"The courtroom was a grand old room with high ceilings, and the walls were covered with thick dark wood and bad portraits of stern-looking judges from long ago."
This imagery sets the courtroom scene where much of the book's drama takes place. The description communicates a sense of reverence and history, possibly intimidating for a young protagonist like Theodore Boone. The "bad portraits of stern-looking judges" particularly highlight the courtroom's intimidating atmosphere and the formidable legal institution Theo aspires to join.
"Theo’s law office, as he preferred to call it, was a small room on the third floor, at the rear of the house. It was crammed with old law books, most of which he’d never tried to read."
This description of Theo's "law office" helps to emphasize his dedication and fascination with the law, even at a young age. The image of a room crammed with old law books, which he hasn't read, suggests the enormous breadth and depth of knowledge he aims to acquire.
"The sky was a sea of stars, each one twinkling like a diamond on black velvet."
This visual imagery of the night sky as a "sea of stars" invokes the boundlessness of nature and the universe, perhaps symbolizing the vast opportunities or questions that lie ahead for the young protagonist. The stars twinkling "like a diamond on black velvet" could be representative of beauty, value, and potential that can be found even in the darkness.
"Miss Myrt Arbuckle, built like a piano box, came striding through the snow that sprayed up around her shoes."
The physical description of Miss Myrt is a significant element of character imagery. Her comparison to a piano box suggests her imposing presence, stability, and a hint of rigidity. Her striding through the snow that "sprayed up around her shoes" implies a forceful, determined nature, perhaps serving as a symbol of unyielding authority or resilience in a challenging environment.
