Text Analysis and History Session Four: Imagery. Agenda The prose fiction module An introduction...

Text Analysis and HistoryText Analysis and History

Session Four: ImagerySession Four: Imagery

AgendaAgenda

The prose fiction moduleThe prose fiction module An introduction to imagery, symbol and An introduction to imagery, symbol and

related concepts in an historical contextrelated concepts in an historical context Group work: imagery and symbolism in ”A Group work: imagery and symbolism in ”A

White Heron”White Heron” Group presentations and general discussionGroup presentations and general discussion

The prose fiction moduleThe prose fiction module

Motif and themeMotif and theme Story and plot, character and Story and plot, character and

characterisationcharacterisation Point of viewPoint of view ImageryImagery General summary: Toni Morrison, ”Recitatif”General summary: Toni Morrison, ”Recitatif” Evaluation: Essay assignment (for the Evaluation: Essay assignment (for the

portfolio)portfolio)

Imagery, symbol and related Imagery, symbol and related concepts in the context of history: concepts in the context of history:

ImageryImagery1.1. Broadest def.:Broadest def.:

All the objects and All the objects and qualities of sense qualities of sense perceptionperception1.1. Literal descriptionsLiteral descriptions

2.2. AllusionsAllusions

3.3. The vehicles of similes The vehicles of similes and metaphorsand metaphors

1.1. = motif= motif

2. Broad def.: 2. Broad def.:

Specific descriptions of Specific descriptions of visible objects and visible objects and scenesscenes

2. = motif2. = motif

3. Narrow def.:3. Narrow def.:

Figurative language – the Figurative language – the vehicles of metaphors vehicles of metaphors and similes (= 1.3)and similes (= 1.3)

An Example: Imagery – broad An Example: Imagery – broad sensessenses

””Charlie Stove Charlie Stove waitedwaited until he until he heardheard his his mothermother snoresnore before he before he gotgot out of out of bedbed. Even then he . Even then he moved with cautionmoved with caution and and tiptoedtiptoed to the to the windowwindow. The front of the house was . The front of the house was irregular, so that it was possible to see a light burning in his irregular, so that it was possible to see a light burning in his mother’s room. But now all the windows were dark. A mother’s room. But now all the windows were dark. A search-light passed across the sky, lighting the banks of search-light passed across the sky, lighting the banks of cloud and probing the dark deep spaces between, seeking cloud and probing the dark deep spaces between, seeking enemy airships. The wind blew from the sea, and Charlie enemy airships. The wind blew from the sea, and Charlie Stowe could hear behind his mother’s snores the beating of Stowe could hear behind his mother’s snores the beating of the waves. A draught through the crack in the window-the waves. A draught through the crack in the window-frame stirred his night-shirt. Charlie Stowe was frightened.” frame stirred his night-shirt. Charlie Stowe was frightened.” (Graham Greene, ”I Spy”, p. 534)(Graham Greene, ”I Spy”, p. 534)

Imagery, symbol and … (cont.): narrow Imagery, symbol and … (cont.): narrow senses, simile and metaphorsenses, simile and metaphor

Simile – a statement of similarity: likeSimile – a statement of similarity: like Metaphor – a statement of identityMetaphor – a statement of identity The The tenortenor – the – the subjectsubject The The vehiclevehicle – the – the metaphorical termmetaphorical term itself itself

My loveMy love is like is like a red, red rosea red, red rose (Robert (Robert Burns)Burns)

Imagery, symbol and … (cont.): Imagery, symbol and … (cont.): simile and metaphorsimile and metaphor

HeHe smiled like smiled like an open pianoan open piano (Graham (Graham Greene)Greene)


There’s a There’s a lipsticklipstick sunsetsunset smearedsmeared across across the August sky (John Hiatt)the August sky (John Hiatt)


Let us go, then, you and I when Let us go, then, you and I when the eveningthe evening is is spread outspread out against the sky like against the sky like a patient a patient etherised upon a tableetherised upon a table (T.S. Eliot, ”The Love (T.S. Eliot, ”The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”)Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”)

An Example: simileAn Example: simile

When the door had closed Charlie Stowe tiptoed upstairs When the door had closed Charlie Stowe tiptoed upstairs and got into bed. He wondered why his father had left the and got into bed. He wondered why his father had left the house again so late at night and who the strangers were. house again so late at night and who the strangers were. Surprise and awe kept him for a little while awake. Surprise and awe kept him for a little while awake. It was It was as if a familiar photograph had stepped from the frame to as if a familiar photograph had stepped from the frame to reproach him with neglectreproach him with neglect. He remembered how his father . He remembered how his father had held tight to his collar and fortified himself with had held tight to his collar and fortified himself with proverbs, and he thought for the first time that, while his proverbs, and he thought for the first time that, while his mother was boisterous and kindly, mother was boisterous and kindly, his father was very like his father was very like himselfhimself, doing things in the dark which frightened him.” , doing things in the dark which frightened him.” (Graham Green, ”I Spy”, p. 537)(Graham Green, ”I Spy”, p. 537)

William Blake, ”The Sick Rose” William Blake, ”The Sick Rose” (1794): literal or metaphorical rose?(1794): literal or metaphorical rose?

O Rose, thou art sick.O Rose, thou art sick.The invisible worm,The invisible worm,That flies in the nightThat flies in the nightIn the howling storm:In the howling storm:

Has found out thy bedHas found out thy bedOf crimson joy:Of crimson joy:And his dark secret loveAnd his dark secret loveDoes thy life destroy.Does thy life destroy.

William Blake, ”The Sick Rose” William Blake, ”The Sick Rose” (1794)(1794)

Imagery, symbol and … (cont.): Imagery, symbol and … (cont.): symbolsymbol

Public symbols (cultural specific signification Public symbols (cultural specific signification and value)and value)

Private symbols (writer specific signification Private symbols (writer specific signification and value, ie used consistently by a and value, ie used consistently by a particular writer)particular writer)

Imagery, symbol and … (cont.): Imagery, symbol and … (cont.): symbolsymbol

James Joyce, ”The Dead”James Joyce, ”The Dead”

He stood still in the gloom of the hall, trying to He stood still in the gloom of the hall, trying to catch the air that the voice was singing and gazing catch the air that the voice was singing and gazing up at his wife. There was grace and mystery in her up at his wife. There was grace and mystery in her attitude as if she were a symbol of something. He attitude as if she were a symbol of something. He asked himself what is a woman standing on the asked himself what is a woman standing on the stairs in the shadow, listening to distant music, a stairs in the shadow, listening to distant music, a symbol of. If he were a painter, he would paint her symbol of. If he were a painter, he would paint her in that attitude. Her blue felt hat would show off the in that attitude. Her blue felt hat would show off the bronze of her hair against the darkness and the bronze of her hair against the darkness and the dark panels of her skirt would show off the light dark panels of her skirt would show off the light ones. (p. 2192)ones. (p. 2192)

Private symbolismPrivate symbolismW.B. Yeats, ”The Second Coming” (1920)W.B. Yeats, ”The Second Coming” (1920)

Turning and turning in the widening gyreTurning and turning in the widening gyreThe falcon cannot hear the falconer; The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhereThe blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhereThe ceremony of innocence is drowned; The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worstThe best lack all conviction, while the worstAre full of passionate intensity. Are full of passionate intensity. Surely some revelation is at hand; Surely some revelation is at hand; Surely the Second Coming is at hand. Surely the Second Coming is at hand. The Second Coming!The Second Coming!

[…][…]

T.S. Eliot, ”The Hippopotamus” T.S. Eliot, ”The Hippopotamus” (1917)(1917)

11The broad-backed hippopotamus The broad-backed hippopotamus 2 Rests on his belly in the mud; 2 Rests on his belly in the mud; 3 Although he seems so firm to us 3 Although he seems so firm to us 4 He is merely flesh and blood. 4 He is merely flesh and blood.

5 Flesh-and-blood is weak and frail, 5 Flesh-and-blood is weak and frail, 6 Susceptible to nervous shock; 6 Susceptible to nervous shock; 7 While the True Church can never fail 7 While the True Church can never fail 88 For it is based upon a rock. For it is based upon a rock.


9 The hippo's feeble steps may err 9 The hippo's feeble steps may err 10 In compassing material ends, 10 In compassing material ends, 11 While the True Church need never stir 11 While the True Church need never stir 12 To gather in its dividends. 12 To gather in its dividends.

13 The 'potamus can never reach 13 The 'potamus can never reach 14 The mango on the mango-tree; 14 The mango on the mango-tree; 15 But fruits of pomegranate and peach 15 But fruits of pomegranate and peach 16 Refresh the Church from over sea. 16 Refresh the Church from over sea.


17 At mating time the hippo's voice 17 At mating time the hippo's voice 18 Betrays inflexions hoarse and odd, 18 Betrays inflexions hoarse and odd, 19 But every week we hear rejoice 19 But every week we hear rejoice 20 The Church, at being one with God. 20 The Church, at being one with God.

21 The hippopotamus's day 21 The hippopotamus's day 22 Is passed in sleep; at night he hunts; 22 Is passed in sleep; at night he hunts; 2323 God works in a mysterious way -- God works in a mysterious way -- 24 The Church can sleep and feed at once. 24 The Church can sleep and feed at once.


25 I saw the 'potamus take wing 25 I saw the 'potamus take wing 26 Ascending from the damp savannas, 26 Ascending from the damp savannas, 27 And quiring angels round him sing 27 And quiring angels round him sing 28 The praise of God, in loud hosannas. 28 The praise of God, in loud hosannas.

29 Blood of the Lamb shall wash him clean 29 Blood of the Lamb shall wash him clean 30 And him shall heavenly arms enfold, 30 And him shall heavenly arms enfold, 31 Among the saints he shall be seen 31 Among the saints he shall be seen 32 Performing on a harp of gold. 32 Performing on a harp of gold.

33 He shall be washed as white as snow, 33 He shall be washed as white as snow, 34 By all the martyr'd virgins kist, 34 By all the martyr'd virgins kist, 35 While the True Church remains below 35 While the True Church remains below 36 Wrapt in the old miasmal mist. 36 Wrapt in the old miasmal mist.

Group work: imagery and symbolism Group work: imagery and symbolism in ”A White Heron”in ”A White Heron”

What does the white heron signify and What does the white heron signify and symbolise? Find examples.symbolise? Find examples.

What is the thematic function of the white What is the thematic function of the white heron. What thematic hypotheses does it heron. What thematic hypotheses does it allow us to make?allow us to make?

Identify other images and symbols in ”The Identify other images and symbols in ”The White Heron”White Heron”

How do they help to produce the theme(s)?How do they help to produce the theme(s)?

Text Analysis and History Session Four: Imagery. Agenda The prose fiction module An introduction...

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