Downfall Of A Star By John Updike - 965 Words

Downfall Of A Star In John Updike’s poem, â€Å"Ex-Basketball Player,† Updike, an American novelist and poet born in 1932, best known for his â€Å"Rabbit† series, tells the story of an American tragedy when he describes the life of Flick Webb, a once high-school basketball star turned gas attendant. This poem is narrated by an unknown voice, but sounds like a local who knew of Webb’s significance in high school. Webb went from a successful high-school basketball star to a gas station attendant. Updike’s theme to this poem is that one’s past does not shape or make their future. In stanza three, Updike writes, â€Å"He was good: in fact, the best.† Telling the audience that Webb was indeed a talented player. In the beginning of stanza four, Updike goes on to write, â€Å"He never learned a trade, he just sells gas, checks oil, and changes flats.† Implying that Webb didn’t get far with his talent. Flick Webb set a county record for points with three hundred and ninety, and is now fueling gas and changing tires at Berth’s Garage. The use of Updike’s tone, visual prospective, and the characterization of Flick gives the reader a unique scene told from the eyes of the narrator on the past and present life of a once star. John Updike uses a unique form of narrating the poem; he uses the voice of what depicts a local resident who was a witnessed Webb’s stardom in high-school basketball. The tone to which this narrator speaks starts as reminiscent then gets sorrow and a bit depressing toward theShow MoreRelatedPoetry Essay Prompt2545 Words   |  11 Pagesdevices of sound, images, and allusions. 1988 Poems: â€Å"Bright Star† (John Keats) and â€Å"Choose Something Like a Star† (Robert Frost) Prompt: Read the following two poems very carefully, noting that the second includes an allusion to the first. Then write a well-organized essay in which you discuss their similarities and differences. In your essay, be sure to consider both theme and style. 1989 Poem: â€Å"The Great Scarf of Birds† (John Updike) Prompt: Write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how