Pale silver
The simile "Her long, unbound hair glittered like pale silver" creates a compelling and enchanting image of the woman's hair, expressing a sense of otherworldly appeal and timeless elegance. The comparison to "pale silver" conveys not just her hair's dazzling brilliance but also suggests a unique and priceless beauty akin to precious metal. The word "glittered" gives a sparkling element to her hair, hinting at a natural brilliance that distinguishes her from conventional beauty. The fact that her hair is "unbound" adds to her free-spirited and airy personality. This analogy emphasizes not just the woman's physical appeal but also her deeper mystical and captivating abilities, predicting her destiny as a strong enchantress.
A stone into the valley
The simile "Kaw dropped like a stone into the valley" makes a dramatic parallel to illustrate the wounded crow, Kaw's, quick and uncontrolled descent. By comparing Kaw's descent to that of a stone, the author underlines the swiftness and lack of grace in his flight, emphasizing the severity of his injuries. Just like a stone falls uncontrolled owing to gravity, Kaw's wounded wings are unable to sustain him in the air, resulting in a quick and forceful fall. The comparison also emphasizes that the landing is abrupt and heavy, emphasizing the gravity of his situation. The choice of "valley" as the location of his fall adds to the sense of safety and refuge, implying that Kaw has finally arrived at his intended sanctuary, Medwyn’s abode. Overall, this simile serves to heighten the reader's empathy for Kaw's plight and sets the stage for the encounter with Medwyn, the healer who will likely tend to Kaw's wounds and provide him with the care he needs.
A shadow
The metaphor "A shadow seemed to brush the sky above the fortress" evokes a sense of foreboding and impending peril. The appearance of a shadow is compared to the process of brushing, meaning that something sinister and dangerous is hovering over the fortification. The word "brush" implies a delicate yet creepy movement as though the shadow is lightly caressing the sky. This produces a disturbing and unsettling environment, underlining the gravity of the issue. The metaphor emphasizes that the threat is all-encompassing and unavoidable by characterizing the shadow as "above the fortress" as if it hovers over them like a dark cloud. This metaphor adds depth to the scene, heightening the tension and foreshadowing a significant turning point in the story.
Frozen mist
The simile "by the silence that hovered like frozen mist about the lifeless land" conjures up an eerie and bleak vision of the Red Fallows. The comparison of silence to frozen mist conjures a sensation of coldness and stillness, heightening the sense of lifelessness and desolation. The word "hovered" adds weight and presence to the silence as though it loomed over the land like an actual creature. Furthermore, the use of the phrase "lifeless land" promotes the sense that the Red Fallows have lost their ability to grow. This simile not only paints a vivid picture of the physical appearance of the country but it also conveys the emotional impact of the once-thriving world now reduced to a dead and barren stretch. It sets the tone for the somber and bleak journey of the companions and adds depth to the overall atmosphere of the story.
The crown
The simile "the crown glowed like red iron in a forge" accurately captures the appearance of the crown as it is put on the Chief Steward's brow. By comparing the flaming crown to red iron in a forge, the author conjures a dramatic image of great fire and brilliance. The term "red iron" denotes not only a strong, blazing color but also the concept of something being molded, emphasizing the significance of the occasion even more. The simile also conveys a sense of danger and foreboding as the high heat of the forge represents the crown's potentially deadly power. This parallel alluded to the cursed character of the crown and foreshadowed the catastrophic end that awaits the Chief Steward. Just like iron being shaped in a forge, the crown seems to take control over Magg and its transformation into a white-hot metal signals the crown's malevolent power taking hold of him.
