Baseball Figurative Language

Written by Ernest Lawrence Thayer in 1887, Casey at Bat is a narrative American poem and story, telling of a baseball’s game’s final half-inning between the home team Mudville, and another team. The poem has a main character named Mighty Casey, the team’s star hitter. Ultimately, Casey loses the game for his Mudville team at the end of the poem because he strikes out. Casey at the Bat’s theme is baseball with its tone being both exciting and suspenseful. Its tone also begins calmly, getting eager towards the middle, and then disappointing at the end. The purpose of this paper is to identify three figurative languages used throughout the poem. The three figurative languages that will be defined is metaphor, personification, and hyperbole.

Traditional Literacy is perhaps the most essential tool we will ever pick up, though learning it is a slow rigorous process that truly never ends. Usually early in childhood a child is taught a basic understanding of literacy which lays the groundwork for the continued refinement of these skills is key to improving our ability to communicate to others. The only way I can compare this process to something similar would be to parallel learning the steps of traditional literacy with those of picking up baseball, a sport I have spent almost my whole life participating in. I have found that the progressions for understanding the game of baseball are similar to those of learning how to gain literacy in a language. Each of these paths of development include some of the same strategies such as repetition to memorize an action, a coach/ teacher to teach and mentor, differing

This is clearly the case when he says, “...the Kid, grinding the bat in his fists, twitches and blocks his hips with the pitch...” (Angell 322). This vivid description makes the reader feel as though he is present for the greatest moments in the history of the sport. The best times of a game are what truly make the sport wonderful, and allowing the reader to be present for these instances makes his essay even more impactful. Again, this is demonstrated when Angell writes, “...Frehan braces himself in front of the plate... ”

Many people don't understand the point in playing baseball. Why would someone swing a stick, hit a ball, and try to get back to where they started before the ball returns? What pleasure is there in that? Why not participate in a sport like wrestling or track where there is an obvious level of individual improvement and therefore pleasure. Well, I play baseball because of the love I have for the sport, and because of the feeling that overwhelms me every time I walk onto a baseball field. When I walk onto a field I am given the desire to better myself not only as an athlete, but also as a person. The thoughts and feelings I get drive me to work hard towards my goals and to be a better person. The most relevant

Merrian Webster’s definition of baseball is, “a ball game played between two teams of nine on a field with a diamond-shaped circuit of four bases.” In reality baseball is so much more than that. The movies Bull Durham, The Natural, and Field of Dreams exemplify the metaphysical meaning of sport. Baseball is a metaphor for the American way of life; it unites people. It can even bring back the dead. The lessons learned in baseball illuminate the core tenants of American society. The metaphysical meaning of baseball represents Americas pulse and has the ability to even bring back the dead.

The game of baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday, in 1839- 177 years ago from today. Baseball has been, and is still today, known as America’s favorite pastime; additionally, due to its extensive history and partaking it monumental events, it can as well serve as a great topic to use in a story or poem. Poet Dale Ritterbusch, uses the game of baseball along with metaphors in his poem as a vehicle to write about a more substantial subject in poetry, the Vietnam War. His poem, “Behind the Plate”, can be simply over-looked to one as just a poem about an overweight catcher; nonetheless, when closely examined, it has a deeper meaning. Authors Michael Cocchiarale and Scott Emmert, both agree with the statement that baseball is a great outlet for further analysis of a more important subject: “Writers have seen sports, particularly baseball, as a useful vehicle for cultural and epistemological analysis” (Cocchiarale).

“Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in 1888” is a dramatic narrative poem by Ernest Lawrence Thayer. “Casey at the Bat” is a ballad of thirteen stanzas documenting a baseball game between an unnamed opponent and Mudville. The game is coming to an end and Mudville is losing four to two and the upcoming hitters are especially bad. By a miracle the batters reach base and bring the best player to bat. The win is just out of reach when Casey strikes out and loses them the game. Thayer uses figurative language, characterization, and choice of speaker to show the theme of men and masculinity. By giving Casey all the qualities of a super masculine sports hero, and then having him fail, Thayer makes us question whether or not those traits truly lead to success.

In 1839 Americas soon to be favorite past time was invented right here in New York, Baseball. Baseball whether you like the game or not, has weaved itself deeply into our culture and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. There are countless movies, articles, songs, playing cards, bobble heads, merchandise and books all made about baseball. The players are often idolized by children and adults alike. Baseball in our country was and still is a huge topic of discussion, whose batting average is higher, which team is better, is someone cheating. Troy Maxson like many American’s knows a lot about baseball like how striking out is bad and homeruns are how you win but there are things about baseball that Troy doesn’t know. The article, Walking Around the Fences: Troy Maxson and the Ideology of “Going Down Swinging”, written by David Letzler. Letzler Delves into the ideology of batting and walks in baseball in explanation of the main character Troy Maxson of August Willison’s play Fences, and his thought process of going down swinging and Troy’s thoughts on some of the major league players of that time.

Baseball has always been something that I have loved. Whenever I get the opportunity to be around baseball I am. I enjoy every aspect of the game, the pastime and now. That is why I chose the piece of art I did for this paper. For my piece of artwork, I didn’t choose a piece of art that was extremely famous by any means. I actually chose a piece of art that most people probably don’t even know exists. The piece of art I chose was Ebbets Field Giclee on Canvas by a man named Al Sorenson. Neither the painting or the artist are known very well, but this work of art actual made me feel something when I looked at it that provided me with the urge to write my paper about it. Some people may not enjoy it, but the sole fact that

Baseball has for a long time been a staple in the American sporting culture as baseball and America have grown up together. Exploring the different ages and stages of American society, reveals how baseball has served as both a public reflection of, and vehicle for, the evolution of American culture and society. Many American ways including our landscapes, traditional songs, and pastimes all bear the mark of a game that continues to be identified with America's morals and aspirations. In this paper I will be addressing the long residuals of baseball as it specifically relates to the emergence of the

I decided to interview one of my teammates for this assignment. I have known this softball teammate for two years now. She is twenty-one years old and she is from Ontario, Canada. I decided to interview my teammate because she is from a different culture and country. She has told myself and the other girls on the softball team multiple times about some things being difficult for her here because of her schooling in Canada.

I think the most important word repeated in this poem was “crowd”. When I read the poem the first time I noticed right of the bat that it is mostly about the crowd rather than the the actual game. William Carlos Williams puts a lot of emphasis and even a twist to the game of baseball. He emphasizes the crowed rather than the players. I have read quite a few other poems for example “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Lawrence Thayer and “A Late Elegy for a Baseball Player” by Felix Stefanile both of witch are about baseball and they all including the two examples seem to be about the players and the exciting homeruns. When I first read the title I instantly thought it would be the ordinary baseball poem but it wasn’t and I really enjoyed it. The crowd

Various aspects of life represent America in different ways. These aspects shape the history of America, at the same time, the history and values America has shaped them. When one talks about baseball, one thing that comes clearly into one’s mind is America. Why? America is the origin of baseball; it puts in more effort to ensure the game advances. Since the development of baseball, other countries across the globe identify and value America based on baseball in different ways. The script utilizes photos to disclose some ways through which baseball characterizes and values America.

The baseball, as one possible objective for fulfillment, symbolizes the desires and goals of mankind.

Amongst the next two and a half hours balls jump off bats and sore through the air. Fielders trap the ball in their mitt like a cat pouncing on a mouse