How Does Bryson Use Imagery In A Walk In The Woods
The Appalachian Trail is one of the longest, most unforgiving trails in the United States, and even the world. Bill Bryson proved this, by walking the great A.T. himself. He took a friend with him, Katz, and they took a trip they would never forget. Bryson is very descriptive with his tale, “A Walk in the Woods”, and uses imagery a lot. He creates tense and shockingly alarming moods in his writing, especially in this story, which engages the reader only more.
Bryson’s imagery is thorough and precise throughout this story, using all 5 senses to create a mental picture in the reader’s mind. In lines 182 and 183 of his story, Bryson says that every tree he had seen, after the nasty blizzard he and Katz had trudged through, “wore a thick cloak of white”. This is because after the blizzard, all of the freshly fallen snow had wrapped around the trees, making it look like they were wearing a cloak or a cape. Bryson makes the connection by relating the snow to cloaks, making the trees seem human-like. …show more content…
Bryson takes his imagery one step further by describing each of the settings in his story in precise detail.
He describes the little wooden shelter on the A.T. in great detail. He puts it like this: “The snow was nearly knee deep now, and we were tired, but we all pranced through it, and Katz whooped again when we reached an arrowed sign on a low limb that pointed down a side trail and said, “BIG SPRING SHELTER.” The shelter, a simple, wooden affair, open on one side, stood in a snowy glade- a little winter wonderland- 150 yards off the main trail.” Bryson describes the shelter and its arrow sign in great detail, spicing up their simplicity and making them sound so realistic and detailed to where the reader can almost see both the sign and the shelter right in front of them. this is how Bryson connects with the reader, making them feel almost as if they are in the story itself, standing in the setting that Bryson
describes.
Now to recap, Bryson’s imagery and settings create tense, alarming, and even beautiful moods in his stories, making connections with the reader, and making them feel like part of the story. He uses very descriptive words, along with an enticing story, to create an amazing and all around amazing story. Bryson also uses all 5 senses to capture the reader in his novels. And remember, trails are a good way to just relax and have fun with your friends, and your family.
Bryson’s imagery is thorough and precise throughout this story, using all 5 senses to create a mental picture in the reader’s mind. In lines 182 and 183 of his story, Bryson says that every tree he had seen, after the nasty blizzard he and Katz had trudged through, “wore a thick cloak of white”. This is because after the blizzard, all of the freshly fallen snow had wrapped around the trees, making it look like they were wearing a cloak or a cape. Bryson makes the connection by relating the snow to cloaks, making the trees seem human-like. …show more content…
Bryson takes his imagery one step further by describing each of the settings in his story in precise detail.
He describes the little wooden shelter on the A.T. in great detail. He puts it like this: “The snow was nearly knee deep now, and we were tired, but we all pranced through it, and Katz whooped again when we reached an arrowed sign on a low limb that pointed down a side trail and said, “BIG SPRING SHELTER.” The shelter, a simple, wooden affair, open on one side, stood in a snowy glade- a little winter wonderland- 150 yards off the main trail.” Bryson describes the shelter and its arrow sign in great detail, spicing up their simplicity and making them sound so realistic and detailed to where the reader can almost see both the sign and the shelter right in front of them. this is how Bryson connects with the reader, making them feel almost as if they are in the story itself, standing in the setting that Bryson
describes.
Now to recap, Bryson’s imagery and settings create tense, alarming, and even beautiful moods in his stories, making connections with the reader, and making them feel like part of the story. He uses very descriptive words, along with an enticing story, to create an amazing and all around amazing story. Bryson also uses all 5 senses to capture the reader in his novels. And remember, trails are a good way to just relax and have fun with your friends, and your family.