promenade Flashcards
“Have no desire for anything greater…I’m happy to run in place.”
The verb ‘desire’ has connotations of a powerful and profound longing. The fact that he has ‘no desire for anything greater’ suggests that he lacks ambition and is content where he is, to continue in his position without constantly yearning for more. The phrase ‘happy to run in place’ conjures up images of him working and living almost in a hamster wheel - constantly moving but never going anywhere, never forging forward.
This pleases me: that some things remain beyond my grasp. That some things cannot be rendered down.
This quote suggests that although he is by all means a ‘controlled’ man, and lives a life of schedules, he takes pleasure in the fact that certain matters in life cannot be controlled or regulated, indicating that he internally resents and despises the rigidity and sameness of his routine. The repetition of the phrase ‘that some things’ signifies the importance of the message he is trying to convey, and how much this means to him
“Still, I exercise, frequently if moderately. Because what would happen if I stopped?”
The rhetorical question: ‘what would happen if I stopped?’ is a poignant portrayal of the uncertainty and fear he harbors of the next set of years in his life. It paints a picture of a man desperately trying to cling to his youth, afraid of the consequences of accepting the ageing of his body and mind.
Every evening after work, at six sharp, I take my promenade along the sea wall near my flat…kicking my feet one-two, one-two.”
The detailed description of the precise time and location of his exercise regime indicates the overarching presence of ‘control’ in his life, and emphasizes the rigidity of his routine. The adjective ‘sharp’ suggests that he adheres to this routine closely and without fault, further exploring the theme of control and familiarity. The repetition of ‘one-two, one-two’, used to describe the rhythm of his feet as he walks, is almost a metaphor for the fact that he marches to an invisible, endless, mundane beat every day of his life through sticking to his routine.
: “The hard, functional build of someone who works with his body for a living.”
The adjectives ‘hard’ and ‘functional’ serve to describe the boxer as a fit, relentlessly active and physical person, who is tough and strives to be practical about how he exercises. The phrase ‘who works with his body for a living’ serves as a sharp contrast to the narrator, a slightly overweight copywriter who sits in an office chair day in day out.
“Swiveling his torso aggressively left and right.”
The verb ‘swiveling’ indicates the fluidity of his movements, hinting at his youth and vigor, whereas the adverb ‘aggressively’ foreshadows the narrator’s later conclusion that he is a boxer, who fights for a living.
“We are caught in a similar stasis. Like me, he is fighting to keep his body where it is.”
The pronoun ‘we’ serves as an establishment of their connection, a way to show that the narrator already feels a link to the boxer. The alliteration of ‘similar stasis’ highlights their similarities in their respective lives, and their shared struggle to maintain their fitness and break free of the chains of mundane reality. The verb ‘fighting’ enhances the idea of a true struggle, the difficulties that come with trying to battle ageing and maintain some semblance of fitness.
An appealing face, set in an expression of youthful resolution.”
The use of the adjective ‘youthful’ serves as a reminder of the narrator’s own age, and the boxer’s resolution, his firm unwavering purpose, portrayed strongly through the boxer’s character, contrasts starkly with the carefree existence that is usually associated with youthfulness suggesting that he is aged beyond his years.
“The woman who feeds the birds looks increasingly fragile…until one day she is gone.”
The adjective ‘fragile’ is used as a reminder of the delicate vulnerability of human life, and how quickly it can be taken away. It signifies something easily broken, something easily destroyed or threatened. The ellipsis before the dramatic sentence ‘until one day she is gone’ serves to build up tension, whereas the finality of the word ‘gone’ serves to represent the irrevocable completeness of death, and also acts as a foreshadowing to the boxer’s tragic fate.
” Where I produce copy about faster, stronger, younger.”
The listing of the adjectives ‘faster, stronger, younger’ are used to emphasize the narrator’s own physical slowness, lack of muscle and age, serving as a cruel, mocking reminder that time cannot be turned back and that the narrator’s age will continue to increase, slowly but surely. It also suggests that the world has no place for old, unfit people, that they are no longer desirable and wanted since fit, healthy youths are all that is being written about.
“What is it that delays me? A foolish thing. A flutter of wings in my chest…”
The adjective ‘foolish’ suggests that the narrator is still skeptical of ageing, still refusing to believe and accept that it will happen to him. The metaphor ‘a flutter of wings in my chest’ compares the narrator’s heart to a little bird. The verb ‘flutter’ is light and delicate, signifying the fragility of this vital organ and of life itself, whereas the use of the word ‘wings’ has connotations of winged angels, which therefore links to death.
“Age has come to me at last.”
The short sentence ‘age has come to me at last’ signifies a pivotal moment in the story, a turning point where the narrator finally realizes the finality of death and that ageing is inevitable and cannot be held back. The phrase ‘at last’ suggests that this realization has been a long time coming and that he has finally accepted that he will age and that there is nothing he can do about it.
“We start to nod to each other, cautiously.”
The verb ‘nod’ highlights the conservative nature of the boxer and the narrator’s first few interactions, highlighting their wariness of each other and that they are still afraid to approach one another. However, it is a friendly gesture, indicative of the relationship that is to come. The adverb ‘cautiously’ has connotations of wariness and nervousness, further emphasizing the uncertainty that shadows their greeting.
“It becomes a jokey ritual; a a greeting every time we pass.”
The adjective ‘jokey’ juxtaposes the idea of a ritual. It has connotations of something fun and light and friendly, whereas the word ‘ritual’ implies something powerful and important, like some sort of ceremony. It also highlights the importance of their meetings and how their connection has grown.
“Each evening we do the two-step dance…trading phantom blows.”
The use of the word ‘dance’ to describe their greetings suggests that there is more to these than meets the eye. Dance is a movement of the body to tell a story and to convey emotions, and the use of ‘dance’ in this description suggests the profoundness of their connection. The verb ‘trading’ implies an exchange, which also serves to highlight how much these two individuals need each other, and that they both get something out of these greetings. The use of the adjective ‘phantom’ has connotations of ghosts and the undead, which foreshadows the boxer’s untimely demise.
