary analysis chapter notesfree book notesonlinedownloadby robert lipsyte.
Alfred brooks is an africanamerican youth whose life is going nowhere. The contender essays the contender is a book about a young black boy named alfred brooks, growing up in a poor part of new york. He is unfailingly human, which is ultimately why his character is so compelling. Alfred does not want to be just another good little slave, but he doesnt wan. The book s plot centers on a black seventeenyearold man named alfred brooks, a high school dropout living with aunt pearl and her three daughters in harlem, new york city. If you like a book that is slow paced with great meaning and life lessens, then this is the. In cliffsnotes on the contender, you look into a moral tale that emphasizes the importance of the fight over the prize, the quality of the struggle over the outcome.
The contender is a book about a young black boy named alfred brooks, growing up in a poor part of new york. When readers open the pages of the contender, lipsyte makes them feel like they have stepped into the ring with alfred brooks, the novels protagonist. Understanding the contender structure conflict the contender captures alfred brooks at a crucial time in his life. The contender by robert lipsyte is a novel about the hard life on the streets of harlem, and boxing. Cliffs notes on lipsytes the contender by stanley p.
He is a partner in all the evil deeds committed by major and. The contender is a young adult novel by robert lipsyte. This is a sports fiction novel that tells a story of alfred brooks. Near the end of the novel, alfred knows that james will be hiding in the. The contenderblog 1 conflict college english with mrs. Donatelli, near the end of chapter 3, in his speech. In the novel, alfred encounters almost every one of these situations. He is responsible for spoiling the character of james. Ppt the contender powerpoint presentation free to view. Lipsyte 25 donatelli telling alfred that everyone wants the be a champion but thats not good enough you have to want to be a contender and this makes alfred want to show donatelli that he is a contender so he wants to be a boxer to show donatilli. Following the development of the novels protagonist, this study guides indepth character analysis covers the comingofage of a high school dropout who literally fights young. Alfreds father deserted the family when alfred was ten years old. Onscreen show company a free powerpoint ppt presentation displayed as a flash slide show on id. The contender free study guide summaryanalysischapter notes.
This acclaimed novel by celebrated sportswriter robert lipsyte, the recipient of the margaret a. Robert lipstyle named the book the contender because alfred brooks wanted to be a contender. Free online study guidethe contender by robert lipsytebook summarybooknotes. Donatelli, an excellent, nononsense, managermentor. The contender download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. The envoirnment that someone is exposed to shape and defines hisher character. Boggio english 91 march 29 2012 the contender character influences the character alfred in the contender is influenced by many other characters in the book.
He has dropped out of school and is barely getting by working in a grocery store. He has flawsalmost fatal onesand sometimes acts in ways that can make us cringe. The black teenager is alfred and these three characters are donatelli, major and aunt pearl. This character is a very interesting individual that has major flaws. Literature guidescreated by harvard students for students everywh. Edwards award for lifetime achievement in ya fiction, is the story of a young boxer in harlem who overcomes hardships and finds hope in the ring on his path to becoming a contender. Alfred s story parallels the major theme of the novel, which is stated most poignantly by the fight manager, mr.
He undergoes many changes, both physical and emotional, and grows significantly throughout the length of the text. Alfred pushes his body to the limit by training under him. The contender is a comingofage novel whose protagonist, a black seventeenyearold high school dropout named alfred brooks, lives with his aunt pearl and her three daughters in harlem, a predominantly african american neighborhood in manhattan, new york city, in the mid1960s. The contender is the debut novel by american author and sports journalist robert lipsyte. The breakthrough modern sports novel the contender shows readers the true meaning of being a hero. Quote 3 donatilli tells alfred when you got hurt in the ring for the first time, really hurt. Donatelli, near the end of chapter 3, in his speech that begins, you have to start by wanting to be.
Donatelli telling alfred that he knows that hes a contender he feels better about himself. The main character in the contender is alfred brooks who is around 17 years old that has faced many conflicts throughout his life. Alfred brooks cliffsnotes study guides book summaries. He is unfailingly human, which is ultimately why his character is so. Free study guidethe contender by robert lipsytefree book noteschapter summary. Main character protagonist, wants to be a contender, wants t he is on a bad path not doing well, ex friend of alfred new friend of alfred and is crippled, random jobs around the g. The contender and over one million other books are available for amazon kindle.
The contender a black teenager became a good boxer, his life was changed by three people. The contender free study guide summaryanalysischapter. Alfred s father deserted the family when alfred was ten years old. Alfred is 17, african american, and living in harlem. The contender ebook by robert lipsyte rakuten kobo. What is alfreds original reaction to donatellis gym. In the beginning alfred is working at a shop sweeping, he gets bullied and picked on all the time.
During the book, alfred brooks, a seventeenyearold adolescent and the protagonist of the novel, develops from an indecisive youth into a confident young man. Synopsis alfred brooks, a seventeenyearold living in harlem. One element that has been shown many times in the text is conflict. The protagonist, alfred brooks is hanging out with his best friend, james, and jamess friends major and hollis. The book the contender is about a boy name alfred brooks he is in high school. Donatelli is alfreds boxing manager, major is his friend. The protagonist of the novel is a black seventeenyearold man named alfred brooks, a high school dropout living with aunt pearl and her 3 daughters in harlem. Quote 1 donatelli says everybody wants to be a champion. All these things are happened in a book named the contender, the author is robert lipsyte. Character analysis plot structure analysis themes theme analysis other elements. He is seventeen years old and an orphan living with his aunt pearl in harlem.
Based on new and revelatory material from brandos own private archives, an awardwinning film biographer presents a deeplytextured, ambitious, and definitive portrait of the greatest movie actor of the twentieth century. Contrast alfred brooks at the beginning of the novel to alfred brooks at the end of the novel. The contender by robert lipsyte study guide overall analysis character analysis alfred brooks. The contender, by robert lipsyte rising action 3 resolution alfred goes to the gym, and meets mr. Alfred brooks is a 17yearold african american male and the protagonist of the novel. His future looks quite bleak because of his own failures and because of the temptations and dangers around him. Alfred does not want to be just another good little slave, but he doesnt want to find himself in trouble with. This is the kind of position alfred brooks is in at the beginning of the contender by robert lipsyte. Alfreds friend henry influences him a lot in the book. Alfred brooks, the protagonist of the novel, lives in harlem in a little apartment with his aunt and nieces. Jan 26, 2010 the breakthrough modern sports novel the contender shows readers the true meaning of being a hero.
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