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Idioms
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 3
Explanation and Analysis—Walter:
At the beginning of Chapter 3, Scout uses vivid visual imagery to describe her classmate Walter Cunningham. He is from a poorer family than hers: one can clearly tell by looking at the boy that he is malnourished.
Walter looked as if he had been raised on fish food: his eyes, as blue as Dill Harris’s, were red-rimmed and watery. There was no color in his face except at the tip of his nose, which was moistly pink. He fingered the straps of his overalls, nervously picking at the metal hooks.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Skin:
In Chapter 3, Atticus provides Scout with some sage advice about empathy, utilizing a key metaphor in his analogy:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Atticus stood up and walked to the end of the porch. When he completed his examination of the wisteria vine he strolled back to me.
“First of all,” he said, “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view—”
“Sir?”
“—until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
Related Themes:
Chapter 4
Explanation and Analysis—Boo the Animal:
In the following passage from Chapter 4, Scout describes the drama that she, Dill, and Jem made up about Boo Radley. The imagery she chooses to implement in her description is notable:
Unlock with LitCharts A+It was a melancholy little drama, woven from bits and scraps of gossip and neighborhood legend: Mrs. Radley had been beautiful until she married Mr. Radley and lost all her money. She also lost most of her teeth, her hair, and her right forefinger (Dill’s contribution. Boo bit it off one night when he couldn’t find any cats and squirrels to eat.);
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Chapter 9
Explanation and Analysis—Ants:
In Chapter 9, Scout stands up for herself, fighting her cousin when he insults Atticus. When Uncle Jack, believing that she was bullying her cousin instead of defending her father, tries to punish her, Scout runs away. The imagery in this scene provides important characterization for Scout:
Unlock with LitCharts A+I was debating whether to stand there or run, and tarried in indecision a moment too long: I turned to flee but Uncle Jack was quicker. I found myself suddenly looking at a tiny ant struggling with a bread crumb in the grass.
Related Themes:
Chapter 21
Explanation and Analysis—The Jury's Decision:
In the following passage from Chapter 21, Scout describes the atmosphere in the courtroom using imagery to compare it to a "cold February morning."
Unlock with LitCharts A+It was not unlike one I had last winter, and I shivered, though the night was hot. The feeling grew until the atmosphere in the courtroom was exactly the same as a cold February morning, when the mockingbirds were still, and the carpenters had stopped hammering on Miss Maudie’s new house, and every wood door in the neighborhood was shut as tight as the doors of the Radley Place. A deserted, waiting, empty street, and the courtroom was packed with people.
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