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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
Frenchie's Coming-To Story
Explanation and Analysis—Carrion:
Toward the end of "Frenchie's Coming-to Story," Frenchie finds himself in dire straits. On the brink of death—either from exposure or discovery by Recruiters—he stumbles through the forest, preparing himself mentally for the end. Dimaline utilizes vivid imagery in Frenchie's narration of this passage, capturing the final thoughts of a character who believes himself close to death:
I slid then, slow and painful, ripping out my hair so that a clump of me stayed pinned to the tree — nesting material for low-flying buzzards. The stars began to rip through the hard skin of dark like the sharp points of silver needles through velvet. I watched them appear and wink and fade, and I smiled. This wasn’t going to be so bad.
Frenchie calls his hair "nesting material for low-flying buzzards," picturing himself as the future corpse these carrion birds will feast on. Once the buzzards—who have been following him for days—finally consume Frenchie's body, he imagines they will need materials to nest with. He envisions his hair as such material, finding comfort in the fact that his earthly remains will be reincorporated and reused as part of the cycle of life. He feels that such a reality wouldn't "be so bad." Such sentiments, and the accompanying imagery, are made all the more tragic considering Frenchie's age (approximately 8-10 in this chapter).
Related Themes:
The Four Winds
Explanation and Analysis—Abandoned Castle:
In "The Four Winds," Frenchie and his fellow fugitives enter an abandoned resort. Using imagery, Dimaline describes the otherworldly appearance of this setting, highlighting the characters' disquieting transition from woodlands to walled, enclosed structures:
The moon lit the wide front hall in pale ribbons, turning the dust and broken bits of chair and wainscoting and climbing vines from feral houseplants into fairy tale turrets. We walked slowly, out of habit, out of fear, but also, now, out of reverence. This space felt untouched. We could feel the thrum of old activity sliding along the floorboards, caught in the keyholes of closed doors. Everything had been shut tight while so much was still supposed to happen. The intent and plans hadn’t had time to vacate.
Having slept in the woods for years now, the interior of this luxury hotel appears like a fairy tale castle to these indigenous refugees—magical, enchanted, beautiful. Dimaline utilizes sensory imagery in this passage to describe the impression The Four Winds leaves on Frenchie: he "feels the thrum of old activity" in the building, comparing it to a fairy tale castle haunted by memory and possibility.
In part, the magic Frenchie experiences is that of nature reclaiming the world from noxious, exploitative humans. The "feral houseplants" thrive, given time and distance from outside interference. These "magical" plants give Frenchie an abstract hope that he and his family, too, will survive their dire circumstances.
Related Themes:
