“Ex-Basketball Player‚” by John Updike is the poem that struck me this week. It is about a man who once had great potential but never followed through with it. Flick Webb is the focus of this poem; he was a basketball star in high school quite some time ago‚ but nowadays he merely pumps gas at a local station. The first stanza provides the readers with geographical information about the location of the gas station. “Pearl Avenue runs past the high school lot‚ bends with the trolley tracks‚
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the Perfect Basketball Athlete” During the past years‚ basketball coaches have begun to put more effort into working closely with their athletes to maximise their skill development. There are many important components essential to becoming the elite basketballer. Some of the major components that are critical to building the perfect basketball athlete include the athlete’s nutrition intake‚ the knowledge and experience of the athlete’s game‚ a positive public profile and the athletes training program/fitness
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After looking at the title of the poem “Ex-Basketball Player‚” I assume it is about a former basketball player and his life now. After I read the poem‚ I find out that John Updike‚ the author‚ starts the first paragraph by describing a town. He tells about the trolley tracks and some of the stores‚ including a plaza and a garage. Then‚ the author goes on to introduce a character in the poem‚ Flick Webb‚ who helps in the garage in town. In the second paragraph‚ the author explains that Webb used to
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A. E. Housman’s "To an Athlete Dying Young‚" also known as Lyric XIX in A Shropshire Lad‚ holds as its main theme the premature death of a young athlete as told from the point of view of a friend serving as pall bearer. The poem reveals the concept that those dying at the peak of their glory or youth are really quite lucky. The first few readings of "To an Athlete Dying Young" provides the reader with an understanding of Housman’s view of death. Additional readings reveal Housman’s attempt
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a poem can reach the heart of the reader and give him or her a closer tie to the subject matter that the poet is trying to discuss. A. E. Housman’s “To an Athlete Dying Young” uses figurative language to further convey the poems theme of the death of an athlete who died
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The poem "The Ex-Basketball Player" by John Updike dramatizes the conflict between dreams and reality in the case of Flick Webb. Flick shows such promise in his teenage years‚ but he ends up in the pathetic reality of helping out at a garage and playing pinball in a luncheonette. The poem begins with the description of "Pearl Avenue" which "bends with the trolley tracks‚ and stops‚ cut off / Before it has a chance to go two blocks..." Pearl Avenue presents a ticket name connoting a clean‚ freshness
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Basketball is one of the most diverse sports when it comes to having different types of players. The beauty of the sport is that all of the players are needed to win and not just one player. There are countless ways a player can contribute to the team and the game. In fact‚ there are around a dozen skills a player can have. However‚ overall there are three main types of basketball players. First‚ there are pure shooters who excel in scoring from virtually anywhere. Secondly‚ there are highly gifted
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Mark Twain once said‚ "The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time." A.E. Houseman‚ in the tragic poem “’To an Athlete Dying Young‚" examines the themes of youth and premature death. The poem addresses a young runner who epitomized glory by winning a race and earning the heart of his townsmen. The triumph of the youth’s winning of a race is matched by the ironic triumph of his death. The usage of metaphoric language‚ imagery‚ sophisticated
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Theme in Housman’s “To an Athlete Dying Young” By Genea Cannon Dr. A. Kantor English 1302 6 March 2009 “To an Athlete Dying Young” by A. E. Houseman The time you won your town the race We chaired you through the market-place; Man and boy stood cheering by‚ And home we brought you shoulder-high. Today‚ the road all runners come‚ Shoulder-high we bring you home‚ And set you at your threshold down‚ Townsman of a stiller town. Smart lad‚ to slip betimes away From fields where
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Sydney Walcher Instructor‚ Lisa Ward English 1213 8 April 2013 To an Athlete Dying Young A.E. Housman was a poet born in 1859 who became very successful during his lifetime. “To an Athlete Dying Young” represents the theme of glory is fleeting by illustrating the point that if a successful athlete dies young‚ they will not have to worry about their glory of victory fading. They can rest in peace knowing they will be remembered at their athletic peak when they were successful and victorious. They
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