Battle Royal Response paper

Battle Royal: First Reading Response

In the short story Battle Royal by Ralph Ellison, the narrator was struggling to overcome racism.

On his grandfather’s deathbed, he could not forget the words he told his father, “Son, after I'm gone I

want you to keep up the good fight. I never told you, but our life is a war and I have been a traitor all

my born days, a spy in the enemy's country ever since I give up my gun back in the Reconstruction.

Live with your head in the lion's mouth. I want you to overcome 'em with yeses, undermine 'em with

grins, agree 'em to death and destruction, let 'em swoller you till they vomit or bust wide open."

(Ellison). They did not know what his grandfather was trying to tell them until the narrator was invited

to give his graduation speech at a meeting of his small Southern town’s upper-class white people. His

speech was similar to his grandfather’s advice. But first, he must survive the battle royal, a boxing war

in the ring against fellow African Americans.

Ellison experiences a development during his fight in Battle Royal. He develop an aggressive

approach to the circumstances that outbreaks the African American community. He seemingly fall

upon the real meaning of his grandfather’s dying request, by being aware, he is able to get on a plan of

action that would certainly settle his grandfather. The participants in the Battle Royal are blindfolded

which means they are not aware of wh...

Battle Royal Response paper

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