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Symbolism In Ralph Ellison's Battle Royal

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Symbolism is often used by many authors to represent a broad idea or a belief and is often tied to specific object or a person. Ralph Ellison, the author of "Battle Royal" , uses this technique quite effectively, as he masterfully give meaning and purpose to many of mundane objects. For instance, the letter in the story, offers a vital and significant insight into the trials and tribulations that the authors will eventually face. Furthermore, it also outlines the disappointments and betrayal that the narrator faces. This fact is made quite clear when he reads the contents of the letter, " To whom It may concern" " Keep this Nigger-Boy running"(pg 235,Line 105) . This quite vulgar and off beat remark foreshadows the racism and unequal treatments, …show more content…

This broad definition can be broken down into two styles of telling a story, first person and third person. Furthermore, each style of telling a story must be used appropriately in order to retain the true essence and purpose of story, as intended by the author. For instance, The author of A&P, John Updike, choses to use a first person point of view, in which the entirety of the story is told through the eyes of the main protagonist. This technique is quite appropriate for this story and it helps the readers connect to the main protagonist on a deeper level. This is case because the readers are only aware of what the protagonist is aware. This is evident when the Protagonist, and also the reader, are made aware new information in this quote, "I look around for the girls, but they are gone of course"( pg 204, Line 26). This technique is used by Updike in order to encourage the readers to associate their own experiences with that of the protagonist. On the other hand, the author of Soldier's Home, Ernest Hemingway, choses to use a third person objective point of view, and only reports on experiences of few of the characters. This is quite evident in this quote,"kerbs looked at the bacon fat hardening on this plate"(pg 170, line 3). This style, of only informing the readers of the actions of the characters and not delving into their their thoughts and emotions, is used quite effectively and allows the readers to reach their own assertions

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It also helps the reader understand what is happening in his life and helps us see through his eyes or smell what he smells. In conclusion, POV or first person can help the reader understand and connect with the

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How do I know? A. From the author's view is in first person format. The very first sentence gave how the story was told.

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Which can be demonstrated in “Battle Royal,” where Ralph Ellison uses symbolism to express one black man struggle to go ahead in predominately white society.

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In literature, writers use a variety of points of view to convey their plot; these points of view can be first person, second person, or third person.   In “The Tell-Tale Heart”, the unnamed narrator describes he or she killing an old man. “Harrison Bergeron” is a dystopian story about Americans in the future that have handicaps in order for them to be equal. “A Good Man is Hard to Find” tells the story of a grandmother and her family taking a trip to Florida that went wrong.

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Reading in a first person point of view is like playing a role in a movie. The reader gets to play the main character. The story shows that it is written in first person because the author uses I instead of he, she, or the main character's first name. For example on page

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Throughout history, fighting has been a symbol of manhood and power. Though it may not be apparent at first, In Ralph Ellison’s invisible man, the protagonist fights in the battle royal in order to achieve a higher status with the white men. The Narrator is stripped of his senses, his dignity, but comes out enlightened.

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In the short story Battle Royale by Ralph Ellison, the theme was grounded in fear. The group of African American boys were forced in participation in harmful activities. His grandfather gave him advice in the beginning of the story. The meaning to his grandfather’s last words could be translated into two ways; to rebel or to follow. The grandfather was instructing him to agree with the white man's orders.

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In Ralph Ellison’s short story “Battle Royal” Ellison describes how after graduation he battles to survive the chaos that trembles around him. Ellison was educated at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where he studied music. His only published novel was, “Invisible Man” and it gained his reputation as a writer. In order to get what you want, Ellison went through a fight by himself, in a way that the price was too deadly to go through. The literary element that is strong in the story, imagery is important because you can see his event in your head like how he describes the experience and the how the readers feels his pain in how they response in the actions in the story.

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The “Battle Royal” by Ralph Ellison opens with the narrator looking back at his youth and remembering his invisibility and the last words of his grandfather. He recalls the time he was invited to give a speech to a group of leading white citizens (356). Upon his arrival, he was told that before giving his speech, he and his classmates were to provide the evening’s entertainment in a blindfolded boxing match (battle royal). After participating, he was able to give his speech and receive a briefcase with a scholarship to a local college. Later that night, the narrator has a dream that he is at the circus with his grandfather who orders him to open the briefcase and read the message in an envelope.

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The Battle Royal is a chapter from the novel “Invisible man” by Ralph Ellison. The plot is about a young afro-american male who has made a speech and is told he will obtain the opportunity to present his speech in front of a group of wealthy white men. The speech is about the afro-americans place in society and moreover their correlation to the white people. The boy has been praised because of his obedience towards the white population. The speech was going to be presented in the ballroom of a hotel but when the narrator arrives his events of the night takes a very unpleasant turn and he is forced to participate in the Battle Royal.

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The poet, Lascelles Abercrombie once said, “There is only one thing which can master the perplexed stuff of epic material into unity; and that is, an ability to see in particular human experience some significant symbolism of man 's general destiny.”. He talked about how powerful of a tool symbolism is and how it is the only thing that can truly define a highly complex ‘destiny’ or series of events. Symbolism is something that is found throughout Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee shows the reader that racism is a product of society,she portrays the matter through her symbolism of the mad dog, the birds and the bugs.

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In the analysis of “Geraldine Moore the Poet” by Toni Cade Bambara the reader can see how the three aspects tie into the theme. The point of view of a story in the angle in which it is written. It shows the reader the opinions or feelings of an individual. First person, second person, and third person are the three major kinds of point of view in which a story can be told. Third person can sometimes break off into third person omniscient or limited.

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Narrative point of view can express a different perspective to the reader by presenting experience, voice, and setting. Perspective is a particular way or attitude of considering events, by whatever character’s point of view the narrator takes. A character’s background and experiences in their life is a key to help the reader relate to the character. Culture may provide more insight about the circumstances, and can change a reader’s perspective, as well as the voice of the narrator - sophisticated or naive.

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    In “Soldier’s Home,” Hemingway convey’s the recurring theme of the story through the literary device repetition. “Besides he did not really need a girl”(Hemingway 2) and “You did not need a girl”(Hemingway 2) are examples of repetition used in the story to emphasize the struggle the main character has

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By having this story in first person point of view, it gives the readers an insight to how the narrator really feels about certain characters. It also allows the readers to view background information from the narrator, which allows the story to come together as a whole and be more

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