Imagery of Dust
Dust imagery is used to describe the landscape of Al Tafar: dusty fields, dusty buildings but also to further illustrate the theme of death and war. The narrator compares soldiers to pieces of dust. In his final words, he imagines Murph turning to dust after he is finally able to let him go.
Imagery of Colors
The yellow coloring is used to further describe the sickly atmosphere of war. The image is used mostly by mentioning a yellow light. Bartle can't help but notice the yellow color of light after he returns from war. It reminds him of the war and it has a negative connotation. There is also the image of yellow ribbons and they are also a negative reminder of war to him. On the opposite there is a color green. If the yellow color represents death then the green color represents life. It represents nature, growth and therefore life. In his flight home, Bartle can't help but notice the green trees, how everything was green, becoming overwhelmed and realizing that he is finally home.
Imagery of Sound and Smell
Imagery of sound is used to produce an even clearer picture of war: sound of mortars, sound of boots, and sound of gunfire. After returning home Bartle is sensitive to the sound, especially the sound of train as it reminds him of war. As the train approaches his house and is relieved when the train passes as if it's going for another target other than him. The imagery of smell is used to closely describe the people: Bartle's mother's smell of perfume, smell of whiskey on Sterling, colonel's smell of starch. It is also used to describe the atmosphere of places: smell of fire, smell of Al Tafar (of sewage and river, rubber).
Imagery of Heat
The imagery of heat is used to describe the atmosphere of the war zone, Bartle compares the heat of Al Tafar to the American heat saying that one never gets used to it. Even after spending hours in it the heat of Al Tafar still brought one to tears in an instant.
