Literary Devices In Robert Lipsyte's The Contender

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Authors are known to use a multitudinous amount of literary devices in their works of literature. Literary devices are used to deliver a deeper meaning than what is shown on the page. One of the most common literary devices used by authors is symbolism. Symbolism is the use of symbols such as an object, person, or action to portray different meanings. In Robert Lipsyte’s book, The Contender, some of the symbols he uses to show the theme is the movies, the cave, and the stairs. Alfred and his friend James would always go to the movies together. “If only James had come to the movies tonight, like every other Friday night…”(15). James goes with Major, Hollis, and Sonny to go rob Epsteins’ Grocery Store and he gets caught. The movies symbolize