The contender reading questions by marsha mentzer tpt. Free the contender study unit worksheets for teachers to print. The book the the contender by robert lipstye was a decent book. Michael shnayerson is a longtime contributing editor to vanity fair and the author of eight books on a range of nonfiction subjects, from biographies of entertainer harry belafonte my song and new york governor andrew cuomo the contender to narrativedriven accounts of drugresistant bacteria the killer within and mountaintop coal removal coal river. The novel is set in harlem, new york, the same place that forms the background for many of the novels of reputed black writers like richard wright and james. However, james has already started on a path opposite alfreds. Students name sports figures who came from impoverished backgrounds. Apr 05, 2015 andrew cuomo is not running for president. This character is a seventeenyearold black boy who lives in a seedy section of harlem. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The contender, by robert lipsyte, is the story of a young man named alfred, a highschool dropout trying to avoid the pitfalls of growing up on the streets of harlem. The books plot centers on a black seventeenyearold man named alfred brooks, a high school dropout living with aunt pearl and her three daughters in harlem, new york city. It stars gary oldman, joan allen, jeff bridges and christian slater. The contender is a 2000 american political drama film written and directed by rod lurie.
See a complete list of the characters in the contender and indepth analyses of alfred. The contender by robert lipsyte study guide overall analysis character analysis alfred brooks. The book s plot centers on a black seventeenyearold man named alfred brooks, a high school dropout living with aunt pearl and her three daughters in harlem, new york city. The contender lipsyte novel, a 1967 novel by robert lipsyte. The contender by robert lipsyte in epub, rtf, txt download ebook. The breakthrough modern sports novel the contender shows readers the true meaning of being a hero this acclaimed novel by celebrated sportswriter robert lipsyte, the recipient of the margaret a. The contender is about a boy named alfred who is bullied a lot at schol and cant fit in with anyone. The contender, by robert lipsyte, is the story of a highschool dropout named alfred who makes a hard choice to turn away from a life on the streets of harlem and all the trouble that entails and. The contender cliffsnotes study guides book summaries. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by. He drops out of school because he cant figure out how to fit in. The book of thomas the contender translated by john d. The contender, a biography of andrew cuomo the new. Pearl provides a home and spiritual base for alfred.
The contender fills a specific need in the firearms industry. The literary background for the contender can be traced to the postharlem renaissance period. The contender by robert lipsyte is a novel about the hard life on the streets of harlem, and boxing. This acclaimed novel by celebrated sportswriter robert lipsyte, the recipient of the margaret a. This easytofollow guide contains precise instructions for tuning, timing, loading and shooting, as well as ordering information for parts and accessories. Sometimes, it feels like we are at a crossroads, where everything is changing, and we dont know what we are doing. It was likely composed in the first half of the 3d century a. He then wants to learn how to fight and get stronger so he starts boxing, this turns his life aro. Alfred finds james in the cave, their childhood secret. Most of their writing centered on racial problems, which needed to be overcome. The gemini contenders, a 1976 novel by robert ludlum. Not in 2016 since the governor of new york is not about to throw himself in front of the freight train that is hillary clinton and possibly not ever. Alfred pushes his body to the limit by training under him.
He begins training at a boxing club as an alternative to drugs and gang membership. The contender is a comingofage novel whose protagonist, a black seventeenyearold high school dropout named alfred brooks, lives with his aunt pearl and her. Oct 27, 2015 the contender by robert lipsyte in epub, rtf, txt download e book. The actor who plays biff, is glenn strange, who played sam the bartender on gunsmoke. Find great deals on ebay for the contender book and the contender andrew cuomo. The contender by robert lipsyte and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. He falls into bad company and becomes a drug addict.
The first episode aired september 4 on espn, with a live finale on november 6 at the td banknorth garden in boston. The contender, a biography of andrew cuomo the new york times. He represents the cynical, repressive, manipulative side of harlem that alfred initially fights to escape and ultimately l. Cars cruised through the garbage and broken glass, older guys showing off their friday night. The contender is a young adult novel by robert lipsyte.
In the harlem renaissance, marcus garvey and alaine locke created the image of the new negro and supported the rebirth of the black race. Lipsyte 25 donatelli telling alfred that everyone wants the be a champion but thats not good enough you have to want to be a contender and this makes alfred want to show donatelli that he is a contender so he wants to be a boxer to show donatilli. The contender, by robert lipsyte, is the story of a young man named alfred, a highschool dropout trying to avoid the pitfalls of growing up on the streets of. He represents the cynical, repressive, manipulative side of harlem that alfred initially fights to escape and ultimately learns to overcome. Throughout the course of the novel, readers see a timid adolescent transcend into a confident, strong character who appears to have found a purpose in life. Although alfred inadvertently tells the gang that cash may be in the register overnight, he flatly refuses to go along. Edwards award for lifetime achievement in ya fiction, is the story of a young boxer in harlem who overcomes hardships and finds hope in the ring on his path to becoming a. Things are changing in alfred brooks life, and he has to decide how he will change with the times. This document provides questions for each chapter of robert lipsytes the contender. Alfred brooks alfred, the protagonist, is the most dynamic character in the book. The contender essays the contender is a book about a young black boy named alfred brooks, growing up in a poor part of new york.
Alfred loves him dearly and persuades him to join a rehabilitation clinic. Although alfred does not go with them, he forgets about the new alarm system that the epsteins just installed. The secret words that the savior spoke to judas thomas which, i, even i, mahaias, wrote down, while i was walking, listening to them speak with one another. This is the kind of position alfred brooks is in at the beginning.
Robert lipsytes book, the contender, explores the story of a young teen who rises against all odds. After his only friend james ditches him to go do drugs, he decides to start boxing to try. The contender, the brave, the chief, and warrior angel. My favorite character was definitely the main character, alfred brooks, i felt like i this is an. The three of them want to break into the epsteins grocery store where alfred works.
The novel is the story of his coming of age and struggling to succeed. Thats why his columns, and this marvelous memoir, an accidental sportswriter, are so affecting. Donatelli, an excellent, nononsense, managermentor. The contender by robert lypsyte timeline timetoast timelines.
During the book, alfred brooks, a seventeenyearold adolescent and the protagonist of the novel, develops from an indecisive youth into a confident young man. Edwards award for lifetime achievement in ya fiction, is the story of a young boxer in harlem who overcomes hardships and finds hope in the ring on his path to becoming a contender. He says to look for opportunities for the future 7. I would recommend this book to my friend because it is a high paced book and its about sports. Speaking alfred and james were best friends for many years before their lives went down separate paths. What is the difference between being a contender and being a champion. She loves alfred as much as she loves her three girls. With buster crabbe, arline judge, julie gibson, donald mayo. The contender also stars mike binder as one of hansons advisors, mariel hemingway as an old friend with a surprising secret, christian slater as an ambitious congressmen assisting runyon, and. Alfred brooks the protagonist of the novel around whom the plot revolves.
Quote 3 donatilli tells alfred when you got hurt in the ring for the first time, really hurt. Alfred brooks is a black 17yearold high school dropout who lives with his aunt pearl in harlem in the mid1960s. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Free the contender worksheets and literature unit for. A political thriller pumped up with as much dramatic juice as the contender doesnt have to be believable to be gripping. Jan 26, 2010 the breakthrough modern sports novel the contender shows readers the true meaning of being a hero. The contender book report by andrew hopkins on prezi. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach. The film focuses on a fictional united states president played by bridges and the events surrounding his appointment of a new vice president allen. The breakthrough modern sports novel the contender shows readers the true meaning of being a hero. Jock culture glorifies the young, the strong and the beautiful, and lipsyte, the wouldbe chekhov, gets the tragic implications. He will sweat and bleed to get as high as his talent, courage, and character will take him.
The contender ebook by robert lipsyte rakuten kobo. In the novels first chapter, james joins major and the gang in an attempted burglary of epsteins grocery. He is seventeen years old and an orphan living his with aunt in harlem. Compare the speech at the rally to the speech in church. It can be your golf posse, book club, quilting circle, your fellow congregants, any social safety net. In the beginning alfred is working at a shop sweeping, he gets bullied and picked on all the time. Somewhere back in part 1 was the path you didnt take, often a passion you abandoned for pragmatic reasons. James does, however, and is arrested during the break in. The contender by robert lipsyte 99 novel series provides support materials to secondary teachers to facilitate superior instruction. Alfred brooks the protagonist of the novel, alfred hopes to transcend the repressive atmosphere of harlem and find a worthwhile life for himself james mosely alfreds best friend, james descends into drug addiction as alfred climbs toward maturity aunt pearl conway james mothers sister.
