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

Contrast Essay To An jockstrap Dying schoolboyish vs. Ex-Basketball thespian To An Athlete Dying Young and Ex-Basketball pseudo share the lives of two very different jockstraps. two experience success in their lives, just one and only(a) dies with his glorification opus the other lives outgoing his years of doughnut and works at a gas pump where he is not recognized. The poems discuss the greatness of having glory and keeping that glory as long as possible. through with(predicate) and through the poems the readers learn the benefits of dying late as well as the consequences of living after ones glory has watery.Where House gentleman glorifies the jockstrap for his achievements and early death, Updike portrays the shame of the athletic supporter living past his long time of glory and not reaching lavishly standards through extinct is life. The glory of the athlete in To An Athlete Dying Young is portrayed as the verbalizer now addresses the athlete maculatio n the talker of Ex-Basketball shammer tell the story of an athlete whose glory is fading. Housmans verbalizer directly addresses the athlete through out the poem to give the athlete much encouragement and understandably indicate that it is better to die younker.Through out the poem, the speaker stresses the benefits of dying young by addressing the athlete directly as well as showing his watch for the young dead athlete. The speaker knows that the athlete leave behind not see his glory fade since he tells the athlete, you will not swell the squeeze of lads who wore their honors out(18). The word you puts great emphasis on the line and appeals more to the readers as it directly speaks to the athlete. Since the speaker directly addresses the athlete there 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.While Housmans speaker directly addresses the athlete to stress that dy ing young will help the athletes glory to survive, Updikes speaker simply tells the life story of an athlete who has lost his glory. As the speaker does not address the athlete directly, the poem seems more monotone than To An Athlete Dying Young. Through out the poem, the speaker tells the story of movie as if he was no longer important. Updike uses the pronoun he to emphasize the fading glory of Flick. Flick does not have success in his life anymore as he s either at work at the gas station or he hangs around Maes luncheonette (26). In contrast to the pronoun you, he sounds more distant and dull. The speaker of Ex-Basketball Player portrays the verbiage 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 between Housmans illustrious athlete and Updikes failed athlete nookie be clearly distinguished as the readers hindquarters see the disappointment that Flicks life ha s become as he is not praise like the young dead athlete. To An Athlete Dying Young uses imagery to glorify the athlete whereas Ex-Basketball Player uses the comparable technique to show the athletes fading glory. Housman uses imagery through out the poem to present the athlete with glory. Through the actions of the townshipspeople the readers understand the glory and fame the athlete has received after victorious the race. He is treated like a hero as the townspeople chair him through the marketplace (2) and bring 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 emphasizes that it is better to die young while one pipe down has the glory and honor. For instance, the athlete is remembered by the town as a man who achieved a great title and he is also the only storied one amongst the dead. He stands out amon g 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 megabucks the strength less dead (26).The strength less dead are the athletes whose name 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 check 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 apply 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 road leading to th e place where he works shares with the readers how meaningless and empty the athletes life has become as the road runs past the high-school 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 handle it like no one else could as his hands were like wild 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 lived past his days of glory and is no longer remembered with honor.Housman tells the readers that dying young will g uarantee 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, reject 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 smart 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 gl ory 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 animated and it does not encourage the athlete. The speaker degrades the athlete as he tells the readers that Flick never learned a trade (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 discouraging tone. Housman glorifies the ath lete 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 label 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 telling the readers that dying young helps to be remembered with the glory still within the athlete.