The Grinch's Cave
At the beginning of the story, the narrator makes a point to portray the Grinch as a lonely creature who is isolated from the rest of the community below. His cave sits atop a snow-covered mountain. He lives in relative darkness and despises the light and warmth he can see from Who-ville below. This imagery emphasizes the Grinch's isolation and bitter feelings.
The Celebration
Of course, part of the intrigue of Dr. Suess's stories relies on the illustrations. As the Grinch thinks about what is to come Christmas morning, he dreads the enormous Who celebration that includes noisy children, a large feast, and a communal song sung by all the Whos. These descriptions are paired with two-page spreads of illustrations in the story, emphasizing the extent of the Whos' celebration.
The Serpent
As the Grinch creeps around the first Who house stealing all the presents and decorations, the narrator suggests that he moves with snake-like deftness and duplicity. He uses words like "hissed," "slithered," and "slunk" to create an image of the Grinch moving about the house stealthily and maliciously.
The Empty Homes
Through both the narration and the illustrations, the story emphasizes how thoroughly the Grinch robs the Whos of their Christmas presents, decorations, and food. The narrator says that the Grinch does not even leave crumbs big enough for a mouse. These descriptions showcase how, on Christmas morning, the Whos are left with nothing but each other.
