Battle Royal
"The First of Many Battles" From the moment you read the title “Battle Royal,” it becomes obvious that a struggle will be present in this story. However, there is not one, but many “battles” addressed. After reading the story, it becomes clear that these battles being fought are both physical and mental. The most obvious is the conflict between the whites and blacks, but equally important and slightly less obvious is the conflict between the blacks themselves. This short story by Ralph Ellison is written in first person singular. The narrator, who is also the main character, is a young, black man who has just graduated from high school with honors. He is invited to read his valedictorian speech at an assembly for the town’s important white citizens. However, once he arrives he is told that before he gives his speech, he is to participate in a “battle royal” along with nine of his peers. The boys battle for quite some time while the white men watch, laugh, and cheer. Once the battle is over, the ten are led to a rug covered with coins and are told to grab their reward. However the coins are connected to a battery and the boys were shocked each time they grabbed one. Finally, the narrator is called
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1289
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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