The Magic Lantern Imagery

The Magic Lantern Imagery

The imagery of hearing

Timothy Garton Ash has used the imagery of sound to appeal the sense of hearing to the reader. For instance, he writes:

“Over this weekend there had been tens of thousands of people mainly the young people, milling around Wenceslas Square, waving flags and chanting slogans”

'Chanting slogans' refers to sound that appeals to the sense of hearing to the reader.

The imagery of touch

The author has used the ‘heavy metal-and-glass doors’ to appeal the sense of touch to the reader. Timothy Garton Ash is trying to show the reader how hard it is for anyone to gain access to the Magic Lantern Theatre. He writes:

“Through the heavy metal-and-glass doors, past the second line of volunteer guards, you plunge down a broad flight of stairs into a curving, 1950s-style, mirror-lined foyer.”

This imagery implies that it is almost impossible for anybody to get access to the theatre because the entrance is heavily guarded.

The imagery of sight

The imagery of sight becomes prevalent in the story through the description of how demonstrators dart around and sit in little groups on branches to discuss the future of their nation. From this description, the reader can visualize how the real event is taking place despite him not being physical. This is how the author describes the crowd:

“People dart around importantly, or sit in the little branches, eating improvised canapés and discussing the future of the nation”

The imagery of smell

The author uses the crisis room to depict the sense of smell to the reader. In the room, there are familiar bearded faces smoking. The author’s description is as follows:

"The room smells of cigarette smoke, sweat, damp courts, and revolution. I remember the same smell, precisely, from Poland in autumn 1980."

This imagery paints a clear picture for the reader of what is happening inside the crisis room and how it smells.

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