Discuss The Following Passage In Detail.docx

Discuss the following passage in detail, commenting on the presentation of Ravi’s hopes and feels. Pg306 (ravi shook then shivered-the thought of such laurels) The vivid imageries in the passage illustrate the eeriness of the shed that proved Ravi was feeling uncomfortable and restless in the shed but he pushed on to win the game. The smell of the shed is compared with a simile to the ‘muffled smell’ of a ‘grave’, illustrating further that the shed was uninviting. Despite the unpleasantness of the shed, Ravi remained there which establishes that he was determined to overcome his fears to win the game. Ravi’s fear of isolation is shown in the flashback which compares the time Ravi was ‘locked into the linen cupboard’ in contrast to his current feeling of loneliness in the shed. The linen cupboard was described delightfully as being ‘familiar’ and ‘smelt pleasantly’, while in contrast the shed ‘smelt of rats, ant hills, dust and spider webs’ proving that he felt so optimistic about winning that it was worth waiting in the ‘dark’ shed all alone. Ravi’s fear of insignificance is a main factor in his determination to win the game. Throughout the story, Raghu is seen to push Ravi around and treat Ravi as he is inferior to him. Ravi describes victory as ‘to defeat Raghu’, showing that Ravi mainly wanted to win to overtake Raghu whom he saw as the ringleader. The passage Ravi ‘felt almost relieved to hear Raghu’ illustrates that even though Ravi didn’t like Raghu, he felt safe when Raghu was close to the shed. Ravi ‘shivered’ and trembled ‘with effort’ during his time in the shed, displaying his efforts to resist forfeiting the game. Even creatures such as ‘slimy’ snakes and ‘spider’ were not enough to force Ravi out of the shed. Ravi’s thirst for victory is displayed as he remained in the shed despite his fear of loneliness because his fear of being insignificant was greater. There are many points in this passage where Ravi ‘contemplated slipping out of the shed’ but he persevered, presenting that he had high hopes of winning the game and earning the respect of the other children, to be the ‘winner in a circle of older, bigger, luckier children’. He ‘half rose from the bath tub’ portraying his reluctance to remain in the shed, but the ‘despairing scream of one of the girls’ reinstalled his motivation to win as he felt that it was worth remaining in the shed if he remained ‘unconquered’ in the end. The theme of insignificance is portrayed strongly in the phrase ‘It would be evening soon. Their games would become legitimate’. This suggests that the winners of the game would be acknowledged by the children and the adults as ‘the parents would sit on the lawn’ and ‘watch’ the children play their game. This phrase suggests that Ravi would gain twice as much recognition as he would be victorious in both the children and the adult’s eyes. Victory in the game would bring Ravi a sensation ‘beyond imagination’. Ravi compares the game to the time he was bought a whole ‘slab of chocolate’, illustrating that Ravi didn’t experience much joy in his life and that winning the game would truly make him ecstatic. Ravi’s innocence is shown when he smiles ‘to himself almost shyly’, he couldn’t digest the amount of praise and ‘laurels’ he thought he would receive upon winning the game.