Novel by: Robert Lipsyte Powerpoint by: Alec Butler The contender Novel by: Robert Lipsyte Powerpoint by: Alec Butler

“He hit the first step, feeling it sag under him, but he kept going up the wooden steps worn so smooth his loafers slipped backwards, but the chilly legs were getting warmer now. Put one after another, Alfred panting, huffing, low steps but hundreds of them, thousands of them in the darkness, the stairs so steep he sometimes scrambled on all fours.” (27) Alfred has made his decision to go and box, but he’s nervous and hesitant when he actually (and literally) makes the first step in accomplish this task wondering how this will change his life in any way.

“Major came back with an orange soaked in vodka “Major came back with an orange soaked in vodka. ‘This is good for you, man.’ Why not, Alfred thought. He sucked on it, feeling the new heat rise out of his empty stomach into his head. The party became a blur, a sweet, sticky blur.”(118) The narrator is showing everyone how Major and his gang are the antagonists: Alfred is in training and yet they have the nerve to convince him to party even though he specifically said that “loosening up” would mess up his boxing skills. It also shows how messed up his life really is.

“Donatelli put his arm across Alfred’s shoulders “Donatelli put his arm across Alfred’s shoulders. His voice was soft, almost gentle. It’s time, Alfred.’ ‘You want me to quit?’ ‘To retire’, said Donatelli. ‘What about the next fight?’ ‘I’ll cancel it’ ‘Why?….Got to finish.’ ‘Why’ ‘So I can know, too.”(148 & 149) This simply just shows how far Alfred has gone and the progress he has made to the point he just doesn’t want to quit just yet.

“He waited on the stoop until twilight, pretending to watch the sun melt into the dirty gray Harlem sky. Up and down the street transistor radios clicked on and hummed out into the sour air. Men dragged out card tables, laughing. Cars cruised through the garbage and broken glass, older guys showing off their Friday night girls.”(1) The author created the image of the streets of Harlem by using negative adjectives and low class scenery.

“Half-naked bodies were jumping and twisting and jerking around, bells rang, the peanut bag went rackety-rackety-rackety, ropes swish-slapped against the squeaky floorboards.”(43) This place is significantly important to the story. This is the place where all the training took action. Where Alfred met every body that helped him throughout the story.

“Jackson and another heavyweight were flailing into a lumpy, crooked ring in the middle of the hall. Naked bulbs washed the canvas with harsh yellow light. The rest of the hall was in darkness. Alfred couldn’t tell how many people sat in the uneven rows of metal folding chairs.”(170) The place where Alfred fought his fights, the place where he learned the meaning of pain, victory, and loss; the arena.

“left…. left…snap it out… “left….left…snap it out….even his reflection grew hazy in the full length mirror. Keep punching, they yelled, faster, harder, and more. ‘Your arms hurt, Alfred?’ ‘A little, Mr. Donatelli.’ ‘They should hurt a lot. Okay now. Time’ This section of the story shows how hard Mr. Donatelli pushes Alfred to be the best he could be. You know what they say, “What doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger.