Contrast Essay: “To an Athlete Dying Young” vs. “Ex-Basketball Player”

Contrast Essay To An suspensor expiry juvenility vs. Ex-Basketball fraud To An jockstrap Dying junior and Ex-Basketball Player sh atomic number 18 the lives of both very different jocks. Both experience triumph in their lives, scarce one leaves with his idealization while the other lives sometime(prenominal) his age of corona and works at a gas pump where he is non recognized. The rimes discuss the importance of having nonoriety and keeping that nimbus as big as possible. Through the rimes the readers learn the benefits of dying teenage as salutary as the consequences of living after ones eminence has faded.Where Houseman glorifies the supporter for his achievements and other(a) death, Updike portrays the vexation of the athletic supporter living past his years of glory and non reaching high standards by dint of bug out(p) is support. The glory of the jockstrap in To An Athlete Dying unripened is portrayed as the verbaliser directly addresses t he athletic supporter while the loud verbalizer system of Ex-Basketball Player tell the story of an athlete whose glory is fading. Housmans vocalizer directly addresses the athlete by out the poem to discover the athlete much encouragement and clearly guide that it is better to frighten external spring chicken.Through out the poem, the speaker stresses the benefits of dying early days by addressing the athlete directly as well as video display his observe for the young dead athlete. The speaker knows that the athlete will not see his glory fade since he tells the athlete, you will not fellow the rout of lads who wore their honors out(18). The word you puts great emphasis on the byplay and appeals more to the readers as it directly speaks to the athlete. Since the speaker directly addresses the athlete at that place is more satisfaction present in the readers. The readers know that the death of the athlete was for his own benefit as now he will be better remembered.W hile Housmans speaker directly addresses the athlete to punctuate that dying young will help the athletes glory to survive, Updikes speaker simply tells the life story of an athlete who has muzzy his glory. As the speaker does not address the athlete directly, the poem seems more mono sense of smell than To An Athlete Dying Young. Through out the poem, the speaker tells the story of Flick as if he was no longer important. Updike uses the pronoun he to show the fading glory of Flick. Flick does not have success in his life anymore as he s both at work at the gas station or he hangs a bombastic Maes luncheonette (26). In business line to the pronoun you, he sounds more inappropriate and dull. The speaker of Ex-Basketball Player portrays the tediousness of Flicks life through such pronouns as he does not have the honor and glory he once achieved. Through the way the poem is addressed to the subject, the contrast mingled with Housmans historied athlete and Updikes failed athlete smoke be clearly distinguished as the readers can see the disappointment that Flicks life has become as he is not glorified like the young dead athlete. To An Athlete Dying Young uses imagery to glorify the athlete whereas Ex-Basketball Player uses the same technique to presentation the athletes fading glory. Housman uses imagery through out the poem to present the athlete with glory. Through the actions of the townspeople the readers understand the glory and fame the athlete has received after winning the race. He is treated like a hero as the townspeople chair him through the marketplace (2) and involve him home shoulder-high. These actions of the townspeople indicate that the athlete is living a life of honor as he is held high above everyone else.More importantly, his honor is not diminished even after he dies. Housman shows that it is better to die young while one still has the glory and honor. For instance, the athlete is remembered by the town as a man who achieved a gre at gentle and he is also the only glorious one amongst the dead. He stands out among the dead athletes who died at an old age when they had already outrun their glorious years. However, this athlete dies young while he still has the fame and renown since round that early-laurelled head will flock the potentiality less dead (26).The strength less dead argon the athletes whose have-to doe with died before the man(20). Housman emphasizes through the imagery that it is better to do while one is still remembered since the glory will stay with him and not fade away. To An Athlete Dying Young glorifies the athlete through the use of imagery while Ex-Basketball Player uses it to emphasize the athletes fading glory. In contrast to the imagery use by Housman, Updike stresses the athletes fading glory as the athlete has lived past his triumphant days.As To An Athlete Dying Young begins the poem through the imagery that shows the athletes success and his gain of honor, whereas Ex-Basketball Player indicates that the athletes life is no longer filled with glory. The passage leading to the place where he works fortunes with the readers how meaningless and empty the athletes life has become as the road runs past the high- nurture lot, bends with the trolley tracks, and stops, cut off (2). Flick, the subject of the poem, has had his years of glory when he played for his high school since he had the skills and talent to break records.He had extra talent that made him become one with the basketball and shell out it like no one else could as his hands were like paradoxical birds (18). Although Flick had his glorious years, unlike the athlete in To An Athlete Dying Young Flicks glory does not last because he now checks oil, and changes flats (20). To An Athlete Dying Young emphasizes that it is better to die young while the glory is still with the athlete and the subject of the poem does die on the other hand, Ex-Basketball Player portrays the life of an athlete who has li ved past his days of glory and is no longer remembered with honor.Housman tells the readers that dying young will reassure that the name does not die before the athlete whereas Updike shows the athlete whose name has already faded and he is still alive. The final lines of the poem emphasize that Flick still dreams of being among the best at basketball, but he longer can as he failed to uphold the glory as he imagines himself in front of bright applauding tiers (29). In contrast to To An Athlete Dying Young , the imagery used in Ex-Basketball Player emphasizes the athletes fading glory as he has lived beyond his days of success.Furthermore, the tones of the poems differ greatly as To An Athlete Dying Young has a praising tone while Ex-Basketball Player has a very neutral, discourage tone. In To An Athlete Dying Young the speaker seems envious of the young dead athlete through the way he addresses him. As the speaker tells the athlete that he is a insolent lad, to slip betimes away from fields where glory does not stay (10), the readers know that it was better for the athlete to die and not see his glory fade. The praise in the speakers voice is emphasized since he addresses the athlete as smart lad.This phrase creates a more light-hearted and encouraging tone since the speaker shows that dying young is not sad, but it is more beneficial for the athlete for he will still have his glory. On the other hand, the tone of Ex-Basketball Player is less enthusiastic and it does not encourage the athlete. The speaker degrades the athlete as he tells the readers that Flick never learned a change (19). In contrast to To An Athlete Dying Young the speaker does not praise the athlete as he compares the athlete to his high school days of glory and how he is not the same anymore since he did not pay attention at school.The athletes failures are more apparent in the poem than his success thus, the poem has a monotonous tone. Where the speaker praises the athlete through the tone in To An Athlete Dying Young, the speaker in Ex-Basketball Player develops a discourage tone. Housman glorifies the athlete for his achievements and dying early with his honor while Updike does not give credit to the athlete for his accomplishments, but shows his disappointment in the athletes fading glory. The poems share the benefits of having glory, but also emphasize that once the glory fades, the athletes names are fading.The success of the young dead athlete is remembered by everyone as he dies when he is still in his moment of glory, while Flick lives past his glorious days and his name is only faintly remembered. The contrast between the poems is emphasized through the way the speaker addresses the athlete, imagery, and tone. Housman and Updike stress the way glory can fade and change an athletes life while also obese the readers that dying young helps to be remembered with the glory still within the athlete.