short story analysis

A detailed Summary of short story analysis


"Are Black's the Untermensch(Sub Person)"

The history of African integration into American society has been

Permeated with human tragedy. Ever since the first slave boat reached the shore's of America, a deep affliction to the African race transpired. Generations upon generations were ravished by the rapacity of there captors. Kept enchained and illiterate for hundreds of years, the idea of Blacks as the Untermensch in American society was milled into the American psyche, the remnant of which still till today remains. Untermensch, a German word, meaning sub person has often been used to describe the African status compared to that of their white counterparts. In the short stories "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara and "Battle Royal" by Ralph Ellison, the authors use the idea of race determining the social structure in America where Black's are the Untermensch.

In the short story "The Lesson", Bambara through fictional characters makes a serious social commentary. The story portrays a poor black neighborhood, where the narrator is poor little black girl who along with her friends is being thought at home by this old black lady named Ms. Moore. She despises Ms. Moore for dressing and talking proper and most important


The setting of the play takes place in fictitious "boxing ring" where there is a naked women who commences the start of the boxing match. The contestant's in the ring are 10 black man who have been put assembled in the ring in order to start of this grand fight. In the audience are the lawyer's, doctors, bankers, teacher's, and judges all of whom were white, spectators of an event which pinned together 10 black men. The narrator (whose names is not revealed) was shock to find this. He had expected to give an enlightening speech about he racial operation in America, while the situation had seemed some what of an entertainment arena rather than a place where a speech can be given. Nevertheless the narrator chose to be part of this "event", just as long (as he had hoped) as was able to deliver this speech. In the Arena the 10 black guys fought against each other, while the spectators urged them on. In the end while all was set and done, a bloodied and damaged narrator made his dear speech to the deaf ears of an entertained audience. For all of this he came home with a college scholarship to a white sponsored black school. When he fell asleep he saw his grandfather who asked him to read a letter which said, "Keep this nigger-boy running"(.

The meaning of the story lies in the symbolism. The 10 black m

Some common words found in the essay are:
African American, Ms Moore, FAO SHWARZ, UntermenschSub Person, Blacks Untermensch, Battle Royal, Lesson Bambara, Ralph Ellison, Americans American, Untermensch German, ms moore, 10 black, blacks untermensch, ralph ellison, battle royal, american society, short story, black americans, story black, sylvia friends,

Approximate Word count = 882
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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