Question

Which sentence in this excerpt gives a sense of Stephen’s reluctance to take part in sports? A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce (excerpt from Chapter 1) The wide playgrounds were swarming with boys shouting and the prefects urged them on with strong cries. The evening air was pale and chilly and after every charge and thud of the footballers the greasy leather orb flew like a heavy bird through the grey light. He kept on the fringe of his line, out of sight of his prefect, out of the reach of the rude feet, feigning to run now and then. He felt his body small and weak amid the throng of the players and his eyes were weak and watery. Rody Kickham was not like that: he would be captain of the third line all the fellows said. Rody Kickham was a decent fellow but Nasty Roche was a stink. Rody Kickham had greaves in his number and a hamper in the refectory. Nasty Roche had big hands. He called the Friday pudding dog-in-the-blanket.

Answer 1

The sentence of this excerpt that gives a sense of Stephen's reluctance to take part in sports is:

He kept on the fringe of his line, out of sight of his prefect, out of the reach of the rude feet, feigning to run now and then.

This sentence conveys the idea that, although the character is on the brink of getting involved, he does not actually take part. Rather than that, he tries to remain invisible for the ones that are, in fact, involved.