5.1.2
Imagery
Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
Steinbeck's Use of Imagery
Steinbeck focuses on creating detailed descriptions of characters and settings. This allows the reader to picture the characters and settings very clearly. This is known as imagery.
Description of settings
- Steinbeck uses imagery to describe the various settings in a way that allows the reader to clearly picture them, also revealing information about what kind of place it is.
Description of Salinas River
- The pool by the Salinas River where the story begins is described as a peaceful place of sanctuary.
- This is significant because it becomes Lennie’s sanctuary at the end of the novel: “The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool.” (Section 1).
Description of the bunkhouse
- Steinbeck creates a completely different image of the bunkhouse, where the men on the ranch live.
- He describes it as a harsh and uninviting atmosphere, showing the reader what the reality of life was like for workers like George and Lennie: “The bunkhouse was a long, rectangular building. Inside, the walls were whitewashed and the floor unpainted.” (Section 2).
Description of Crooks' barn
- Steinbeck creates an image of Crooks’ barn as a place which is highly personal to Crooks, using the description of the setting to reveal lots of information about Crooks’ character: “And scattered about the floor were a number of personal possessions.” (Section 4).
Description of Lennie
- Steinbeck uses animal imagery when describing Lennie, saying that Lennie walks “the way a bear drags his paws” (Section 1).
- This simile tells the reader that Lennie’s physical appearance and movements are bear-like, allowing us to easily imagine his size and physical strength.
Description of Slim
- Similarly, Steinbeck describes Slim as having a “hatchet face” (Section 2).
- A hatchet is a small, sharp axe, and this image therefore suggests that Slim’s facial features are hard, sharp and clearly defined.
1Context & Overview
1.1Context & Overview
2Plot
2.1Section 1 - Analysis
2.2Section 2 - Analysis
2.3Section 3 - Analysis
2.4Section 4 - Analysis
2.5Section 5 - Analysis
2.6Section 6 - Analysis
3Key Characters
3.1Main Characters
3.2Minor Characters
4Themes
5Authorial Method
6Recap: Main Quotes
6.1Quotes per Section
6.2Text Structure - Quotes
Jump to other topics
1Context & Overview
1.1Context & Overview
2Plot
2.1Section 1 - Analysis
2.2Section 2 - Analysis
2.3Section 3 - Analysis
2.4Section 4 - Analysis
2.5Section 5 - Analysis
2.6Section 6 - Analysis
3Key Characters
3.1Main Characters
3.2Minor Characters
4Themes
5Authorial Method
6Recap: Main Quotes
6.1Quotes per Section
6.2Text Structure - Quotes
Practice questions on Imagery
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1How is the pool by the Salinas River presented by Steinbeck?Multiple choice
Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium
Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions
Mini-mock exams based on your study history
Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books