Question

name
chapters nine—ten
standards focus: imagery
in a novel, an author strives for his/her words to create a scene in the reader’s mind. to
create this imagery, an author relies on descriptive and figurative language.
directions: read each of the following passages. after reading each one, close your eyes
and try to picture the scene in your mind. once you have the picture in your mind, answer
the questions for each passage, based on your own detailed description of the image you see.

1. jonas hurried through the door and found himself in a comfortably furnished living area.

it was not unlike his own family unit’s dwelling. furniture was standard throughout the
community: practical, sturdy, the function of each piece clearly defined. a bed for sleeping. a
table for eating. a desk for studying.
all those things were in this spacious room, though each was slightly different from those in
his own dwelling. the fabrics on the upholstered chairs and sofa were slightly thicker and more
luxurious; the table legs were not straight like those at home, but slender and curved, with a
small carved decoration at the foot. the bed, in an alcove at the far end of the room, was draped
with a splendid cloth embroidered over its entire surface with intricate designs.
but the most conspicuous difference was the books... this room’s walls were completely
covered by bookcases, filled, which reached to the ceiling. there must have been hundreds—
perhaps thousands—of books, their titles embossed in shiny letters. (pgs. 73-74)
what kind of picture is formed in your mind?

is it somewhere you have been before, or is it a made up place, based upon lowry’s description?
explain.

without reading the passage again and while using specific details, vividly describe the place you
pictured in your mind. your description may include the colors, shapes, and details of the images
that you picture in the scene. try to imitate the descriptiveness and detail with which lowry
writes. don’t be afraid to add details based upon your own thoughts.

literature guide

Explanation:

First Question: What kind of picture is formed in your mind?

The passage describes a living area with practical yet slightly more luxurious furniture (thicker upholstered fabrics, curved table legs with carvings, an embroidered bedcloth) and walls covered with tall bookcases full of books with embossed titles. So the image is a spacious, comfortably furnished room with standard - yet - upgraded furniture and extensive bookcases.

Most people's real - life living spaces don't have walls completely covered by bookcases with thousands of books, and the specific details of the furniture (like the carved table legs and intricately embroidered bedcloth) in a standardized yet upgraded way are more like a fictional setting. The description has elements (extensive book collection, unique furniture details) that are not typical of ordinary real - world homes, so it's a made - up place.

Start by setting the scene (spacious room). Describe the furniture: the upholstered chairs and sofa with thick, perhaps cream - colored (adding a color) luxurious fabric, the table with slender, curved legs (maybe a warm brown wood) with a small, delicate floral - like carving at the foot, the bed in the alcove with a deep blue (adding a color) embroidered cloth with swirling golden (adding a color) designs. Then the bookcases: tall, dark brown (adding a color) bookcases reaching to the white (adding a color) ceiling, filled with books of various colors (red, green, blue covers) with shiny gold (adding a color) embossed titles. Add details like soft, warm light from a lamp (adding a detail) casting shadows on the carved table legs.

Answer:

A spacious living area with practical but more luxurious - looking furniture (thicker upholstered chairs/sofa, curved table legs with carvings, an embroidered bed) and walls entirely covered by tall bookcases filled with hundreds or thousands of books with shiny embossed titles.

Second Question: Is it somewhere you have been before, or is it a made up place, based upon Lowry’s description? Explain.