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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 15
Explanation and Analysis—The Forest:
The forest around Oshima’s cabin is described with rich sensory imagery, evoking the sensation of being deep in the woods, surrounded by nature:
The air is filled with a shower of bird calls. The birds busily flit from branch to branch, calling out to each other in piercing chirps. Their message has none of the deep echo and hidden implications of those the night before. When I pull back the curtains, every bit of last night’s darkness has disappeared from around the cabin. Everything sparkles in a newborn golden glow. I light the stove, boil some mineral water, and make a cup of chamomile tea, then open a box of crackers and have a few with cheese.
The calling birds and sparkling sunlight arouse the senses of sight and sound, turning the forest into an immersive space. Compare this to the description of the tea and crackers, which is comparatively sparse and utilitarian. The forest is described with richer imagery that enhances its otherworldly presence. This is even more true in the deep woods:
I continue down the path. Calling it a path, though, isn’t quite right. It’s more like some natural kind of channel that water’s carved out over time. When there’s a downpour in the forest, rushing water gouges out the dirt, sweeping the grasses before it, exposing the roots of trees. When it hits a boulder it makes a detour around it. Once the rain lets up you’re left with a dry riverbed that’s something like a path. This pseudo-path is covered with ferns and green grass, and if you don’t pay attention you’ll lose it entirely.
The landscape is described with active language that turns the static image of the forest into a vibrant, moving process of weather and erosion. The imagery describing the excavation of the path is detailed and dramatic. The reader can imagine themselves in the woods in Kafka's place.
Chapter 41
Explanation and Analysis—The Forest:
The forest around Oshima’s cabin is described with rich sensory imagery, evoking the sensation of being deep in the woods, surrounded by nature:
The air is filled with a shower of bird calls. The birds busily flit from branch to branch, calling out to each other in piercing chirps. Their message has none of the deep echo and hidden implications of those the night before. When I pull back the curtains, every bit of last night’s darkness has disappeared from around the cabin. Everything sparkles in a newborn golden glow. I light the stove, boil some mineral water, and make a cup of chamomile tea, then open a box of crackers and have a few with cheese.
The calling birds and sparkling sunlight arouse the senses of sight and sound, turning the forest into an immersive space. Compare this to the description of the tea and crackers, which is comparatively sparse and utilitarian. The forest is described with richer imagery that enhances its otherworldly presence. This is even more true in the deep woods:
I continue down the path. Calling it a path, though, isn’t quite right. It’s more like some natural kind of channel that water’s carved out over time. When there’s a downpour in the forest, rushing water gouges out the dirt, sweeping the grasses before it, exposing the roots of trees. When it hits a boulder it makes a detour around it. Once the rain lets up you’re left with a dry riverbed that’s something like a path. This pseudo-path is covered with ferns and green grass, and if you don’t pay attention you’ll lose it entirely.
The landscape is described with active language that turns the static image of the forest into a vibrant, moving process of weather and erosion. The imagery describing the excavation of the path is detailed and dramatic. The reader can imagine themselves in the woods in Kafka's place.
