Snowflake metaphor
In the text, Trudi describes the uniqueness of snowflakes, and her understanding that although snowflakes look the same from far away, they all have their differences. This becomes a metaphor for Trudi’s realization that she is not the only person who is unique or different. Throughout the text she encounters people who have their own differences, and she realizes she isn’t alone.
Frog simile
Here, Trudi is described swimming like a frog: "She'd streak through the shallow water like a frog." This simile shows how comfortable Trudi feels in nature. She especially enjoys swimming in the river, and it feels natural to her.
Library Metaphor
The library setting becomes a metaphor for the fact that Trudi herself becomes a library. She collects people’s stories, and then distributes them to others through gossiping. This even reaches a point where people visit the library to hear Trudi’s stories, rather than to take books out.
Bird Simile
Ingrid's eyelids are described with a simile: "Ingrid's eyelids were like the wing beats of a frail bird." This simile emphasizes how fast her eyelids are beating, suggesting her sense of worry and surprise.
Shell Simile
Trudi describes how "with Eva gone, the house felt like a shell, a useless prop that a strong wind might blow away". This simile compares the house to a shell in order to emphasize how empty it feels without Eva.
