Ex Basketball Player Analysis

When I first saw the title of this poem, I automatically knew it was going to be about someone that use to play basketball, but I never knew the guy in the poem would end up the way he did. This poem is about an ex-basketball player, named Flick Webb, who use to be the best in his town. The third stanza talks about how he was an outstanding player and some of his accomplishments. However, the two stanzas at the beginning and the two stanzas at the end tells the life of the basketball player after retirement from the game. After ending his basketball career, he worked at Berth’s Garage, a gas station. There he sells gas, checks oil, and changes flats. Out of work, he smoked cigars, drank, and played pinball. It seems like the glory days for …show more content…
The tone is dry throughout the poem and is told in third person. One of the most used connotations is personification. The first example of personification is, “Flick stands tall among the idiot pumps.” Next example is,“The ball loved Flick.” The last example of personification is, “His hands are fine and nervous on the lug wrench. It makes no difference to the lug wrench though.” All of these have personification within them that brings what is being told to life. Allegory is used when the speaker says, “One’s nostrils are two S’s, and his eyes An E and O.” The speaker uses this to help describe what is being talked about. One last connotation that is used a lot is alliteration. One example of alliteration is, “Bends with the trolley tracks.” Another one is when the speaker says, “Checks oil, and changes flats.” The last example of alliteration is, “Their rubber elbows hanging loose and low.” These sentences have words within them that start with the same letter. All of the connotations that are being used are to help the reader understand the story more, be able to get a mental image of what’s happening and to bring the whole story that is being told to a new …show more content…
It’s not just about a guy who use to play basketball. The theme of this poem helps us understand that concept. The poem is trying to tell us to stay committed to something you’re good at.If you’re not good enough and you give up, you could end up like Flick. Flick was an amazing basketball player, but he never could find his place in this world. However, if you stay on top of your game and continue to get better, you could end moving onto the next level of competition. This story that is being told in the poem is a good reminder of what life could be like if you are to give up on your dreams. This poem helps brings these points out through using connotations, an attitude, and shifts throughout the