The Germ of Fear (Metaphor)
While taking a walk in town, Bucky runs into a mother of one of his students. She is anxious about polio, and she worries that her son will contract it at the playground. Bucky reassures the mother and explains that it is most important to "not infect the children with the germ of fear." This metaphor summarizes Bucky's opinions on the epidemic. Bucky believes his role is to bring strength to the playground and to his community. Like his grandfather taught him, Bucky is unwavering in the face of adversity.
A Hand Grenade (Simile)
During the funeral of Alan Michaels, Bucky imagines that his casket will "ignite and explode, as though a hand grenade had gone off inside." Bucky is overwhelmed by the death of his favorite student, and he struggles to cope with the senselessness of his untimely passing. During the funeral, Bucky's emotional overload is further compounded by the oppressive summer heat. Bucky feels as though his reality has turned into a nightmare. His fantasy of Alan's body exploding reveals to the reader that the protagonist has lost his grip on reality.
Students as Animals (Simile)
When Bucky hears that the Kopferman boys have contracted polio, he calls their mother to express his concern. However, she reacts in a way that Bucky does not expect. She blames Bucky for being an irresponsible playground director and says that he lets his students "run around like animals." Mrs. Kopferman compares the students to animals in order to insult Bucky's leadership skills. She insinuates that he lets his students behave inhumanely, which causes the spread of polio.
Rabid Dog (Simile)
One afternoon, Kenny Blumenfield has a hysterical fit on the playground. He fears that Horace, a disabled man in the community, is a polio carrier due to his poor personal hygiene. During Kenny's breakdown, he waves his mitt violently in the air, "as though warding off the attack of a rabid dog." The comparison of Horace to a rabid dog signifies his dehumanization. Horace is ostracized by the community, and he is not treated with compassion. The community displaces their anxieties onto him, and he becomes a scapegoat for the cause of the pandemic.
A Brick Wall (Metaphor)
While at Indian Hill, Bucky's grandmother calls him to say that his best friend, Jake, has been killed fighting the war in France. In disbelief, Bucky proclaims that Jake was "indestructible. He was a brick wall." Bucky places a great emphasis on physical strength. He views bodybuilding as a form of protection and a guard against vulnerability. Bucky is shocked that his friend, who he revered as a masculine wartime hero, could fall victim to violence.
