ipl-logo

Literary Devices In Edward Hirsch's Fast Break

297 Words2 Pages
“Fast Break” is a poem written by Edward Hirsch. It is about basketball, specifically a play called the fast break. Hirsch uses literary devices such as vivid language and hyperboles to express his passion for the game. By using vivid language Hirsch conveys the extreme detail of the play. Using words such as “gangly”, “tandem”, and “inexplicably”, he creates a vivid motion picture in your mind as you read the poem. You can feel the intensity of the game as you read, it gives you an on edge feeling. By using the word tandem, Hirsch explains that the two players are together as one, they’re arranged with one in front of the other and fluent in motion. The word gangly elaborates on how the player is tall and thin and looks clumsy, but he defying
Show More
Related
975 Words | 4 Pages

Since Devon is an all-boys boarding school, Finny’s environment is bound to be highly competitive, especially when it comes to sports. Despite the numerous athletes at the school, Finny appears to shine above them all with seemingly no effort at all. One such example is when Finny unofficially breaks the school’s 100 meter freestyle swimming record, much to the amazement of Gene. “The sports Finny played officially—football, hockey, baseball, lacrosse—didn’t have school records. To switch to a new sport suddenly, just for a day, and immediately break a record in it—that was about as neat a trick, as dazzling a reversal as I could, to be perfectly honest, possibly imagine”(Knowles p.45).

Read More
574 Words | 3 Pages

Brent was now 16 years old, and was on the New Haven high school basketball team. In his Sophomore year, he had won the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award. He had faced his challenge of becoming a one armed basketball player, when he was 7 years old. Nastier remarks then can be thought about in the human language were spoken. Brent did not let this get to his head, with the undenying thought of going all-pro in the sport he loved.

Read More
887 Words | 4 Pages

It is like a breath of fresh air, in contrast to the somber and heavier sections mentioned previously. It”s a noteworthy part of the story because it drives the plot forward, as the author displays Saul’s newly found passion for hockey, as well as his brotherly bond with his teammates. In the text, the reader is introduced to concepts such as laughter, expression and freedom. This demonstrates that, in the midst of the most gruelling and sorrowful times at the residential school, Saul has finally found a safe haven. The spirit of the game is an excellent outlet to distract him from the everyday upheaval and abuse.

Read More
566 Words | 3 Pages

“Execution” by Edward Hirsch is about an adult recollecting his thoughts about his high school football career and especially how his coach inspired him because his authoritative role model was battling cancer. The speaker talks about the coach’s goal for “perfect execution” and the infinite strategies the coach would draw up in order to reach his goal. The speaker concludes with their team’s loss against “the downstate team” and how they were ironically defeated by “perfect execution.” A superficial reader might assume that the poem was about the disappointing results that came from his team working hard to reach a goal, but the author’s use of impersonal tone and irony in the fact that their team’s loss is caused by “perfect execution” shows how a strong force can be conquered even when putting your best foot forward when accepting a challenge. Have you ever been a part of a team that seemed invincible and you lost?

Read More
1067 Words | 5 Pages

The Boys of Dunbar written by Alejandro Danois is a compelling narrative about an inner-city Baltimore high school basketball team who became a national powerhouse from 1981-1983. This is “A story of love, hope, and basketball”. Throughout this essay, The Boys of Dunbar will be explained, reviewed and critiqued. The two Dunbar teams from 1981-1983 are regarded as some of the best high school basketball teams that were ever assembled and many of the players on these teams are thought of as some of the most talented basketball players to ever come from Baltimore.

Read More
1729 Words | 7 Pages

Literary devices are techniques of expression that authors use to convey meaning to their story. When used with proper skill, these devices can bring copiousness and clarity to the content (Duckart). Certain literary devices can be applied to both fiction and nonfiction books. This essay will show how Ray Bradbury, the author of Fahrenheit 451, uses symbolism throughout his novel to provide the reader with a better grasp at deeper understanding and meaning to his novel. More often than not, symbolisms are not obvious and are easily looked over; however, when analyzed in detail, they add new and important dimensions of meaning to the story line.

