This post is for freshmen students only.
There's an old saying, that "knowing is half the battle." The joke, of course, is, "What's the rest of the battle?" Fighting? Pain? Losing? Cats with laser beams?
Using this notion as a jumping-off point, address one of the following ideas in a thoughtful, thorough paragraph.
What 'battles' are being fought in Ellison's "Battle Royale"?
Who is likely to succeed in battle, and who is likely to fail?
Which battle is most worthy of being fought?
Which is least worthy?
We're not just speaking literally, here. We're speaking figuratively. Be sure to consider all the characters and conflicts: the narrator, his grandfather, the other contestants, the women, the men holding the event, the audience members. Consider the narrator's speech, his dream at the end, his hopes and worries. Consider that some conflicts are external, others internal. Consider that by the end of the story, some battles have been resolved while others have just begun.
Post your response in the comments section. Be sure to include your name so you can get credit. Remember, these are simply ideas - prompts to get you started. All I'm looking for, really, is some thoughtful, interesting discussion. Therefore, feel free to post additional comments in which you respond to your peers' comments. You might also consider checking back in to see if anyone has responded to your comments, so you can reply.
You can receive extra credit for each additional response.
Again, I'm looking for a discussion here, not simply a list of unconnected thoughts. So, make connections and claims, draw conclusions, provide evidence and explanations. I'll be checking in periodically.
In case you're interested, all of these paintings are by a guy named George Bellows, one of the 'Ashcan' artists.
Some battles that are being fought with or against Ellison are right off the bat he was befuddled with what his grandfather left him. Before the grandfather died, he left with a few last words: "Learn it to the younguns. he had to try to understand what that means and also what the grandfather is trying to say. Later on, Ellison was at the graduation day and he had to deliver a speech, things changed and a blonde woman was standing above them, he had an issue there because he was pulled in to her physical features. After that, everyone brokke out into a fight and everyone was against Ellison because he is a black. I think that Ellison is likely to fail because he is up against so many guys and he is just one guy. i also think that the battle with the grandfather's last words is more worthy than the battle between the two different races. At the time the story would be written, it would be the opposite because there was a lot of tension between the two races. At the end, he got to read his speech and got a schlorship to a university. Ellison's family was overjoyed.
ReplyDeleteReady to Rumble?
ReplyDeleteThe battles Ralph Ellison was fighting were very clear in this story. First off, Ellison was having an internal battle with what his grandfathers last words were. "learn it to the younguns" (Ellison 266). Although those words may have been important to Ellison, they made little sense to him. The stress and haunting that that line caused, distracted Ellison from moving forward and becoming a new person. This is a battle that wasn't worth being fought and he really needs to step away from this worry.
Ralph Ellison was also dealing with a universal problem that is racism. Throughout the story there were many racist remarks against Ellison. Even then Ellison continued to push through the discouragement and read through his whole speech. In that time period or any time period it would be very hard to stand up for what's right rather than to give in and let people discriminate you. In the end, Ellison got people to listen and that is very commendable. He wins this battle.
There was another time when race became an issue was during the fight. Ellison managed to get in the one-on-one fight. In the background, Ellison heard people calling for his white opponent to win. This must have been very discouraging, but Ellison didn't listen. Although he didn't win, he still believed in himself. That was a battle he won for himself.
Danny Fookson
Period 8
The most important battle in this story is either Ellison trying to overcome the curse his grandfather put on his family or Ellison trying to give his speech about how all races of men can live together equally. Both of these fights are very important to the story and Ellison. The fight of Ellison trying to overcome his grandfather's curse is important because if he doesn't get over it, it could keep him from accomplishing things later in life. Ellison’s fight to give his speech is also very important because his speech is about the important idea of how races of people could live together equally which was a very important subject at the time.
