TDA on “The Rider”
DIRECTIONS: Write your TDA in the box below the prompt.
Prompt:
In the poem “The Rider,” Naomi Shihab Nye discusses how to escape loneliness. Write an essay about what loneliness means to the speaker of the poem. Cite passages from the poem to support your points.
I just want to know what else should i add
I think Naomi Shihab feels that Loneliness means being sad, not having anyone to be with. According to the poem “As he was cycling down the road, he recalled what the roller skater said about skating fast enough to leave your loneliness behind”. I feel in this line she is trying to say u should leave loneliness behind. As in line 3 when the loneliness couldn't catch the boy up. Well in line 12 are also personified because they have never felt loneliness. In stanza three the time change becomes clear. It's the here and now. The speaker is on a bike wondering if the same thing could happen (to her or him) as happened to the boy. The speaker imagines floating "free into a cloud of sudden azaleas." In my opinion, I think the speaker is referring to being free of loneliness.
A boy told me
if he roller-skated fast enough
his loneliness couldn’t catch up to him,
the best reason I ever heard
for trying to be a champion.
What I wonder tonight
pedaling hard down King William Street
is if it translates to bicycles.
A victory! To leave your loneliness
panting behind you on some street corner
while you float free into a cloud of sudden azaleas,
pink petals that have never felt loneliness,
no matter how slowly they fell.
Your essay seems to be off to a good start! To further expand your analysis and strengthen your essay, here are a few suggestions:
1. Explore the speaker's personal experience with loneliness: In the prompt, you are asked to discuss what loneliness means to the speaker. While you have mentioned that loneliness means being sad and not having anyone to be with, consider going deeper into the emotions and thoughts expressed by the speaker. Are there specific instances in the poem where the speaker directly expresses their loneliness? Are there any metaphors or imagery that convey the speaker's feelings of isolation? Analyze these moments and explain how they contribute to the understanding of loneliness.
2. Discuss the relationship between physical activity and escaping loneliness: The poem introduces the idea that physical activities like roller-skating and cycling can help escape loneliness. Reflect on why the speaker finds this concept intriguing and explore how this translates to the theme of the poem. Does the speaker suggest that being physically active is a form of distraction from loneliness? Or do these activities provide a sense of freedom and liberation that temporarily alleviates the feeling of being alone? Use specific lines from the poem to support your analysis.
3. Examine the role of nature in combating loneliness: The imagery of azaleas and pink petals in the poem suggests a connection between nature and overcoming loneliness. Discuss how the speaker's imagination of floating into a cloud of azaleas serves as a metaphor for escaping loneliness. Does nature offer a sense of solace or companionship for the speaker? Explain how the use of nature imagery enhances the overall message of the poem and reinforces the theme of escaping loneliness.
4. Explore the concept of champion and victory: In the poem, the boy's desire to become a champion is presented as an attempt to outrun loneliness. Analyze the significance of this metaphor and its implications for the speaker. Does the speaker also strive for a similar victory against loneliness? Discuss why the speaker finds this idea compelling and how it relates to their understanding of loneliness.
Remember to cite specific passages from the poem to support your points and analyze the author's use of language, imagery, and figurative devices. By expanding on these elements, you can deepen your analysis and provide a comprehensive understanding of what loneliness means to the speaker in "The Rider."