Through the use of figurative language and imagery, writers can easily develop any meaning they are trying to achieve. In “The Solace of Open Spaces,” Gretel Ehrlich developed her meaning in just four short paragraphs. To develop her meaning, she incorporates figurative language and imagery into her essay to get her point across to the audience.
Ehrlich’s use of imagery creates a vivid picture inside the readers’ minds. An example is, “During the winter, while I was riding to find a new calf, my jeans froze to my saddle…” By creating this image of frozen jeans to a saddle, Ehrlich shows how harsh the winter she endured was and how it affected her while working. It allows the readers to interpret the imagery in their own way but still puts …show more content…
The use of hiss, rot, and viperous show how easily an image can be changed from one meaning to something totally opposite. Therefore, Ehrlich’s inclusion of imagery dramatically affects the audience, pushing them closer towards the meaning he is creating. Other than imagery, the use of figurative language poses a great affect on Ehrlich’s meaning. A perfect example of her use of figurative language is, “It’s May and I’ve just awakened from a nap, curled against a sage-brush the way my dog taught me to sleep- sheltered by the wind.” The use of this metaphor helps the readers get the first view at what is taking place. It compared the character’s dad to a dog to show that she was influenced by her dad the way a dog influences their puppies. Another example is, “Bunched together now, and excited into a run by the storm, they drift across the dry land, tumbling into draws like water, and surge out again into the rugged, choppy plateaus that are the building blocks of this state.” This simile compares the sheep to flowing water