ReplyDeleteThe battles being fought in Ellisons "Battle Royale" are a mental battle between Ellisons grandfathers last words, "Learn it to the younguns" and Ellison trying to figure out what his grandfather had meant and a physical battle between Ellison and a bunch of whites(Ellison 266). Ellisons grandfather is most likely to win the battle of his words and Ellison trying to figure out what he was trying to say because Ellison will never know exactly what he meant because his grandfather passed away after saying that. In the battle between Ellison and the whites, he is almost most likely to lose because when it comes down to just Ellison and a white guy, the white man has other white men cheering for him to win and Ellison doesnt have anyone but his conscience. The battle between Ellison and the whites is more worthy of fighting because racism is a big tension during this time and if he won against a bunch of white men it would be more important than him figuring out what his grandfather had meant by his last words.
ReplyDeleteAll different kinds of battles make up "Battle Royale." What is unusual about this story is that the main character has so many different battles that are mental and physical. One major battle he faces is that his grandparents were slaves. The thought of his grandparents being slaves scares the main character. He should defiantly cherish the life he has because if his grandparents were never set free. then he could be a slave too. Another major battle is his grandfather's words. His grandfather called himself a traitor. In the main character's opinion, he thought his grandfather was a kind, loyal man. This brings confusion to the main character. He wonders if his grandfather was a traitor and he was similar to his grandfather was he a traitor too? Then there is the physical battle. When the main character is supposed to deliver his speech, he instead fights in the Battle Royale. This battle takes up the main character's energy and self esteem. All of those important people watching makes the main character's battle tougher because he must impress them. The main character fails in the physical battle. maybe because he wanted it to stop. He'd had enough of fighting and was eager to deliver his speech. His loss of focus causes him to fail this battle. But he does succeed in the battle most worth of being fought which is the battle of his speech. During the main character's whole speech people weren't listening and interrupting, but this didn't stop him. The main character continued his speech until the end and was reworded for it. Also the least worthy were the other fighters because all they cared about was money.
ReplyDeleteIn this short story, the main battle(s) being fought his grandpas last words and him wanting to preform his speech. Before his grandfather died, he said "Learn it to the younguns"(Ellison 266). And him being invited to preform a speech but instead having to join and fight in Battle Royal. So, the first main conflict is his grandfathers last words. Throughout the whole novel the main character was trying to figure out what it meant. The other main battle was the main character wanting to preform his speech. He was told to go and present his speech but when he got there they told all the boys that they would take part in battle royal. This was a battle for the main character because e really wanted to present his speech. After the fighting and everything is over he starts to leave, disappointed that he wasn't able to present his speech. Then he gets invited back. During the whole speech people were laughing and ignoring him. This didn't stop him though. It made him read it with more emphasis and he became stronger with each word he spoke. After presenting it everyone clapped like it was a test to see how strong he was. During the actual battle, the main character was the most determined to win. All the other kids were doing it for the money but the main character was doing it to preform his speech. Of all these battles, the battle between the main character and preforming his speech is the most worthy. Everything he did during the story was so he could preform his speech.
ReplyDeleteIn "Battle Royale" there are many battles going on that Ellison has to overcome. Literally, he has to fight in the Battle Royale. He needs to win in front of all the important people that are watching because he doesn't want to be embarrassed since he was invited to give a speech, not be included in the battle. The main character is defeated during this fight and he is extremely embarrassed. Another battle that Ellison faces, figuratively, is his grandfathers words that he said at his death bed, "Learn it to the younguns"(Ellison 266). Ellison is haunted by these words throughout his life. He is constantly reminded of these words and he is always trying to figure out the meaning of what his grandfather was trying to say . In the end, Ellison does win this mental battle because after he delivers his speech and all the important men have congratulated him, he feels accomplished and he forgets about his grandfathers words. Another fight Ellison is battling is racism. Racism is a big problem because his grandparents were slaves and also during the fight he was against white people and there were so many white people surrounding him and closing in on him. The last battle Ellison fought was his speech he had to say. They made him say the speech even after he was completely ashamed of himself but Ellison said the speech with pride and he never gave up.
