describing places and situations dominic kenneth wee

Describing Places Describing Places and Situationsand Situations

Dominic Kenneth WeeDominic Kenneth Wee

Caught in a Raging Caught in a Raging StormStorm

The crashing sounds went on, as the huge waves The crashing sounds went on, as the huge waves rose high and then came smashing down – hard – rose high and then came smashing down – hard – against each other. A deep, booming burst of against each other. A deep, booming burst of thunder rumbled fiercely, followed quickly by bright, thunder rumbled fiercely, followed quickly by bright, blue bolts flashing across the sky. For a brief blue bolts flashing across the sky. For a brief moment, the sky was moment, the sky was illuminatedilluminated and I was struck and I was struck at how strange the clouds looked – both bronze and at how strange the clouds looked – both bronze and black at the same time, both black at the same time, both magnificentmagnificent and and fearsome.fearsome.

As I continued to stare, it seemed as if the clouds As I continued to stare, it seemed as if the clouds began to move, slowly, gradually, began to move, slowly, gradually, imperceptibleimperceptible at at first and then more and more first and then more and more discerniblediscernible, shaping , shaping themselves until they had finally formed a themselves until they had finally formed a ghastlyghastly, , ghostly image that haunts my sleep till today.ghostly image that haunts my sleep till today.

VOCABULARY VOCABULARY EXPANSIONEXPANSION

illuminated: illuminated: lit up by lightslit up by lights magnificent: magnificent: very good or beautiful, very good or beautiful,

and very impressiveand very impressive imperceptible: imperceptible: almost impossible almost impossible

to see or noticeto see or notice discernible: discernible: able to see something able to see something

by looking carefully by looking carefully ghastlyghastly: scary: scary

Multi-sensory ApproachMulti-sensory Approach

– Visual imageryVisual imagery huge waves rose highhuge waves rose high bright blue bolts flashing across the skybright blue bolts flashing across the sky sky was illuminatedsky was illuminated strange clouds … bronze and black at the strange clouds … bronze and black at the

same time, both magnificent and fearsomesame time, both magnificent and fearsome clouds began to moveclouds began to move shaping themselves … ghastly, ghostly shaping themselves … ghastly, ghostly

imageimage


– Auditory imageryAuditory imagery Simulation of the sounds of the crashing of Simulation of the sounds of the crashing of

the wavesthe waves– Use of end-rhyme /~ing/Use of end-rhyme /~ing/

crashing, smashing, booming, flashingcrashing, smashing, booming, flashing– Repetition of consonant soundsRepetition of consonant sounds

/s/ /s/ /sh/ /sh/ /f//f/ /g//g/ /b//b/

SunriseSunrise

It happened very suddenly. First the sky It happened very suddenly. First the sky began to began to glowglow. Then as the flaming . Then as the flaming orborb rose from the horizon, it rose from the horizon, it ignitedignited the sky, the sky, causing it to burst into a bright, passionate causing it to burst into a bright, passionate mix of mix of scarletscarlet and yellow. and yellow.

I smiled and it seemed as if the I smiled and it seemed as if the genialgenial old old sun smiled back. Perhaps it was simply sun smiled back. Perhaps it was simply my imagination but in the bright glare I my imagination but in the bright glare I felt sure I even saw an arm waving to me.felt sure I even saw an arm waving to me.


glow: glow: soft steady lightsoft steady light orb: orb: ball-shaped objectball-shaped object ignited: ignited: made something startmade something start

burningburning scarlet: scarlet: bright redbright red genial: genial: friendly and happyfriendly and happy

Visual ImageryVisual Imagery

– glowglow– flaming orb rose from the horizonflaming orb rose from the horizon– ignited the skyignited the sky– burst into a bright, passionate mix of burst into a bright, passionate mix of

scarlet and yellowscarlet and yellow– bright glarebright glare

Ominous SkiesOminous Skies

Somehow, the towering mountains were Somehow, the towering mountains were engulfedengulfed in shadows – shadows that had in shadows – shadows that had the the profoundprofound effect of casting a forbidding effect of casting a forbidding and and sinistersinister gloom. gloom.

It was extremely dark, yet the sky was not It was extremely dark, yet the sky was not overcastovercast; there was not even a single cloud ; there was not even a single cloud in sight. But at certain moments, it seemed in sight. But at certain moments, it seemed as if the sky was on fire – as if the sky was on fire – ablazeablaze with with streaks of streaks of luminousluminous purple. I could not purple. I could not help feeling it must have been help feeling it must have been portentousportentous..


engulfed: engulfed: completely surrounded or completely surrounded or covered covered

profound: profound: having a strong influencehaving a strong influence overcast: overcast: dark with cloudsdark with clouds ablaze: ablaze: burning strongly with a lot of burning strongly with a lot of

flamesflames luminous: luminous: with quality of shining in the with quality of shining in the

darkdark portentous: portentous: showing something bad is showing something bad is

going to happen going to happen

Visual imageryVisual imagery

– towering mountains … engulfed in towering mountains … engulfed in shadowsshadows

– forbidding and sinister gloomforbidding and sinister gloom– extremely dark, yet … not overcastextremely dark, yet … not overcast– not a single cloud in sightnot a single cloud in sight– sky was on fire – ablaze with streaks of sky was on fire – ablaze with streaks of

luminous purpleluminous purple

Inside a HovelInside a Hovel A A dankdank, , musty odor permeatedmusty odor permeated the room. It the room. It

was the was the nauseatingnauseating smell of wet and rotting smell of wet and rotting wood. Everything here had been constructed by wood. Everything here had been constructed by the owners themselves and although it was the owners themselves and although it was poorly, poorly, crudelycrudely and and amateurishlyamateurishly done, they done, they seemed to display a certain seemed to display a certain blissfulblissful pride in it. pride in it.

Closer inspection revealed the Closer inspection revealed the dilapidateddilapidated state state the house was in. The the house was in. The plasterplaster was cracking and was cracking and peeling, exposing crumbling brick beneath. What peeling, exposing crumbling brick beneath. What was left of the stale, brown wall was stained in was left of the stale, brown wall was stained in large, dark patches – the accumulated large, dark patches – the accumulated grimegrime of of numerous years. A small numerous years. A small rodentrodent hole near the hole near the bottom confirmed my suspicions that the place bottom confirmed my suspicions that the place was now home to more than one set of was now home to more than one set of occupants.occupants.


dank: dank: unpleasantly wet and coldunpleasantly wet and cold musty: musty: smelling unpleasant for lack of smelling unpleasant for lack of

fresh airfresh air odor: odor: an unpleasant smellan unpleasant smell permeated: permeated: spreadspread nauseating: nauseating: making one feel like making one feel like

vomiting vomiting OROR sickening sickening crudely: crudely: not developed to a high not developed to a high

standard standard OROR made with little skill made with little skill


amateurishly: amateurishly: not skillfully donenot skillfully done blissful: blissful: extremely happy extremely happy OROR enjoyable enjoyable dilapidated: dilapidated: old and in very bad old and in very bad

conditioncondition plaster: plaster: substance used to make walls substance used to make walls

smoothsmooth grime: grime: a lot of dirt a lot of dirt OROR filth filth rodent: rodent: small animal with long sharp front small animal with long sharp front

teethteeth


– Olfactory imagery Olfactory imagery (smell)(smell) dankdank mustymusty nauseating smellnauseating smell


– Visual imageryVisual imagery wet and rotting woodwet and rotting wood dilapidated statedilapidated state plaster was cracking and peeling, exposing plaster was cracking and peeling, exposing

crumbling brickcrumbling brick stale brown wall was stained in large, dark stale brown wall was stained in large, dark

patchespatches accumulated grime of numerous yearsaccumulated grime of numerous years small rodent holesmall rodent hole

An Idyllic Picturesque An Idyllic Picturesque SettingSetting

Nearby, a small stream Nearby, a small stream meanderedmeandered gracefully gracefully past. The soothing, repetitive sounds of the past. The soothing, repetitive sounds of the lapping waves came together in a gentle, lapping waves came together in a gentle, hypnotichypnotic melody, casting a spell of serene melody, casting a spell of serene tranquilitytranquility over over the the mesmerizingmesmerizing scene. I looked up at the large scene. I looked up at the large tree I was sitting under.tree I was sitting under.

