Football Hero

Football Hero (

The poem football hero by Kaith Laing effectively uses literary techniques to convey a sense of not belonging for the primary feature a boy named ken, through his use of colloquialism, jargon, repetition, dialogue, metaphor, similie and sensory description the audience is communicated a changing idea from one of a warm atmosphere to feelings of exclusion and sadness of not belonging to a football team.

Through the authors use of colloquial language and jargon, the audience is given insight into the environment typical to a football team, and in particular Australian football as terms common to Australian culture such as the use of “mate” and “gidday”, set the scene as a friendly warm atmosphere and sets a very casual tone to the poem. This also effectively adds depth to the poem and provides a sense of realism for society and common occurances in today’s society. The colloquial language is primarily used in dialogue such as in the third stanza where it says “Gidday! Kenny! Good ter see yer, mate!”, through the dialogue we are again shown insight into the character who appears to be a stereotype of a football player and reflects the laid back attitude of a typical Australian. Jargon such as “ruckman”, “weave and duck and kick” allow for further description and expression of the theme of football, which provides authenticity to the poem and to the casual tone of the poem which shows the setting to be friendly demonstrating feelings of belonging and comfort in this environment.

Laing effectively uses metaphors, personification and similies to convey the idea of in the beginning a warm atmosphere which reflects the themes of the poem to a changed scene which reflects exclusion and conveys a sense of not belonging. In the beginning of the poem typical aspects of the routine of a football player are described and the setting is further set changing from being on the field to a locker room where it says “bare bums smiled like kids”, this simile further indicates the setting and describes what commonly happens in a changing room, which provides a warm setting one of a team and of belonging to this group. Personification is also used where it says “smoke wreathed and grinned it’s way around he rooms”, through this the smoke is personified which brings life to the setting and scene and conveys movement and action which affects the pace and tone of the poem and adds to the setting. The scene quickly changes as in the last stanza it says “they’d built up a wall up round themselves and ken was not inside it”. Through this use of metaphor the poet effectively conveys feeling of exclusion and of not belonging as it refers to a physical barrier which ken cannot cross, which is symbolic as he cannot be part of the team due to his injury. This is significant as through this the poet effectively conveys the primary theme of the poem which is not belonging and encompasses the tone of the poem providing a more sombre environment.

The use of sensory description and repletion further express the tone of the poem and provide authenticity for the setting effectively creating imagery and emphasis fot he environment. Sensory description is used repeatedly in the poem appealing to all five senses, sight where it says “smoke wreathed and grinned” and “they’d built a wall up round themselves”, smell where it says “”smell of sweat and gum and mouthguards, wafted in and out – the stink of Eucalyptus oil, taste where it says “pies and grogs and hot dogs”, feeling where it says “Ken’s leg throbbed” and hearing where is says “the siren blew” and “oaths and earnest conversation popped and buzzed about”. Through these accurate descriptions of the setting the poet effectively creates imagery which provides the poem with more understanding and further explains the setting which allows for the poet to convey the tone of the poem. Through the use of repetition of “no longer” in the last stanza the poet adds emphasis to the fact that ken does not belong and adds to the feelings of sadness and exclusion.

Laing effectively uses literary techniques to express the setting and emotions associated with a typical football team atmosphere and environment whilst expressing a changing tone from one of belonging to one of exclusion and sadness.