ReplyDeleteThe main battle in this story is Ellison trying to overcome his grandfathers last words " learn it to the younguns" (Ellison 266). The other fight Ellison is trying to fight in this story is giving a speech. Ellison is facing two very large conflicts that he some how manages to overcome in the story but throughout the story lurking in the back of Ellison's mind are his grandfathers last words. This fight is the one that i believe is the thing that would hold Ellison back from other situations in the future. The most worthy battle being fought is the one between Ellison and his grandfathers last words. The unworthy battle is the actual fight in the Battle Royal where the other people in the rink purposely lose so he is put up against the toughest guy in the rink. All the hardships in Ellisons story were all fought through just to give a speech about equality and his beliefs.
ReplyDeleteIn the short story Battle Royale, a young black man must face some important battles in his life such as the actual Battle Royale. His grandfather’s last words were “Live with your head in the lions mouth”(Ellison 266). His grandfather said he had been a traitor in the battle for civil rights, ever since the reconstruction. He believed his grandfathers dieing words had cursed him ever since. The narrator had given a very touching speech in his High school graduation and was invited to give the same speech in a big party for all the towns white hotshots. Little did he know that the party had a Battle Royale, which he had to take part in. The Battle Royale was a humiliating boxing match between 10 black students in an ultimate humiliation. Racial slurs are shouted out by the drunk white audience and the narrator keeps on fighting till he is defeated. He is makes it to secound place. The humiliation continues until he gives the speech, when he mistakenly says a term that angers the audience. But he continues to give his speech with pride and is awarded a schoolership to a Negro college. The biggest battle of the book is the battle for civil rights. There is a lot of racism in this story and the social injustice of the time is present. The narrator also battles himself to find out who he really is and what he will do.
ReplyDeleteVan Hershey
Period 8
The Battles being fought in Ellison's "Battle Royale" are both physical and mental. The parts where the protagonist is fighting physically is during the Boxing Match against other Negros. The Protagonist is trying to go on as far as he can in the boxing match to gain as much respect from the white people to have some pride while delivering his speech. Another Battle fought in the story is seeing the naked lady in front of them. The Negros are getting lured from her physical appearance which makes the Negros both vulnerable and embarrassed. The Battle which is most worthy of being fought is when the protagonist delivers his speech because people were ignoring and not caring of what he is trying to say from the bottom of his heart, but he never gave up and continued delivering the speech. At the end he was given a huge applause and a scholarship to a black college. The Protagonist would end up succeeding the battle while the other blacks lost the battle because the protagonist came here to address his speech to white people while the others came here only to get money from fighting. The Battle which was least worthy in the story was the boxing fight because the people in the boxing ring is just getting humiliated and entertaining the whites which gives the blacks fake coins and a few bills.
ReplyDelete-Sammy Kim (8th Period)
"Battle Royale" was an exhilarating story of a smart black boy who is trying to rid of his families curse. There are many battles trying to be settled in this story, there is the battle of racism in general throughout the story, and then there is just kids who want to let their anger out on others. Also, there were many different types of battles, mentally or internal, and physically or external. Some internal battles were just mind games in his head about his grandfathers curse, and his speech that he was going to tell to some white people to gain their respect. Then there is the external, which is the actual fist fighting, and how they were just getting nailed out in the ring. On the other hand, there can be both, with the woman there was the internal, which was the feeling of embarrassment and attraction to her from all the other fighters and the audience. Then there was external, which was her body image and how she looked.
ReplyDeleteThe people more likely to succeed are the ones who have a stronger mental game, or just is flat out stronger. The people in life that are going to fail are the ones who are really weak mentally and can't pick themselves up when they fall.
The battle of life is the most worthy compared to just fighting people cause you are mad and have know one to take it out on. It is more important to the narrator that he just focuses on his life and where he wants to go with it, than just living in the past and trying to figure out his grandfathers life. The battle that was the least worthy was definitely the "Battle Royal" because everyone was in it for themselves, the whites for entertainment, the blacks, food for their families, and the people running it, for money. It hasn't really changed, everyone is in it for themselves, that's what the narrator is trying to get to in his speech, that racism has to stop. That is the battle he is trying to win in the end.
