John Updike's Poem Ex-Basketball Player

In the poem, “Ex – Basketball Player” by john Updike, (which is a narrative poem) illustrates the nature of life on how life is potentially is seen has a mirror to other people’s life, especially people who play sports. Life is the physical and mental experience of an individual. An in the poem the main character Flick, supply the poem with a good example of how life is potentially a mirror for other people. This poem is formally organized, even though it locks some qualities, it still haves the qualifications of a good poem. The “Ex Basket Player” is an interested poem because it has a good theme, tone and lots of figurative languages.

The poem tells the story of the life of the former high school basketball standout, Flick Webb and his fall from grace and fame. The speaker takes us on a journey through Flick’s life, beginning with the main street in town, developing to Flick’s fall from fame to his lowly job, and then ends by telling us of his menial daily habits. He was once the best basketball player in his area. However, he has since his fall from grace he is now just a lowly gas attendant who checks oil, and changes flat tires for a living.

What really defines a dreamer? Is it the children who have unrealistic dreams of playing in the big leagues or is it someone who has a plan and will go out of his or her way to achieve it? Both of these options can be true. Dreamers are special in this world because they have hope for something they believe in. Nothing is more fascinating than seeing an individual who never gave up and worked extremely hard to reach their goal. Having read only three sections so far, I have explored the individual’s purpose and passion for the work they pursue. The “Dreamers” section has made me analyze what I have and want with my future career. Overall, the elements of the book defining dreamers explains the meaning of a risk taker, the hard work and dedication involved, and the passion it takes to reach your goals.

Many people do not have the chance to live out their dream; a sundry amount have to settle for more attainable goals. Future presidents became dentists and rock stars turn into nurses. There is a limited population who can walk up every morning completely satisfied with their life path; McTeague is one of the lucky few. He is a man who took the remnants of his deceased mother’s wealth and pursued his dream. Some might fantasize of bigger homes or fancier cars, but McTeague dreamed of a little dental parlor. His dream of starting up a business can seem rather small, but McTeague is content with his one shop. The narrator however disapproves of McTeague’s ambitions and belittles the protagonist through choice of structure and condescending

There are many different dreams to be had: daydreams, dreams of the future, dreams of, well, practically anything imaginable. Perhaps one of the most infamous types of dreams that has been heard of is the American Dream. Defined as “the ideal that every American should have equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative”, the American Dream is one of equality and desire and those who strive to achieve it are ambition-filled, driven individuals. It is hard to define what exactly is required to have achieved the American Dream because, in truth, everyone has a different idea of success and prosperity. Success means something different to every ear that hears the word. This exact truth about the American Dream is prominently seen in the novel In Cold Blood by Truman Capote; a book composed of the many characters, all who possess very different ideas of what the American Dream is.

By contrasting a player’s ardent exuberance for basketball with his xxx disappointment in the poem “American Hero,” Essex Hemphill reveals the athlete’s conflict between his enthusiasm for the game and his resentment toward his superficial fans. For instance, the author emphasizes the player’s fervent frame of mind, “[having] nothing to lose... / I let the tension go. / Shoot for the net. / I slam it through...” (Hemphill 1, 8-9, 11-12). Hemphill illustrates the competitor’s energetic passion for basketball by describing his game-winning skills and slick athleticism. In contrast, the poet depicts the player’s resentfulness toward the cheering mass as he muses “I scored / thirty-two points this game / and they love me for it” (13-15). Despite

The struggles Willy and Troy face in achieving success call into question the legitimacy of the American dream. The American Dream perpetuates the notion that all people in America, regardless of their background, can achieve success. The two patriarchs, Willy and Troy, have very different and contorted philosophies regarding this dream; both spark fury and imminent failure when it comes to communicating that dream to their families.

Most believe that the American Dream is the perfect life, with a house and white picket fence. While this type of life may be an attainable plan, human nature causes us to always want more, so even with the “perfect” life, there is still always a goal left to be reached. Many famous celebrities who seem to have anything and everything right at their fingertips often end up committing suicide. proving that on the outside it may seem as though they achieved the American Dream, but there was still something more that they didn’t have. There is a common saying that goes “you only want what you can’t have.” So while people may dream their way into getting things that they desire, the grass remains greener on the other side.

After graduation, college athletes receive additional benefits, even if they are not part of the admittedly tiny group of athletes with the skills to play professionally (McCormack 21). Status as a former star athlete, or even an ordinary one, can open many doors in the professional world, especially in fields like sales and marketing. People enjoy associating themselves with athletic performers, especially those from their own alma mater. In addition, many colleges have developed special programs to help former athletes return and – if they have not received their degree, as many do not – complete their education ( 22). These programs make it a relatively simple process for a former college athlete to obtain his or her degree. More and more colleges are providing programs to help former athletes in a variety of ways, with the focus on helping them earn a degree ( 25). Some of these programs are still available to

In the second stanza, Updike uses personification to compare the gas station and basketball. He describes Flick as tall man, which implies he had the physique to be a good basketball player. However in the same line he uses the phrase “idiot pumps” (7), implying Flick has the physical abilities but not the intelligence to be successful in the real world. The only players Flick competes with now days are the five “old bubble-head style” (8) gas pumps at the station. The number five is used here to represent the five players on a basketball team. The pumps take on a human form. They are described as having “rubber elbows hanging loose and low” (9). The letters on the front of the pump form the faces of these make believe players. Updike compares the gas station and basketball to emphasize the change in Flick’s life. Flick used to be a star on the basketball court, but now he works alone. He sees his past in everything around him including the imaginary gas pump players.

Aspirations of success often drive individuals toward success. However if one only focuses on their dreams and not on working to achieve their goals, they will not be successful. Charles Dickens and John Steinbeck in their respective novels Great Expectations and Of Mice and Men, use their main characters failures in manifesting their aspirations to warn about the dangers of aspiring about the future and not focusing on success in the present.

Michael Jordan once said, “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” In order to achieve your goals, you must work for it and be determined to get them. You can stay home and dream about your goals, or you can go out and actually take a risk. This quote shows the theme of determination in Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls.

The American dream of success can be both a sweet satisfaction and a dreadful nightmare. Richard Rodriguez and his siblings grow up and become successful just as their mother suspected. On christmas, Richard and his siblings spoil their mother just as she wanted. However not all is well as her children and her are not close as they were before. In the following passage by Richard Rodriguez, Rodriguez uses language and details about his siblings, parents, and himself to show the distance created by material success.

In contrast to the imagery used by Housman, Updike stresses the athlete’s fading glory as the athlete has lived past his triumphant days. As “To An Athlete Dying Young” begins the poem through the imagery that shows the athlete’s success and his gain of honor, whereas “Ex-Basketball Player” indicates that the athlete’s life is no longer filled with glory. The road leading to the place where he works shares with the readers how meaningless and empty the athlete’s life has become as the road “runs past the high-school lot, bends with the trolley tracks, and stops, cut off” (2). Flick, the subject of the poem, has had his years of glory when he played for his high school since he had the skills and talent to break records. He had extra talent that made him become one with the basketball and handle it like no one else could as “his hands were like wild birds” (18). Although Flick had his glorious years, unlike the athlete in “To An Athlete Dying Young” Flick’s glory does not last because he now “checks oil, and changes flats” (20). “To An Athlete Dying Young” emphasizes that it is better

Through George’s guidance, Steinbeck shows in reality that not all goals can be done with just hard work. A little luck can be helpful as well, but some goals are just doomed to fail. With an understanding of this theme, we can incorporate this reality into our own goals and helping us farther in our own