Sofiia Kasianchuk,
Kamianets-Podilskyi Ivan Ohiienko National University
Scientific Supervisor: O. V. Halaibida, PhD
SIMILES AS A SOURCE OF IMAGERY
IN RAY BRADBURY`S SHORT STORIES
Ray Bradbury, famous for “Fahrenheit 451”, “Dandelion Wine”, and “The Martian Chronicles”, is also an exceptional short story writer who uses symbols and allusions to create unique writing. He significantly contributed to the development of similes from linguistic, stylistic, and philosophical perspectives. This paper analyzes the use of similes in Bradbury’s short story “All Summer in a Day”.
There are various classifications of similes that linguists use to differentiate them according to their nature, structure, and functions.
Similes can have such lexical components in their structure: “like”, “as”, “as…as…”, “(as)…as…”, “as…, so”, “may (might) as well…as…”, “as if (as though)”, “what”, “more…than…”, “remind of”, “compare to”, “resemble”, and other phrasal verb similes such as “be similar to,” “consider…as,” “treat…as,” and “serve…as.”
From the structural point of view, similes fall into closed and open [3, p. 159]. Within a closed simile the quality of compared objects is always clearly seen. “Similes in which the link between the tenor and the vehicle is expressed by notional verbs such as “to resemble”, “to seem”, “to recollect”, “to remember”, “to look like”, “to appear”, etc. are called disguised, because the realization of the comparison is somewhat suspended, as the likeness between the objects seems less evident [4, p.50].
According to their nature similes can be classified as descriptive, illuminative, and illustrative [3, p.158-159]. Descriptive similes are used to vividly describe an object, person, or idea, while illuminative similes create a more complex comparison by highlighting hidden associations between objects. Illustrative similes are used to explain abstract ideas in a straightforward manner and are common in scientific writing. Similes can also be categorized as closed or open [3, p.159]. Closed similes clearly emphasize the common qualities between compared objects, while open similes create a more ambiguous comparison, leaving the reader to interpret which characteristics are being compared.
“A simile, often repeated, becomes trite and adds to the stock of language phraseology. Most of trite similes have the foundation mentioned and conjunctions “as”, “as…as” used as connectives” [4, p. 50].While these similes are prevalent in everyday language, original similes are often used in literary works for stylistic purposes. To express our emotions more precisely, we must stimulate our imagination and think creatively to devise fresh similes that go beyond conventional comparisons.
And according to Fromilhague, “Similes have various functions: First, they serve to communicate concisely and efficiently: They are one of a set of linguistic devices which extend the linguistic resources available. Secondly, they can function as cognitive tools for thought in that they enable us to think of the world in novel, alternative ways. In discourse, they can also fulfil more specific functions depending on the textual genre in which they occur” [2, p. 22].
To summarize the functions of similes, they serve to provide brief and vivid descriptions of objects, which helps to enhance understanding of a context.
- Bradbury employs a wide range of figurative language, including similes, symbols, and metaphors in his short story “All Summer in a Day” to express his perspective on the situation. Through the use of various types of figurative language, he is able to create vivid imagery and depict the history of life on the planet Venus as well as the characters’ experiences. Bradbury’s descriptive language adds depth and enhances the reader’s understanding of the story.
The story “All Summer in a Day” is set on Venus where the sun only appears every seven years, unlike on Earth where it can be seen every day. The children living on Venus cannot imagine the sun, and when one girl, Margot, claims to remember it, they accuse her of lying. Bradbury skillfully uses colors to highlight the importance of the sun on Venus, as the lack of sunlight has affected people’s appearance and behavior, making them very pale. Margot is described as “a very frail girl who looked as if she had been lost in the rain for years and the rain has washed out the blue from her eyes and the red from her mouth and the yellow from her hair” [1].
The children on Venus had a hard time remembering what the sun looked like, so they had to use their imagination. According to the story, “All day yesterday they had read in class about the sun. About how like a lemon it was, and how hot” [1]. This simile draws a comparison between the sun and a lemon, emphasizing their similar round and yellow appearance. However, Margot, who had remembered what the sun looked like, said “It’s like a penny” [1]. By using this simile, the author highlights the similarity between the sun and a penny in terms of their appearance and color. This comparison serves to emphasize the rarity of the sun’s appearance on Venus, as opposed to the commonness of seeing a penny.
Initially, the sun is depicted solely based on its visual appearance, but later on, the author highlights its ability to emit heat. This is demonstrated in the phrase “It’s like a fire in the stove.” Margot used the comparison because she “she knew they [children] remembered a warmness, like a blushing in the face, in the body, in the arms and legs and trembling hands”. When the sun finally emerged, they “were running and turning their faces up to the sky and feeling the sun on their chicks like a warm iron; they were taking off their jackets and letting the sun burn their arms” [1]. Because of the heavy rain and chilling climate on Venus, the children had no experience or understanding of the power and heat of the sun. To help them grasp its intensity, Bradbury used familiar objects such as a warm iron and fire in the stove to draw comparisons. Although these objects are considered incomparable to the sun, they share the common function of radiating heat, which serves to emphasize the heat of the sun.
Bradbury uses similes to express the emotions of Venusian inhabitants and establishes associations between the sun and seemingly unrelated things. This technique enables readers to comprehend the unfamiliarity of the sun for the characters in the story.
To conclude, in the short story “All Summer in a Day” the author utilizes similes to convey the emotions of the characters and establish connections between objects and concepts that may seem dissimilar. This illustrates the popularity of similes as a stylistic device in fiction. They aid in concise and lively imagery providing vivid descriptions of depicted objects and enhancing comprehension of the context.
REFERENCES
- Bradbury R. All Summer in a Day [Electronic resource]. URL: http://raybradbury.ru/library/story/54/4/0/
- Fromilhague C. Les Figures de style. Nathan, 1995. 128 p.
- Zhang X. (2005). English Rhetoric. Beijing: Tsinghua University Press, 2005. 268 p.
- Кухаренко В.А. Практикум з стилістики англійської мови. Вінниця: Нова книга, 2000. 160 с.