In The Sportswriter, Richard Ford uses a variety of descriptive passages and imagery to interest the reader and make some of his stories more entertaining. In addition to this entertainment, the imagery makes some of his stories much more emotional. The reader can feel the passion that Richard Ford puts into his writing, which is to some degree rather inspiring.
Examples of vivid description can be seen throughout the entire novel. One of the best examples of imagery describes the scenery on the way to the hospital. "Pheasant Meadow sits at the other lower end of the stubble field-a boxy, unscenic complex of low brown-shake buildings overlooking a shallow man-made mud pond, a yellow bulldozer, and some other apartments already half-built" (Ford 53). Richard Ford uses descriptive adjectives such as "boxy" and "yellow" to describe the images of his story. These adjectives paint a vivid picture in the reader's mind and really add to the effect of his story.
Another example of imagery occurs when Ford is describing Frank Bascombe (the main character) as he lies on his bed on Easter morning. "A gray, silvermane mist inhabits my room. I lie on the floor of the upstairs sleeping porch, fully clothed, my head cushioned by the boards, which are cold and morning-slicked by mist. In this posture I would often wake up in the months after X left. I would go to sleep reading catalogs, out like a light on the couch as I was last night, or in my bed or in the breakfast nook- but wake up on these same cold deals, still dressed and stiff as a mummy, with no memory of moving. I do not yet know what to make of it. Back then it didn't necessarily seem a bad sign, and it doesn't now. And though a longing permeates the cool morning, it is familiar enough, and I'm happy to lie still and listen to my heart harmlessly thump" (Ford 203). The gray, silvermane mist that inhabits his room and the harmless thumping of his heart appeal to the reader's senses, which make the prime examples of imagery. In addition to this imagery, Richard Ford uses the simile of the mummy to add to his detailed descriptions and enhance his story even more.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Character Study
In Richard Ford's novel, The Sportswriter, he develops some of the characters in a rather unique manner. The most prominent characters in the book are Frank Bascombe, his ex-wife, his son that passed away, his two other children, and his current girlfriend, Vicki Arcenault.
Frank Bascombe is a sportswriter who comes from a rather troubled past. He married a woman, to whom he only refers to as X, and together they had three children. The first child, Ralph, died, from a rare disease. This troubled him greatly and Bascombe endured a great amount of emotional pain through this ordeal. His two other children, however, are alive and healthy. Eventually, Frank Bascombe divorced his wife, X, and found a new lover. This new lover, Vicki Arcenault, brought joy to a somewhat depressed Bascombe.
The characters I have introduced, however, have much greater significance than the brief introduction I have given. Frank Bascombe represents a large percentage of Americans who are struggling with depression and unemployment. Richard Ford uses Bascombe to encourage struggling Americans to keep fighting and eventually something good will happen.
Bascombe's ex-wife, X, is a rather interesting character. Instead of calling her by her actual name, she is only referred to as X. "I am no longer married to X" (Ford 1). This shows Bascombe's uncaring attitude towards his ex-wife. He has moved on to a new stage in his life, and doesn't appear to care much for his ex-wife anymore.
Bascombe's son who passed away represents one of the many obstacles a person can face in his life. Ford is trying to show that there will always be setbacks in life, but one must try his or her best to fight through adversity. Ford uses Bascombe's other two healthy children to show that there will always be something to be happy about.
Frank Bascombe is a sportswriter who comes from a rather troubled past. He married a woman, to whom he only refers to as X, and together they had three children. The first child, Ralph, died, from a rare disease. This troubled him greatly and Bascombe endured a great amount of emotional pain through this ordeal. His two other children, however, are alive and healthy. Eventually, Frank Bascombe divorced his wife, X, and found a new lover. This new lover, Vicki Arcenault, brought joy to a somewhat depressed Bascombe.
The characters I have introduced, however, have much greater significance than the brief introduction I have given. Frank Bascombe represents a large percentage of Americans who are struggling with depression and unemployment. Richard Ford uses Bascombe to encourage struggling Americans to keep fighting and eventually something good will happen.
Bascombe's ex-wife, X, is a rather interesting character. Instead of calling her by her actual name, she is only referred to as X. "I am no longer married to X" (Ford 1). This shows Bascombe's uncaring attitude towards his ex-wife. He has moved on to a new stage in his life, and doesn't appear to care much for his ex-wife anymore.
Bascombe's son who passed away represents one of the many obstacles a person can face in his life. Ford is trying to show that there will always be setbacks in life, but one must try his or her best to fight through adversity. Ford uses Bascombe's other two healthy children to show that there will always be something to be happy about.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Powerful Messages
Another interesting aspect of Richard Ford's Novel, The Sportswriter, is the fact that he analyzes human nature and makes powerful statements about life in general. These statements make the reader think about his life and encourage him to devote a little bit of time to reflect upon it.
"Very early you come to the realization that nothing will ever take you away from yourself" (Ford 7). After reading this line, if you really let the words sink in, you will feel the power of it and strive to live by it.
