"The Goalie with Expanding Hands" - Exploring the Themes of the Poem
This poem is about a goalie, someone who plays a very important role in a team sport like soccer
or hockey. The poem talks about themes like self-reliance, confidence, helping others, love,
and empathy. Let’s break these ideas down and see how they are shown in the poem.
1. Exploring the Poem’s Themes
Contentment vs Envy
Contentment means being happy with what you have. The goalie is content because
they’re focused on doing their job well.
Envy is when you want something someone else has. Sometimes, the goalie might feel
envious of others, but the poem teaches us to focus on our own strengths instead of
comparing ourselves to others.
Confidence and Self-Belief
The goalie’s confidence is shown in the way they believe in their abilities to protect the
goal. This is important because when you believe in yourself, you can do great things, even
when it’s hard.
Selfish Love vs Selfless Love
Selfish love is when you only think about your own needs, while selfless love is when
you think about others more than yourself. The goalie shows both kinds of love:
o They need to be selfish in a way to focus on themselves and do their job well.
o But they also show selflessness by helping their team, even if it means taking a
big risk.
Empathy
Empathy is understanding how other people feel. The goalie needs empathy to
understand what the team needs and how to help them, whether it’s by stopping a ball or
encouraging teammates.
Here are some key themes to think about in the poem:
1. Unwavering Determination:
The goalie is determined to protect the goal no matter what. This shows that even when
things are tough, the goalie refuses to give up. It teaches us to keep trying and not back
down when we face challenges.
2. Self-Belief and Confidence:
The "expanding hands" show that the goalie believes in themselves. They are confident
that they can stop any shot that comes their way. This teaches us how important it is to
believe in our own abilities.
3. The Power of Focus and Presence:
When the goalie "expands" their hands at the right moment, it shows that they are fully
focused on the task. It reminds us that being focused and paying attention to what is
happening around us can help us succeed, especially in important moments.
4. Being the Last Line of Defense:
The goalie is the final defense between the other team and the goal. This can represent
how, in life, we sometimes have to be strong and stand up against problems or
challenges. It shows the importance of taking responsibility and protecting what
matters.
These themes help us understand the value of determination, self-confidence, focus, and
responsibility, just like the goalie who never gives up.
2. How the Poem Uses Rhythm, Rhyme, and Figurative Language
Rhythm: The poem’s rhythm might be like the steady beat of a game. The goalie keeps
moving, staying focused and calm, just like how the rhythm of the poem keeps going.
Rhyme: The poem might use rhyme to make it sound smooth and help us remember
important ideas, just like how the goalie needs to be quick and smooth in their
movements.
Figurative Language: The "expanding hands" is an example of a metaphor, which is
when something represents something else. The hands are growing bigger, showing how
the goalie is growing in strength, confidence, and ability to help others.
How the poem conveys these themes:
Imagery:
The vivid image of the goalie's hands seemingly stretching infinitely is a powerful metaphor for
limitless potential and capability.
Repetition:
Phrases like "expanding hands" are repeated throughout the poem to emphasize the goalie's
unwavering confidence and ability to always rise to the occasion.
Rhythmic Language:
The poem often uses a strong, rhythmic structure which can convey a sense of determination and
power.
3. Real-Life Connections
In Sports: Think of a real-life goalie in soccer or hockey. They have to protect the goal, just
like how the goalie in the poem is always ready to stop the ball. This shows how
confidence and self-reliance are important in real life.
Personal Growth: As people grow, they become more confident, just like how the goalie’s
hands get bigger. This shows that we can all grow and become stronger if we keep trying.
Helping Others: The goalie is not just thinking about themselves but is there for their
team, just like how people in real life help their friends or family when they need it.
4. Comparing the Themes
Selfish Love vs Selfless Love: At first, the goalie seems like they might be focused on
themselves (selfish love). But their actions are for the good of the team, so this shows
how selfishness and selflessness can go together.
Confidence vs Empathy: Being confident is about believing in yourself, while empathy is
about understanding others. The goalie shows both because they need to trust in their
skills, but also understand what their teammates need.
5. Expression Through Illustrations
Expanding Hands: Imagine a picture of the goalie with their hands getting bigger and
bigger as they stop each shot. This shows how they are growing in confidence and
strength.
Selfish vs Selfless: You could draw the goalie in two di erent ways: one where they are
focused on themselves, protecting the goal alone (selfish love), and one where they are
helping a teammate (selfless love).
Conclusion: In this poem, the goalie shows us a lot about how we can grow, help others, and
balance taking care of ourselves with helping the people around us. Through the expanding
hands, we learn that with practice, confidence, and empathy, we can all become better versions
of ourselves.
