Ex-Basketball Player Questions and Answers
Ex-Basketball Player
John Updike's tone, attitude, and point of view in "Ex-Basketball Player."
John Updike's tone in "Ex-Basketball Player" is nostalgic yet critical, reflecting a sense of lost potential. His attitude is sympathetic towards Flick Webb but also subtly condemning of his...
Ex-Basketball Player
What literary devices are used in "Ex-Basketball Player"?
A literary device is any technique that an author uses to achieve their goals in a particular work, especially in regard to aesthetics. The numerous literary devices in the poem include direct...
Ex-Basketball Player
What does "Flick stands tall among the idiot pumps—five on a side, the old bubble head style" mean in "Ex-Basketball...
The quote "Flick stands tall among the idiot pumps—five on a side, the old bubble head style" describes Flick, a former high-school basketball star, now working at a gas station. The personification...
Ex-Basketball Player
In John Updike's "Ex-Basketball Player," what does "idiot pumps" imply about high school athletes?
In "Ex-Basketball Player," "idiot pumps" metaphorically suggests the limited foresight of high school athletes like Flick Webb, who achieve fleeting fame but fail to plan for life beyond sports. The...
Ex-Basketball Player
What is the theme of the poem "Ex-Basketball Player"?
The theme of "Ex-Basketball Player" is the importance of moving on from past achievements and preparing for the future. The poem illustrates how the protagonist, once a high school basketball star,...
Ex-Basketball Player
In "Ex-Basketball Player," what were Flick's hands fine and nervous on?
In “Ex-Basketball Player,” Flick’s hands are fine and nervous on a lug wrench. A lug wrench is a tool frequently used by people who change tires. Flick used to be an extraordinary basketball player....
Ex-Basketball Player
What are three symbols in John Updike's poem "Ex- Basketball Player"?
In "Ex-Basketball Player" by John Updike, three key symbols illustrate Flick Webb's life. "Pearl Avenue" represents Flick's limited progress, as it ends abruptly just like his promising basketball...
Ex-Basketball Player
Sound effects in "Ex-Basketball Player" by John Updike
In "Ex-Basketball Player," John Updike uses sound effects to enhance the nostalgic and melancholic tone of the poem. These sound effects include the rhythmic bounce of the basketball, the swish of...
Ex-Basketball Player
Character analysis of Flick in "Ex-Basketball Player."
Flick is a former high school basketball star whose life has stagnated. Despite his past glory, he now works at a gas station, unable to move beyond his youthful achievements. His life is marked by...
Ex-Basketball Player
Who is the speaker in the poem "Ex-Basketball Player"?
The speaker in "Ex-Basketball Player" is not explicitly identified, but is likely a resident of the town where Flick Webb played high school basketball. The speaker is familiar with local streets,...
Ex-Basketball Player
Why does Updike describe Flick's hands as "like wild birds" in "Ex-Basketball Player"?
The narrator tells us that Flick Webb's hands were like wild birds because his quick hands gave him a huge advantage in playing basketball.
Ex-Basketball Player
The significance of Flick's name and its onomatopoetic quality in "Ex-Basketball Player" by John Updike
Flick's name in "Ex-Basketball Player" by John Updike is significant because it reflects his past as a basketball player, where quick, deft movements were essential. The onomatopoetic quality of...
Ex-Basketball Player
What does Pearl Avenue symbolize in Flick Webb's life?
Pearl Avenue in "Ex-Basketball Player" symbolizes Flick Webb's unfulfilled potential and brief career. The street, abruptly ending before it reaches its full length, mirrors Flick's short-lived...
Ex-Basketball Player
What information does the "Ex-Basketball Player"'s narrator omit?
The narrator of "Ex-Basketball Player" omits key details about Flick Webb's character and life choices. The poem highlights Flick's past basketball success and current mundane job but doesn't reveal...
Ex-Basketball Player
In "Ex-Basketball Player," how do Flick's and the speaker's perceptions of Flick's past glory differ?
Flick perceives his "past" glory as being complete and existing only in the past, while the speaker of "Ex-Basketball Player" admires all that Flick once accomplished and still celebrates him as a...
Ex-Basketball Player
Which object is not personified in "Ex-Basketball Player"?
Objects like gas and oil are not personified in "Ex-Basketball Player."
Ex-Basketball Player
What is the summary of the poem "Ex Basketball Player" and its relevance?
A summary of the poem "Ex Basketball Player" is that it is a description of a small town, and the life of a high school athlete. His focus was so much on being great at basketball that he lost sight...
Ex-Basketball Player
Why does the author use phrases like "idiot pumps," "rubber elbows," and "bucketed" in "The Ex-Basketball Player"?
The author uses phrases like "idiot pumps," "rubber elbows," and "bucketed" to emphasize the contrast between Flick Webb's past glory as a basketball star and his current mundane existence. The...
Ex-Basketball Player
In "Ex-Basketball Player," why did the poet choose basketball over other sports?
The poet chose basketball because John Updike, the author, played basketball and often wrote about it in his works. Basketball allows for close interaction between players and spectators, which...