Imagery can greatly enhance a literary work not only for the reader’s imagination, but also for motifs and metaphors. Louise Erdrich’s novel The Beet Queen discusses the Adares sibling’s move to North Dakota. North Dakota is described as grey, and depressing. The surroundings greatly effect Karl, but Mary seems less effected. Erdrich’s detailed description shows how the children are compared to their surroundings, and how the detail put into a tree effects Karl.
Louise Erdrich’s imagery impacts the tone and shows the effect of the environment on the children. The Adares children are introduced to their new lives for the first time as they step off the train and enter North Dakota. Instantly, Erdrich begins to describe the children; “The boy …show more content…
Erdrich uses imagery mainly to gloss over many of the details of North Dakota, but stops and goes into detail over a small tree. “The tree drew him with its delicate perfume. His cheeks went pink…” (ln. 47-48). Erdrich does not just describe the tree, but he also describes the two sibling’s reactions to the tree. Mary is oblivious to the tree, and just moves over it, however, Karl is more effected. For the first time, color is used for describing the pink on Karl’s cheek. This is more than just a description for a tree, but also a comparison between the tree and Karl. The tree is small and fragile, unprepared to survive in the harsh surroundings. Karl is naturally drawn to this tree, because they are alike. For a moment, Karl and the tree are alone, both intertwined in a protective embrace. This is quickly shattered as a woman releases her dog to fend him off her property. In such a short moment, Karl turns on the tree, and tears a branch for protection. “It was such a large branch, from such a small tree, that blight would attack the scar where it was pulled off” (ln. 67-69). Erdrich’s description of the tree does not stop at it’s effect on Karl, it also describes Karl effect on it. Karl scars the tree permanently, the same way the environment has scarred Karl. And the same way Karl makes a split decision that forever changes the tree, so does the environment effect Karl. He strikes out at the dog, the petals that once entrapped Karl, are whipped across the dog’s face, in a moment of final action. The effect has two similar responses, Karl flees, and the tree bears no more
Louise Erdrich’s imagery impacts the tone and shows the effect of the environment on the children. The Adares children are introduced to their new lives for the first time as they step off the train and enter North Dakota. Instantly, Erdrich begins to describe the children; “The boy …show more content…
Erdrich uses imagery mainly to gloss over many of the details of North Dakota, but stops and goes into detail over a small tree. “The tree drew him with its delicate perfume. His cheeks went pink…” (ln. 47-48). Erdrich does not just describe the tree, but he also describes the two sibling’s reactions to the tree. Mary is oblivious to the tree, and just moves over it, however, Karl is more effected. For the first time, color is used for describing the pink on Karl’s cheek. This is more than just a description for a tree, but also a comparison between the tree and Karl. The tree is small and fragile, unprepared to survive in the harsh surroundings. Karl is naturally drawn to this tree, because they are alike. For a moment, Karl and the tree are alone, both intertwined in a protective embrace. This is quickly shattered as a woman releases her dog to fend him off her property. In such a short moment, Karl turns on the tree, and tears a branch for protection. “It was such a large branch, from such a small tree, that blight would attack the scar where it was pulled off” (ln. 67-69). Erdrich’s description of the tree does not stop at it’s effect on Karl, it also describes Karl effect on it. Karl scars the tree permanently, the same way the environment has scarred Karl. And the same way Karl makes a split decision that forever changes the tree, so does the environment effect Karl. He strikes out at the dog, the petals that once entrapped Karl, are whipped across the dog’s face, in a moment of final action. The effect has two similar responses, Karl flees, and the tree bears no more