The Lodger
In the following passage of "The Lodger," Svava uses imagery in order to emphasize how uncomfortable the couple feel due to the presence of the lodger:
"She stood up against the closed bedroom door, her body tensed as if she were holding the door closed by force. Day had turned to evening. She and Peter had drifted around the sitting-room for a while after the evening meal. But they could not sit down anywhere."
Language such as "tensed" and "drifted," suggests that there is a feeling of tension in the house, due to the unwanted house guest.
The Heart
In "A Story for Children," Svava uses imagery to describe the heart of the mother. It is described as being "gleaming" and "red." This emphasizes its vitality and strength, as we had previously been told that her heart is very strong and is "highly developed," according to the doctor. Later the heart is described as beating like "the fluttering of a bird in a cage." This use of imagery emphasizes the fragility of her heart.
Gory imagery
Svava uses gory imagery in "A Story for Children," in order to emphasize the extreme nature of the mother's sacrifice. For example, she describes how the "blood had now begun to low down her head," and that "blood spurted" from her head. Later, Svava describes the "slimy, red heart pulsating," emphasizing the disturbing nature of what is happening.
