What is the climax of the contender

Climax. The climax occurs when Alfred decides who he is and what he wants in life. Although he has fought successfully in two matches, he decides he does not want to pursue a boxing career, for he does not like inflicting injuries on another human being.

What is the rising action of the contender?

The rising action begins when Alfred enters Donatelli’s gym, where he will learn how to build his self-confidence and resist temptations. The rising action centers on Alfred’s development as a human being. Through his training and his boxing matches, he learns who he is and what he wants in life.

What is the theme of The Contender?

The major theme of the novel is the difficulty of growing up and finding an identity. At the beginning of the novel, Alfred Brooks presents himself as a timid boy who is afraid to stand up for himself and who has no vision for his future.

What happened at the end of the contender?

Alfred tells James that he is going to stick by him, and that they are going to go back to school and that James is going to get a job. Alfred says he will help with everything. James refuses, and Alfred gets up to leave, which makes James relent. The book ends as Alfred walks James to the hospital.

What is the setting of the contender?

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 Baldwin. The Contender shows the Harlem of mid-twentieth century, when the blacks were becoming restless.

What is the plot of The Contender?

Book Summary. The Contender is a coming-of-age novel whose protagonist, a black seventeen-year-old high school dropout named Alfred Brooks, lives with his Aunt Pearl and her three daughters in Harlem, a predominantly African American neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City, in the mid-1960s.

What is the exposition of the contender?

Exposition. Our main character, Alfred Brooks, lives in a run-down neighborhood in Harlem, New York. His best friend, James, has been hanging around bad people, and he has been getting into lots of trouble.

Where do Alfred and Henry go?

Alfred and Henry were taken to the Gestapo headquarters in Lyon.

Why does Alfred quit boxing?

The fight ends in a draw. Donatelli takes Alfred to the gym and tells him that it is time to retire because Alfred does not have “the killer instinct” and that he can tell Alfred does not really enjoy fighting.

What does Spoon offer Alfred do?

Spoon says that he is going to school at night to get his masters degree and suggests that Alfred go to night school to finish high school. He offers to help Alfred find a program if and when he is ready. Spoon’s wife, Betty, cooks Alfred a steak.

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How old is Henry from the Contender?

Major Characters He is seventeen years old and an orphan living his with aunt in Harlem. He works for the Epsteins during the day and trains at the gym in the evening. The novel is the story of his coming of age and struggling to succeed.

What is the cave in the Contender?

Describe the cave. It was a small cave that Alfred hid in to avoid the police.

Who is spoon in the Contender?

Bill “Spoon” Witherspoon A former fighter who has become a schoolteacher, Spoon serves as exemplar while he encourages Alfred to finish his education. Betty Witherspoon Bill’s wife is also a teacher. She dislikes boxing but cheerfully helps Alfred prepare for his fights.

What was the conflict in the Contender?

The struggle of growing up and making the right decisions is Alfred’s major antagonist. Life is made more difficult for him by Major, who tries to tempt black youth into illegal activities. Although Major persuades James to permanently join him, Alfred resists his temptations after a couple of outings.

Why does Alfred live with Aunt Pearl?

Alfred is a 17-year-old living in Harlem, NY. His father left when Alfred was ten, and his mother died three years later, so Alfred lives with his Aunt Pearl and her 3 daughters. His life has been somewhat routine since he dropped out of high school and started working at the Epstein family’s grocery store.

Why do jelly and Pete argue?

Why do Jelly and Pete argue? It was because Pete wanted Jelly to “use his trunks”. Why does Alfred decide to go to the clubroom? It was because he wanted to find James.

How much does Alfred weigh in four months how much weight has he gained by training?

How much does Alfred weigh? In four months, how much weight has he gained by training? He weighed 124 1/2 in Chapter 3, but now he’s weighs 134 3/4 pounds, which is 10 1/4 pounds more than earlier.

How does James get hurt the contender?

James is in trouble. He broke through Epsteins’ front window earlier that night, cutting himself but escaping as the police arrived. He is hurt and in hiding.

What opportunity was offered to Aunt Pearl when she was 17?

Back at the apartment after the fight, Aunt Pearl shows concern over Alfred’s injuries but reveals that she, too, had a dream when she was seventeen — to join the chorus at the Apollo Theater — but her mother would not allow it.

What was the result of Alfred's last fight?

In a unanimous decision, the judges correctly declare Elston Hubbard the winner of Alfred’s last boxing match, but Donatelli knows that Alfred has won the most important fight.

What reason does Henry give for his limp not being as bad as it once was?

What does this show about the power of one’s attitude? Henry’s limp is the result of suffering from Polio as a child and he is so used to it defining who he is that when he thinks about it, the leg sort of takes over and becomes more of a problem.

Where does Alfred go to look for James what happened to James?

James does not show up, and Alfred goes looking for him, eventually finding him in the company of three neighborhood hoodlums, Major, Sonny, and Hollis.

Who is Alfred's boss?

Epstein. Alfred’s boss, whose relationship with Alfred is mired when James, Major, and Hollis try to break into the store. Alfred’s hard work helps to restore Mr. Epstein’s trust in him, as does the knowledge that Alfred trains as a boxer.

Who is the round character in The Contender?

Alfred is a very real, dynamic character. He has flaws—almost fatal ones—and sometimes acts in ways that can make us cringe.

Who is Henry Why does Alfred duck to avoid him?

That night, Alfred goes out, avoiding streets where he might meet Major or his henchmen. Alfred sees Henry Johnson but avoids him, too, because he is in no mood to express gratitude. Without consciously meaning to, Alfred winds up in front of the building housing Donatelli’s Gym.

What happens to Alfred when he reaches his street?

What happens to Alfred when he reaches his street? He crashes onto the pavement and Sonny started bleeding really bad. How come Alfred does not ask the police officers for help? It was because he didn’t know about the alarm, and then he fainted.

Why does Alfred go to Donatelli's Gym?

Although he has dropped out of high school, Alfred has accepted responsibility in life. Unlike James and the gang members, he has a job. … Henry, a physically disabled acquaintance who aspires to become a fight manager, urges Alfred to visit Donatelli’s Gym, which is famous for having trained several boxing champions.

What does Bill Witherspoon do for a living?

Bill Witherspoon is the founder of Sky Factory, a fine art and digital technology company that designs evidence-based, multisensory illusions of natureTM.

Who is Willie Streeter in the Contender?

ABJelly Bellya fighter from the gym who eats a lotWillie Streetertrained by Mr. Donatelli, lost the big fight to Junius BeckerLou EpsteinAlfred’s BossBill WitherspoonSchool Teacher

Who is Willie Streeter?

Willie Streeter, FSC Facilitator, had previously been in prison and was a struggling father of five children prior to coming to Fathers’ Support Center and enrolling in the Family Formation Class in 2012.

What happens in chapter 4 of the contender?

After worship services, Alfred, Aunt Pearl, and the girls ride the subway to Jamaica, a suburban village in Queens, to visit Pearl’s sister Dorothy and her family. Dorothy’s husband, Wilson, has a good job and has purchased a house. … At the end of the day, Alfred, Aunt Pearl, and the girls return to Harlem.