In Chapter 3, the narrator uses a metaphor and a simile to describe the intensity of nature's bloom during spring:
The pageant of the river bank had marched steadily along, unfolding itself in scene-pictures that succeeded each other in stately procession. Purple loosestrife arrived early, shaking luxuriant tangled locks along the edge of the mirror whence its own face laughed back at it. Willow-herb, tender and wistful, like a pink sunset cloud, was not slow to follow.
The narrator draws a comparison between the river and its surroundings to a bustling parade or procession, a metaphor that emphasizes the dynamic, enticing nature of the riverbank. The narrator then describes specific flowers, "purple loosestrife" and "willow-herb," which are likened to people joining the parade. Notably, the narrator compares the arrival of "purple loosestrife" to the "shaking of luxuriant tangled locks." By comparing the loosestrife to locks of hair, Grahame emphasizes their vibrant, wild nature. The willow-herb is compared to a "pink sunset cloud," a simile that emphasize its soft, appealing quality. These vivid and evocative images ultimately help readers envision the scene, even if they may not be familiar with the flowers mentioned.
All in all, Grahame's intentional use of the parade metaphor and his description of flowers serve as creative strategies to engage the reader. The relatable image of a parade captures the imagination and creates a sense of liveliness and excitement. The comparison enhances the reader's sensory experience and makes the novel more memorable by evoking a vivid mental picture. By employing descriptive language and relatable metaphors, Grahame invites readers to immerse themselves in the story more fully and become more invested in the narrative.
The narrator uses a simile and also makes an allusion to the Royal Humane Society in Chapter 5, describing how Mole and Rat try to revive a field mouse who gets stage fright:
Mole coaxed and encouraged him, and the Rat went so far as to take him by the shoulders and shake him; but nothing could overcome his stage-fright. They were all busily engaged on him like watermen applying the Royal Humane Society’s regulations to a case of long submersion, when the latch clicked, the door opened, and the field-mouse with the lantern reappeared, staggering under the weight of his basket.
In the simile above, the narrator makes a reference to the Royal Humane Society, a well-known British charity that promotes lifesaving intervention. Watermen are people trained to rescue and resuscitate people who have been submerged in water for a prolonged period. This reference would have been familiar to most readers at the time. By comparing Mole and Rat to "watermen" saving the field mouse from drowning, the narrator suggests that they are treating him with urgency and care, drawing a parallel between the diligence with which Mole and Rat try to "wake" the field mouse from his stage fright and the rescue procedures watermen undergo in emergency situations. Grahame's use of simile also underscores the intensity of the mouse's stage fright, an image that allows readers to more easily place themselves in the mouse's shoes.
This evocative and humorous comparison creates a memorable image for the reader, highlighting the dramatic nature of the situation. By drawing this parallel, the narrator underscores the significance and intensity of the moment, capturing the urgency and heroism exhibited by Mole and Rat in their lifesaving efforts. Grahame's use of simile and allusion adds depth and richness to the narrative, engaging the reader and enhancing the overall reading experience.
In Chapter 5, the narrator uses a simile to describe Mole as he falls asleep in his comfortable bed:
He clambered into his bunk and rolled himself well up in the blankets, and slumber gathered him forthwith, as a swath of barley is folded into the arms of the reaping-machine.
The narrator compares Mole, who peacefully falls asleep enveloped in comfortable blankets, to a piece of barley being moved through a reaping machine. A reaping machine is a device used to gather crops. Instead of merely describing Mole being wrapped in the blanket, Grahame employs evocative language that invites the reader to imagine themselves in Mole's position. This comparison suggests that slumber envelops Mole swiftly and completely, much like the gathering of a crop into a reaping-machine. This image suggests a smooth and efficient action. By using this simile, the passage vividly portrays the ease and completeness with which Mole falls asleep, all in all portraying it as a gentle and natural experience.
By using this simile, Grahame aims to enhance the reader's understanding of Mole's experience of sleep by creating a visual and sensory image for the reader. The simile captures the idea of deep and peaceful sleep, conveying a sense of tranquility and restfulness. All in all, the simile adds depth and imagery to the narrative, allowing the reader to imagine Mole's slumber as a harmonious and natural process, much like the gathering of a crop by a reaping-machine.
In Chapter 9, the narrator uses a simile to describe the feeling of homesickness:
First, we feel it stirring within us, a sweet unrest; then back come the recollections one by one, like homing pigeons. They flutter through our dreams at night, they fly with us in our wheelings and circlings by day. We hunger to inquire of each other, to compare notes and assure ourselves that it was all really true, as one by one the scents and sounds and names of long-forgotten places come gradually back and beckon to us.
The passage from The Wind in the Willows contains a simile comparing the sensation of homesickness with restless pigeons that instinctively return home after migrating. The simile likens the gradual return of certain memories to the flight of homing pigeons, which have the remarkable ability to find their way back to their original location. In the passage above, they serve as a metaphorical representation of memories coming back, drawing a parallel between the pigeons' navigation and the retrieval of memories.
Grahame's use of simile not only captures the feeling of memories rushing back but also characterizes the notion of home as a potent force in an individual's life. Homesickness serves as a powerful motivator for many of the characters in the novel. In The Wind in the Willows, home is depicted as a place of safety, comfort and belonging for the novel's characters, while also serving as a reflection of their identities and values. Both Mole and Toad retreat to their cozy homes after the perilous adventures they encounter, an act that reflects a need for stability and order in response to the unpredictability of nature. All in all, the novel's description and characterization of homesickness and home highlights the value of a familiar and secure environment amidst the challenges of the external world.
