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Animals Quote by Carla Speed McNeil

“They wept no animal's tears. They mourned in a great wickerwork of hard muscle and ragged breath. The hot smell of their coats, their black lips pulled back over ivory teeth, stiff sprays of white whiskers; their heavy hair plaited with silver and faience. Their thick hides shivered, as cattle…” quote by Carla Speed McNeil
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““They wept no animal's tears. They mourned in a great wickerwork of hard muscle and ragged breath. The hot smell of their coats, their black lips pulled back over ivory teeth, stiff sprays of white whiskers; their heavy hair plaited with silver and faience. Their thick hides shivered, as cattle will shiver away flies. I sweated and tried not to clear my throat.””

Carla Speed McNeil

About This Quote

Source Graphic Novel: The Unwritten, Volume 1, 2009

The passage evokes a visceral, animalistic struggle, describing a creature's raw physicality and the narrator's discomfort in its presence.

In simple terms: A vivid, gritty description of a creature's harsh reality and the narrator's reaction.

Key Takeaway

Observe and respect the rawness of life.

Themes

survival body discomfort identity nature

Mood

intense somber

Type

descriptive literary

When to use this quote

  • wildlife observation
  • creative writing
  • character study

Key Concepts

anthropomorphism sensory detail existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does this portrayal affect your view of the creature?
  • What does the narrator's reaction reveal about themselves?
A Different Perspective

The description may romanticize suffering, overlooking empathy.

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