The Mural on the Wall - Imagery in literary texts (Grade 7)

The first paragraph explicitly states: 'Her mural for the school art fair was almost finished: a vibrant bluebird soaring out of a cage made from a stack of dull, grey books.'

This figurative language describes Zaria's emotional reaction to the bad news from Blair. The image of a storm cloud suggests darkness, trouble, and sadness, which aligns with feeling worried and discouraged about her artwork.

Zaria explicitly tells Blair, 'The books are all the rules we have to follow, all the things people think we should be.' This shows she is using the books as a symbol for feeling trapped by expectations.

Mr. Lawson uses the phrase 'build a bridge' as a metaphor. He follows it by suggesting she write an artist's statement to 'explain what this image... means to you,' showing he wants her to connect her intentions with her audience's understanding.

The items in 'Expressing an Idea' all relate to Zaria's desire to share her message, either through the painting itself or through words. The items in 'Controlling an Idea' relate to the pressure from the administration and Blair's fears about the consequences, which aim to limit or change Zaria's expression.

The passage opens by describing the art room's atmosphere, including the smell of 'wet clay and the sharp scent of turpentine.' Smell is a sensory detail that helps the reader imagine the setting.

Zaria's question shows her initial defensiveness. Blair's line directly states her motivation is concern for Zaria. Zaria's explanation of the mural reveals the personal feelings behind her art. Mr. Lawson's statement expresses his core philosophy as an art teacher.