The Base Stealer

1
The Base Stealer

• By Robert Francis
• Published in the Orb Weaver (1948)
• Presented By Kaela Perfetti and Jayde Sharp

2
The Base Stealer

• This poem should be kept in the 2010 edition.
• Many young teens are interested in sports poetry.
• It has many literary devices.
• It is easy for young people to understand.

3
Rhyme Scheme and Rhythm

• This poem is free verse because there is no
  pattern.

• .
• Poised between going on and back, pulled A
• Both ways taut like a tight-rope walker,
  B
• Fingertips pointing the opposites,
  C
• Now boun cing tip toe like a dropped ball D

4
Alliteration

• The poet uses a few different types of
  alliteration in his poem, making it seem that the
  base runner is speeding around the bases.

6 Running a scattering of steps sideways, 7 How
he teeters, skitters, tingles, teases,
5
Assonance

• Assonance is used to speed up the poem.
• 1 Poised between going on and back, pulled
• 7 How he teeters, skitters, tingles, teases,

6
Consonance

• 3 Fingertips pointing the opposites,
• 7 How he teeters, skitters, tingles, teases
• 8 Taunts them, hovers like an ecstatic bird,

7
Repetition

• 5 Or a kid skipping rope, come on, come on,
• 9 Hes only flirting, crowd him, crowd him,
• 10 Delicate, delicate, delicate, delicate-Now!

8
Simile
There are many similes in The Base Stealer.

• Now bouncing tiptoe like a dropped ball,
• The base stealer is being agile staying on his
  toes.
• Taunts them, hovers like an ecstatic bird,
• The runner stays on the players mind.

9
Imagery

• The use of imagery appeals to the sense of sight.
• 3 Fingertips pointing the opposites,
• 4 Now bouncing tiptoe like a dropped ball,
• 5 Or a kid skipping rope, come on, come on,
• 6 Running a scattering of steps sideways,

10
Conclusion

• This poem should stay in the 2010 edition
• It is clear what the poet says.
• It is easy for teens to read.
• It has many literary devices.
• Alliteration
• Assonance
• Consonance
• Repetition
• Simile
• Imagery