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The Ex Basketball Player John Updike

318 Words2 Pages
In the poem “The Ex-Basketball player” by John Updike, personification, metaphors, and imagery tone all contribute to the theme of the poem. In the poem, the main character is Flick. Flick, had great talent while he was on the basketball team then later on in life, he ends up working at a gas station. The poet tells the reader about how Flick played basketball. The thing is, Flick doesn't play basketball anymore. Flick’s basketball career and skills went to waste. He regrets it all went to waste. The use personification, metaphors, and imagery give the poem its meaning. An example of personification is in line seven and says” Flick stands tall among the idiot pumps—.“ It gives pumps a human characteristic. “His hands were like wild birds”
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