King of the Bingo Game | Essays and Criticism

  • The Narrative Structure of "King of the Bingo Game''

    In the following essay, Barnhisel addresses the narrative structure of "King of the Bingo Game.'' Barnhisel also discusses themes within the story and Ellison's feelings about being a black writer in America.

  • Game Theory and Ellison's 'King of the Bingo Game'

    In the following essay, Hoeveler discusses the game imagery in "King of the Bingo Game," describing how certain symbols represent the futility and repression many African Americans feel.

  • Symbolism in Ralph Ellison's 'King of the Bingo Game'

    In the following essay, Sounders describes some of the symbols in "King of the Bingo Game," such as the double zero and the other instances of invisibility, which help to create the theme of "powerlessness of Blacks in America.''

  • Slippery Ground: Ralph Ellison's Bingo Player

    In the following essay, Chaffee discusses the symbolism of the "slippery stage" and the "slippery brink'' that the narrator of "King of the Bingo Game'' feels himself to be on, which is indicative of his mental condition.