--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He was tall, but exceedingly lank, with…" description: "\"“He was tall, but exceedingly lank, with narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, hands that dangled a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have serve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/washington-irving-1386_windy-day_he-was-tall-but-exceedingly-lank-with-na_2415627.jpg" --- # He was tall, but exceedingly lank, with narrow shoulders… ![“He was tall, but exceedingly lank, with narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, hands that dangled a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have served for shovels, and his whole frame most loosely hung together. His head was small, and flat at top, with huge ears, large green glassy eyes, and a…” quote by Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/washington-irving-1386_windy-day_he-was-tall-but-exceedingly-lank-with-na_2415627.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/washington-irving-1386_windy-day_he-was-tall-but-exceedingly-lank-with-na_2415627.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/washington-irving-1386_windy-day_he-was-tall-but-exceedingly-lank-with-na_2415627.jpg) > ““He was tall, but exceedingly lank, with narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, hands that dangled a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have served for shovels, and his whole frame most loosely hung together. His head was small, and flat at top, with huge ears, large green glassy eyes, and a long snipe nose, so that it looked like a weather-cock perched upon his spindle neck to tell which way the wind blew. To see him striding along the profile of a hill on a windy day, with his clothes bagging and fluttering about him, one might have mistaken him for the genius of famine descending upon the earth, or some scarecrow eloped from a cornfield.”” [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vivid, exaggerated physical description emphasizes the character’s odd, almost comical appearance, suggesting both humor and a hint of otherworldliness. **In simple terms:** A tall, lanky, oddly shaped man is described in detail. Key Takeaway Notice how physical quirks can reveal deeper character traits. Themes humor characterization appearance eccentricity Mood playful whimsical Type literary descriptive When to use this quote - literary analysis - character study - creative writing - costume design Key Concepts hyperbole visual imagery symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What does this exaggerated portrayal suggest about the character’s role? - How does physical description affect reader perception? A Different Perspective The description may distract from inner qualities, focusing too much on looks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Windy day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/windy-day/) ## Related quotes > [Good shoulders and a long waist are the most necessary when it comes to wearing clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oleg-cassini/good-shoulders-and-a-long-waist-are-the-most-necessary-when-it-comes/) [Oleg Cassini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oleg-cassini/) > [“Bailey hung her head for a moment, and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingsbury/bailey-hung-her-head-for-a-moment-and/) [Karen Kingsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingsbury/) > [“I'm not gay." He shook his head vigorously, then stopped and hung his head. 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He selects that language which will convey his ideas in the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/he-who-thinks-much-says-but-little-in-proportion-to-his-thoughts-he/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-whole-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections-the-heart-is-her/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Redundancy of language is never found with deep reflection. Verbiage may indicate observation, but not thinking. 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I enjoyed the neighborhood, I enjoyed El…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/those-were-hard-times-but-i-loved-living-there-i-would-walk-on-the/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [They never exhale, the trees; on a very windy day, they rustle and inhale, and then the leaves and the branches all tremble as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/they-never-exhale-the-trees-on-a-very-windy-day-they-rustle-and/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [I like to hang out clothes on windy days. Sometimes that's all I feel like. A sheet on a line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-like-to-hang-out-clothes-on-windy-days-sometimes-that-s-all-i-feel/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“A poetess is not as selfish as you assume. 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