"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 maybe a hint of rigidity. Her striding through the snow that "sprayed up around her shoes" implies a forceful, determined nature, perhaps symbolizing unyielding authority or resilience in a challenging environment.
"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 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.
"The freshly baked bread was a warm brick in my hands."
This tactile imagery serves a dual purpose. It evokes the reader's sense of touch, as we can almost feel the warmth of the bread and its weight. The comparison of the bread to a brick also reflects the solidity and simplicity of rural life in 1904 and the labor that went into everyday tasks like baking.
"The sun was a golden eye peeking through the top of the apple tree."
This personification of the sun implies a natural surveillance or gentle observation. The reference to the sun as a "golden eye" bestows it with a conscious presence, illuminating the surroundings and quietly observing the unfolding narrative. The symbol of the apple tree can indicate knowledge, wisdom, and the rhythms of rural life.
