The Blitz
The following sentence creates a chaotic war scene by depicting the overwhelming visuals and sounds of the blitz: "The docks were taking a fearful pounding. From Hampstead the crisscrossing searchlights, bursting flak and the glow from the fires presented an astonishing panorama, made more awesome by the skull-splitting din of guns and aircraft." The visual imagery of "crisscrossing searchlights" and "bursting flak" paints a picture of a sky illuminated by violent destruction. Meanwhile, the "glow from the fires" adds an ominous and intense backdrop to the scene. The auditory imagery emphasizes the deafening noise of guns and aircraft, which creates a multi-sensory portrayal immersing the reader in the chaos of war. The contrast between Hampstead’s distance and the violence below adds to the surreal quality of the scene.
Blackout Curtain
The narrator asserts, "Lee flung back the blackout curtain to see what was going on. Attempting to look out into the inky blackness, she suddenly found the darkness was palpable as a soft, billowing mass flooded into the room." The darkness is given a tactile quality making the usually intangible feel almost physically present. This transformation of darkness into something that floods the room creates a surreal and haunting atmosphere. It also echoes the disorienting experience of wartime London. The imagery blurs the line between reality and dream to reinforce the surrealist influences on Lee’s perception.
Feline Fear
The following image of Lee’s cat, Taxi, struck with fear during the bombing conveys a strong sense of tension and terror: "The poor creature landed on the card table rigid with fright, its back arched, its tail like a bottle brush." The description of the cat’s tail offers a precise visual that emphasizes how the cat's fur stands rigidly on end in response to fear. It also illustrates the tactile discomfort from the rigid tail evoking the idea of something bristling and unnatural. This sudden moment contrasts with the larger chaotic war scenes, bringing the terror of war down to an intimate scale.
Lee’s Photography
These three images are striking examples of surrealist imagery in Lee’s photography: "The congregation of bricks tumbling out of the door of the wrecked Nonconformist Chapel; the mannequins, naked but for their top hats, trying to hail a taxi in an empty street; and the two ineffably proud geese posing in front of a colossal silver egg, an adopted barrage balloon." The visual juxtaposition of mannequins trying to hail a taxi evokes a bizarre scene that blends elements of reality with the absurd. Moreover, the image of the geese standing proudly in front of the barrage balloon adds another layer of surrealism. It presents an unusual and humorous contrast between the ordinary (geese) and the extraordinary (the oversized balloon). These images hint at deeper commentaries on war, culture, and absurdity.
