Nine Gold Medals By David Roth Summary ICSE Class 9, 10 English
English is a difficult subject for many people to learn. Some students may become frustrated and give up, but here’s Nine Gold Medals By David Roth Summary ICSE Class 9, 10 English to help you maintain your momentum! This Nine Gold Medals By David Roth Summary will provide all necessary information needed in order to study ICSE Class 9, 10, English successfully at home or school; it includes detailed grammar rules with examples that were used during today’s class discussion on the ICSE Board English Exam.
The Nine Gold Medals By David Roth Summary in English, ICSE Class 9, 10, English makes it easier to understand the story. Understanding every detail of a story is important for scoring higher on an exam and expert writers have made sure that you know how everything flows together by summarizing perfectly!
About The Poet
Roth was a celebrated American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, musician, author and former radio personal widely known for his wild, robust stage persona, and as the lead singer of the hard rock band Van Halen. Born to a Jewish family on 10 October 1954 in Bloomington, Indiana, United States. His father Nathan Lee was an ophthalmologist and his mother Sibyl Roth was a teacher. Lisa Roth, the producer of the Rockabye Baby lullaby music series is his sister. He did his early schooling at The Webb Schools in Claremont, California followed by John Muir High School in Pasadena. Later, he attended Pasadena City College where he met the Van Halen brothers, Eddie and Alex.
David sang solo in their late teens apart from singing with a group called the Red Ball Jets. He strikes many chords, tastes, souls with his distinct songs, off best observations and potent singing and subject matter. He has a vocal range of five octaves and three notes. He has amassed top honours at premier songwriter competitions – Kerrville (TX) and Falcon Ridge (NY). His songs: Rising in Love, Manuel Garcia, May the light of love, Nine Gold Medals and Earth have found their door to Carnegie Hall, United States. He has served many genres, are Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Glam Metal and Pop Rock. He is known as a prosperous solo artist releasing multiple RIAA– certified Gold and Platinum albums.
About the Poem
Nine Gold Medals by David Roth gives us a glimpse of the Special Olympics ( a sporting event in which differently-abled sportspersons participate). It motivates us in nurturing feelings of human compassion, empathy, sympathy, brotherhood, sportsmanship and cooperation. This poem speaks of various athletes( both men and women) who have come from all over the country to participate in this ‘ Special Olympics’. They have come to partake for bronze, silver and gold metals for which they have toiled hard for years. Nine Gold Medals brings out the near about scene of a race and reminds us of our own experiences. In the poem, nine differently-abled athletes join in the prestigious Special Olympics and how at last an unprecedented unforeseen event preceded when each wins a gold medal in the same event. During the course of the last ‘ hundred–yard dash’, a young runner tumbles down on the track and being unable to get up, cries of his frustration seeing his labour go in vain. Others, hearing his scream returned back to help the injured contestant stand on his own and complete the race hand in hand. For their show of compassion, each was conferred gold medals.
However, many accounted that the event is based on a true anecdote but somewhat partly. According to the multitude at the Special Olympics Washington Office, the incident took place at a 1976 track and field game held in Spokane, Washington. But it was only a few partakers who actually turned to lay a helping hand and finish the race. The others continued their race. This has provided a great message to mankind and urged us that this world no more needs the rat race but more cooperation and collaboration. Ultimately this poem gives emphasis to the notion of care and empathy rather than winning the burden of competition.
Structure Of The Poem
The athletes had come from all over the country
To run for the gold, for the silver and bronze
Many weeks and months of training
All coming down to these games.
The spectators gathered around the old field
To cheer on all the young women and men
The final event of the day was approaching
Excitement grew high to begin.
The blocks were all lined up for those who would use them
The hundred-yard dash and the race to be run
These were nine resolved athletes in back of the starting line
Poised for the sound of the gun.
The signal was given, the pistol exploded
And so did the runners all charging ahead
But the smallest among them, he stumbled and staggered
And fell to the asphalt instead.
He gave out a cry in frustration and anguish
His dreams and his efforts all dashed in the dirt
But as sure as I’m standing here telling this story
The same goes for what next occurred.
The eight other runners pulled up on their heels
The ones who had trained for so long to compete
One by one they all turned around and went back to help him
And brought the young boy to his feet.
Then all the nine runners joined hands and continued
The hundred-yard dash now reduced to a walk
And a banner above that said (Special Olympics)
Could not have been more on the mark.
