Joseph Garcia

AP Language and Composition

Mrs. Belmonte
10/18/13
Battle Royale
In his story, Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison uses a series of imagery and simile to describe a
boxing match between the narrator and others. The author uses the Battle Royale scene to
connect the reader with the main character and share the characters thoughts and feelings.
This passage puts the reader in the main characters shoes and makes the reader experience
what the main character is experiencing. The author does this by using simile in his writing as
well as imagery.
During the Battle Royal, the author uses similes to help describe what the main
character is experiencing. The reader uses these similes to feel what the character is feeling and
see what the character is seeing. An example of a simile is how the main character describes a
punch he received, A glove landed in my midsection and I went over again, feeling as though
the smoke had be-come a knife jabbed into my guts. (Ellison). In this quote, the author makes
a punch to the stomach similar to a knife being jabbed into a persons guts. This makes the
reader feel as though they are being jabbed in the stomach just like the main character which
places the reader in the boxing match as the character. If the reader felt as though they are
being punched, then the authors purpose is complete.
Another technique the author uses in this passage is imagery. The author uses imagery
to give a clear picture of the Battle Royale to the reader. By doing this he will be able to make
the reader feel as though they were the main character in the boxing match. An example of his
technique is when the author describes what happens after the main character takes a few
punches, A glove connected with my head, filling my mouth with warm blood. (Ellison). This
quote gives a clear image of the main character getting punched followed by blood. The author
also adds that the blood was warm which makes the reader not only see what is happening but
also feel the blood in their mouth. The use of imagery places the reader in the main characters
shoes and experience the battle.
In conclusion, the authors purpose for the Battle Royale was to make the reader
become the main character in the boxing match so the reader and the main character could
connect easier. The author does this by using similes and imagery in his writing. Comparing a
punch with a severe weapon and describing blood being warm helps the reader feel what the
main character is feeling. This accomplishes the authors goal.