Annie Emme
Period 8
Ellison is a young black male who faces harsh battles throughout the story. Ellison gives an outstanding speech for his High School graduation and is asked to share it at the towns party.The protagonist does not know that a "Battle Royale" will be held here at the party.The narrator does a great job explaining the "Battle Royale" scene."Battle Royale" is set up with 10 other Negros in the boxing ring and last one standing wins. During the battle the players were getting yelled at by the drunk white spectators. Ellison gets down to one more other person in the ring and gets beat finishing in second place. That battle made no sense to fight, it just got kids hurt and showed nothing because people were just ganging up on others. In addition, the person that is going to win is most likely the best fighter and that is exactly what happened in the story. After the battle it is time to give his speech. The second battle is when the protagonist delivers the speech, because no one cares and they are ignoring him. Everything changes when he is finished giving that speech because the white people now respect him with a huge applause.That speech he gave was a way of fighting and it is very worthy to be doing because it helps with racism and separation. Ellison was most likely to win this fight and he did because he was the one that is good at convincing an audience as he did. At first Ellison thought that all his problems were his grandfathers fault because he was a traitor in the civil war. Now he feels bad for even thinking that his problems were his grandfathers fault. At the end of Ellison's speech he is presented with a scholarship to a negro College.
ReplyDeleteDavis Hianik,
Period 8
There are many conflicts going on in the narrators head in the story Battle Royal, and all of them have a very significant role that affects his life. Throughout his life he has been trying to figure out who he is and what’s his purpose in life plays a very significant role, but another one would be the last words of his dying grandfather who had just reviled what kind of a person he really was throughout his entire life. Though our main character was told to forget what he had heard, he never did though because it was a memory what was constantly bothering him. Another battle would be with the naked women standing in front of the crowd of people. This is a conflict because it shows us that sometimes we look at the opposite sex with physical attractions when we should be focusing more on what kind of a person they are not on the outside but in the inside. The next conflict would be the boxing match, how everyone was told to attack one another and to try to win. This shows that we can sometimes do things that we wouldn't originally do but under pressure things can go very differently. The next conflict would be the electric rug with money on top of it, how everyone just dove for the money without a care for anyone else. This shows that some people will try to get money in any way possible even if there are consequences. The last and final one would be the speech said in front of all the people, who had just watched the battle royal. This is probably the most important conflict because trying to express ones point of view means that you have to go out of your comfort zone in order to express what you think is right.
ReplyDeleteThe battle that Ellison is trying to overcome is his struggles mentally about his grandfathers last words. "learn it to the younguns." (Ellison 266). He tried to figure out what this mention but could not totally understand what it ment. Another battle he faced was having to give a speech talking about how all races should be treated equally and live together equally.
ReplyDeleteElisions grandfather is most likely to win the battle because his words Ellison and distracted him from things he was trying to concentrate on. Ellison would most likely lose the battle because of his grandfathers words and how he has to face other people and also including the racism and horrible remarks.
The battle between himself and the white people is more worthy to be fought because racism effected everyone that was black and if he won this battle than it would be a big accomplishment. Racism against black people were horrible. It was unfair and that is more worthy to be fought. Ellison facing his problems with his grandfathers words is unworthy to be fought.
Nadia Choi period 4
In the short story, "Battle Royale", Ellison is fighting more than one battle, not only physically but mentally. First off, right before his grandfather died, he said to Ellison, "Learn it to the younguns". Ellsion is left with these words and is battling with his own self to figure out what his grandfather meant by them. A second battle that Ellison has to fight is when he is chosen to read his high school graduation speech at the town's party because of how well written it was. When he arrives there, he figures out that there is a "Battle Royale" going to be held there. This consists of 10 African-American teenagers that all duel it out until one person is left standing. The last person standing obviously wins. Ellison ends up finishing second because his opponent was the best fighter out there. The third battle in "Battle Royale" takes place after the fight. Ellison reads his graduation speech at the town's party. As soon as he starts reading his speech, many people shout out racist and demeaning remarks. But, after the crowd listens to what he has to say, they really respect him. He is actually awarded a scholarship to college. With an education, Ellison can earn a living when he is older and get a well-paying job.