That’s how the race ended, with nine gold medals
They came to the finish line holding hands still
And a standing ovation and nine beaming faces
Said more than these words ever will.
The poem does not follow a definite rhyme scheme. For instance, the rhyme scheme of the first stanza is ABCD. Nine Gold Medals is written in the form of a song where we find eight stanzas having four lines each. It describes a series of events followed by a climax at the end. Described much like a story of nine athletes from all over the country. The language is very simple and lucid. Here, Roth takes the part of a narrator as well as an onlooker as he mentions “But as sure as I’m standing here telling the story/ Now it’s a strange one, but here’s what occurred.”Although the poem incorporates no specific rhyme scheme it is full of rhythm and its beauty can be relished by singing. Let us take the following lines as an example:
· ‘ And a banner above that said (Special Olympics)
Could not have been more on the mark.’
· ‘And a standing ovation and nine beaming faces Said
more than these words ever will.’
Literary Devices In The Poem
There are majorly two poetic
devices used in the poem. The use of alliteration and climax add a lucidity and
rhythm to the poem. They are as follows:-
1. Alliteration
It is the close repetition of continent sounds usually at the beginning
of words. Categories of alliteration assimilated in the poem includes:
·
“His dreams
and his efforts dashed
in the dirt.”
·
“ But the youngest among them
stumbled and staggered.”
2. Climax
The text leading up to an event, phrase, mood or feeling of importance,
in prose or poetry. In this text, the climax is achieved when the empathy of
the eight athletes wins each of them a gold medal by helping their fellow partaker.
Theme Of The Poem
The Theme of Brotherhood
The idea of brotherhood is the central theme which the poem ‘ Nine Gold Medals’ wants to convey. The poem proceeds in the form of an anecdote describing an event of the Special Olympics( organised for differently-abled People). Through a series of unprecedented and unforeseen events, the poet has narrated the human feelings of compassion, brotherhood, togetherness, empathy, sympathy and companionship. The poet has specifically used ‘ Special Olympics’ for sending the special message of universal brotherhood to the world.
In the poem, the nine athletes have gathered from all over the country to participate in the prestigious tournament and make their years of constant, effort fruitful. Both men and women have participated together providing a platform for equality. As the poem proceeds, a young competitor fells down suddenly. The injured athlete, unable to stand screams out his frustration seeing his hard-earned efforts going n vain. Upon hearing his howl, other partakers run towards him leaving their race. What follows next is striking. They all ( including the injured athlete) completed the race of ‘ hundred- yard dash’ hand in hand. At last, everyone, owing to their empathy, was bestowed with gold medals. The poem has successfully reflected the idea of brotherhood. We now realise that cooperation and companionship are what we need in this.
Questions And Answers
Is the Nine Gold Medals real?
The poem ‘Nine Gold Medals’ is based on a story about the nine differently-abled athletes in a Special Olympic event. Though it is perceived to be ‘a true story’, an online report claims it to be partly true.
What is the significance of the poem Nine Gold Medals?
This poem teaches us how encouraging a disappointed person may result in a win for everyone. Human compassion made the athletes forget the competition they had with each other. They picked up their weak companion and finished the race with him. Thus, they all ended up winning one gold medal each.
What event started 9 gold medals?
According to the folks at the Special Olympics Washington office, the incident happened at a 1976 track-and-field event held in Spokane, Washington.
What was the final event in Nine Gold Medals?
The hundred-yard race which was the final race of the Special Olympics is also the most prestigious event (100-m dash) at the Olympic Games, because the athlete who wins it is recognised all over the world. Nine differently-abled athletes were competing for this event.
How does the poet convey the intense moment Nine Gold Medals?
The poem presents the situation of a race, where the contestants leave aside their desire to win the medal to help a smaller and weaker contestant. They all go hand-in-hand to the finishing line.
What stopped the race after it had taken off in the poem Nine Gold Medals?
The race ended with the nine runners in the Special Olympics event holding hands and walking to the finishing line together. The race which was supposed to be a competition was reduced to a mere walk in the end delivering a message of collaboration and cooperation.
Where is the poem Nine Gold Medals set?
David Roth’s poem “Nine Gold Medals” is set in the backdrop of a true incident in the Special Olympics held in Spokane, Washington in 1976. It was a track-and-field event where there were nine participants. One of the athletes fell down to the ground during the race.