Read the excerpt from david foster wallace’s infinite jest. ‘—but in areas and with titles, i’m sure you recall quite well, hal: “neoclassical assumptions in contemporary prescriptive grammar,” “the implications of post-fourier transformations for a holographically mimetic cinema,” “the emergence of heroic stasis in broadcast entertainment” —’ ‘ “montague grammar and the semantics of physical modality”? ’ ‘ “a man who began to suspect he was made of glass”? ’ ‘ “tertiary symbolism in justinian erotica”? ’ what purpose does the recitation of hal’s essay titles serve for the readers? they reveal why the admissions committee is concerned about admitting hal into the school. they allow the reader to infer how academically gifted hal actually is. they explicitly state what hal has been thinking about during his interview with the deans. they provide explicit proof that hal is slowly losing his mind.

Read this excerpt from i never had it made. "it's all that ought to count," he replied. "but it isn't. maybe one of these days it will be all that counts. that is one of the reasons i've got you here, robinson. if you're a good enough man, we can make this a start in the right direction. but let me tell you, it's going to take an awful lot of courage." he was back to the crossroads question that made me start to get angry minutes earlier. he asked it slowly and with great care. "have you got the guts to play the game no matter what happens? " "i think i can play the game, mr. rickey," i said. the next few minutes were tough. branch rickey had to make absolutely sure that i knew what i would face. beanballs would be thrown at me. i would be called the kind of names which would hurt and infuriate any man. i would be physically attacked. could i take all of this and control my temper, remain steadfastly loyal to our ultimate aim? which is the central idea of this excerpt?