The Tang Dynasty Dancer
The excellent dancing of the Tang dynasty dancer is brought out through the employment of a simile. The imagery of her graceful and elegant steps is emphasized through the direct comparison to the new moon: “Her graceful dance steps were like the new moon fitting among the clouds in the reflection of a lotus pond.” The use of the simile thus enhances imagery.
The luminous glare of the moon
The luminous glare of the moon is explicitly brought out through the use of a simile. The writer compares the glare of the moon to that of a bright star, thus enhancing emphasis. The writer notes: “Closing my eyes later that night, I still felt the luminous glare of the moon like a bright star in my head, and the two sisters drifted above me in my dreams.”
The smell of the urine
The pungent smell of the boy’s urine in the bowl is comprehensible by using a simile in which it is compared to the smell of ammonia. The writer notes: “Young boys’ urine is strong like ammonia, and Mama woke up.”
The shape of the house at the back of the compound
The imagery of the wooden house at the back of the compound is enhanced through the use of a simile. Its shape is utterly comprehensible via its direct comparison to a boat. The writer notes: “I liked it immediately because of an unusual feature in the pond at the back of the compound: a small wooden house shaped like a boat that rose on stilts amid the lily pads.”
Hsü Chih-mo’s behavior in the room
Hsu’s behavior, pacing around the room, is compared to the pacing of an animal who can move but only within the confines of the cage. In this way, the simile enhances imagery: “Pacing the room like a caged animal…”