ReplyDeleteMaggie Goranson
Period 4
Josh Konrad period 4.....
ReplyDeleteThere are many battles being fought in this short story. One of them is the battle against racism and white people, and the other battle, is the battle of beating the "curse" or bad karma that his dying grandfather left upon his family. At one point during the battle, he promised his opponent all the prize money if he gave up, but the guy said no. So then he offered him all the prize money, plus more, but he still said no. After the main character collected his money, he gave a speech, which is what he originally showed up to do. At one point in his speech, he mentioned the term "personal responsibility" and they made fun of him for it. The most important battle worth being fought, is the battle against racism. I think in this story, he was trying to earn respect, and to not be looked down upon, by white people, but for black people to be seen as equal to white people.
Moira Brennan Period 4
ReplyDeleteIn this story the main character has to face many problems. One of these is that he can't quite understand his grandfather's last words. They kind of haunt him and he tries to connect things in his life to his grandfathers. They only battle that is actually worth fighting for is the fact that racism is still present. Even though the townspeople have moved on from slavery there is still the feeling hat whites are better then blacks. The main character was called names based on his race. He had to fight other boys just to amuse the more important men the town. In the end he got a scholarship to an all african american college. He wasn't able to go to a white college. He lived in a time where people were separated based on ethnicity.
In Ellison's "Battle Royale" there are many battles that are being fought. One battle is the actual battle that takes place. This battle was physical where he had to try to win the fight, but he lost. Another battle he had to face was not physical, but mental. His grandfathers last words "learn it to the younguns"(Ellison 226). Ellison did not know what these words meant therefor these words always were there to make him depressed and sad. But, these words did not make him depressed when he won the battle of courage and fear. After the battle royale, Ellison had to read a speech to the crowd. The whole time that he was making his speech, the crowd was being very rude. They were not listening, mocking him, and laughing at him. He was scared and nervous when doing this speech, and it took a lot of courage to continue the speech. At the end, he overcame his fear and finished his speech. Then he was presented with a nice breifcase with a schoolership to a college. This shows that all of his courage and determination paid off and in a way he won the battle.
ReplyDeleteMichael Daffe
(Period 8)
The battles in the short story "Battle Royal" are not just physical battles but battles that are fought mentally to.A battle that was fought mentally and physically was the battle of racism. In this battle Ellison goes to his supposedly called "graduation" and fights to earn his diploma. After the fight he gives a speech to all the white men about how he should be treated equally. But then on he gets more ridiculed and discouraged. But after the speech the white men gives him his diploma to a college. The other battle that he has to face is overcoming the "cruse" that his grandfather bestowed upon him and his family. The person who is most likely to succeed in this battle is Ellison. This is because he will be soon off to college to learn more about the people and racism. This will make him a better and stronger man.
ReplyDeleteShan Kadalimattom (Period 4)
Several battles are involved in the story, "Battle Royale". The woman has to handle all the drunk men looking at her with lust and the men have to handle looking at the woman's dance. The black men have to fight till the others are down with blindfolds, all the while the whites are laughing at them. Ellison has to face some physical and some mental battles. He has to participate in the big Battle Royale with a number of other participants. Then, he has to make a speech in front of a bunch of drunk whites with the injuries he has from the fight. And he has to deal with a mental battle formed from his grandfather's last words that has put a curse upon his family. He has to deal with his different race and his pride. The weight of most of these battles are put on Ellison and he has no way of getting rid of them. So, Ellison would have to fight these battles away and try to find victory in them. He would have to succeed in his battles and bring failure among those he wins against. But, most likely, he will have to fight against himself and that would be the biggest battle of them all. Ellison will have to be true to himself and unravel the meanings of his grandfather's words. He will take away all his ashamed feelings and become confident in himself. The least important battle being fought would be the Battle Royale itself. This is because all this battle brings is violence and entertainment to those rich whites. It holds no importance in anyone's lives and just shows the equality between whites and blacks. And that is that whites are dominate over the blacks.
