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Author Biography
Robert Lipsyte - Biography
Robert Michael Lipsyte was born on January 16, 1938, in New York City. His parents, Sidney I. and Fanny Lipsyte, lived in Harlem, which becomes the setting for many of his books. After attending public schools, Lipsyte went to Columbia University, where he studied writing and graduated in 1957. Two years later, he received his masters from Columbia.
Robert Lipsyte always loved sports and believed that they could positively influence the development of a person. Becau -
Litearary/Historical Information
LITERARY / HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The literary background for The Contender can be traced to the Post-Harlem Renaissance period. In the Harlem Renaissance, Marcus Garvey and Alaine Locke created the image of the "New Negro" and supported the rebirth of the black race. Most of their writing centered on racial problems, which needed to be overcome. The Post-Harlem Renaissance writers, such as Richard Wright, James Baldwin, and Ralph Ellison, built on the work of their predecessors; but their empha -
The Novel's Setting
SETTING
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. Though they worked for white employers, they nurtured animosity against them and waited for an opportunity to rebel.
Alfred Brooks, the protagonist of the novel, lives in Harlem in a little apartment with his aunt and nieces. Fr -
Author's Style
AUTHOR'S STYLE - REALISM
Robert Lipsyte portrays the setting of the book and his characters so realistically that the novel at times seems almost autobiographical. The spirit of life in Harlem is clearly captured from the beginning. In fact, the book opens with Alfred waiting for James "on the stoop until twilight, pretending to watch the sun melt into the dirty gray Harlem sky. Up and down the street, transistor radios clicked on and hummed into the sour air. Men dragged out card tables, laughi -
Chapter One Summary
Alfred Brooks feels restless in his Harlem home as he waits for his friend James to arrive and go with him to a movie. When James fails to show up, Alfred goes to look for him at the club. Although James seems happy to see Alfred, he does not want to go to the movies with him.
Several boys in the club, headed by Major, make fun of Alfred and force him to give them his allowance. Only when James intervenes do they let him go. The boys then tell Alfred of their plan to rob the house of the Epstei -
Chapter 2-3 Plot Summary
Alfred is in bed and is being attended by his aunt. Aunt Pearl informs him that Henry and his father had brought him home when they found him walking in a semi-conscious state. She asks him about the events of the previous evening. Alfred lies and says that he fell off the fence and hurt himself. Aunt Pearl sees through his lie but refrains from questioning him further. She then tells about the arrest of James for robbing the house of Epsteins.
Alfred lies in bed and keeps thinking about James -
Chapter 4 Plot Summary
Since it is Sunday, Alfred accompanies his aunt and nieces to church. On their way they pass a group of blacks trying to persuade others to join them in their fight against the injustice inflicted by the whites. They try to get Alfred to accompany them on their freedom march, but he ignores them. Inside the church, Alfred takes a seat in the rear. When he looks back, he sees Major standing in the doorway and looking at him. His presence makes Alfred restless, and he cannot concentrate on the ser