Language

Imagery 

In “Self Defense” by Samuel Wilkins, imagery is created in connection with the characters and setting.

For example, imagery is used to convey the fact that the house that Daniel chooses to rob is large and isolated. This implies that Daniel chooses the house most likely thinking that the owners are wealthy but also that he will be able to rob them without alerting the neighbors: “Daniel pointed across my face to an old two-story plantation house with four columns. (…) The house stood amongst a dry field that held nothing but dirt and overnight ice. The closest neighbor sat over a hundred yards down.” (ll. 134-139).

Imagery is also created as Norman describes Daniel’s facial expressions. This helps with Daniel’s characterization: “Daniel shot me an annoyed look” (l. 7); “I could see a flash of his sinister smile and thin brown eyes” (l. 34). However, this also helps with Norman’s characterization, as he looks at Daniel to understand his state of mind and change his behavior accordingly: “So near the Athens’ exit I tried another round of ‘Me and Bobby McGee’. This time Daniel winked his right eye and laughed. This time I had approval.” (ll. 38-40).

The sense of sound is explored as Norman mentions the songs being played at the strip club, for example – Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” (ll. 60-61) and Tupac’s “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” (l. 78), which gives readers a sense of the atmosphere inside the club. The second song also gives a sense that Norman is trying to romanticize the vision of escaping from prison.

A tense scene in the story also creates imagery in connection with sound. As they try to rob the house, Daniel and Norman are warned to stop by “an unseen elderly voice (…) as if God himself had spoken.” (ll. 165-166). Because Daniel does not stop, the owner of the house shoots him. Imagery is also employed to describe the scene of Daniel’s death (ll. 169-172) and to convey Norman’s shock and fear at seeing this (ll. 173-177).

Metaphors and similes

Metaphors and similes help create imagery and convey the main character’s state of mind.

A simile is used to convey Norman’s admiration for Daniel’s strength of character. He compares Daniel’s walk back to their car to scenes from films directed by Quentin Tarantino (they often feature characters who believe they are in control of their circumstances): “He appeared to wa...