"Ex-Basketball Player"
There is assonance in the line...
“Before it has a chance to go two blocks” (3).
Identify a metaphor from the poem.
The line "for life's not a paragraph" is a metaphor.
What does the repetition of "Landlord, landlord" signify?
The repetition of "Landlord, landlord" signifies the tenant's frustration and anger towards the landlord.
What does the boulder that Roger rolls onto Piggy symbolize?
the demise (fall) of civilization
Who is referred to in "the hangman's horror"?
Roger
Updike uses a simile when he writes, “his hands were like wild birds.” What is Updike MOST CLEARLY referring to in this sentence?
Flick’s ability to shoot the basketball very well.
What does the speaker imply about love and wisdom in the poem?
The speaker implies that love and wisdom are often at odds with each other, and that true understanding may require sacrificing emotional connection.
Analyze the use of colloquial language in the poem.
The use of colloquial language, or colloquialism, in the poem helps to create a sense of authenticity and realism. It also makes the poem more accessible to a wider audience.
We see this in line, "You ain’t gonna be able to say a word."
What event leads to the destruction of the conch shell?
The event that leads to the destruction of the conch shell is Jack and his tribe's attack on Ralph's group.
This leads to the loss of democratic (equal/elected/free) power.
Describe the significance of Simon's death.
Simon's death symbolizes the loss of innocence and the triumph of savagery over civilization. During this moment, the parachuter's body was flying out to the ocean by the wind.
What does the ball symbolize in the poem?
The ball symbolizes Flick's past glory and the hopes he once had. It also represents the opportunities that have passed him by.
What is the significance of syntax throughout the whole poem?
It shows a comparison of the relationship of words in a sentence and the speaker’s relationship.
Hughes employs anaphora in line(s)
“Ten Bucks you say I owe you? / Ten Bucks you say is due”
How does Golding depict the theme of civilization versus savagery?
Golding depicts the theme of civilization versus savagery by contrasting the boys' initial attempts to establish a civilized society with their eventual descent into savagery.
What role does fear play in the boys' descent into savagery?
Fear plays a significant role in the boys' descent into savagery. Their fear of the unknown, the beast, and each other leads them to abandon their civilized values and embrace violence.
How does Updike use imagery to depict Flick Webb's character?
Updike uses imagery to depict Flick Webb as a faded and forgotten figure. He compares Flick's body to "a scarecrow's frame," suggesting his decline.
How does the structure of the poem enhance its meaning?
The structure of the poem, with its free verse and enjambment, reflects the chaotic and unpredictable nature of life and emotions.
How does Hughes portray the relationship between the landlord and the tenant?
Hughes portrays the relationship between the landlord and the tenant as one of power and oppression. The landlord is depicted as a greedy and uncaring figure, while the tenant is portrayed as a victim of his circumstances.
This poem is written during the Harlem Renaissance, but also during the Great Migration, which still had segregation.
Discuss the significance of Piggy’s glasses in the novel.
Piggy's glasses symbolize reason, intelligence, and the remnants of civilization.
How does Ralph's leadership style contrast with Jack's?
Ralph's leadership style is based on reason, democracy, and cooperation, while Jack's is based on fear, violence, and dictatorship.
What is the central theme of John Updike's poem "Ex-Basketball Player"?
The central theme of John Updike's "Ex-Basketball Player" is the decline of youthful potential and the disillusionment that accompanies aging.
What is the significance of the line "for life's not a paragraph" in E.E. Cummings' poem?
The line "for life's not a paragraph" suggests that life is complex and multifaceted and that life is not constructed into a logical or organized way.
AND
What does the conch shell represent in Lord of the Flies?
The conch shell represents order, civilization, and democracy in Lord of the Flies.
Analyze the symbolism of the beast in the novel.
The beast symbolizes the boys’ fear of the unknown and the unfound evil in all mankind.