Close Reading

of Imagery

Why is McCullers use of imagery important?

         Her use of very descriptive imagery, for example, "...John Henry did not play with the dough; he worked on the biscuit man as though it were a very serious business.  Now and then he stopped off settled his glasses with his hand, and studied what he had done.  He was like a tiny watch maker, and he drew up a chair and knelt on it so that he could get directly over the work.  When Berenice gave him some raisins, he did not stick them all around as any other human child would do; he used only two for the eyes; but immediately he realized they were too large --so he divided one raisin carefully and put in eyes, two specs for the nose, and a little grinning raisin mouth.  When he had finished, he wiped his hands on the seat of his shorts and there was a little biscuit man with separate fingers, a hat on, and even a walking stick..." adds to the book in itself.  The reader can easily visualize each scene by McCullers diction along with the visual images that she produces.