400-Meter Free Style

Words: 241
Pages: 1

In the stories “400-Meter Free Style” by Maxine Kumin and “Body Builders Contest” by Wislawa Szymborska, each stories has their own tone that fits with the theme of each. The tone is created through the form, diction, and syntax in both stories. In “400-Meter Free Style”, the tone is set by the pattern of the lines: “The gun full swing the swimmer catapults and cracks / s / i / x / feet away onto that perfect glass he catches at” (1-5). That pattern reminds the reader of a swimming pool. Kumin’s diction and syntax also helps to create the visible shape in this concrete poem: “throws behind him scoop after scoop” (9). The words “scoop after scoop” is an alliteration that is created by the author’s diction and syntax, and is another key part