Weight by Carl Nixon - Vocabulary & Key Concepts

Vocabulary and key thematic terms derived from the short story transcript 'Weight' by Carl Nixon.

Carl Nixon

The author of the short story 'Weight'.

Flanker

The rugby position the son currently plays, which his coach thinks he is becoming too big and tall to stay in.

Lock

The rugby position Mr Newton wants to try the eighteen-year-old son in because of his tall height.

Mr Newton

The son's rugby coach who talks about moving the son from playing flanker to lock.

Cauliflower ears

A condition mentioned by the father that rugby locks often wear head gear to prevent.

Flatting

The eighteen-year-old son's plan to move out and leave home for good the following year.

Pear tree

An old, diseased tree in the yard that yields small, bitter fruit, which the father plans to cut down using his brother's chain saw.

Weight belt

A thick black leather belt worn smooth by use, with white letters faded to faint lines and circles, worn tightly around the waist during bench pressing.

130 pounds

The combined weight on the bar formed by loading a 45-pound plate and a 20-pound plate onto each side.

220 pounds

The maximum weight loaded onto the bench press, which the son successfully completes for four repetitions but causes the father to suffer a tearing internal injury.