"Choices are what we all need" (Ford 7). This is a rather bold generalization about the necessity of choices. I believe that Richard Ford is trying to give his own opinions through by using these comments. He phrases these generalizations in such a way as to stimulate the minds of readers and help them to see his ideas in a positive way.
One of the most appealing statements of the entire book is when Ford says, "There is no hope unless we can forget what's said and gone before, and forgive it" (Ford 144). I strongly believe that everyone should live by this statement. If people were to continually hold grudges against other people, then there would be even more conflict in the world than there already is.
"Very early you come to the realization that nothing will ever take you away from yourself" (Ford 7). After reading this line, if you really let the words sink in, you will feel the power of it and strive to live by it.
"Choices are what we all need" (Ford 7). This is a rather bold generalization about the necessity of choices. I believe that Richard Ford is trying to give his own opinions through by using these comments. He phrases these generalizations in such a way as to stimulate the minds of readers and help them to see his ideas in a positive way.
One of the most appealing statements of the entire book is when Ford says, "There is no hope unless we can forget what's said and gone before, and forgive it" (Ford 144). I strongly believe that everyone should live by this statement. If people were to continually hold grudges against other people, then there would be even more conflict in the world than there already is.
Unconventional Point of View
Richard Ford has a rather unconventional point of view in his novel, The Sportswriter. The novel is written in a first person point of view; however, Richard Ford is not the narrator. A fictional character named Frank Bascombe is the narrator of the story.
Although this is a fictional story, there are many similarities between Frank Bascombe and Richard Ford. Frank Bascombe, like Ford, was a writer that published a few notable short stories. After this period of writing, both Bascombe and Ford became sportswriters and began to cover write non-fictional articles. These aspects of Frank Bascombe's and Richard Ford's lives are eeriely similar.
The significance of these similarites is Ford's portrayal of himself using a made up character. Ford uses Bascombe to re-examine his past and to appraise the value of the life he has been living. It is possible that Ford is unhappy with parts of his past, and he wants to use Bascombe to, in a sense, relive his life.
Although this is a fictional story, there are many similarities between Frank Bascombe and Richard Ford. Frank Bascombe, like Ford, was a writer that published a few notable short stories. After this period of writing, both Bascombe and Ford became sportswriters and began to cover write non-fictional articles. These aspects of Frank Bascombe's and Richard Ford's lives are eeriely similar.
The significance of these similarites is Ford's portrayal of himself using a made up character. Ford uses Bascombe to re-examine his past and to appraise the value of the life he has been living. It is possible that Ford is unhappy with parts of his past, and he wants to use Bascombe to, in a sense, relive his life.
Tone Shifts
In The Sportswriter, Richard Ford uses a variety of different tones to create a unique style and entertain the reader. These tone shifts are sudden, yet very powerful because they evoke a sense of excitement from the reader and encourage him or her to keep reading.
Some of the most prominent tone shifts occur in the beginning of the novel. He starts his novel with, "My name is Frank Bascombe. I am a sportswriter. For the past fourteen years I have lived her at 19 Hoving Road, Haddam, New Jersey" (Ford 1). This a very tranquil tone that doesn't have a lot of meaning to it.
Shortly after this introduction, Ford shifts to a rather blissful tone. "I lived in a large Tudor house bought when a book of short stories I wrote sold to a movie producer for a lot of money, and seemed to set my wife and me and our three children-two of whom were not even born yet-up for a good life. Just exactly what the good life was" (Ford 1). It is evident that Ford incorporates many different positive adjectives and verbs.
Suddenly, the tone shifts from blissful to dark and gloomy. Ford says," I am no longer married to [my wife], for instance. The child we had when everything was starting has died" (Ford 1). These horrible experiences in the narrator's life are brought up shortly after telling about the happiest times of his life. The author does this to contrast the differences between glory and gloom. Using this juxtapostion of happiness and sadness, Ford is able to evoke sympathy from the reader and possibly connect with the reader as well.
Some of the most prominent tone shifts occur in the beginning of the novel. He starts his novel with, "My name is Frank Bascombe. I am a sportswriter. For the past fourteen years I have lived her at 19 Hoving Road, Haddam, New Jersey" (Ford 1). This a very tranquil tone that doesn't have a lot of meaning to it.
Shortly after this introduction, Ford shifts to a rather blissful tone. "I lived in a large Tudor house bought when a book of short stories I wrote sold to a movie producer for a lot of money, and seemed to set my wife and me and our three children-two of whom were not even born yet-up for a good life. Just exactly what the good life was" (Ford 1). It is evident that Ford incorporates many different positive adjectives and verbs.
Suddenly, the tone shifts from blissful to dark and gloomy. Ford says," I am no longer married to [my wife], for instance. The child we had when everything was starting has died" (Ford 1). These horrible experiences in the narrator's life are brought up shortly after telling about the happiest times of his life. The author does this to contrast the differences between glory and gloom. Using this juxtapostion of happiness and sadness, Ford is able to evoke sympathy from the reader and possibly connect with the reader as well.
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