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Making a description vivid

Physical descriptions often occur as thumbnail sketches in a piece of writing rather than as an e.xtended composition. Read the three descriptions below. Why do you think they are so effective? Is it because:

a)    adjectives are well-chosen?

b)    adjectives are often used in an original way?

c)    the description is divided into short, manageabie sentences?

d)    the writer keeps his feelings out of the description?

e)    any other reasons?

Mr Boggis strode briskly up the drive. He was a		At the appointed time. Mr Roydon was shown in
smali, fat-legged man with a belly. His face was		to my library and I got up to meet him. He was a
round and rosy and two large brown eyes bulged		smali neat man with a slightly ginger goatee
out at vou. He was dressed in a black suit with a		beard. He wore a black velvet jacket, a rust-
doa-collar round his neck and on his head a soft		brown tie, a red pullover and black suede shoes.
black hat. He carried an old oak walking stick		I shook his smali, neat hand.
which lent him. in his opinion. a rather rustic.
easy-going air.
(Roald Dahl)		(Roald Dahh

She had been only five feet tali even before she became bent from age and toil. Her broad strong face is deeply lined and she has taken on the wispy. papery look of the old. But she is. nevertheless. commandins. Her blue eyes are steady. authoritative but kind. Her hands and feet are large. knobbly. with big joints -the hands and feet of an old working person who has scrubbed many a floor.

(Readers Dieesti

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Descriptive Notice how many descriptive adjectives the writers use in each of the adiectives    ^texts- Good descriptions often contain a wide rangę of adjectives and

^J    adverbs, although it is quality rather than quantity which counts. One

adjective used in an original and imaginative way can be morę effective than a list of everyday ones.

1    Make a list of the adjectives used in the three texts above and check that you understand them.

2    Work with your partner to put the following adjectives into three columns: Size, Personality, Physical appearance. Put a tick ( y) by those which are definitely positive and a cross (x) by those which are definitely negative. Use your dictionary to help you. when necessary.

bubbly plump astute mousy slender balding freckled huge easy-going tiny bouncy skinny spotty tallish chubby short-sighted bossy pasty round-shouldered pushy bright | tattooed mischiecous minutę tousled

Are there any which are used morę frequently for women than for men (and vice versa?)

Describing

appearances

Clothes

1 Identify the following in the picture on the ne\t page:

a)    curls

b)    a lace collar cl a frock

d) socks

e) laces    i) a fringe

fi wellington boots j) pufhsleeces

g)    track suit bottoms kl a crew cut

h)    trainers

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