Ivory Trail Analysis Essay Example

The front cover of The Ivory Trail, by Victor Kelleher, reveals quite a lot about what the novel is about. It also attracts the attention of the reader using color, images and text. The text reveals that the novel involves a long journey made by the protagonist. The main colors used are orange, red, and black. These colors suggest eeriness and mystery. The color red suggests anger and rage, which is possibly felt by the main character at some point in the novel. The four graphics on the cover are a sphinx, a pyramid, a temple and the close up of a man’s face. The sphinx and the pyramid immediately grasp hold of the reader’s attention because of the brightness and location of the images located right in the middle of the text. Also, these images show that the story is set in Egypt. The difference between the light and the dark gives a sense of mystery. The temples at the top of the page represent an Indian or Arabian culture. The man’s face at the bottom of the page looking up indicates a feeling of question and wonder. The text “Not all Journeys have an ending” adds more mystery to that the reader already acquires from the graphics. This phrase also leaves the reader wondering what it means. The reader can only assume that the journey that will be taken is not only going to be physical, but spiritual as well.

The title “The Ivory Trail” immediately catches the reader’s eye against the black background. The word ‘Trail’ suggests a long and rough road that the protagonist must take on his Journey. The word ‘Ivory’ is related to elephants in Africa, and illegal trade of ivory. This also adds to the sense of mystery and abstruseness. In conclusion, the cover reveals a lot about the journey the main character is about to embark and the discoveries he is going to