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134 Unit 2 ■ Analyzing Comparisons and Representations

Literary Element Description Effect
Repetition Repetition occurs when a writer By repeating words or phrases, an author
uses the exact word or phrase creates emphasis.
consecutively, repeats a refrain
that occurs throughout a text,
or substitutes a synonym for
a word or image in multiple
instances.
Alliteration refers to the repetition Alliteration often produces a memorable
of consonant sounds at the phrase that can create emphasis,
beginning of multiple consecutive establish a sensory association set up by
or closely placed words in a text. the sound of the phrase, or by creating
an emotional association between the
word or image and the reader.
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Strictly for use with its products. Not for redistribution.

INTRODUCING THE TEXT GUIDED READING
TRM Lit Links. You may choose to open class

by showing students a clip from an interview with
the author. Several interview clips are available
from the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky
Educational Television channel on YouTube. Death by
They focus on Walker becoming the youngest
Kentucky poet laureate in 2013; Walker also Basketball
discusses his influences and motivations to Frank X Walker
write poetry.

THE TEXT IN CONTEXT
IDEAS IN THE TEXT Poet and artist Frank X Walker (b. 1961) was Photo by Rachel Eliza Griffiths
Education born and raised in Danville, Kentucky. While
Walker originally planned to be an engineer,
Purpose he followed his literary interests at the Uni-
Tragedy Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs were used with this sample chapter.
versity of Kentucky and earned an MFA in writing at Spalding University. He coined the
Poverty word “Affrilachia” to describe the culture of African Americans living in Appalachia: a
Opportunity - Aspiration mountainous region that extends from southern New York State to Mississippi, includ-
ing much of Kentucky. Walker also founded The Affrilachian Journal of Arts and Culture,
which publishes work from multicultural artists and writers who identify with the Appa-
lachian region. His books include Black Box (2005), Turn Me Loose: The Unghosting of
Medgar Evers (2013), and About Flight (2015). He is currently a professor and director
of the MFA program in writing at the University of Kentucky. In “Death by Basketball,”
Walker uses repetition to explore the dreams of a young boy in an impoverished
neighborhood.

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CRITICAL APPROACHES
Biographical
Author Frank X Walker is the creator of the word
“Affrilachia” (combining “African American” and
“Appalachian”) and frequently writes about the
intersection of history, identity, family, and place.
Walker describes poetry as a medium that can
reconcile both personal expression and historical
documentation: “There’s something powerful
about poetry that allows you to discuss sensitive
topics. You raise it to art, and if it’s art, you can
sit back and have a dialogue and conversation.
And that might be the way some level of
reconciliation can happen. . . . Historians don’t
own history.”

134 Unit 2 Analyzing Comparisons and Representations

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