House Lights, Week 7, Post A

VOCAB

Locution (257)- a style of speech

Harangues (283)- to deliver a long, arrogant speech to

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

“It is snow-globe snow, tiny and whirling in slow motion, more glitter than flake” (254). This is imagery because it describes the particular kind of snow and how it was falling. This detail makes it easy to imagine the exact type of snow the author wanted to convey to the reader in a simple and effective way.

“…the minute, cloying sound of icicles dripping, like a cat lapping milk” (259). This is a simile, because it compares two unlike things, the sound of dripping icicles to a cat drinking milk, using the word “like”.

“I am left with it now, that model, like an inheritance, and it strikes me, as I stare at my reflection in her bathroom mirror, that in a way that is everything” (290). The act of Beatrice staring into her deceased mother’s mirror is a symbol for Beatrice realizing how alike she is to her mother and the unique relationship they shared.

QUOTE

“…the overriding smallness of Maine, which evokes for me the smallness of my parents’ lives, which evokes for me the smallness of my own heart” (261-2). Beatrice begins to realize just how insignificant her parents’ lives are and how her own heart lacks the ability to truly love people. She understands that her parents had the potential to positively affect more lives but chose not to. Also, the realization that her own heart is capable of loving but it is rather difficult to do so because of her childhood relationships.

THEME

A theme in this novel is to love those around you and appreciate the unique characteristics of everyone. This kind of accepting love will allow a person to have closer relationships with the people they love, because they aren’t focused on the negative traits.