Starburst: something (such as a pattern) that looks like rays of light spreading out from a center

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/starburst

“Many writes aspire to be Ralph Ellison, to write a starburst of a book that would light the literary sky forever.” from Fort Greene” by Nelson George

Nelson George points out that the artist Ralph Ellison inspire people to write a book so good that would engrave a memory that the reader would never forget.

Revelation: a usually secret or surprising fact that is made known

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revelation

“While living at 19 Willoughby I learned what kind of write, what kind of lover and even what kind of son I was. But the most surpriseing revelation that I was a mentor and, like my mother, a kind of teacher.”

Nelson George uses the revelation to show the reader that after moving to Fort Greene, he realizes what kind of person he was after performing.