Previous
Idioms
Definition of Imagery
Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines from Robert Frost's poem "After Apple-Picking" contain imagery that engages... read full definition
Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines from Robert Frost's poem "After... read full definition
Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines... read full definition
Chapter 1
Explanation and Analysis—San Francisco:
In the novel’s first chapter, Hosseini uses visual imagery of bright daytime beauty and a simile comparing kites to eyes looking over the city to connect Amir’s present life in San Francisco to his childhood memories of Kabul:
[…] I went for a walk along Spreckels Lake on the northern edge of Golden Gate Park. The early-afternoon sun sparkled on the water where dozens of miniature boats sailed, propelled by a crisp breeze. Then I glanced up and saw a pair of kites, red with long blue tails, soaring in the sky. They danced high above the trees on the west end of the park, over the windmills, floating side by side like a pair of eyes looking down on San Francisco, the city I now call home.
The bright daytime imagery of the sparkling water and crisp breeze blowing through San Francisco gives the reader a feeling that the city is a clean and peaceful place. Although they have heard very little about the Kabul of Amir’s childhood at this point, the author makes sure to depict San Francisco as an idyllic place to have ended up. These vivid details later show how different Amir’s current American setting is compared to the Kabul of his childhood memories.
The simile comparing the kites Amir sees flying to a pair of eyes connects his American surroundings back to his memories. The “eyes” of the kites suggest watchfulness. It’s as if his past in Afghanistan still observes and overlooks him no matter where he is. This link between the kites and a sense of being watched hints at Amir’s tendency to brood on the past and to be introspective. Even in a place as far from Kabul as San Francisco, reminders of his past still populate his everyday moments.
Related Themes:
Chapter 3
Explanation and Analysis—The Lake :
As Amir flashes back to an idyllic childhood picnic with Baba, Hosseini uses visual imagery and a simile to show how fondly Amir remembers the moment:
We sat at a picnic table on the banks of the lake, just Baba and me, eating boiled eggs with kofta sandwiches—meatballs and pickles wrapped in naan. The water was a deep blue and sunlight glittered on its looking glass–clear surface. On Fridays, the lake was bustling with families out for a day in the sun.
The visual imagery describing the “deep blue” lake water and the “glittering” sunlight paints a very sensory scene for Hosseini’s reader. It’s one of the few memories Amir has where he feels like he and Baba were a family like all the others “out for a day in the sun.” The memory feels full of life and warmth because Amir’s mind clings to every detail to keep it alive. The way he describes the sunlight “glittering” on the water adds a dreamlike quality to the flashback.
The other simile—comparing the lake’s surface to a looking glass— adds to this fairy-tale, dreamy vision. In Amir’s memory the water is perfectly still and calm, like a mirror reflecting his perfect day. In contrast to the insecurity and anxiety that shapes much of his relationship with Baba, this moment is a rare instance of peace and happiness.
Related Themes:
Chapter 6
Explanation and Analysis—Wintertime in Kabul:
Early in the novel, Amir explains why he loved wintertime in Kabul as a child. He remembers the sights, sounds, and physical feelings of the season in a passage full of visual, auditory, and tactile imagery:
I loved wintertime in Kabul. I loved it for the soft pattering of snow against my window at night, for the way fresh snow crunched under my black rubber boots, for the warmth of the cast-iron stove as the wind screeched through the yards, the streets.
The auditory imagery of the “soft pattering of snow” in contrast with the “screeching” wind fills the scene with sound right from the beginning. These details make the memory feel alive and immediate. Although it would be impossible to hear both in real life, Amir’s description allows the reader to hear the gentle snow and the harsh wind at the same time. The vastly different sounds also underline the contrast between the wild coldness of winter outside, and the sheltered warmth Amir feels inside his warm home.
The tactile imagery of snow crunching under boots and the warmth of the cast-iron stove also brings the physical sensations of winter to life for the reader. Amir’s description also lets the reader feel the bite of the cold and the comfort of heat. The contrast between the two sensations illustrates the sense of safety and belonging that cozy wintertime evenings make Amir feel.
Related Themes:
