Imagery Quotations Flashcards
Describe how the writer uses imagery in the phrase “like a half-filled sack” to emphasise his awkward and ungainly appearance/movement.
A simile is used to create a comparison with an inanimate object, suggesting the beggar is inhuman. This comparison also emphasises how awkward and ungainly the beggar is in his appearance and movements.
‘Simile’, a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.
Describe how the writer uses imagery in the phrase “tiny twisted legs from which / sawdust might run” to emphasise the feeling of worthlessness the priest and the tourists perhaps have towards the beggar.
The metaphor of “legs from which sawdust might run” links the beggar to an inanimate object (sawdust is something that was once living but has been ground up into pulp) and perhaps suggests the priest and tourists see the beggar as worthless and spoiling the picturesque setting.
‘Metaphor’, a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
Describe how the writer uses imagery in the phrase “Clucking contentedly, / fluttered after him as he scattered / the grain of the word” to emphasise the easy satisfaction and mindlessness of the tourists.
Extended metaphor of chicken imagery.
The tourists are compared to a flock of chickens, which are stereotypically unintelligent creatures.
“The grain of the word” refers to the teachings of God, and compares it to chicken feed, which further emphasises the idea of the tourists’ mindlessness.
“Clucking contentedly” suggests easy satisfaction - they are not concerned with the true teachings of God, but only with the fancy paintings and worthless ‘tourist’ information.
This information is “scattered”, which has connotations of carelessness and suggests that the priest is equally unconcerned with said teachings.
‘Extended metaphor’, a metaphor in a literary work, such as a novel or poem, that isn’t just used in one line but is extended over multiple lines or throughout the work.
Describe how the writer uses imagery in the phrase “whose eyes wept pus” to give a disgusting impression of the beggar.
A metaphor compares the discharge from the beggar’s eyes (likely from one of his physical health issues) to tears.
This gives a disgusting impression of the beggar and suggests that he is unpleasant to look at, presumably from the perspective of the priest and tourists.
‘Metaphor’, a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
Describe how the writer uses imagery in the phrase “voice as sweet / as a child’s when she speaks to her mother / or a bird’s when it spoke / to St Francis”
Simile shows that, despite the horrific deformities of the beggar, he still has inner beauty.
A child would speak to her mother in an affectionate and beautiful voice, which suggests that the voice of the beggar is the only outward sign of this inner beauty. However, it is presumably only heard when he says “Grazie” (thank you) and this implies that to hear/see this inner beauty, the priest or tourists would have to help him.
The comparison of the voice of a bird talking to St Francis links back to the first stanza (“talker with birds”) and reminds the reader that the building the priest is showing the tourists around was built to honour a man who believed the poor and sick had to be cared for.
‘Simile’, a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.
Describe how the writer uses imagery in the phrase “ruined temple” to emphasise the hypocrisy of the situation.
A metaphor compares the beggar to a building once devoted to the worship of God but has fallen into terrible disrepair.
This suggests that the beggar would, at one time, have been viewed as an equal to the priest and the tourists, but his disabilities and his tough situation has changed this.
This emphasises the hypocrisy of the situation, as the priest lectures the tourists on God’s teachings, while they ignore someone so clearly in need of their help.
‘Metaphor’, a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
