Over the next few weeks, Alfred experiences the hard work and tedium of training to become a fighter. The first week is mostly pain. Donatelli has him shadowboxing for three minutes, resting for one minute, and shadowboxing for three minutes again, to the point that Alfred awakens in the middle of the night in misery. The second week is more of the same but worse. Alfred feels that everyone is riding him.
Alfred secretly hopes that the preacher will make him quit, but Reverend Price wisely sees this as a positive way to direct the young man's energy for a while. Halfway through the third week, the pain subsides. Alfred is getting in shape. He wakes up before the alarm in the morning and runs smoothly. Still, Alfred feels isolated. Spoon drops by and pays some attention to him, but days pass when no one says a word. Lou respects Donatelli and Bud Martin but is skeptical about the way that the profession of boxing has changed.
He appears to genuinely care for Alfred.
The Contender Summary & Study Guide
Alfred grows weary of the routine of training. He wants to get in the ring and spar. He is beginning to wonder what the point of it all is.
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In late July, Aunt Pearl has to go out of town; she leaves the girls in Queens with Dorothy and Wilson, and Alfred has the apartment to himself. Alfred runs into Major on the street one night, and Major claims that he was just "testing" Alfred that night at the clubroom when Alfred stood up to him. Major tries to get back into Alfred's life. He comes by the gym, but Bud Martin asks him to leave. Major says that James will be at a "little party" at the club that night; he wants Alfred to drop by. Henry is suspicious of Major's motives. Henry asks him to join Henry and Jelly at the movies that night.
He warns against visiting the clubroom. Alfred declines and walks into the hot Friday night, telling Henry that he can take care of himself.
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- The Contender - Chapters Summary & Analysis.
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Alfred notices other people out for a good time and questions the purpose of all the training he is doing. Alfred misses his best friend, James, and wants to get back together with him. At the end of the chapter, Alfred heads toward the clubhouse for a little visit. In these few weeks, Alfred's attitude slides from euphoria to dejection.
summary study guide the contender by robert lipsyte Manual
He still relies on others to confirm his own worth, and he is terribly impatient — two sure signs of immaturity for Lipsyte. Alfred wants to move along in his training, but the Donatelli code demands that no one is special and each man must earn his own way. Lipsyte's style captures the tedium of the daily workouts at the gym. He repeatedly quotes the trainers as they demand more and more of Alfred in the boring but necessary exercise of shadowboxing: Donatelli claims ''the climbing makes the man.
Getting to the top is an extra reward. Is Alfred a contender? He's not sure yet, but after he and Henry attend a real fight in Madison Square Garden, he decides he is going to try. He starts a new routine, including jogging in the mornings and working out at the gym at night. Alfred misses James and decides to try and smooth things over. James isn't at the clubroom when Alfred gets there, so Alfred waits.
In the meantime, Major offers Alfred alcohol. Alfred says no, but eventually gives in to peer pressure. By the time James shows up, Alfred is in a bad state. But he isn't so messed up that he doesn't see James get heroin from Hollis. Alfred is devastated his friend is now a junkie. He is also disappointed that he messed up his training by drinking.
Alfred decides he must not have what it takes. But when he goes to say good-bye to Donatelli, he realizes he still wants to find out if he is a contender. Henry becomes Alfred's trainer, and together they get Alfred to the point where he is ready to fight. Alfred wins his first fight after his opponent throws ''a short right uppercut into Alfred's groin,'' but even without the pain, winning doesn't feel as good as expected.
He knocks out his second opponent. A fair win, but Alfred feels horrible about hurting the other fighter. He feels so bad that he holds back in his third fight, which ends up being a ''draw. Donatelli can see Alfred doesn't have the ''killer instinct,'' and recommends Alfred retire and let him cancel his next fight. Alfred admits he doesn't like fighting, but he wants to finish what he started.
How else will he know if he is a contender? During his final match, Alfred is up against a much better opponent. But Alfred refuses to go down, giving it everything he's got. He loses, but he knows he is a contender. Alfred finally feels he is on the right track. He is going to finish high school by attending night classes, and then try to work in a recreational center for kids. But then his aunt tells him the police are looking for James because he tried to break into the Epsteins' again. This time, James cut himself pretty badly on the broken window.
Alfred manages to find James and convince him to get help. Together, they will get James to a hospital and into rehab.
Like so many of us, Alfred doesn't know what he wants from life. He has worked for the Epsteins since he dropped out of high school, but now is wondering whether there is more to his life. His best friend, James , becomes involved with a bad crowd, and Alfred doesn't want to follow that path. Instead, he begins training with Donatelli and Henry.
Full Book Notes and Study Guides
After giving it his all, Alfred learns he may not be a fighter, but he is a contender. Alfred plans to help James get clean and to go back and finish high school. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study. Login here for access. Did you know… We have over college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1, colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page.
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Students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction. Explore over 4, video courses. Find a degree that fits your goals. Try it risk-free for 30 days. Erica Schimmel Erica has taught college English writing and literature courses and has a master's degree in children's literature. Add to Add to Add to. Want to watch this again later? Things are changing in Alfred Brooks' life, and he has to decide how he will change with the times.
Will he head down the dangerous path his friend seems to be taking? Or will he make something of himself? Does he have what it takes to be a contender? Find out as we learn more about the characters and a book summary of Robert Lipsyte's ''The Contender''. The Contender Sometimes, it feels like we are at a crossroads, where everything is changing, and we don't know what we are doing.
The Contender - Chapters 1-3 Summary & Analysis
Important Characters Before we get into a summary of the book, let's meet some important characters. Let's now take a look at a summary of The Contender. Beginning a New Routine Donatelli gives it to Alfred straight: A Step Backward Alfred misses James and decides to try and smooth things over. Try it risk-free No obligation, cancel anytime.
Want to learn more? Select a subject to preview related courses: Partners Alfred finally feels he is on the right track. Lesson Summary Like so many of us, Alfred doesn't know what he wants from life. Register to view this lesson Are you a student or a teacher? I am a student I am a teacher.