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Battle Royal by Ralph Ellison

            "Battle Royal," by Ralph Ellison, tells the story of a young black man during segregation who struggles to discover his identity. The story begins with the narrator who remembers the advice that his dying grandfather gave to his son (the narrator's father) and his remembrance of a cruel betrayal that confirms the grandfather's advice. The grandfather divulges to his son how he has survived in the white man's world and counsels his son to agree with what the white man says and always answer with a compliant attitude. The narrator is then invited to give his high school graduation speech to leaders of his town, but the narrator arrives at the hotel and he is forced to fight a blindfolded "battle royal" with other young black men in front of white men. He finally gets to present his speech after fighting in the battle, but the drunken town leaders barely listen. At the close of his speech, the narrator is given a fine briefcase and a scholarship to a black college. In the story the narrator is in search for his identity during a period where black men were still look down upon.
             Battle Royal, is mainly a description of the African American struggle for equality and identity. The narrator of the story is an above average youth of the African American community. He is given an opportunity to give a speech to some of the more prestigious white individuals. His expectations of being received in a positive and normal environment are drastically dashed when he is faced with the severity of the process he must deal with in order to accomplish his task. "I suspected that fighting a battle royal might detract from the dignity of my speech" the narrator says while beginning to question the importance of his speech and himself. His dignity is the last thing the white "leading citizens" are interested in. Then the young black men are "forced" to watch this attractive white woman dance in the middle of the ring, this in a time when being sexually attracted to a white woman is a taboo in the racist world.


Essays Related to Battle Royal by Ralph Ellison

1. Symbolism in Battle Royal by Ralph Ellison

Ellison's short story, "Battle Royal" cleverly uses symbolism to illuminate the struggle for equality for African Americans. ... And most significantly, the battle royal exemplifies the fight for civil rights and equality. The dancer, as a symbol in "Battle Royal," administers to Ellison's strong description of the struggling effort towards equality. ... The battle royal alone is the most prevailing symbol of the struggle for equality in "Battle Royal". ... Ellison describes the battle as, "Everyone fighting hysterically. ...

  • Word Count: 677
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Symbolism in Ralph Ellison "B

Symbolism in Ralph Ellison "Battle Royal". "Battle Royal," by Ralph Ellison was a very difficult piece of literature for me to understand since I didn't grow up in the african american society. ... The harsh conditions that the boys competing in the battle royal must face are phenomenal. ... Next the boys must compete in the battle royal. ... Ralph Ellison's short story, "Battle Royal" is very significant. ...

  • Word Count: 1491
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Short Story - Battle Royal

In Ralph Ellison's short story, "Battle Royal", there is an African American man living during 1947. ... Throughout the story, Ellison throws several examples of symbolism in order to help add to the significance of its events. ... The portable boxing ring is the ring in which all of the battle royal participants were blindfolded and fought in. ... The protagonist in "Battle Royal" describes himself as an invisible man in the first paragraph of the story. ... He thought that they were all there to listen to his speech and finally give him the respect he sought but the...

  • Word Count: 874
  • Approx Pages: 3

4. Ralph Ellison - Symbolism, Equality and Self-Identity

Ralph Ellison's "Battle Royal" is based on the symbolism of equality and self-identity on African Americans. ... He gets told to attend and take part in the battle royal, a fight between him and other African American young men. ... At the same time, the narrator feels uneasy about fighting in the battle royal. ... Why did Ellison choose the title of this story? ... With the battle royal taking place, the whites enjoyed the entertainment of the black people fighting, hurting their own people, and not caring about how they treated them. ...

  • Word Count: 884
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Battle royal

Racial Is An Everyday Battle "Battle Royal" by Ralph Ellison talks about a black boy trapped in a world of cruelty and social inequality with nobody to guide him. ... In conclusion, I think this battle raises is the mental struggle that our people need to overcome. In order for the boy to be allowed to give his graduation speech, he needs to overcome an obstacle by participating in the "battle royal". ... The "good fight" is the battle to maintain his dignity and also earn the praise of the whites. ... Ellison style of writing...

  • Word Count: 509
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Battle Royal

Battle Royal, published in 1952, is the story of an African American high school - graduate and the way he deals with a racist community. ... Ellison states that the boy is a lot like his grandfather. ... As part of the evening's entertainment, the boy is asked by the white people that invited him to take part in the "Battle Royal" together with some of his black classmates. ... Ralph Ellison gives a picture of a grim reality, a reality in which by doing well you are envied by your fellow African Americans, yet you do not gain credibility or acceptance within a racist white society. ... E...

  • Word Count: 709
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Battle Royal

Ralph Ellison's short story, "Battle Royal", is symbolic in a myriad of different ways. In one form, the battle royal is symbolic of a struggle for equality. More specifically the battle royal is emblematic of the "battle" for egalitarianism in America's white society by African Americans in the 1950's; when the story was set and written. ... While attempting to deliver his speech, the narrator must first participate in a battle royal. ... Subsequently, the actual fighting of the battle royal ensues. ...

  • Word Count: 327
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Jazz Music's Parallel to Ralph Ellison

Jazz Music's Parallel to Ralph Ellison Jazz, popular music of black origin, is a genre unique to America. ... In Ralph Ellison's first chapter, "Battle Royal,"œ of Invisible Man, the reader travels through the story as if traveling through a jazz composition. ... Ellison's use of symbolic language and allegorical references in the story of the "Battle Royal,"" parallels the history of jazz. ... The speech, placed after the "Battle Royal,"" is Ellison's way of questioning and critiquing it's beliefs. ... We have seen such influences of jazz music i...

  • Word Count: 1224
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. Battle Royal

In Ralph Ellison's short story, "Battle Royal", a young man is coming to the realization of what his ailing grandfather was asking of him on his deathbed. ... He is informed that he has to participate in a "Battle Royal" with his peers for the amusement of the onlookers which can be related to the "lions mouth" (Ellison 270) that his grandfather spoke of before he died. ... The harsh conditions that the boys" face in the battle royal is horrendous. ... When the boys competed in the battle royal they were forced to blindly beat one another while blindfolded. ... Ralph Ellison's short ...

  • Word Count: 1103
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

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