Read More
1599 Words | 7 Pages

(AGG) Think, take a good look around at your society, if you don't you might seriously regret it. (BS-1) Technology is a huge distractions and a big problem in both societies and with new advances coming out every minute, there is no stopping the distractions from taking over society. (BS-2) Fahrenheit 451 and our society are depressed and unhappy because of these distractions, so they take their lives.

Read More
849 Words | 4 Pages

The Unexpected That Changed My Life for the Better Friday Night Lights not only refers to the stadium that football players play in, but it also refers to every Friday night in September through November. That simple phrase brings back several memories, that carry emotional weight. Memories that are exciting, awe-inspiring, and even painful, and frustrating. The poem “Friday Night Lights” by Gerald Locklin summarizes some of the emotions that come with playing a sport, and brings about a deeper thought process. Being a part of a sport becomes your life, it teaches life lessons, helps build your personality, and shows you passions you never would have dreamed of.

Read More
434 Words | 2 Pages

The way Ray Bradbury, the author, described the street was intended for the reader to feel as though it was not safe to be out and about. For example, Bradbury compares the street to a graveyard, “...and it was not unequal to walking through a graveyard where only the faintest glimmers of firefly light appeared…” (47 Bradbury). Relating the homes surrounding Leonard to a graveyard creates a dark mood that makes the reader feel as though something dreadful is destined to happen. Additionally, the setting foreshadows his fate because the phrases to interpret the setting are negative.

Read More
493 Words | 2 Pages

The Subject of the poem Ex-Basketball player is a guy named flick who was a really good athlete in high school. This athlete's name is Flick Webb and he grew up without learning a trade so he works as a mechanic. The narrator used to watch Flick play in high school. This poem describes how Flick used to be a really good athlete. It also goes over his current life and how his work life is.

Read More
1322 Words | 6 Pages

In the novel Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger readers are introduced to a young man named Holden Caulfield who introduces himself and begins to tell his story of how and why he left his school; Pencey Prep. In the story, Holden explains how he is being kicked out of school and doesn't want his parents to know and so leaves school early. throughout the story, Holden explains what happens to him before he must go home and act like he is home from school for a break instead of being kicked out. When it comes to the topic of Author's purpose of The will of individual vs the will of the majority some will think the purpose is to show that Holden going against the will of society to rebel, however, I think the author’s purpose of The Catcher in the Rye was to show that the individual will manifest in his desire for isolation comes from his is fear and damage done by fear of pain, failure, rejection, and is unwilling or unable to go along with the majority. This all shown through Imagery, symbolism, and diction.

Read More
559 Words | 3 Pages

The assonance of the o sound in who, looks, to, and floor used here is another way to emphasize how the defender was unprepared for the fast break. Finally Hirsch has a good use of consonance. In line 30, “falling, hitting the floor” (Hirsch 30). The consonance of the ng sound at the end of falling and hitting emphasizes that in the game of basketball you have to be willing to sacrifice your body for the betterment of the team. Hirsch’s use of sound devices are one final reason why “Fast Break” is the best poem ever.

Read More
934 Words | 4 Pages

In stanza three, where the speaker reflects back on flick’s character, the specific word choice stresses Flick’s athletic ability. Words such as “bucketed,” “county record still,” (Updike) and “rack up” highlights his achievements. Yet the words the speaker uses to describe the

Read More
818 Words | 4 Pages

“Biff, after he has discovered his identity, is able to speak forcibly and in simple language which round like everyday speech, though it is of course, full of the devices of rhetoric. It is interesting moving speech, his emotion is dumb, and so is Willy’s response. “Happy and Howard need only a superficial language because they are using speech as a sort of provocative shell. Charley also is keeping emotion at arm’s length, but he expresses himself with a crisp, wise-cracking force. ‘Can’t we do something about the walls?’

Read More
824 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has abnormal tendencies. Although he could just be a typical teenager, dealing with difficult situations, after analyzing his behavior it is believed that he is suffering from a mental ailment of some sort. Events from Holden’s past are still currently haunting him and it is evident that he is struggling. He needs the guidance of those around him in order to help himself through these tough time.

Read More

More about Literary Devices In Edward Hirsch's Fast Break

Related Topics

Open Document