The Plain and Pale
The author compares the fading beauty of scholars and stunning women to the plain and pale face of an actor with stripped makeup. The author writes, “Compared to their stories, everyday life is like the plain and pale face of an actor stripped of his makeup.”
Door Guardians
The author describes Master Guan with the simile of door guardians. Guan has a heavy black beard, and hairy ears. More interestingly, the author compares his eyes to intimidating door guardians. The author writes, “But fiercest of all were his eyes, which burned like those of the intimidating door guardians posted inside Buddhist temples.”
Watermelons
The mother describes the group of boys appearing on stage to her son and compares the shape of their heads to a watermelon. The mother says, “Their shaved heads were smooth and shiny like watermelons.” The simile not only depicts the sense of sight of the mother's son, but also aids readers in keeping pace with the novel’s plot and setting.