Thick, heavy branches and Thick, heavy branches and lushlush, , dense foliagedense foliage provided a cool shelter for my provided a cool shelter for my languidlanguid afternoons. afternoons. Only a light patch in the middle showed where the Only a light patch in the middle showed where the sun had fought – and lost – to break through the sun had fought – and lost – to break through the impenetrable cover. Quite suddenly, a slight impenetrable cover. Quite suddenly, a slight breeze began to pick up, breeze began to pick up, rustlingrustling the leaves the leaves noisily and noisily and rousingrousing me from my me from my reveriereverie..


meandered: meandered: having lots of bends, not having lots of bends, not going straightgoing straight

hypnotic: hypnotic: state of one’s mind being state of one’s mind being controlledcontrolled

tranquility: tranquility: pleasantly calm, quiet, and pleasantly calm, quiet, and peacefulpeaceful

mesmerizing: mesmerizing: captivatingcaptivating lush: lush: growing many leaves, looking growing many leaves, looking

healthy and stronghealthy and strong dense: dense: thickthick


foliage: foliage: leaves of a plantleaves of a plant languid: languid: slow or lazy, involving slow or lazy, involving

very little energy very little energy rustling: rustling: sound made by leaves sound made by leaves

rubbing togetherrubbing together rousing: rousing: awakeningawakening reverie: reverie: daydreamingdaydreaming


– Visual imageryVisual imagery small stream meandered gracefully pastsmall stream meandered gracefully past waveswaves large tree I was sitting underlarge tree I was sitting under thick heavy branchesthick heavy branches lush, dense foliagelush, dense foliage only a light patch in the middle … only a light patch in the middle …

impenetrable coverimpenetrable cover leavesleaves


– Auditory imageryAuditory imagery soothing, repetitive soundssoothing, repetitive sounds lapping waveslapping waves gentle hypnotic melodygentle hypnotic melody serene tranquilityserene tranquility rustling the leavesrustling the leaves noisilynoisily


– Tactile imageryTactile imagery coolcool a slight breezea slight breeze

Lost in a JungleLost in a Jungle I I frownedfrowned, , despondentdespondent and angry at the and angry at the

same time, as I looked at the grass and same time, as I looked at the grass and weeds. I would never find it. Overhead, the weeds. I would never find it. Overhead, the clouds collected into long, thin rows – like clouds collected into long, thin rows – like the furrows on a worried forehead.the furrows on a worried forehead.

The undergrowth was at least a meter high. The undergrowth was at least a meter high. Blade after blade rose up as if in defiance, Blade after blade rose up as if in defiance, mockingmocking me, challenging me. I gave in to me, challenging me. I gave in to despairdespair, knowing I would never be able to , knowing I would never be able to overcome this overcome this miniatureminiature jungle of towering jungle of towering trees and trees and tangledtangled undergrowth. undergrowth.


frowned: frowned: making angry (making angry (OROR unhappy) unhappy) expression by moving eyebrows togetherexpression by moving eyebrows together

despondentdespondent: extremely unhappy and : extremely unhappy and without hopewithout hope

mocking: mocking: making fun ofmaking fun of despair: despair: feeling of hopelessnessfeeling of hopelessness miniatureminiature: much smaller than normal: much smaller than normal tangled: tangled: twisted together in an untidy twisted together in an untidy

massmass

Visual ImageryVisual Imagery

– grass grass – weedsweeds– clouds collected into long, thin rowsclouds collected into long, thin rows– undergrowth … at least a meter highundergrowth … at least a meter high– blade after blade roseblade after blade rose– miniature jungleminiature jungle– towering treestowering trees– tangled undergrowthtangled undergrowth

Fluctuations of Thoughts Fluctuations of Thoughts and Feelingsand Feelings

– despondentdespondent– angryangry– defiancedefiance– mockingmocking– challengingchallenging– despairdespair

Memories of a FarmMemories of a Farm It was all brown. My memories of my It was all brown. My memories of my

childhood days on the farm are childhood days on the farm are dominateddominated by one thing, a color – brown. I can still smell by one thing, a color – brown. I can still smell the freshly ploughed earth; to me it is like the the freshly ploughed earth; to me it is like the fragrant aromafragrant aroma of freshly ground coffee. of freshly ground coffee. That, too, is always a dark brown. Sitting in That, too, is always a dark brown. Sitting in front of the windmill is a barn, a brown barn.front of the windmill is a barn, a brown barn.

