35 pages • 1 hour read
Jason ReynoldsA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Fire and firelight embody the multifaceted nature of pursuing one’s dreams. Jason Reynolds weaves these images throughout the novel. Both dreams and fire have a dual essence; they are capable of danger, yet illuminate the darkness.
The symbol of fire emerges early as Reynolds talks about burning expert books; they serve no purpose except for the “firelight” they could offer along the “LONG AND OFTEN DARK ROAD” of life (25). Burning signifies the impracticality of conventional expertise, while the image of the road emphasizes life’s intricate and daunting journey, replete with isolation and bewilderment. Reynolds tells readers to use his own book “for firelight,” in this case as a means to find truth, comfort and guidance. This echoes his recurring depiction of a dream as a “tiny ember / always glow[ing] / beneath the brush” (58); the book may act as fuel, nurturing this ember into a sustaining fire.
Reynolds employs fire imagery to illustrate the perils of chasing dreams. He describes individuals consumed by their aspirations as “people who / have burned” from head to toe (56). He contrasts this burning with firelight. While burning suggests chaos, firelight implies that, in the process of pursuing dreams, valuable insights and enlightenment emerge. Firelight represents the positive outcomes and revelations stemming from pursuing one’s aspirations.
Jumping symbolizes the boldness required when chasing one’s dreams. It captures the perilous, yet exhilarating, sensation associated with wholeheartedly embracing one’s aspirations. In confronting his doubts, Reynolds states, “I don’t have a choice / so I jump / anyway” (59). The fragmented structure amplifies the imagery of jumping. It emphasizes the persistence of genuine dreams despite formidable hurdles and uncertainties.
Jumping becomes synonymous with the leap of faith essential in embracing one’s dream. The word “anyway” implies a fearless abandon in decision-making, a process that is pursued despite conflicting evidence and arguments. This reflects the unwavering commitment of dreamers, transcending age barriers. The book has dedicated separate pages to “JUMP ANYWAY,” emphasizing the importance of the phrase.
The speaker’s dedication to those who take a leap of faith is underscored by the repetitive phrase “For the jumpers. / For the jumpers. / For the jumpers” (79). This highlights the profound significance Reynolds attributes to individuals who are daring enough to pursue their aspirations despite risks. The novel serves as a tribute to these audacious jumpers, honoring their courage in relentlessly pursuing their dreams.
The colicky infant illustrates the persistence and demands of a dream. Reynolds equates a dream to the persistent cries of a colicky infant, emphasizing the necessity of acknowledging and tending to one’s aspirations. Dreams, much like infants, cannot be easily subdued. Instead, they require consistent attention and nurturing to flourish. Reynolds asserts: “USUALLY / IT JUST NEEDS TO BE FED” (50). He suggests that nurturing a dream entails giving it everything one has, and in turn, the dream contributes to one’s growth and identity.
Reynolds evokes the unyielding nature of a dream, its “screaming / like a colicky / infant” (49). This underscores a dream’s relentless insistence, how it refuses to be ignored and only grows more fervent if neglected. Reynolds likens nurturing a dream to caring for a baby, kissing “on head and heart” (74). One sacrifices sleep to stay awake for the realization of the dream that is “crying / like a colicky infant” (74). Dedication and selfless nurturing is required to realize one’s aspirations, just as attentiveness is required for a needy baby.
Reynolds’s mother reinforces the symbolic association between a dream and a colicky infant. Her perseverance and unwavering dedication of four decades to her dream, akin to caring for a crying infant, eventually yielded.
By Jason Reynolds