45 pages • 1 hour read
Chris CrutcherDeadline
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2007A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Football
Football is a symbol of community. Ben Wolf joins the team after receiving his prognosis because he wants to challenge himself and have “a new experience” (18). He initially sees the sport as a form of entertainment and excitement, and therefore cannot imagine the ways in which playing with the Trout Cougars will contribute to his self-discovery and personal growth. On the first day of practice, Coach Banks tells his players that football isn’t “a microcosm of life” or “a religious or patriotic experience” (13); however, he does argue that it’s a beautiful game that can teach them all the importance of teamwork. His speech about the sport foreshadows its symbolic significance in Ben’s life over the course of the novel. The longer that Ben plays with the Cougars, the more he understands about forming unlikely friendships. The connections he builds with his coach and teammates make him value community and camaraderie. In Chapter 22, Ben says that his relationship with his brother is “like playing ball in some way” (288). In much the same way that he would give his life for Cody, Ben discovers that he must be “willing to lay down [his] body” for his teammates to be the best version of himself on and off the field (288). Therefore, joining the football community empowers Ben. He learns how to make sacrifices for his teammates and to check his own self-regard. He ultimately excels in this arena because he treats his teammates as equals rather than as rivals. As a result, this form of community contributes to Ben’s Self-Discovery and Personal Growth in the Face of Adversity.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
The Autobiography of Malcolm X is symbolic of inspiration and empowerment. Ben first starts reading the book because he wants to “maximize [his] education” (40). The book offers him an alternate version of historical truth to which he hasn’t been exposed in his traditional history curriculum. Throughout his senior year, the book becomes a social, political, and cultural guide for Ben. Malcolm X’s story helps him to understand the ways in which mainstream historical texts have erased the voices, lives, and work of certain demographics. Because of the book, Ben starts to make new “pushes for equality” in the classroom and his community (135). The Autobiography of Malcolm X therefore teaches him the importance of not only asking questions and seeking answers, but of standing up for what he believes in and advocating for marginalized groups.
The text also grants Ben new avenues for interpersonal and community connection. Inspired by Malcolm X, Ben discovers how to pursue change and extend empathy amidst his own adversity. Furthermore, the text inspires Ben’s civics project and gives him the courage to contribute to the “local political process at the same time” (198). The book also offers Ben an organic way to connect with Rudy McCoy. Rudy’s political beliefs align with Ben’s, and the book helps them to understand the overlaps in their points of view. By reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Ben learns how to take small steps to make large-scale change. Like Malcolm X, he knows that he won’t have the time to create the change that he wants in his short life. However, Malcolm X’s story empowers him to do as much as he can with the time he does have left.
Hey-Soos
Hey-Soos’s character is symbolic of wisdom and guidance. As his name suggests, his character is akin to a mentor or religious authority figure. When Hey-Soos first begins appearing in Ben’s dreams, Ben is desperate to understand who Hey-Soos is and why he is there. Over time, Ben realizes that it doesn’t matter where Hey-Soos has come from; it only matters that he is with him and willing to answer his questions and discuss the complexities of his life. Hey-Soos offers Ben the companionship and listening ear that Ben doesn’t have in others and grants Ben an unbiased space within which to process his emotions and explore philosophical ideas. He consistently reminds Ben that “the more you act out of fear, the less you’ll get done” (258). Hey-Soos acts as a divine presence in Ben’s life, who has no distinct origin or identity but stays by Ben’s side throughout his trials. Thus, Hey-Soos is a narrative device that propels Ben’s search for truth and pursuit of understanding.
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By Chris Crutcher
