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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In literature, what conflicts are incompatibilities in how two or more individuals relate to one another?

2. When Alfred returns home in Chapter 6, who questions him regarding his whereabouts and asks if he has been out all night?

3. In literature, what conflicts arise from obstacles located outside the protagonist including nature, the supernatural, or society?

4. What is the name of Alfred's boss at his job?

5. Whom does Alfred wish would run with him in the mornings in Chapter 10?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Alfred begin his workout at the gym in Chapter 6? What other trainers does he interact with?

2. Where does Alfred wake up after being beaten in Chapter 2? Who is with him?

3. How does Alfred's relationship with Henry develop in Chapter 7?

4. Who encounters Alfred and encourages him to stay at the gym in Chapter 6? What does this character tell him?

5. Where is Alfred in the beginning of Chapter 1? Where does he go to look for James? How does Alfred feel about James?

6. How is the fight described in Chapter 7?

7. What is Aunt Pearl's reaction to Alfred's news of training as a boxer in Chapter 9?

8. What does Alfred recall about his childhood and James in Chapter 7?

9. Discuss the conflicts in Chapter 6. What does Alfred learn from them?

10. How does the author show the differences of the world of television from Alfred's life in Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and analyze the character of Mr. Epstein in "The Contender". How does Alfred feel about his boss? How long have Alfred and Mr. Epstein known one another? What is Mr. Epstein's history in the boxing world?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the theme of family in the novel. How is family illustrated at Donatelli's gym? How is this theme expressed through symbolism in the narrative? How does Alfred relate to his family?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the characters of Henry, Bud and Red in the novel. How does Alfred relate to each of these characters? What is symbolic about the relationships of the characters? How do these relationships evolve?

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