John Updike's poem "Ex-Basketball Player" makes use of sound devices that echo the personality of Flick Webb, a failed athlete, who almost made basketball the success of his life. Some of these are internal rhyme, end words that almost rhyme, alliteration, consonance, and onomatopoeia.
In a sense, then, the character of Flick that almost became something is reflected by an internal balancing of sounds of the poem that is also "almost rhyme." For example, this occurs in line 10 of the second stanza with the /s/ [/ / =the "sound of"]: "One's nostrils are two S's, and his eyes." And, although the poem is written in free verse, there is a rhythm in the lines of the second stanza with the end words of each line that "almost rhyme": “pumps,” “style,” “low,” “eyes,” “type.” This rhythm occurs with the /y=i/, and this "almost rhyme" occurs in several lines of the poem.
In addition to the "almost" internal and ending rhyming, there is the sound device of alliteration which speeds up the lines in another imitation of Flick. This time it is a mimicking of Flick's speed on the court. Some examples of this alliteration are the following:
"loose and low," "His hands," "Checks-changes," "Grease-gray," "plays pinball," "Necco...Nibs"
A further sound device occurs with Updike's use of parallel structure which serves to create the sound of dull routine in Flick's job:
...he just sells gas,
Checks oil, and changes flats
There is also some onomatopoeia: "dribbles" and lug."
Interestingly, the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas once remarked that a good poem
helps to change the shape and... to extend everyone's knowledge of himself and the world around him.
Certainly, Updike's simple poem about a former high-school basketball star extends the reader's knowledge of self and the importance of developing personal goals (to make a pun) and not just short-term ones.
No comments:
Post a Comment