Question

The poet uses the word ‗ultimate‘ to describe the boy‘s reaction.

Pick the meaning that DOES NOT display what, ‗ultimate‘ means in the

context given.

a) consequent

b) final

c) conclusive

d) fateful​

Answer 1

Answer:

the correct answer is from my side is final

Answer 2

In the poem 'The Ball', the word 'ultimate' does not mean fateful. (option d)

What is the poem 'The Ball' about?

• The poem 'The Ball' by John Berryman is about growing up and realizing the lessons of life.
• It uses a child's ball as a metaphor to explain the value of innocence and how it wanes as one grows up.
• It also alludes to childhood as being irreplaceable and unique for everyone.

'An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy'

• This line in the poem is about the immediate loss the boy feels when he loses his ball.
• Here 'ultimate' is used to produce an effect of finality and conclusiveness because the boy knows he cannot recover his ball.
• Fateful is not the correct description as his grief is not leading on to something else. It is not coincidental, instead, it is consequent.

Thus the correct option is d) fateful.