ReplyDeleteIn the short story "battle royal", Ellison a African american kid who was selected to read his graduation speech at a towns meeting and when he shows up he has to fight in a battle royal with 10 other black kids?.The story has two challenges in which the protagonist(Ellison) has to face. The first challenge is that Ellison actually has to be in the battle royal itself and get his butt kicked and all that crazy stuff. The second challenge is that Ellison is still haunted and confused by his grandpas last words in his deathbed.As the story goes on a lot of things happen while he was fighting in the battle royal, such as he gets seriously injured. He had to collect money from a electric rug(what??) and did i mention he was brutally beaten?.Well that's only the physical challenge he has.The mental challenge is that Ellison is still haunted by his grandpas words and it is messing with his mind. for example at the end of the story he keeps having this dream in with his grandpas says "keep this nigger-boy running" and that really messes with his mind...for some reason.Oh and also at the end of the battle royal Ellison gets a scholarship to a college and he gets paid 5 dollar. Those where the two battle/challenges Ellison fought faced in this book.I also think that the battle in his mind is more important than the battle in his ring because i feel like a mental thing will be harder to heal rather than a bruise.Because a bruise will go away sooner or later but a mental thing wont.( to be honest with you this whole story was a little confusing at times)
ReplyDelete..............soju kunchandy
period 8
In Ralph Ellison's "Battle Royale", the main character is confronted with several battles, one of which is understanding his grandfathers final words: "Learn it to the younguns." In an attempt to earn a scholarship, he finds himself in a blindfolded, free-for-all, boxing match in which the winner earns a cash prize. The first immediate battle happens even before the fighting. While on the way towards the ring, the main character feels almost cursed and puzzled by the meaning of his grandfather's last words. It is impossible for the main character to truely "win" this battle because, after all, his grandfather is dead, and he is the only won who could answer it. The next battle is the actual "Battle Royale". The fact that the main character is fighting nine other blindfolded boys is a pretty self explanatory battle. But even though the other boys may be fighting for the money, the main character is wondering that if he wins the fight, then maybe he would get to say hios speech.
ReplyDelete___end___
In this story, Ellison describes many different internal battles inside of the main character's noggin. When his Grandfather passed away, with his final words as "Learn it to the younguns" (Ellison 226). This left him confused and pondering as to what his Grandfather meant on his death bed. Yet another battle internal as well as physical for the main character was the racist, crazy, blindfolded boxing match after which, the winner gets a cash prize. The main character is offered to give up on the match by a fellow opponent, in return for the cash prize the opponent would win if he ended up doing so, but he fought it out and never took the opportunity his opponent favored him. "Battle Royal" is a very mental battle because it shows you to never give up on anything, whether it's wondering about last words or the fight for your life, legit.
ReplyDeleteIn Ellison's short story "Battle Royale", there are many battles being fought. First, there was a battle of him trying to figure out his grandfather's last words. It left him puzzled, and he wanted to do something about it. Then there was the literal battle which was the boxing with nine other blindfolded blacks. This was a grueling battle in which he was destroyed by his opponents as all the white people watched laughing. He was completely draining and beat up, with cuts and blood all over him, but he still had heart in himself to get up and deliver his speech. Although during his speech he was mocked and all the whites were laughing at him, he still received a diploma to college. At the end, he won his mental battle and he never gave up.