Now it is empty, except for the lonely rake in Now it is empty, except for the lonely rake in the corner and an old stack of hay. Once, a the corner and an old stack of hay. Once, a long time ago, the farm animals – the long time ago, the farm animals – the chickens, the donkey and even our brown dog chickens, the donkey and even our brown dog – would – would snugglesnuggle in its warmth at the end of in its warmth at the end of the day.the day.


dominateddominated: having more : having more importance than other thingsimportance than other things

fragrant: fragrant: having a pleasant smellhaving a pleasant smell aromaaroma: strong pleasant smell: strong pleasant smell snugglesnuggle: settle into a warm : settle into a warm

comfortable positioncomfortable position


Visual imageryVisual imagery all brownall brown farmfarm a color – browna color – brown freshly ploughed earthfreshly ploughed earth dark browndark brown windmillwindmill brown barnbrown barn


Visual imageryVisual imagery– emptyempty– lonely rake in the cornerlonely rake in the corner– old stack of hayold stack of hay– farm animalsfarm animals– chickenschickens– donkeydonkey– brown dogbrown dog


Tactile imageryTactile imagery– WarmthWarmth


Olfactory imageryOlfactory imagery– smell the freshly ploughed earthsmell the freshly ploughed earth– fragrant aroma of freshly ground fragrant aroma of freshly ground

coffeecoffee

Lost in a CaveLost in a Cave

Hanging just above our heads were rows Hanging just above our heads were rows of of stalactitesstalactites, sharp and , sharp and menacingmenacing, , that all too distinctly that all too distinctly resembledresembled the the teeth of a shark. As our cries of help teeth of a shark. As our cries of help bounced uselessly off the rocky walls, I bounced uselessly off the rocky walls, I could not help imagining we were could not help imagining we were trapped within the jaws of some trapped within the jaws of some ferociousferocious beast. We realized we were beast. We realized we were lost and decided there was no lost and decided there was no alternative but to alternative but to hazardhazard a guess – so a guess – so we went for the tunnel in the middle.we went for the tunnel in the middle.

Lost in a CaveLost in a Cave

It was a terrifying sight. Streams of It was a terrifying sight. Streams of hot, boiling lava bubbled down the hot, boiling lava bubbled down the walls, walls, pulsatingpulsating like like throbbingthrobbing veins. veins. The ground in front of us The ground in front of us disintegrateddisintegrated into a pool of into a pool of moltenmolten magmamagma, which once in a while let loose , which once in a while let loose a a scaldingscalding spray of vapor and mist. spray of vapor and mist. One false step and it could be the last. One false step and it could be the last. It soon It soon dawneddawned on me the reason they on me the reason they called places like this a ‘dead end’.called places like this a ‘dead end’.


stalactites: stalactites: sharp pointed object sharp pointed object hanging from cave roof hanging from cave roof

menacing: menacing: threateningthreatening resembled: resembled: looked likelooked like ferocious: ferocious: violent, dangerous, and violent, dangerous, and

frightening OR fiercefrightening OR fierce hazard: hazard: riskrisk pulsating: pulsating: making sounds or making sounds or

movements like heart-beatsmovements like heart-beats


throbbing: throbbing: making low sounds with strong making low sounds with strong regular beatregular beat

disintegrated: disintegrated: broke up into very small broke up into very small pieces pieces

molten: molten: in liquid state because of high in liquid state because of high temperaturestemperatures

magma: magma: hot melted rock below surface of hot melted rock below surface of EarthEarth

scalding: scalding: burning skin with hot liquid or burning skin with hot liquid or steamsteam

dawned: dawned: realized something for the first timerealized something for the first time


Visual imageryVisual imagery– rows of stalactites, sharp and menacingrows of stalactites, sharp and menacing– resembled the teeth of a sharkresembled the teeth of a shark– rocky wallsrocky walls– jaws of some ferocious beastjaws of some ferocious beast– tunnel in the middletunnel in the middle– terrifying sightterrifying sight– streams of hot, boiling lava … pulsating like streams of hot, boiling lava … pulsating like

throbbing veinsthrobbing veins– pool of molten magmapool of molten magma– spray of vapor and mistspray of vapor and mist


Auditory imageryAuditory imagery– cries of help bounced uselessly off the cries of help bounced uselessly off the

rocky wallsrocky walls– bubbledbubbled


Tactile imageryTactile imagery– hothot– boilingboiling– scaldingscalding

describing places and situations dominic kenneth wee

Documents

bright redgenial

shadows shadows

passionate mix of scarlet

vocabulary expansionglow

crashing sounds

sinister gloomextremely

vocabulary expansionengulfed

single cloud