Blew the Smoke Upward like a Prayer
This simile compares the way Thomas blew the smoke from his cigar to a prayer. This direct comparison enhances the imagery of the smoke: "Thomas drew slowly on the cigar. Blew the smoke upward, like a prayer. Buganogiizhik, the hole in the sky through which the Creator had hurtled, glowed and winked."
Patrice Felt Stretched like a Skin Tent
To emphasize the way Patrice felt overworked and stretched beyond her limits, the writer uses a simile in which he compares this phenomenon to the stretching of a tent. This enables the reader to conceptualize the extent of the monotony and boredom associated with her life: "There were times when Patrice felt like she was stretched across a frame, like a skin tent."
Yellowed Silk Scarf Tied like a Movie-Star Ascot
The narrator uses a simile while describing Eddy Mink to emphasize the way in which he tied his scarf. The direct comparison to a movie-star ascot also facilitates imagery: "He had once been handsome, and still wore a yellowed silk scarf tied like a movie-star ascot."
Eddy's Fiddling when Drunk
Eddy's fiddling when drunk is directly compared to that of an angel or a devil. This direct comparison creates emphasis as well as imagery: "In the old days, Thomas and his friend Archille had gone to bush dances along with Eddy, who could fiddle like an angel or a devil no matter how much he drank."
Peace Stole Across His Chest and Covered Him like Sunlight
"When Thomas thought of his father, peace stole across his chest and covered him like sunlight." The use of this simile to describe how Thomas felt when he thought of his father emphasizes the fulfillment and peace that washed over him.
