I have a paper which requires me to compare "The Cadence of Silk" by Garrett Hongo with "Ex-Basketball Plyaer" by John Updike and "To an Athlete Dying Young" by A.E. Housman. I've read these three poems. The only clue I can find is they are all related to sports. 1. "The Cadence of Silk" This poem, as its title, is full of rhythm. It describes vividly how a basketball player dodges through strong guys defensing him and finally the player can gets point. The speaker's love for basketball can be seen in this poem because only the one who is really in basketball can he depict the consiseness of shooting. 2. "Ex-Basketball Player" This poem is about a talented ex-basketball player -- Flick. When the speaker is writing about him, he does not play basketball anymore. The reason why he done not play basketball is told. But I think it is becausehe hurt or something. As in his appareance told in the poem, "One's nostrills are two S's, and his eyes / An E and O." (ll. 10-11) If you try to imitate this cartoon-like expression, you will find it is the typical facial feature of an idiot. Instead of playing basketball, he stays in a gas station. When he is off work, the place he hangs around giving him an imagination of cheering. Comparing to the past days in the play field, now his audience become a tier of candys. The readers can know that Flick has been a star in his county, and his record still has not been broken. What is good for him is that he exits playing basketball when he is in his best condition. People remember him, though now he is an idiot who cannot play basketball well anymore. 3. "To an Athlete Dying Young" There is glooming through out the poem. The speaker dedicates this poem to a gifted athlete. In the first sanza, we know the cheer and marry time was past. Comaring to the rest of the stanzas, the use of tense is present. There is irony to use the same phrase "home we brought you shoulder-high" (l.4) and "Shoulder-high we bring you home" (l. 6), because the scene has been changed. Though the athlete dying in a young age, the speaker thinks it is good for him. Many people would think it is sad, even miserable, for one who is talented dying young; however, the speaker gives his explaination to his thouhgt. The field is "where glory does not stay" (l. 10), and "it [the laurel] withers quicker than the rose" (l. 12), which tells as long as the record is broken, the laurel will wither. And it is good for the athlete who will not, and cannot, see his record being broken, also good for him not to hearing the cheers and applauses for other players. Though "the name died before the man" (l. 20) but now the situation is opposite. The athlete dies before his fame and honor wears out. In other word, it is a good way to leave the field becuse when the athlete goes down to the hell, he can still "find unwithered on its curls" (l. 27). There are so many advantages the speaker counts, but it all uses a ironic tone. Since it (an athlete dying young) happens, the speaker just can accept the fact and think in a positive way. -------------Compare and Contrast----------------- There is similarity in "To an Athlete Dying Young" and "Ex-Baketball Player." 1. telling past glory time 2. not fame anymore 3. cannot player anymore 4. Athlete's glory goes with his death / Ex-Basketball Player's record is still 5. they are all gifted Difference 1. Athlete is dead / Ex-Basketball Player is alive -> but only can be glorified in his imagination -> miserable ---------------My Problem--------------------------- 1. There is no other relation between "The Cadence of Silk" and the other two pieces of poems...except for they are all related to sports. Is there any? 2. What I analyse above is the right why to think? 3. I don't get the idea of "The Ex-Basketball Player"... why use the first stanza to describe the place he works? In line 10-11, is that the ex-basketball player's facial feature? In line 20-24, what is that talking about? @@ Please give me some hint and advice. Thank you. :) -- Poem reference: "The Cadence of Silk" http://ytpan84.myweb.hinet.net/hongo.htm "To an Athlete Dying Young" http://ytpan84.myweb.hinet.net/houseman.htm "Ex-Baketball Player" http://ytpan84.myweb.hinet.net/updike.htm ps. These poems will be deleted by next week. -- 英一C的同學...(眨眼) 這篇報告不要抄別人的喔!!不然連五分都不會加給你... (語帶威脅) --

※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 59.112.4.196 ※ 編輯: uno0708 來自: 59.112.11.137 (04/11 22:49)