The imagery of sight
The sense of sight is depicted to the reader when the narrator says, “There is no sun. There is no moon. There is no sky. The sky and the water are one, both murky. The river dragon stirs up the water. His hundred hairy legs and clumsy tail swish back and forth, churning the water.” The description of the environment by the narrator paints a clear picture of how the atmosphere looks.
The imagery of hearing
The narrator paints a picture of the conversation that is taking place in the car that she has been offered a ride to Washington. The car has about nine people discussing student demonstrations globally and the Vietnam war. The sense of hearing is depicted to readers when the narrator writes, “They are talking about student demonstrations worldwide: Japan, England, France, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia, and the US. They are talking about the dead. They tell me about the March Against the Death, a demonstration against the war in Vietnam.”
The imagery of the black sword
The sense of sight is depicted to the reader when the narrator says, “From the window at the inn in Tai-his, I can see the mountains across the river, so tall I can’t see the top, like a black sword piercing the sky. Sky dies without losing one drop of blood. The gorge suddenly darkens.” The reader can create a visual image of the surroundings, which plays a crucial role in helping the reader comprehend the story's setting.
The imagery of the torch
The narrator continues to keep the reader engaged through the imagery of sight when she writes, “A torch pops up the steps. After a while, I can see a man on horseback coming up the steps, carrying a torch. The torch flashes under my window, and I glimpse a chestnut-colored horse.” The narrator takes the reader through her journey in the river. While in the boat, the narrator is keen on describing the surroundings to ensure that readers are keenly following her.
