The Contender 1
SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT 8th GRADE
The Contender, by Robert Lipsyte.
If you have any questions about this assignment, it will be posted on the school website on the Elmont Memorial High School webpage.
Directions: Answer the comprehension questions in full sentences in the space provided.
Chapter 1
1. Setting: How does Lipsyte describe the setting: Harlem, NY, 1967? What details are given to the reader? What image does Lipsyte want to give the reader?
2. Drawing Conclusions/Inference: Describe the attitude of the black Harlem residents toward the white police officers and the Jewish store owners. Why do you think they feel this way?
3. Author’s Purpose/Theme: Broken dreams
A. What happened to Rick, the white college boy who taught them how to play basketball?
B. What happened to James’ rock collection? Why was it important to him?
C. What happened to Alfred’s parents?
D. What happened to James and Alfred’s future dreams of James becoming an engineer, with Alfred as the assistant?
Chapter 2
1. Imagery / Symbolism: Why does Alfred want to stay in bed? How is this similar to what the two drug addicts are doing in the hallway?
2. Imagery / Symbolism: Alfred’s struggle up the stairs is exaggerated to be symbolic. Why does Lipsyte describe the climb up three flights of stairs to be a great struggle? What feelings are shown from the climb?
3. Making Predictions: What do you think will happen to Alfred if he trains to be a boxer?
Chapter 3
1. Author’s Purpose / Theme: What does Donatelli say Alfred will have to do to train to be a boxer? Include a quote with the page number.
2. Author’s Purpose / Theme: What is Donatelli’s definition of a contender? Include the quote and the page number.
Chapter 4
1. Author’s Purpose / Theme : Sorting out the mixed messages thrown at Alfred:
A. Describe the attitudes and message of the nationalists.
B. What are Harold and Lynn planning?
C. What advice does Reverend Price give in church about groups like the nationalists and student activists like Harold and Lynn?
D. What does Uncle Wilson say about what Alfred and Jeff and other African-American young people should do to succeed?
2. Drawing Conclusions: When Alfred comes home to Harlem from Queens, what are some things that bother him about his home?
Chapter 5
1. Drawing Conclusions: Describe what ruins Alfred’s good feeling during his run. What does this scene show about the policemen?
2. Drawing Conclusions: How and why have things changed for Alfred and the Epsteins at work?
Chapter 6
1. Imagery / Symbolism: How does Alfred view the steps in this chapter? How does Lipsyte describe them? What feelings does this description represent? (What does Alfred’s view of the steps tell the reader about Alfred’s attitude toward life, himself, and his future?)
Chapter 7
1. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: Donatelli stops the fight with Willie Streeter and Junius Becker, letting Junius win with a TKO (technical knock out). Spoon explains what went wrong in the ring (page 59), and why Donatelli stopped the fight. What is the reason, and what does it show about Donatelli?
2. Characterization / Plot Development: Why did Bill Witherspoon (Spoon) quit boxing? Describe Spoon’s goals now.
3. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: Why does Alfred start to wave and say hello to people? How do they react?
4. Characterization / Plot Development: Begin the character descriptions with this chapter, and continue to add details as you encounter more throughout the book. Describe the following people, and focus on their attitude toward life and how they influence Alfred’s life.
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The Contender 1
1. Alfred Brooks
2. James Mosely
3. Henry Johnson
4. Major
5. Sonny and Hollis
6. Aunt Pearl
7. Uncle Wilson
8. Jeff
9. Harold and Lynn
10. Mr. Donatelli
11. Bud Martin
12. Bill Witherspoon
13. Lou Epstein
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Chapter 8
1. Understanding Conflict: Describe the conflict between Major and Alfred. What does Major want and how does Alfred respond?
2. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: How does Major react to Alfred’s new courage and confidence?
3. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: Describe how Alfred feels after he shuts the door to his apartment building.
4.
Chapter 9
1. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: Now that the policemen know Alfred, how do they react to him when they see him?
2. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: Describe how Alfred acts at home after running. How does he feel about his life now?
Chapter 10
1. Character Development / Understanding Inner Conflict: Alfred is spending his summer away from James after being his best friend for many years. What are some of the things he misses about James?
2. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: Why do you think Major is trying to get Alfred to come down to the clubroom?
3. Character Development / Understanding Inner Conflict Why does Alfred get discouraged with his training?
Chapter 11
1. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: Alfred refuses the wine twice. How does Major trick Alfred into getting drunk?
2. Understanding External Conflict: How does Arlene get Alfred to smoke marijuana?
3. Imagery / Symbolism: Lipsyte writes, “At dawn, an invisible fist slammed into his stomach and he barely make it out to the alley.” What does this mean? What really happens to Alfred?
4. Making Predictions: What do you think will eventually happen to James and Alfred?
Chapter 12
1. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: In the first paragraph, Alfred is having a nightmare with the sound of the phone ringing waking him up. Where was he sleeping? How does he feel? Why does he feel this way?
2. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: Major arrives in a white Cadillac convertible. He says he “loaned it off a guy.” How do you think he got it?
3. Imagery / Symbolism: One of Alfred’s dreams with James was to be an engineer, drive a white Cadillac convertible, and help young kids. Do you think Lipsyte had a reason for having Major drive the same kind of car? In your opinion, what was the effect that Lipsyte wanted?
4. Drawing Conclusions / Inference Why does Major get nervous when the policemen are checking drivers’ licenses and registration papers?
5. Imagery / Symbolism: As Alfred jumps out of the car, he lands in the gutter. What do you think Lipsyte is showing with this detail?
6. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: Why do people think Alfred is a “junkie” (heroin addict)?
7. Character Development / Understanding Inner Conflict: Compare how Alfred reacts to policemen now to how he reacted to them after running in the park for a few weeks.
8. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: Alfred asks on page 97, “Would I have…been a contender?” Donatelli replies, “When you get hurt in the ring for the first time, really hurt. Then I would know.” What does he mean?
Chapter 13
1. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: Alfred is back in the gym and is getting to be a good boxer. As Henry is complimenting him, Henry pivots on his “left leg. The crippled leg.” Then Henry notices Alfred staring at the leg and he “limped heavily away” (101). Why did he suddenly begin to limp?
2. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: Why does Lou give money to Bud? What does this show about Lou Epstein?
3. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: What does Lou offer to Alfred? Why does Lou now trust Alfred?
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Chapter 14
1. Imagery / Symbolism: Alfred notices the cracked and crumbling wall. “He wondered why he hadn’t noticed it in four months” (104). Why hadn’t he noticed it?
2. Drawing Conclusions / Inference and Author’s Purpose: Notice that again on page 109, once Henry thinks about his leg, he limps. What does this show about the power of one’s attitude?
3. Character Development: What does Alfred remember about James’ childhood (page 110)?
4. Character Development / Author’s Purpose: What has happened to the gang and the clubroom?
5. Character Development / Author’s Purpose: Spoon is going to graduate school at night and is teaching during the day. What does he suggest for Alfred?
6. Character Development / Author’s Purpose: Alfred notices that Spoon lives in an integrated neighborhood. What does he say about having white friends and neighbors?
7. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: When Henry gives Alfred the robe, Bud says, “You got a lot of sweat in your eyes” (117). What is really happening?
8. Plot Development / Understanding External Conflict: A fighter named Elston Hubbard comes into the locker room. Describe his appearance and behavior.
Chapter 15
1. Character Development / Author’s Purpose: Aunt Pearl explains why she never tried to talk Alfred out of boxing. She tells a story about her youth. What happened to her, and why does this prevent her from being negative about Alfred’s boxing?
Chapter 16
1. Character Development / Understanding Inner Conflict: Describe how Alfred feels when he sees Griffin get knocked out.
2. Character Development / Author’s Purpose: What do Harold and Lynn want Alfred to do?
3. Character Development / Understanding Inner Conflict: Alfred throws Lynn’s pamphlet away and escapes into a movie theater. What are some of the pressures on his mind?
Chapter 17
1. Character Development / Author’s Purpose: Alfred feels very comfortable now at Thanksgiving dinner with Uncle Wilson, Aunt Dorothy, and Cousin Jeff. What has changed?
2. Character Development / Author’s Purpose: Alfred announces his future plan. What is it?
3. Character Development / Author’s Purpose: Alfred sees James behind a garbage pail. Describe how James looks after being on heroin for four months.
Chapter 18
1. Character Development: Why does Donatelli want Alfred to retire?
2. Character Development: Why does Alfred convince Donatelli to let him have one more fight?
Chapter 19
1. Character Development: Spoon is helping Alfred in several ways:
A. When is Alfred going back to school?
B. Why is he sending Herbert Davis to Alfred and Henry?
C. What did Spoon find for James?
2. Understanding External Conflict: Alfred is going to fight Elston Hubbard. What do you remember about him? Look back to question # 8, Chapter 14.
3. Understanding External Conflict: Describe the fight between Alfred and Elston.
4. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: At the end of the fight, Donatelli says, “Now you know, Alfred. Now you know too.” What do they know?
Chapter 20
1. Drawing Conclusions / Inference: Alfred saves James in several ways. What would have happened if he never went to the cave?
2. Character Development: What is the plan Alfred has for James?
3. Character Development / Author’s Purpose: James asks, “Why you wanna do all this?” What does Alfred reply? What does he mean?
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