Historical Quote by Stephanie Barron
““...the long blue shadows of afternoon advanced before me like cheerful ghosts of last summer's growth, dancing past the withered flower borders and the stiff hedges to fall at the feet of a stone nymph, her cascade of water frozen in her urn.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, 2016
A vivid, lyrical description of an afternoon scene where shadows move like playful spirits, culminating in a frozen water figure.
In simple terms: Shadows move like playful spirits, ending in a frozen water figure.
Key Takeaway
Notice the beauty in fleeting moments.
Themes
nature
imagery
fantasy
time
beauty
Mood
dreamy
reflective
Type
descriptive
poetic
When to use this quote
- walking in a garden
- painting a landscape
- writing descriptive prose
- photography of shadows
Key Concepts
visual metaphor
personification
contrast
Questions to Reflect On
- How does vivid imagery affect your mood?
- What emotions do the 'cheerful ghosts' evoke?
A Different Perspective
The description may be overly ornate for some readers.
![“[Jane] Austen was not a novelist for nothing: she knew that our stories are what make us human, and that listening to someone else's stories -- entering into their feelings, validating their experiences -- is the highest way of acknowledging their humanity, the sweetest form of usefulness.” quote by William Deresiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2bb/william-deresiewicz-15471_austen_jane-austen-was-not-a-novelist-for-nothi_62623.jpg)
