Simile and Imagery in Jane Eyre
Tambassis 1
Eleni Tambassis
Mrs. IF
6th Hour AP Lit
9/18/14
Lit Devices 2
1.
Simile: A figure of speech (more specifically a trope) that compares two distinct things by using words such as “like” or “as” to link the vehicle and the tenor.
Example from Jane Eyre: “...they then descended the staircase almost as noiselessly as a bright mist rolls down a hill” (Brontë 177).
Analysis: Mr. Rochester has recently invited a group of his rich friends to stay at his house for a few days. As the guests arrive, Jane makes note of all their characteristics and is busy observing them. She finds them very elegant, beautiful, and fair, unlike her plain, simple self. She watches as the fair ladies emerge from their chambers and gracefully come down the stairs. To describe how elegant they looked, she compares them to a
“bright mist rolling down a hill.” By doing this, the reader is able to compare the ladies to something easy to imagine like bright mist: something warm, weightless, and freeformed. This adds more detail and imagery to the description by describing the ladies’ movements as warm, weightless, and effortless as mist naturally rolls down a hill.
2.
Imagery: Purely descriptive language, representing an object or event with words that draw on or appeal to the kinds of experiences gained through the five senses.
Tambassis 2
Example from Jane Eyre: “Where the sun had gone down in simple state pure of the pomp of the clouds spread a solemn purple, burning with the light of red jewel and furnace flame at one point, one on hillpeak, and extending high and wide, soft and stiller, over half heaven” (Brontë 265).
Analysis: Jane is enjoying her seemingly favorite holiday: Midsummer at Thornfield.
She is filled with joy as she watches, “the sweetest hour of the 24”: the sunset. She describes the colors by relating them to wellknown items “red jewel”, “furnace flames” instead of plain, “red”. This is much more descriptive
Eleni Tambassis
Mrs. IF
6th Hour AP Lit
9/18/14
Lit Devices 2
1.
Simile: A figure of speech (more specifically a trope) that compares two distinct things by using words such as “like” or “as” to link the vehicle and the tenor.
Example from Jane Eyre: “...they then descended the staircase almost as noiselessly as a bright mist rolls down a hill” (Brontë 177).
Analysis: Mr. Rochester has recently invited a group of his rich friends to stay at his house for a few days. As the guests arrive, Jane makes note of all their characteristics and is busy observing them. She finds them very elegant, beautiful, and fair, unlike her plain, simple self. She watches as the fair ladies emerge from their chambers and gracefully come down the stairs. To describe how elegant they looked, she compares them to a
“bright mist rolling down a hill.” By doing this, the reader is able to compare the ladies to something easy to imagine like bright mist: something warm, weightless, and freeformed. This adds more detail and imagery to the description by describing the ladies’ movements as warm, weightless, and effortless as mist naturally rolls down a hill.
2.
Imagery: Purely descriptive language, representing an object or event with words that draw on or appeal to the kinds of experiences gained through the five senses.
Tambassis 2
Example from Jane Eyre: “Where the sun had gone down in simple state pure of the pomp of the clouds spread a solemn purple, burning with the light of red jewel and furnace flame at one point, one on hillpeak, and extending high and wide, soft and stiller, over half heaven” (Brontë 265).
Analysis: Jane is enjoying her seemingly favorite holiday: Midsummer at Thornfield.
She is filled with joy as she watches, “the sweetest hour of the 24”: the sunset. She describes the colors by relating them to wellknown items “red jewel”, “furnace flames” instead of plain, “red”. This is much more descriptive