Skip to main content

What is one word that describes Maniac Magee that begins with the letter "A"?

I can think of quite a few "A" words that would describe Maniac Magee.  Awesome, athletic, able, alienated, and altruistic.  


Maniac is definitely an able bodied athlete.  Early in the story he catches a football one handed then punts it directly back into the hands of the quarterback.  


When the kid got down to the soccer field, he turned and punted the ball. It sailed back over the up-looking gym classers, spiraling more...

I can think of quite a few "A" words that would describe Maniac Magee.  Awesome, athletic, able, alienated, and altruistic.  


Maniac is definitely an able bodied athlete.  Early in the story he catches a football one handed then punts it directly back into the hands of the quarterback.  



When the kid got down to the soccer field, he turned and punted the ball. It sailed back over the up-looking gym classers, spiraling more perfectly than anything Brian Denehy had ever thrown, and landed in the outstretched hands of still stunned Hands Down. Then the kid ran off. There was one other thing, something that all of them saw but no one believed until they compared notes after school that day: up until the punt, the kid had done everything with one hand. He had to, because in his other hand was a book.



Maniac continues his athletic prowess by hitting every single pitch that John McNab can throw.  He even successfully bunted the frog ball that McNab threw.  Maniac then managed to make his bunted frog into a home run hit.  



And that's how Jeffrey Magee knocked the world's first frog ball for a four-bagger.



I think Maniac is an altruistic character as well, because he is constantly giving up his time in a selfless manner for other people's benefit.  For example, Maniac takes time to teach Grayson how to read.  Another example of Maniac's altruistic spirit is his care for the McNab family. Maniac winds up being a guardian angel of sorts over Piper and Russel McNab.  


Lastly, Maniac is an alienated child.  For as "cool" and capable as he is, Maniac doesn't have a home.  He ran away from his Aunt and Uncle. Two Mills is a divided town by race, and Maniac can't quite seem to fit in with anybody.  He likes living with the Beale family, but he's an outsider, because he's white.  Maniac doesn't fit in with the other families either though, and consequently Maniac is frequently an outsider in the story.  


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more