Bullfighting

Term Paper Title	Bullfighting
# of Words	466
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	1.86

Bullfighting

English 1301.008 December 4, 1996

     The spectacle of bullfighting pits a man against a charging bull.  The
bullfighter, called a matador, faces the bull in a large dirt-filled arena that
is usually surrounded by spectators.  Aided by a group of apprentices, called
the cuadrilla, the matador goads the bull into charging at him.  A bullfight
usually features three matadors, each of whom fights two bulls. The bulls are of
a distinctly savage breed especially trained to attack humans.  A bullfight is
relentless. If a matador is injured, another replaces him, and the bull is
killed at the end of each match. To followers of bullfighting the contest
between man and beast demonstrates human skill and courage as does no other
sport. However, many people believe bullfighting is barbaric and inhumane.

     The contest begins with a colorful grand entrance by the participants.
The actual fight starts when the picadors, who are horse-mounted members of the
cuadrilla.  They fend off the bull's charges with sharp steel-tipped pikes,
called pics. They weaken and anger the bull by piercing its neck and shoulders.
Then come the banderilleros, named after their banderillas, or decorated barbed
sticks.  Clutching a stick in each hand, they rush the bull on foot and plant
the barbs in the animal's neck, weakening and angering the beast even more.

     Finally the matador comes in for the kill.  Brightly dressed, he uses a
sword draped with a  cloth, called muleta.  After a numbe...

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