I am only ashamed of myself for having at one time been ashamed. But my body was slippery and he was too drunk. They exulted in it. He was a large man who wore diamond studs in a shirtfront which swelled with the ample paunch underneath, and each time the blonde swayed her undulating hips he ran his hand through the thin hair of his bald head and, with his arms upheld, his posture clumsy like that of an intoxicated panda, wound his belly in a slow and obscene grind. “Battle Royal,” the first chapter of Ralph Ellison’s novel. they yelled. Consider it a badge of office. 0000005558 00000 n Pushed this way and that by the legs milling around me, I finally pulled erect and discovered that I could see the black,sweat-washed forms weaving in the smoky-blue atmosphere like drunken dancers weaving to the rapid drum-like thuds of blows. We were a small tight group, clustered together, our bare upper bodies touching and shining with anticipatory sweat; while up front the big shots were becoming increasingly excited over something we still could not see.

I had no dignity. Then he told us to leave. As he recovers, wondering when he will be allowed to give his... Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this Battle Royal study guide and get instant access to the following: You'll also get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and 300,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. "The Battle Royal" is an initiation story which deals with the main theme of self-discovery. responsibility." "Go!" "Get going in there!" One of the men seemed to feel a bit sympathetic and tried to cheer us up as we stood with our backs against the ropes.

". I closed my ears and swallowed blood until I was nauseated. I was transported. "We of the younger generation extol the wisdom of that great leader and educator," I shouted, "who first spoke these flaming words of wisdom: I spoke automatically and with such fervor that I did not realize that the men were still talking and laughing until my dry mouth, filling up with blood from the cut, almost strangled me.

It was foggy with cigar smoke. "Let me at those black sonsabitches!" The white men behave boisterously as they watch both the dancer and the black students’ reactions of humiliation and terror. When I got there I discovered that it was on the occasion of a smoker, and I was told that since I was to be there anyway I might as well take part in the battle royal to be fought by some of my schoolmates as part of the entertainment. As the music continues, some of the white men start to grab at, and eventually chase, the woman, catching her and tossing her above their heads.

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