A High Wind Began to Blow (Kinesthetic Imagery)
When Okeke reads Nene's letter and learns that his grandsons want to meet him, the old man feels the resistance he built up to his family crumbling. As if to distract himself from his faltering resolve, Okeke leans on the window. The sky is black and "a high wind began to blow, filling the air with dust and dry leaves." In this example of kinesthetic imagery, Achebe captures the movement of the impending storm by describing how the air fills with the dust and leaves the wind kicks up.
Her Eyes Filled With Tears (Visual Imagery)
After they marry, Nene and Nnaemeka send a photo from their wedding day to Okeke. He sends the picture back cut up, having symbolically separated the newly wed couple. In an example of visual imagery, Achebe writes, "When Nene read through this letter and looked at the mutilated picture her eyes filled with tears, and she began to sob." In describing Nene's bodily reaction to the hateful letter and ruined photo, Achebe emphasizes how deeply she is affected by Okeke's contempt.
Pattering of Large Rain Drops (Auditory Imagery)
At the end of the story, as a storm breaks over his home, Okeke tries to "hum a favourite hymn but the pattering of large rain drops on the roof broke up the tune." In this example of auditory imagery, Achebe contrasts the sound of Okeke's humming with the louder and more persistent sound of raindrops on his roof. With this contrast, Achebe illustrates how the storm overpowers Okeke's resolve and forces him to imagine his grandchildren standing out in the rain.