I should probably read a more procuomo book like cuomos own to hear the other side, but what this book makes clear is that cuomo comes with a lot of. Alfred brooks the protagonist of the novel, alfred hopes to transcend the repressive atmosphere of harlem and find a worthwhile life for himself james mosely alfreds best friend, james descends into drug addiction as alfred climbs toward maturity. The contender by robert lipsyte is a novel that has many literary elements present in the text. Teachers can use the questions as guided reading questions for each chapter as a basis for class discussion and notetaking.
A harlem high school dropout escapes from a gang of punks into a boxing gym, where he learns that being a contender is hard and often discouraging work. He then wants to learn how to fight and get stronger so he. Alfred does not want to be just another good little slave, but he doesnt wan. A contender is, first and foremost, a man, an adult. Jul 23, 2014 the contender by robert lipsyte is a novel that has many literary elements present in the text. He works for the epsteins during the day and trains at donatellis gym in the evening. The protagonist, alfred brooks is hanging out with his best friend, james, and jamess friends major and hollis. The contender, by robert lipsyte, is the story of a highschool dropout named alfred who makes a hard choice to turn away from a life on the streets of. Donatelli telling alfred that he knows that hes a contender he feels better about himself. Up and down the street transistor radios clicked on and hummed into the sour air.
Quote 1 donatelli says everybody wants to be a champion. Edwards award for lifetime achievement in ya fiction, is the story of a young boxer in harlem who overcomes hardships and finds hope in the ring on his path to. The contender lesson plan for 7th 8th grade lesson planet. This set of lesson plans consists of approximately 127 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials. This study guide consists of approximately 57 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the contender. The contender is a novel by robert lipsyte that was first published in 1967. Nov 04, 2014 this is an enlightening book about the politician whose name is often mentioned as a presidential contender. Alfred brooks the protagonist of the novel, alfred hopes to transcend the repressive atmosphere of harlem and find a worthwhile life for himself. Robert lipsyte life part2 first aired in 2010 and is. The contenderblog 1 conflict college english with mrs.
The contender reading questions by marsha mentzer is licensed under a creative commons a. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. This book wasnt amazing but it was pretty good that is why i rated it a four out of five. Students will complete a reading assignment, discussion questions, and create a contender. One element that has been shown many times in the text is conflict. Alfred is faced with a struggle inside himself to become a better person. The contender was about a highschool dropout named alfred brooks. This the contender lesson plan is suitable for 7th 8th grade. The novel follows alfred as his friend james is arrested after robbing the grocery store where alfred works, and his confronta. Donatelli tells alfred that a contender is willing to pay the price.
Start studying the contender chapter 12 study guide. Turner the secret words that the savior spoke to judas thomas which i, even i, mathaias, wrote down, while i was walking, listening to them speak with one another. The contender chapter 12 study guide flashcards quizlet. James mosely alfreds best friend, james descends into drug addiction as alfred climbs toward maturity. And the clue to a successful part 2, a reinvention, is found in the past.
The book of thomas the contender is a literary expression of traditions native to syrian edessa about the apostle jude, surnamed thomas, the missionary to india. He works for the epsteins during the day and trains at the gym in the evening. Alfreds story parallels the major theme of the novel, which is stated most poignantly by the fight. This is an enlightening book about the politician whose name is often mentioned as a presidential contender. Discuss your views with the class about friendship and the responsibility friends have for each others actions. Character list alfred brooks the protagonist of the novel, alfred hopes to transcend the repressive atmosphere of harlem and find a worthwhile life for himself. The contender, by robert lipsyte rising action 3 resolution alfred goes to the gym, and meets mr. The contenders, a 2008 guide to the american presidential election with contributions by laura flanders and dan savage. Conflict is when a character faces either internal decisions they have to make or are problems between the character with another character or thing. He works for the epsteins during the day and trains at. He waited on the stoop until twilight, pretending to watch the sun melt into the dirty gray harlem sky. Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more. The contender is the debut novel by american author and sports journalist robert lipsyte.