ReplyDelete-Jay Jennings Period 4
In the story "Battle Royal", there were to important fights going on at the same time. One of the fights was the fight between Ellison and his grandfathers curse that he once left on their family as he died, and the other battle which is being fought, is the battle to give the speech about how all white men should be treated with the same rules and laws as everyone else. I believe that the battle to give the speech is more important because it's expressing his inside thought of the world and the country he lives in. This battle was worthy of being fought for because it ended up giving him a scholarship into a college. And at the end, he realized that all the harsh pain he had to go through, ended up in really good ending.
ReplyDelete-Jonathan Baikov Period 4
in the story "Battle Royal", there were many battles that the main character had to face. first, the main character had to try to figure out what his grandfather ment when he was on his death bed.he said something that would modivate the main character in the future. another fight was trying to make his speech, but then having to participate in the battle royal that is right before when he is supposed to give a speech. the battle royal fight is a pysical fight. it is harder for the main character because he is a different race than the rest of the people in the compotition. that makes this that much harder than it should be, but people team up against him in the fight. this is where he thinks about what him grandfather said and that is what pushes him through the fight and into where he made his speech which what he was going to do at the begining of the story. at the end, every thing turns out ok since he delivered his speech and then got a scholarship for it.
ReplyDelete-Stephen Clare, period 8
In the story, “Battle Royale” there are many different perspectives you can choose to look at the story from. Each perspective would be different, since nobody of course has the same life experience, goals, or outcomes. In the story, one person alone, such as Ellison, has to fight many battles along the storyline, one battle may be his goal. In this case, Ellison’s goal, or dream is to present his speech again. but even the characters around him must face their battles to reach their goal. Although Ellison must fight, that battle is totally separate from when there is a battle for money, which might be someone else’s goal in the story, maybe one of the contestants Ellison was fighting with. Some of the contestants goals were simply just to win the actual fight. For example in the story, no matter how much money Ellison tried to give to the strongest and biggest man fighting against him at the end, he wouldn’t stop fighting him until he won. This suggests that his battle or goal was to win the Battle Royale. Ellison must think, if he really wants to present his speech later that night. He really had the hardest battle of all, battling his grandfather within him, as his grandfathers words kept repeating in his mind.
ReplyDelete-Jackie Cortopassi, period 8
In "Battle Royal", the main character Ellison struggles with not one but a couple of battles himself. In the beginning, he had to undertake the fact that his grandfather passed away, and when he said "Learn it to the young guns"(Ellison 226). With not understanding what his now deceased grandfather meant with his last words, this was one of the battles that Ellison dealt with mentally. Another was the actual battle royal, where he fought other men blindfolded. The pain he went through was physical, when was hurt by other the other men punching him. Lastly, Ellison had to take on his speech in front of the men, who weren't listening at all, only teasing him because of his race. But, in the end Ellison overcame his battle because he was granted a full scholarship to the Negro College.
ReplyDeleteIn the short story "Battle Royal" Ellison faces many battles, both mental and physical. One of the first battle Ellison faces was the message his grandfather told him before dieing. He fought this battle for a while before understanding what it meant. The next battle Ellison faced was the actual "Battle Royal", it was a difficult battle for Ellison. "Battle Royal" was a bunch of boys fighting until theres one left standing and Ellison was left with the biggest kid so he obviously lost that battle. But after that he had to face another battle when he needed to read his speech to a laughing and teasing crowd. Ellison won this battle when the whole crowd was clapping for him and so proud. He also recived a prize which included a scholorship to college. In the end the confuzing words of Ellison's grandfather were worth the time he took to understand them.
ReplyDeleteIn "Battle Royal" Ellison has to face many battles. One within himself because of his grandfather's last words. The other was a physical fight between him and many other boys. Then there was the one where he had to read his speech aloud and the crowd of white people judged and laughed at him by the words he said. Ellison was fighting these battles at the same time. He was in pain emotionally because he didn't know what his grandfather meant in his last words and also he was physically in pain by being beaten up by the other blindfolded contestants.But he didn't give up even though there were many things against him. In the end, he finally understood what his grandfather meant and he got his scholarship to the negro college. He felt good about himself and his curse was gone.
ReplyDelete-Amanda Bueno, period 8