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Hyperbole
Definition of Imagery
Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines from Robert Frost's poem "After Apple-Picking" contain imagery that engages... read full definition
Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines from Robert Frost's poem "After... read full definition
Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines... read full definition
Letter 31
Explanation and Analysis—Harpo's Whistle:
In Letter 31, Celie describes Harpo's behavior as he watches Sofia leave. Walker utilizes imagery in this scene to communicate the nature of Harpo's self-inflicted misery:
Harpo sit on the steps acting like he don’t care. He making a net for seining fish. He look out toward the creek every once in a while and whistle a little tune. But it nothing compared to the way he usually whistle. His little whistle sound like it lost way down in a jar, and the jar in the bottom of the creek.
Related Themes:
Letter 55
Explanation and Analysis—Celie, Nettie, and God:
Letter 55, penned by Nettie after her ship docks in Africa, includes an interesting reflection on the parallels between letter-writing and prayer. The following passage from Nettie's letter utilizes figurative language and sensory imagery to equate the two processes:
Unlock with LitCharts A+And whether God will read letters or no, I know you will go on writing them; which is guidance enough for me. Anyway, when I don’t write to you I feel as bad as I do when I don’t pray, locked up in myself and choking on my own heart. I am so lonely, Celie.
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Explanation and Analysis—Sofia and Nettie:
In Letter 55, Nettie describes an encounter she had with Sofia in town. Nettie uses imagery and figurative language to relate her impression of Sofia's odd behavior to Celie:
Unlock with LitCharts A+[T[here was [Sofia] looking like the very last person in the world you’d expect to see waiting on anybody, and in particular not on anybody that looked like [the mayor's wife]. I spoke. But just speaking to me seemed to make her embarrassed and she suddenly sort of erased herself. It was the strangest thing, Celie! One minute I was saying howdy to a living woman. The next minute nothing living was there. Only its shape.
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