Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poem line-by-line.
Lines 41-44
"Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered fraud;
But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.
- That second called strike whips the crowd up again. They are not a happy bunch. Once again, the poor umpire is the target of their rage and angry accusations of "fraud" echo through the stands.
- But, as before, Casey silences the angry masses with nothing but an "awe"-inspiring, "scornful look." You know the one.
- Chances are your mom or your homeroom teacher has that look down cold. We've all seen it. We've all felt the scorn.
- This time, however, there is something different about Casey's demeanor. The crowd notices that his body language and facial expression have changed.
- Instead of the cool confidence described in earlier stanzas, Casey is starting to look a little "strain[ed]." His face is "stern and cold."
- That word "stern" seems familiar, right? It was used back in stanza 9 where the speaker was describing the crowd's angry roar.
- It seems like Casey's mood is starting to mirror the crowd's.
- Ever hopeful and confident in their hero's ability, the crowd takes this change in attitude as evidence that Casey is going to buckle-down and really focus: "they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again."
- We'll see…