Higher Close Higher Close ReadingReading

ImageryImagery

What it’s Not!What it’s Not!

Imagery does not mean ‘descriptive Imagery does not mean ‘descriptive writing’ egwriting’ eg

Down on the level, its pink walls, and Down on the level, its pink walls, and straggling roses, and green-painted rain straggling roses, and green-painted rain barrel hidden by a thick dusty planting of barrel hidden by a thick dusty planting of spruce and larch, was Fin-me-oot Cottage, spruce and larch, was Fin-me-oot Cottage, where house martins flocked to nest in where house martins flocked to nest in summer, and small birds found plenteous summer, and small birds found plenteous food on the bird tables. . .food on the bird tables. . .

What Imagery IsWhat Imagery Is

Technically it is mainly concerned Technically it is mainly concerned with three ‘figures of speech’with three ‘figures of speech’

SimileSimile MetaphorMetaphor PersonificationPersonification

1. Simile1. Simile

Signified by the use of Signified by the use of likelike or or as…as.as…as.

For example:For example: The messenger ran like the windThe messenger ran like the wind The poppies were as red as bloodThe poppies were as red as blood

Easy to recognise –trickier to explainEasy to recognise –trickier to explain

The messenger ran like the windThe messenger ran like the wind

It is not It is not enough enough to say ‘the messenger ran to say ‘the messenger ran very fast’ because this just gives you the very fast’ because this just gives you the meaningmeaning (denotation) when you will be (denotation) when you will be asked about its asked about its effecteffect

A better beginning would be:A better beginning would be:The simile (quote it) gives the impression of The simile (quote it) gives the impression of speed because the wind is fastspeed because the wind is fast

But this will still not explain why the writer But this will still not explain why the writer specifically chose ‘wind’ so…specifically chose ‘wind’ so…

… … an even better answeran even better answer

The simile (quote it) The simile (quote it) gives the gives the impressionimpression of speed because the of speed because the wind is seen as a powerful force wind is seen as a powerful force which reaches great speeds. It which reaches great speeds. It might might also suggestalso suggest that the runner was so that the runner was so fast that he was creating turbulence fast that he was creating turbulence like the wind.like the wind.

N.B. it’s denotation plus N.B. it’s denotation plus connotationconnotation

Why is this simile Why is this simile effective?effective?

the poppies were as red as bloodthe poppies were as red as blood AnswerAnswer

(This simile is effective) because it tries to (This simile is effective) because it tries to communicate the intensity of the red communicate the intensity of the red colour of the poppies. The word ‘blood’ colour of the poppies. The word ‘blood’ suggests not just colour, but the richness suggests not just colour, but the richness of the flower’s tone.of the flower’s tone.

Now it’s your turnNow it’s your turn

Summary (simile)Summary (simile)

1.1. Identify or quote the simileIdentify or quote the simile

2.Show how the literal and figurative 2.Show how the literal and figurative come together to create an effectcome together to create an effect

3. Explain what the effect is3. Explain what the effect is

MetaphorMetaphor The metaphor is probably the most The metaphor is probably the most

powerful device in the English languagepowerful device in the English language Metaphor says something Metaphor says something isis something – something –

the woman is a cat – not literally of coursethe woman is a cat – not literally of course The attributes of the cat and the woman The attributes of the cat and the woman

are shared. The connotations of a cat are shared. The connotations of a cat reflect the qualities of the womanreflect the qualities of the woman

Think about the difference if the woman Think about the difference if the woman had been compared to a kittenhad been compared to a kitten

Why use a metaphor?Why use a metaphor?

Good metaphors contain a lot of Good metaphors contain a lot of information that can be transferred information that can be transferred economically to the readereconomically to the reader

Think about the connotations of this Think about the connotations of this metaphor and what it conveys to you metaphor and what it conveys to you about the umbrellas: about the umbrellas: As the wind As the wind strengthened the men clung on to the big, strengthened the men clung on to the big, black birds of their umbrellasblack birds of their umbrellas. Few words . Few words but lots of ideas.but lots of ideas.

So . . .So . . .To work with a metaphor your need to:To work with a metaphor your need to:1.1. Identify the metaphor – but (often) you get Identify the metaphor – but (often) you get

no marks for that on its own.no marks for that on its own.2.2. Show how the connotations of the Show how the connotations of the

metaphor help to develop or refine your metaphor help to develop or refine your idea of what is being describedidea of what is being described

3.3. Show the link between the connotations Show the link between the connotations which you have chosen and the literal which you have chosen and the literal meanings of the words used in the meanings of the words used in the metaphormetaphor(2 and 3 can be reversed)(2 and 3 can be reversed)

Example 1Example 1 Too many tourists are so wedded to to Too many tourists are so wedded to to

their camera that they cease to respond their camera that they cease to respond directly to the places of beauty they directly to the places of beauty they visit. They are content to take home a visit. They are content to take home a dozen rolls of exposed film instead, like dozen rolls of exposed film instead, like a bank full of monopoly money.a bank full of monopoly money.

Show how the metaphor highlights the Show how the metaphor highlights the writer’s disapproval of the touristswriter’s disapproval of the tourists

So how do we apply this So how do we apply this formula?formula?

1.1. The metaphor is ‘wedded’ (0 marks)The metaphor is ‘wedded’ (0 marks)2.2. The The connotationsconnotations of ‘wedded’ are being of ‘wedded’ are being

in a permanent relationship as a result of in a permanent relationship as a result of being married, dependency, closeness, being married, dependency, closeness, exclusivityexclusivity

3.3. All of which have the All of which have the effect effect of illustrating of illustrating how completely indispensable and how completely indispensable and consuming the camera is to the tourist as consuming the camera is to the tourist as if they are married.if they are married.

4.4. The simile is significant – explain and The simile is significant – explain and comment on ‘like… monopoly money’.comment on ‘like… monopoly money’.

Summary (metaphor)Summary (metaphor)

1.1. Identify or quote the metaphorIdentify or quote the metaphor

2.2. Show how the literal and figurative Show how the literal and figurative come together to create an effectcome together to create an effect

3.3. Explain what the effect isExplain what the effect is

PersonificationPersonification

Personification is a sub-set of Personification is a sub-set of metaphormetaphor

Some thing or an animal is given Some thing or an animal is given human attributeshuman attributes

Analyse it in the same way as a Analyse it in the same way as a metaphormetaphor

Consider ‘the sky wept’Consider ‘the sky wept’