(credit: “MISSISSIPPI STEAMBOAT - FIFTY YEARS AGO” by Samuel Langhorne Clemens/Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain) Living by Their Own Words The Storyteller’s World: Entering through Imageryįigure 4.6 In this illustration, appearing in Life on the Mississippi, the steamboat is an older vessel but is similar to the one in Twain’s memoir. Visit Project Gutenberg for the full text of Life on the Mississippi. Twain provides an example of the ways in which literature can subtly influence the beliefs and identities of generations of readers. He used his literature to criticize slavery and hierarchical social codes of the American South, though he wasn’t necessarily an outspoken opponent in his public life. Twain lived in a pre–Civil War America in which slavery was accepted and prevalent. Notice how vividly he describes sensory experiences and how they enhance your understanding of his purpose. As you read, put yourself in the shoes of the narrator-Mark Twain. In the text excerpt you are about to read, Mark Twain (1835–1910) uses imagery to place readers with him aboard a steamboat on the Mississippi River as Mr. When you write your personal narrative, you will use imagery to engage readers, convey meaning, and bring your story to life. Sensory images-what the narrator sees, hears, tastes, feels, and smells-should be specific and contain emotional content that enhances your writing. Details rich in imagery appeal to readers’ emotions, create new meaning, and draw an audience into the story. Bradley/Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)Īn image in literature is a description that engages one of the five senses. Figure 4.5 Mark Twain, 1907 (credit: “Mark Twain” by A.F.

Twain life on the mississippi