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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
Act 1
Explanation and Analysis—Astrov's Anthropocene:
Toward the end of the first act, Astrov makes a long, impassioned speech in which he uses vivid imagery and pathos to persuade the other characters of the importance of conserving nature. The speech is sparked by Voynitsky's teasing comment that Astrov can't stop him from using wood for fuel and construction. Related to the symbol of forestry, Astrov's reflection on the senseless ecological destruction at the hands of humans becomes a motif in the play:
The forests of Russia are being wiped out by the axe, thousands of millions of trees are dying, the homes of animals and birds are being laid waste, river levels are dropping and drying up, wonderful scenery vanishes for ever, and all because lazy man hasn’t the sense to bend down and pick up fuel from the ground.
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Act 3
Explanation and Analysis—Astrov's Maps:
In the third act, Astrov tells Yelena about his map hobby. As with his speech about environmental conservation in the first act, this turns into a drawn-out speech describing a "portrait of our district as it was fifty years ago." Using detailed imagery, Astrov describes the maps he's been working on in detail to Yelena and the audience.
Unlock with LitCharts A+The dark and light green indicate forest; half of the whole area is covered by forest. Where there’s a red grid over the green, there were elk and wild goats… I show here both flora and fauna… This lake had swans, geese, duck, and as old folk say, a mighty eyeful of all kinds of wildfowl, which used to take off in a great storm cloud. [...] There were a lot of cattle and horses. You can tell that by the blue colour. For example, this unit of land has a thick layer of blue: here there were whole herds of horses and every household had three.
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