This tower, patched unevenly with black ivy, arose like a mutilated finger from among the fists of knuckled masonry and pointed blasphemously at heaven.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Peake describes a tower as a grotesque finger reaching mockingly at the sky.
- In plain terms
- The building looked like a damaged finger pointing at heaven in a bad way.
- What can you take from it?
- Architectural details can convey emotion and intent.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does architecture reflect mood?
- What does defiance look like in stone?
Another view
Metaphorical language can be subjective.
More from Mervyn Peake
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