Connotation And Situational Irony In Ralph Ellison's Battle Royal

Being chosen by the school to deliver a speech in front of many important people, but having to fight to deliver it is how in Battle royal by Ralph Ellison shows his admiration. The author admires the protagonist and the protagonist’s situation. The tone of admiration is reflected through the use of language: specifically, connotation and situational irony. The author uses many words of connotation to show his feeling of admiration. One is graduation, and it relates to admiration through how hard it is back in the 1900s to even receive an education. This being that the protagonist even received a high school education is extremely impressive and deserves to be admired. Another one is brief-case, and this has a deeper meaning than just an object …show more content…
One of the situational irony that the protagonist was put through was being asked to deliver his speech, and instead was forced to fight blind folded in an arena (153-160). When the protagonist arrives he explains, “when I got there I discovered that it was on the occasion of a smoker, and I was told 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. The battle royal came first” (153). The situation is ironic, because when asked to give a speech one is not usually expected to have to fight in an arena. When in the arena fighting the protagonist is constantly thinking about the speech instead of focusing on the people swinging wildly around him (158). The protagonist even states, “The harder we fought the more threatening the men became. And yet, I had begun to worry about my speech again. How would it go? Would they recognize my ability? What would they give me?” (158). After the fight was over the protagonist states, “Looking up front, I saw attendants in white jackets rolling the portable ring away and placing a small square rug in the vacant space surrounded by chairs” (160). The men had thrown money onto the carpet and expected the protagonist and other fighters to brawl over the money on the carpet, but once it started they realized the carpet was electrocuted (160-161). Finally, after the carpet brawl for money he was allowed to deliver is long awaited speech. After everything the protagonist has been put through to deliver his speech and receive such prestigious rewards. The author can only feel admirations for what the protagonist has fought for. To give a speech in front of the big shots and to receive a brief-case that had an envelope for a college education is something only one can admire to