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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
Chapter 6
Explanation and Analysis—The Mountains:
The imagery used to describe the unique environment of Anarres is often vivid, emphasizing the beauty of the planet. Take this description of the mountain landscape that backgrounds Shevek and Takver's commitment to a partnership:
He found her on the steep slope, sitting among the delicate bushes of moonthorn that grew like knots of lace over the mountainsides, its stiff, fragile branches silvery in the twilight. In a gap between eastern peaks a colorless luminosity of the sky heralded moonrise. The stream was noisy in the silence of the high, bare hills. There was no wind, no cloud. The air above the mountains was like amethyst, hard, clear, profound.
This passage uses a simile to describe the plant life and the air of the mountains, imbuing them with meaning beyond their outward appearance. The "moonthorn" is like lace and the air like amethyst, both precious things that give the scene an air of enchantment. Notably, both objects of comparison are inanimate. The imagery here emphasizes stillness, portraying the scene as if it were a static picture. The elaboration on the surroundings focuses on tactile qualities that layers a physical feeling on top of the visual description. Furthermore, the attention to sensory details like the light of the sky at twilight, the sound of the stream in the otherwise silent area, and the stillness of the air let the reader feel as if they were in Shevek’s place, experiencing what he is experiencing.
Related Themes:
